NY Times:

Duck and Cover: It’s the New Survivalism. I separate ‘panic survivalism’ from ‘attempts at sustainability.’ Two different animals.  Y2K primed the long-forgotten pump of survivalist skills, and the panic over the impending ‘collapse of civilization’ boosted the levels of abject fear on 9/11.  Sensible people were stocking up on cigarettes (as negotiable trade goods), buying waterbed-sized water containers.  Global warming is whistling a similar tune to Y2K, and the same ideas are being rolled out once again, giving ‘sustainability’ the flavor of survivalism. 

I have to say, the idea that everyone needs to be armed to the teeth does little for survival.  Better to be building support networks for the growing of food and raising of livestock, planning for access to all-important water resources ... and only after those, common defense.  You’ll need numbers of people, in a supportive community.  More Euell Gibbons, less Mad Max.  You’ll need to eat multiple times a day ... whereas if you’re in armed conflict with others as often as some survivalist sites imply, you won’t have enough time to grow a weed.  Can’t eat bullets, and with the population of America today, hunting-gathering will last about one month.

Small actions have big impact.  It would be wise to build a ”Victory garden” this year ... in preparation for the coming summer fuel price hike (which will trickle down to foodstuffs).  You can do it in pots and containers, too.  For real down-to-earth ‘survival’, before survival became fashionable (and theatrical), read the Foxfire books. Most libraries have ‘em. 

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