Does this article bother you? Its kinda scaring me! What do you all think about it?

Question

http://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080524/ap_on_re_us/environmental_survivalists.html

Answer 1

A worst case scenario for some

However

Independence and a healthy life is the motivation for many not ,necessarily fear

People were already doing  that 40 + years ago,

In Permaculture we have been advocating that type of self sufficiency  for ever

In a world that is consuming its bio resources and destroying the Environment in the process.

One cannot deny that it is far safer to be self reliant than be addicted  to a system in danger,which is becoming more expensive by the day.

But with the danger or War ,or natural disaster looming ahead it is not a bad bet to be prepared.

And to pursue a better quality of life is a positive concept.

And if enough people did this, the existing pressures on agriculture and our bio resources would lessen .

The big picture would be if the concept did not limit itself to  individuals but would spread to the suburbs and communities.

What is Permaculture

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Permaculture for urbanites

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

from-http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

growing food in the suburbs

http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

sustainability

http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

from

http://byderule.multiply.com/

WHAT IS FAR MORE SCARY is that answers like from bohemian garnet ,who said it all, gets thumbs down .

That there are so many people around who resist or resent

Ecological sense and the willingness to be more responsible with our Environment .

Answer 2

MOST PEOPLE WHERE I LIVE USE WOOD STOVES WITH A 3 RE-CYCLEABLE  LOGS WILL HEAT A 3 BEDROOM HOME FOR 12 HOURS, BUT OIL == THERE'S ANOTHER SOURCE AND I'M WAITING ON THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA SO I CAN GIVE HIM THE LOCATION +. IT COULD MEAN  $1.25 PER GALLON AND WITHOUT OPEC.

Answer 3

I think the story is interesting.  Not the parts where they are trying to scare us in to thinking the world will end and only these 50 people will survive.  The parts about people actually being self-reliant.  If I could cut the cord that outside income has on me, I would consider it.

Answer 4

Actually I'm looking forward to living similarly to this, but without the fear and nonsense.

I think its good when articles like this pop up because it makes people rethink their lifestyle and leads them to more earth friendly ways of living.

And though I find it unfortunate that those people only changed out of fear, it seems that fear is the only thing that drives most people to do anything these days...

Thanks for the article.

Answer 5

on the contrary.. what is becoming a trend is both good for us and our planet, people are learning to become more self-reliant and on the other hand it;s sending a strong message to oil companies.

there are much better and efficient alternatives to fossil-fuel, but the big companies are reluctant to explore and invest into them because it will affect their profits and most political leaders side with them.. if people start 'producing' their own energy and limit their usage of fossil-fuel; political leaders and oil companies will start to look into alternatives seriously.

in the end..it's all for the best.

Answer 6

Yea, when I was a kid the thing to panic over was the 'Red Scare'.  Then it was the "Y2K' bug.  Remember scientist telling us that planes would drop out of the sky at the stroke of midnight?

Now it's "Global Warming".  This too will pass and be forgotten about.  

I wonder what scare story will be next?

Answer 7

OMG IM LYK TOTALLY FREAKED OUT NOW!  I hope that doesn't really happen!

Answer 8

I read the article and it did make me a little nervous.  What if they are right?  I wouldn't be prepared at all.  Hopefully they are overzealous.  I think with technology there will be other sources of energy for us to use.

Answer 9

so wierd!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

if this happens, the only people that would be greatly impacted would be the comfortable, technologically dependent, overfed 1st world countries.

have you seen how people in 3rd world countries live?

they live in exact conditions like the one in the article and in even more eco-friendly / low tech conditions.

2/3rds of the world's population's already prepared unknowingly for the worst.

the solution: all the affected move to 3rd world countries :-)

Answer 11

I've lived on a permaculture homestead/farm for over 20 years.

Not because I have this great fear the world is going to end, or humanity will be wiped off the face of the earth. Rather we do so, because we very much value our independence, self sufficiency, and because we personally view it as an investment in our retirement.

How would it be, to be retired, and have only bills for phones, internet, and TV, if you wanted it? Those are all luxury items. Life does not actually end if you don't have them.

So if our mortgage is paid off, our farm generates it's own electricity, heat, and water from the well, and oh yes, we grow our own fuel to run our vehicles. Not to mention all the delicious and ultra healthy food we grow for ourselves (and yes we butcher our own animals). So we eat the stuff that costs huge amounts at the stores, because it would bear lables that say "organic, free range, grass fed, all natural"...yet it only costs us pennies to raise it ourselves. That strikes me as smart.

We can raise and make our own fuel, for about $.79 cents a gallon. Do people actually ENJOY paying a lot for fuel? Isn't being self suffcient better?

The farm generates income, so we don't have to worry about paying the taxes when we become elderly.

I fail to see what is wrong with growing, cutting and splitting your own wood stack, for your wood stove. Do you know what kind of great physical shape that puts you in? The price of our wood is not going up (because we can grow our own), unlike people who depend on heating oil.

I also fail to see what is wrong with families who become self sufficient. Do you know how stress free we are, and how much time we get to spend together? We are all able to pursue our greatest interests and joys in life (in other words we have time to play).

I happen to personally be extremely suceptable to the flu, and suffer serrious complications. Would you be able to shut your gate, or door, and remain home for 6 months, until a pandemic blew over? Or would you have to go to work, or the store? We could shut the gate to the farm, and remain here for a couple of years, and never run out of interesting things to do, or read, not to mention food supplies, nor even toilet paper. How would your family fair? Most spouses would want to kill each other, and the children, after the stress of being "locked up" for only a week or two.

I personally wish MORE people were self sufficient! Then they wouldn't be standing in line for a hand-out from the back of a Red Cross truck, or panic buying at grocery stores, before big storms hit their area. They would also be able to weather things like spouse death, and long term unempoyment, or serrious illness of a family member, MUCH better.

Independent, self sufficient people ROCK!

Oh yeah....one other thing, what if bird flu, or peak oil, or WW III do come to pass in your lifetime....who will you turn to for help? My neighbors would be given meat rabbits, goats they could milk, fresh fuits and vegtables, as well as seeds so they could grow their own. I could feed my neighbors....about 30 houses worth of people. What would happen to you, and in your neighborhood? Would someone kill you for the last can of pork n' beans?

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

P.S. I will also state that I feel sorry for people who become independent or self suffcient out of a sence of fear. People should be doing so out of a sence of pride in what they themselves can accomplish.

Answer 12

too true...the shocks are only starting... people who live 50 /75 miles from work are already in deep do do...wait until a box of cereal is 7 dollars and hamburger is 10 dollars a pound...i have all the guns i need to keep them out of my pantry