Signs of the Times

This is from a San Fransisco paper.  They're still making it look like a fringe thing, but I think we'll be seeing more of this.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/24/national/a10...

Energy fears looming, new survivalists prepare

Saturday, May 24, 2008

A few years ago, Kathleen Breault was just another suburban grandma,
driving countless hours every week, stopping for lunch at McDonald's,
buying clothes at the mall, watching TV in the evenings.

That was before Breault heard an author talk about the bleak future
of the world's oil supply. Now, she's preparing for the world as we
know it to disappear.

Breault cut her driving time in half. She switched to a diet of
locally grown foods near her upstate New York home and lost 70 pounds.
She sliced up her credit cards, banished her television and swore off
plane travel. She began relying on a wood-burning stove.

"I was panic-stricken," the 50-year-old recalled, her voice shaking.
"Devastated. Depressed. Afraid. Vulnerable. Weak. Alone. Just terrible."

Convinced the planet's oil supply is dwindling and the world's
economies are heading for a crash, some people around the country are
moving onto homesteads, learning to live off their land, conserving
fuel and, in some cases, stocking up on guns they expect to use to
defend themselves and their supplies from desperate crowds of people
who didn't prepare.

The exact number of people taking such steps is impossible to
determine, but anecdotal evidence suggests that the movement has been
gaining momentum in the last few years.

These energy survivalists are not leading some sort of green
revolution meant to save the planet. Many of them believe it is too
late for that, seeing signs in soaring fuel and food prices and a
faltering U.S. economy, and are largely focused on saving themselves.

Some are doing it quietly, giving few details of their preparations
— afraid that revealing such information as the location of their
supplies will endanger themselves and their loved ones. They envision a
future in which the nation's cities will be filled with hungry,
desperate refugees forced to go looking for food, shelter and water.

"There's going to be things that happen when people can't get things
that they need for themselves and their families," said Lynn-Marie, who
believes cities could see a rise in violence as early as 2012.

Lynn-Marie asked to be identified by her first name to protect her
homestead in rural western Idaho. Many of these survivalists declined
to speak to The Associated Press for similar reasons.

These survivalists believe in "peak oil," the idea that world oil
production is set to hit a high point and then decline. Scientists who
support idea say the amount of oil produced in the world each year has
already or will soon begin a downward slide, even amid increased
demand. But many scientists say such a scenario will be avoided as
other sources of energy come in to fill the void.

On the PeakOil.com Web site, where upward of 800 people gathered on
recent evenings, believers engage in a debate about what kind of world
awaits.

Some members argue there will be no financial crash, but a slow
slide into harder times. Some believe the federal government will
respond to the loss of energy security with a clampdown on personal
freedoms. Others simply don't trust that the government can maintain
basic services in the face of an energy crisis.

The powers that be, they've determined, will be largely powerless to stop what is to come.

Determined to guard themselves from potentially harsh times ahead,
Lynn-Marie and her husband have already planted an orchard of about 40
trees and built a greenhouse on their 7 1/2 acres. They have built
their own irrigation system. They've begun to raise chickens and pigs,
and they've learned to slaughter them.

The couple have gotten rid of their TV and instead have been reading
dusty old books published in their grandparents' era, books that
explain the simpler lifestyle they are trying to revive. Lynn-Marie has
been teaching herself how to make soap. Her husband, concerned about
one day being unable to get medications, has been training to become an
herbalist.

By 2012, they expect to power their property with solar panels, and
produce their own meat, milk and vegetables. When things start to fall
apart, they expect their children and grandchildren will come back home
and help them work the land. She envisions a day when the family may
have to decide whether to turn needy people away from their door.

"People will be unprepared," she said. "And we can imagine marauding hordes."

So can Peter Laskowski. Living in a woodsy area outside of
Montpelier, Vt., the 57-year-old retiree has become the local constable
and a deputy sheriff for his county, as well as an emergency medical
technician.

"I decided there was nothing like getting the training myself to
deal with insurrections, if that's a possibility," said the former
executive recruiter.

Laskowski is taking steps similar to environmentalists: conserving
fuel, consuming less, studying global warming, and relying on local
produce and craftsmen. Laskowski is powering his home with solar panels
and is raising fish, geese, ducks and sheep. He has planted apple and
pear trees and is growing lettuce, spinach and corn.

Whenever possible, he uses his bicycle to get into town.

"I remember the oil crisis in '73; I remember waiting in line for
gas," Laskowski said. "If there is a disruption in the oil supply it
will be very quickly elevated into a disaster."

Breault said she hopes to someday band together with her neighbors
to form a self-sufficient community. Women will always be having
babies, she notes, and she imagines her skills as a midwife will always
be in demand.

For now, she is readying for the more immediate work ahead: There's
a root cellar to dig, fruit trees and vegetable plots to plant. She has
put a bicycle on layaway, and soon she'll be able to bike to visit her
grandkids even if there is no oil at the pump.

Whatever the shape of things yet to come, she said, she's done what she can to prepare.

--- Post removed at author's request ---

maryc's picture

I have a cool neighbor,against war,big government......but voted republican this year so she could vote for Paul. His gun rights appealed to her(and another topic I won't go into here) she tries to explain to me why I should bear arms..........I live in the wild west,in county not city,shooting is a right. I just don't agree. We are the only house on the street that does not have weapons......only our wits,and bold spirits to protect us.I tell the neighbors this is a sancuary. Fear is the big danger.Prepared,yes, defensive,no. Like the bomb shelters of the 50's, not a full plan for existence. Love,Mary

I love these comments and who you are Mary...

I totally agree with you, the only weapon we need is the power of love.......

Thanks Mary,

 

And thanks Dave, you have had me worried Dude, great to see a new post from you...

 

With love

Jeremy

Berry's picture

Dave, I have also wondered where you were, but I felt in my heart that you were never far away.  I have considered all of the above scenarios myself.  And yes, I have also decided to do what I can to provide for myself though with only one acre of land, (thankfully) it will be difficult to produce all that is needed. The community effort is what is necessary.  I have read so many channeled transmission which advocate creating communities which can share in production of food. Even so the energy issue is difficult.  Those without funds to install solar/wind or other means of creating energy are left to revert to true pioneering days...wood fires to heat, light and cook with.  And then there will be a devastation of all nearby wood sources. 

 

I find that I must envision a different outcome to what is occuring at this moment.  There will be, soon I believe, a major change from oil based energy to a more Earth Conscious form of energy.  Change is accelerating so very quickly now that we cannot even imagine what will be, in 2 or 3 years much less at 2012.  We are indeed approaching Point Horizon at which time, nothing we can imagine will inform us of what it will be.

I trust in the Creator to guide me to that time and direct me through it.

In the love and light of our one infinite Creator,

Berry

 

maryc's picture

Just how I feel........

The way to survive is to unite.......I agree with Berry that things will run differently soon.So many new ways,and energy sources that have been buried......they will be uncovered. I too,look to a brave new world! Love,Mary

IN A GOOD WAY!

Jim's picture

Hi Everybody!

Great topic. For many years I subscribed to the Mother Earth magazine and saved all my copies . I was ready to handle anything and everything. While on a very limited budget as a teacher I purchased land near a huge lake in Pa. I had  the shell of the house built and I finished the inside over period of 20 yrs. I had firewood, water,a huge deer herd, turkey, rabbits  and fish to fall back on etc I followed the teachings of Sun Bear, the American Indian prophet and generally made myself ready for anything. I made lists for every possibility. Remember the Planet X scare? I stockpiled food, bought a water distiller etc. Outcome: my family, my neighbors and I  could survive. Most of this was ego driven, type A testosterone fueled mental gymnastics.

Now I firmly believe that as long as I stay centered, meditate, cleanse my thinking and hold to the conviction that we are all related, we will be shown the way. Wherever I am will be safe, and that's where I'm supposed to be. There are no accidents. Thy will be done. Yes, there will be trials,tests and bad times Fear clouds your thinking and encourages ego .Use common sense and stay alert. Sun Bear had many visions of the future and saw small round dwellings surrounded by gardens etc I also believe we are going through the ascension process right now.

We are part of a wonderful group ,or community ,right here on the internet. We will be directed to the other solutions as they are needed.

Life is exciting,rewarding and exactly what we make it. My reward right now is being here with you guys!

Love ya!

Jim

 

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