blogwatch
2 Dec 2008
Where Is The Safest Place On Earth?
With all the panic going on in the world, the survivalism movement is making a comeback. We head to the blogs for some tips on surviving the end of the world as we know it
Here at blogwatch, we were shocked to discover that there are people who aren't interested in reading us — not because they don't like our writing, but because they've decided to form militia communes in the mountains to survive a global catastrophe triggered by the New World Order. Fearing these potential readers would be lost forever, we had to know more.
The so-called "survivalist" movement came out of the United States back in the 1960s when nuclear holocaust, economic collapse and social disintegration were front-page news. Radicals from both the left and the right decided to head for the hills in preparation for the end of the world.
The end never came, but that didn't stop recruitment. This year there has been a lot to panic about, and survivalism is enjoying a surge in popularity.
"The interesting thing about the [survivalist] movement at this moment in history is that survivalism has now gone green — at least in theory," says Scott Thrill on AlterNet. "From peak oil and food crises all the way to catastrophic payback from that bitch Mother Earth, there are more reasons to hide than ever."
The result is growing communities with a rich mix of self-reliant citizens: environmentalists, tree changers, loners, transition towners, federalists, white supremacists and evangelical Christians are all preparing for the post-tribulation rapture.
Before you start muttering "those crazy Americans", you should know that we have our very own eco-warriors right here in Oz. Energy Bulletin quotes a Weekend Australian article on survivalist Steve McReady, an aircraft engineer from Adelaide:
"He has bought a property in New Zealand — which he says fares well in climate-change models — and once he gets his affairs in order he'll move there to learn about growing vegies and raising chooks... He would have been talking marriage with his girlfriend now if it weren't for all this. 'She's a really nice person, great morals, but the lifestyle she aspires to is what most modern women want,' McReady explains the first time we talk on the phone. 'We're still going out and doing things together. We have talked about this issue but we really haven't resolved it. I'm relying on time. Maybe $2-a-litre petrol by Christmas or if the United States invades Iran ... Perhaps if she saw that what I'm talking about was true, she might change her attitude'."
McReady may have chosen New Zealand as his safe haven, but it turns out that there's a competitive market for "safest place on Earth".
Former Green Beret and US Presidential Candidate Colonel Bo Gritz thinks he's found it — the self-described "inspiration for Rambo" has set up a community in rural Idaho called Almost Heaven. One thousand acres of land quickly sold when word spread that the legendary constitutionalist was creating his own community.
With Almost Heaven full, other entrepreneurs began founding "nearby developments with names like Shenandoah, Doves of the Valley and Woodland Acres" writes Rebecca Boone.
For those looking to buy a nice place to sit out the end of the world, check out Survival Realty. Forget modern kitchens and panoramic views, key selling points include "defensible" or "area has many other survival-minded people, including experts in solar and wind power, alternative medicine, excavating, earth ship homes, etc".
Bo Gritz has since left Almost Heaven, but his survival advice and political analysis can be found here. The lead article begins, "To understand where we are in America (God's Kingdom Come to Earth) today and where we're going, you must know how we arrived at the cusp of Global Corporate Fascism".
Last week, to really understand what Gritz is preparing for, the newmatilda.com blogwatch team watched his instructional training videos. After 66 hours (straight), we are now qualified SPIKE (Specially Prepared Individuals for Key Events). The highlights for us were the breaking locks for entry to obtain food, water, shelter, communication and/or transportation in emergencies; packing animals for extended outings; emergency surgery involving invasive surgical procedures; and the special CIA method for always getting your own way.
Of course Gritz's advice mostly revolves around the power of Christ and the American constitution, so for counsel on surviving a post-Apocalyptic Australia you may want to visit aussurvivalist.com. The homepage includes a handy graph which shows "the possible causes and likelihood of a major catastrophe in the next 10 years".
According to the graph, there is a 59 per cent chance of a natural pandemic, a 45 per cent chance of World War III beginning and an 87 per cent chance of global warming causing a catastrophe.
The site also contains a list of "survivalist prophecies", although these seem slightly out of date: "Three days of darkness, which I firmly believe will take place in October 2000, and involve major volcanic eruptions and earth changes globally."
And: "Stormberger was a remarkable 19th Century Bavarian seer who was able to visualise with great accuracy the events that would take place in the 20th Century. The third world war will be the most catastrophic war to hit mankind this century."
Until then, survivalists around the world are busily preparing. Like blogger Total Survivalist, who appeared to enjoy Thanksgiving:
"We were watching the parades for a while, not so much because we like them but because that is what you do on Turkey Day. I had a little bit of Baileys in my second cup of coffee which was nice. It will be the first time Wifey has ever cooked a turkey and the first time I have ever carved one. Fun times."
Will we still have Baileys after Armageddon?
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I’d love to know what sea-level rise maps Steve McReady (no relation) used in NZ.
Yes, I believe in survivalism.
In this crazy, crazy world where we are all caught between that tiny minority who know every damn trick in the book at enriching themselves and religious fanatics of very stripe and colour, including deep green who would happily shoot and burn us with barely a blink, what is the best you can do for your loved ones and descendants?
The answer is crystal clear - build and secure a place where, if necessary they can simply survive the wilderness which is the future.
I’ve been working on this for some time and it is amazing how many rules of building that refuge from the storm you will learn along the way.
Here are just a few:
Be up a long bad dirt road, preferably with some 4WDing at the end. All gates should be solid and locked up with well-rusted padlocks. Have a very big tree in place to drop on the main track. Only you and yours must know the fast way in - and out. This is to make sure the stormtroopers from the Shire and every type other official busybody (of which there will never, ever be any shortage - count on it) will always have to work very damn hard to get at you and yours.
Secure that reliable water supply - close and locked down securely underground is better than in a drying up muddy dam way down the far end.
Secure that food supply. Growing stuff is fun - get very good at it. Make sure you know how to fish and hunt.
Get some nice animals which have a useful function. You will have a deeper, nicer conversation with your chooks than with the local building inspector.
Secure that tree supply - it is your last resort for energy supply. Wood got us into, and out of, the caves. Plus if it all goes belly up you can (maybe) scam the carbon credits off Penny and Kev.
Make sure there will always be lethal weapons handy. It is a lot of fun getting good with a well made compound or recurve bow plus it sure beats sweating your way around a gym.
I am disappointed NM, this "blogwatch" is more satire than real blog watch.
What about the real world not just Oz and the US?
What are they doing in Nepal? who cares about NZ. What’s their new PM’s name?
Kazakhstan? the survivors there can take on Russia and test their skills. If they fail they might get the firing squad,if they’re lucky, or if not, boiled in oil or bbqued? hmm finger licking good!! Hanibal.
Iceland survivalists can be relieved that their turkeys won’t need refrigeration on Xmas day, so they can spend what little money is left in the country on crissy prezzies. They can use their banks for shelter without all that pesky money cluttering up the vaults anymore.
Noone cares what tunes the band played as the Titanic sank, did they?
Certainly more lifeboats and less deck chairs might have been a strategy.
So what difference does it make to change the captain as the boat is sinking?
Friends, I fear we’re all in the same boat and that boat is sinking fast.
So if you chuck a drowning person a razor blade, you may be doing them a big favour, if they use it productively. :)
Fair points revilo… but wouldn’t blogs about survivalists in Kazakhstan be in Kazakh?
Mystifying points revilo… but surely the band themselves cared what they played as the Titanic sunk.
A Kazakh survivalist is a surviving Kazakh. I am unsure if they are particularly tasty and you were referencing Hannibal Lector or suggesting we go and rescue the remaining Kazakhs with a bunch of well trained elephants.
New Zealand does count in this one because it is argued that it will be the land mass least impacted by a Northern Hemishere cataclysm. Their new PM’s name escapes me also but if the shit hits the fan he will be the first against the wall and will not be there to welcome you at the soon to be closed airport.
Iceland. Well you really got them there. NM does shit all about Iceland. Shame on them. If the answers are to be found it stands to reason they must be in Iceland, because otherwise we would already know.
If you change captains as the boat is sinking it may be of great importance to the two captains. If you throw a razor blade to someone who is drowning then you are a heartless prick. Why not just fish them out? Too busy? What sort of weirdo hangs around the ocean with a razor blade anyway? Creepy.
ecoeng, you seem to wait for the fall of the West with barely controlled glee. Won’t it be grand when we are allowed to shoot each other again just like the good old days. Bring on the international ice age!
A wise man hopes for the best and prepares for the worst. If preparing for the worst looks worthwhile one may as well do it with a bit of humour. When you are a grumpy old man like me you’ll hopefully have figured out that humour is a very precious commodity indeed, far more valuable than (say)……..CFDs.
Clever Doggie! Of course (at least some of) the answers would be found in Iceland - where the winter nights are almost endless and Elkes outnumber Erics about 60 : 40.
As for NZed being home and (hydraulically) hosed? Mate, anyone with half a brain eats, roots, shoots and leaves like any smart little Kiwi.
ecoeng, I am heading for Iceland right now.
If there was to be a world catastrophe we might well be faced with two choices. On the one hand we could opt to live long dark, evil filled days of violence and dysfunction. Or we could choose not to live in Wellington, and die with the rest of humanity.
Hard choice.