posted on May 24, 2008 03:48:50 PM newEnergy fears looming, new survivalists prepare
By SAMANTHA GROSS, Associated Press Writer Sat May 24, 2:12 PM ET
BUSKIRK, N.Y. - 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.
posted on May 24, 2008 06:18:26 PM new
One should never feel sorry for, or even acknowledge the presence of people too stupid to breathe.
The simplest research would show there is "oil" for hundreds if not thousands of years. The only question is how much oil is discovered which is easy to extract before using the more difficult to obtain sources.
posted on May 24, 2008 07:01:42 PM new
Kiara: I too have been looking at the way I live and wondering what I could do without. I've never been more concerned about the future of the planet.
Desquirrel: Even if what you say about having abundant oil for thousands of years, the cost of extracting it (shale, etc.) will drive up the costs of almost everything we buy. I'd like to believe you're right, but won't we be wiser as human beings to prepare for less than optimum conditions for us or our grandchildren?
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posted on May 24, 2008 07:45:07 PM new
I wish the survivalists would redirect their efforts to save the planet, which most scientists agree is feasible if we take immediate action, instead of giving up and directing their efforts to be the last living beings on earth. Who would want to be a part of that?
At the same time, as major disasters (like Katrina) have taught us, local retailers find it cheaper to schedule "just in time" deliveries, rather than warehouse product. I believe I read that a major city has retailers storing less than a week of needed essentials. If ANY catastrophe hits a city that disrupts transportation into or out of the city, chaos will erupt in three days, at the most. It is wise to follow the Mormon example of having needed essentials stored (food, medicine, water and detergent) in case of emergency. I have little cupboard space but have two ugly large storage bins of non-refrigerated food and lots of bottled water in the garage.
posted on May 25, 2008 07:29:05 AM newI wish the survivalists would redirect their efforts to save the planet,..
We need to get away from the phrase "save the planet". The planet is in no danger. It will be here and just fine, perhaps even better off, long after we are gone. What we really want to save is our precious lifestyle. I think you could make a pretty good case that these people are already contributing more to "saving" the planet than the average person is by following their locally supported, reduced consumption lifestyle.
I don't consider myself a survivalist by any means, but we'd be just fine here indefinitely if push came to shove. It's how we've always done things. Neighboring ranches won't be so fortunate, as their systems are all based on petroleum and grid power. It does concern me that I need to spend some time thinking about beefing up security against humans. Ammunition on sale has become a permanent part of the go to town shopping list.
posted on May 25, 2008 09:35:44 AM new
Roadsmith, you and Profe come to mind when I think of those who post here who are more self sufficient, him with his ranch and you with your solar energy. Almost everyone we know is having more frequent discussions about the future because of the high energy and food costs. We felt especially vulnerable this past winter because we moved to an area where we got lots of snow and we didn't have a wood stove for back-up heat or cooking in case of a power outage but were fortunate there were no major storms. I know those who are going back to growing gardens and preserving food after giving it up for several years when times were good and now they want to feel more secure.
Pixiamom, you sound more prepared for an emergency than I presently am - we were better equipped years ago. When Helen posted the link on the other topic about the children taken from the compound in Texas wanting to make bread I was thinking that they would be more prepared to survive in an emergency than most other kids and their families in today's society.
Desquirrel, there may be lots more oil but it will always be in the hands of only a few who control it and the rest of us will be held hostage while they determine the price. I wonder if the high cost of oil may lesson the manufacturing of useless plastic items that come in on containers from China which quickly pollute our landfills.
posted on May 25, 2008 10:20:35 AM new " It does concern me that I need to spend some time thinking about beefing up security against humans. Ammunition on sale has become a permanent part of the go to town shopping list. "
posted on May 25, 2008 12:39:39 PM newI wonder if the high cost of oil may lesson the manufacturing of useless plastic items that come in on containers from China which quickly pollute our landfills.
Sadly, long as we continue to buy that crap somebody will be more'n happy to make it for us. In spite of the growing trend towards local production and everybody's professed interest in American goods, we prove every day we go to WalMart and blow a hundred bucks or more that we are not only happy, we are eager to buy cheap, poorly made junk. Price is the first, last and only consideration.
I feel like I have two choices. I can decide that oh well, everybody buys that stuff and it's the state of modern commerce and it won't make any difference anyhow so I'll just get in line with everyone else, or I can decide that even if it doesn't make a difference not one bit, it will make me feel better, like I've at least done what I can to take myself out of that ugly loop by eschewing WalMart and Harbor Freight and the others and by searching out American products. I do it because it feels better. Cleaner. Like the right thing to do.
posted on May 25, 2008 12:47:55 PM new
BTW helen, I'm also adding 4 more grouchy Anatolian shepherds to the 6 I already have. I had 6 lambs stolen this season. I'm afraid people stealing food is already upon us. I wonder if there has been a rise in shoplifting stats....
posted on May 25, 2008 07:21:24 PM new
"Even if what you say about having abundant oil for thousands of years, the cost of extracting it (shale, etc.) will drive up the costs of almost everything we buy. I'd like to believe you're right, but won't we be wiser as human beings to prepare for less than optimum conditions for us or our grandchildren?"
I don't understand. All of a sudden you're worrying about the cost of oil NOW and at the same time support Mid East policies which will destabilize the region and escalate the price of oil way beyond the speculating done today.
posted on May 25, 2008 08:44:14 PM new
Profe, my ex bought a van that runs on ethanol. I asked him if his fuel savings justified the higher cost of the van. He answered no, it will break about even but he likes to think more money will stay in the US. My Uncle and cousins in Iowa are delighted that corn prices are so high...
posted on May 25, 2008 09:43:00 PM new
Sadly, ethanol only returns about 2/3 of the energy it takes to produce it, and the energy it takes to produce it is based almost entirely on petroleum, specifically diesel fuel. Diesel is used to plant, irrigate, fertilize, harvest and transport the corn that produces the ethanol. Meantime, food prices are going thru the roof in large part due to the price of corn. Modern American agriculture and food production (including the factory meat most of us eat) depends almost entirely on corn and soybeans. You wouldn't believe the products in your home that contain corn or corn derivatives. From your fridge to your pantry to your laundry room to your bathroom, corn is king.
As an agriculturalist, it's particularly sad for me to see those corn farmers buying wholesale into this propped up system of welfare farming. It's all a house of cards.
posted on May 26, 2008 10:54:13 AM new
Corn is a particularly bad source for ethanol. The grasses, etc, the Brazilians use are much better suited. EVEN AT THAT, ethanol is dramatically more expensive to use than gasoline even before considerations such as the inability to be sent via pipeline because it absorbs water.
The only reason the ethanol program even exists is because of clucking morons and we all take it in the neck.
