self-sufficient now, systemictransformation later?

[collette mcneill <collette@mlwebworks.com>]

I hope Im not quoting tom out of context...

I agree with his and bob's view that our largest need is for practical
community-based organization and action.  But, I think American and
Canadian communities are already capable of preparing for and
organizing during times of crisis in cooperative ways to protect their
citizens, poor or no.

I'm reminded of a heat wave in the midwest (1995?) which caused more
than 500 deaths in the poor areas of Chicago...most victims are
elderly people who could not afford air conditioning, but were too
afraid of being robbed to open their doors or windows.  Local
communities there and in other parts of the US have learned from this
and now keep track of their poor and elderly citizens, checking up on
them or caring for them during heat waves.  The Chicago media help,
too, with loud and insistent advice on surviving heat waves. (the City
can't do anything but keep roads clear, hold press conferences and ask
for the neighborhoods' assistance, because it's not equipped to
operate on a neighborhood scale.)

Another example of human tenacity:  this past Christmas Eve, an ice
storm knocked out power in areas across the southeastern US--in
places, for more than a week.  I think the total death toll in this
case was only 9, eight dying in a single traffic accident, another
crushed under a fallen tree. They weren't necessarily poor.

What are we preparing for that we haven't experienced in some form or
another in the past 10 years? A power outage for a week? Being stuck
with no cash and ATM systems down for a day or so? Maybe living
without running water for a few days?

How will this be so different from preparing for a hurricane or
blizzard, earthquake, landslide, whatever brand of local disaster you
experience? How likely is it that *all* of the power stations will go
down?  How likely is it that our *entire* monetary system will fail?
That businesses will remain closed instead of using a paper backup
system and everyone will riot and starve, and noone will check up on
the senior citizens' highrise?  Barring an accidental nuclear
holocaust, how likely is it that any actual destruction will take
place?

Remember the recent Leonid meteor shower that was supposed to take out
10% of the world's satellites and really foul things up for us?  It
didn't. Likewise, the Y2k bug is probably not apocalyptic.  I worry
that people will use the Y2K bug as an excuse to act foolishly more
than I do that VISA and AMEX hiccup (they have backup tapes).

Cooperation between the community planners and the media --building
upon systems already in place in many communities-- to prepare its
citizens and calm reactionary fears will bring a successful turn of
the century. If you're doubtful of the effectiveness of your local Y2K
contingency plan, get on the planning committee, and squirrel away
what food and water you can afford over the next year.

collette

tom abeles wrote:

> >  There almost nothing that I can do about the "system."
> >  However, I can help people survive.
> ----------------------------------------
>
> I think we need to think carefully about this position. ...

> Canada is ready to call out the military to
> maintain order if things collapse- I suspect the US and other
> developed countries have such contingencies also. So what are the poor
> to do? The best they can do is to use this early warning system to see
> what can be done on a metalevel and start squireling away cans of this
> and that in their basements if they have the excess capital for such
> luxuries.
> ...
>
> The big question is whether your VISA or American Express card will
> hiccup.
>
> thoughts?
>
> tom abeles