Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I have pondered on the economic situation and wondered if "the west" so to speak have been living the equivalent of being heads of an empire. Based on oil and its deriatives these countries lifestyles and living standards romped away (with the odd blip- but on the whole much, much better that those in poorer countries). Like Rome at its peak we milked the poorer countries as much as we could and enjoyed the high life. But all empires come to an end. Look at Cuba without oil-a simpler, but much poorer lifestyle.

The monetary lead is shifting to many of the Asian economies such as China and no matter what we and the US do I don't think much is going to stop that. Once the oil is gone a different world will have to emerge.

Ali x

I think you would very much enjoy the blog called thearchdruidreport. Please don't be dissuaded by the title, it isn't about druidry but it is about peak oil and the likely consequences of life on the downslope of the Hubbert Peak. Well-written, thoroughly researched and very thought-provoking. The comments are superb. There is a weekly post and this week's will show up in the next few hours.

What the writer of that blog uses to describe what you're thinking about is the term wealth pump to express the concept of the powerful nation state/ empire removing resources from the less powerful countries and territories under very favourable terms to itself. Usually done these days by manipulating world markets, sometimes backed up with brute military force.

The wealth pump can fail when the resources are depleted or when the less-powerful nation starts to acquire more power and/ or make allegiances with a powerful political ally. Some currently-developing nations will likely ally with China and away from the US, and cut the pump off at source.

What will happen as the oil and certain rare earth minerals critical to advanced technocratic societies start to run out? My best educated guess is that the competition for those resources will become ferocious and that any pretence to negotiate trade agreements will come down to military might and the willingness to use it. I have a vague recollection that the US already has a military presence in well over 100 countries...........?

Imperial Rome kept a city of 1 million mostly-impoverished citizens satiated with bread and circuses; the wheat sucked from the Empire, chiefly Egypt, and the circuses the gory spectacles of the Games.

The US has 300 million citizens and has been wealth-pumping the largest share of the whole world's resources to them for decades. When this ends, and nothing lasts forever, it may be that the American lifestyle of the present will come to seem a semi-mythical golden era as the country slides down to third world levels of poverty.

Of course, although we in the UK are long past our glory days when the sun never set on the Empire, we still pump wealth from across the planet to fuel our lifestyles, as does the rest of the so-called West. What pertains there will pertain here, to a greater or lesser degree.

elaine241

Hello! I have been lurking on this thread for a while picking up tips and ideas. For a while I have been worried about a SHTF scenario or hopefully a slightly less catastrophic event. I have been building up my food, candles, water isnt a problem as there is a spring outside my back door that was the water supply for the house for many years.(i have bottles too!) The house can be heated with wood and my cooker runs on bottled gas.I have sorted my every day carry items and packed a get home bag for the car. My problem is that I am doing this secretly! My partner thinks I am slightly mad and I have taken to hiding the extra items, food, prep stuff as I am sure he would seriously think I have lost the plot if he knew what I have stashed! LOL. Does anyone else have this problem? I have tried talking to him but he thinks we are better off than most as we live on a farm, have veg garden, means to provide power via a generator, have a means to hunt and protect ourselves! Anyway hello from me and I hope to find support on this thread where you dont think I am mad!!

GreyQueen

Hi Elaine, welcome to active posting.

A problem with spouses not singing from the same hymn sheets is a frequent and oft-mentioned problem among preppers. You may want to handle it by a mixture of reasoning and guile.

If your preps are managed by yourself, and not putting a burden on household finances/ space perhaps marital harmony can be helped by a little stealth?

Re your spring, deeply-envious. Is it year round and does it dwindle in a drought? If it was mine I would want to think about having it tested for possible contaminants before regarding it as a potential supply, esp as there may be agri-chemicals about?

Having said that, my great-grandparents raised 11 kids in a cottage in the early twentieth century with absolutely no potable water on site. General water was from a pond outside and drinking water brought in the horse and cart, in terracotta pots, strained through several layers of muslin then boiled.

The youngest of the 11 died at 73 but the rest lived into their mid-to-late eighties are were strong as oxen.

Dippypud

GreyQueen wrote: »

What will happen as the oil and certain rare earth minerals critical to advanced technocratic societies start to run out? My best educated guess is that the competition for those resources will become ferocious and that any pretence to negotiate trade agreements will come down to military might and the willingness to use it. I have a vague recollection that the US already has a military presence in well over 100 countries...........?


The US has 300 million citizens and has been wealth-pumping the largest share of the whole world's resources to them for decades. When this ends, and nothing lasts forever, it may be that the American lifestyle of the present will come to seem a semi-mythical golden era as the country slides down to third world levels of poverty.

Of course, although we in the UK are long past our glory days when the sun never set on the Empire, we still pump wealth from across the planet to fuel our lifestyles, as does the rest of the so-called West. What pertains there will pertain here, to a greater or lesser degree.

I was chatting to our kids last year about 'when-the-oil-runs-out' and said that we would start to mine the old rubbish pits, tips and other holes in the ground ...

It would be a cheaper chance to take even with the pollution devastation that will result ...

missrlr

On the basis of natural resources leading to global power lets consider Australia getting very rich off China's and India's need (greed) for such commodities
Gold .... I have visions of dragons and piles of shiny stuff a la cartoon styleeeee
Clearly need sleep night all

mardatha

Yep, interesting times and getting more interesting by the hour!

wondercollie

Fridays after 4pm have always been a popular time for proposed SHTF situations.

I remember back in the '80s hearing that if the Soviets invaded Europe it would be Friday after 4pm because pretty much all of NATO had closed down for the weekend.

ginnyknit

Elaine, welcome, you will find if you have a minor shtf - like breaking down off the beaten track and you pull out supplies from the boot your OH will immeadiately get the idea and claim it 'An amazing idea which he suggested months ago' and thus you will be able to prep happily away. While Im not wishing bad luck on you of course, just saying how to convert him. And no you are not mad, you have just found rather a lot of like minds.

hummingfridge

Elaine you sound very well prepared. You might have to introduce your preps little by little rather than all at once- a slow drip!

I am worried about something that is kicking off at the moment and in a part of the world where I have family members. After watching the news this morning I came straight to this thread to help myself keep focused on prepping, as there's always a word or two, or three, of practical wisdom.

Tense times.

vanoonoo

blimey it's foggy out there around these parts!

I see we've entered the world of religion and politics here *rolls eyes* - and people think SHTF scenarios are unrealistic?! *grin*

ah well, each to their own, but my suggestion is please, keep it real and dont get too personal or too offended. I'd rather things here didnt turn into great big political or religious rants as that isn't really what the thread is about, it's about how to go about being prepared not about the rights or wrongs of why we're having to do it. I hope that's a fair comment and is taken in the spirit in which it is intended

so - anyone for a flapjack?