#36 Make friends with old people

Many bloggers will find this hard to believe, but there are people alive today who were born before the television was a household item.

Some people alive today remember life before television

They remember life before there were such things as Social Security and the CIA. They remember having to entertain themselves by playing outside, singing aloud and using Go Fish sets that didn’t have little mermaids on them. Many of them, no matter what part of the country they’re from, remember growing their own food. Most remember cooking their own meals, or at least having someone around to cook meals for them.

These people are great resources for preparing for the global climate change cataclysm. They remember the life you’re likely to find yourself living. Limited access to electricity, reduced to depending on the sweat of your brow to get what you need.

So get out there and meet some old people. Learn from them how hard life used to be. They have the tips to help you survive it.

DIY radio – truly listener supported

You don’t rely on commercial radio to keep you informed today, so don’t expect to count on them after the cataclysm. Listen to this podcast for a better option:

Right click here to download the mp3, or here to read tip #14: Low power FM to the people.

[Listener Supported by Michael Franti]

#14 Low power FM to the people

My last tip was all about wind-up electronic gadgets that will help you survive the climate change cataclysm. When our political, economic, social and electrical grids all collapse from environmental destruction, you’ll still be able to power up flashlights, radios and even cell phones with your own physical strength. No batteries or electric plug-ins required.

Then I remembered that for wind-up gadgets of the communications variety to work, it takes two. At least.

After the cataclysm, will there be any radio stations to listen to on your wind-up radio? I’m thinking that all the cookie-cutter, Clear Channel dreck we hear on the radio will go bye-bye the day the cataclysm hits. I mean, if the people who produce that garbage weren’t being paid to do it, they wouldn’t show up at the studio. Right? I hope not.

On the other hand, people who create innovative, informative and interesting radio programming are going to keep on doing it no matter whether they’re paid or not. If you’re on the radio to provide a public service, you’re doing it because you love it. I bet you’ll keep doing it after the cataclysm. You’ll be more important then, while mainstream commercial radio will become even more irrelevant than it already is.

So start your radio show right now, to prepare for the cataclysm. Get together with a group of friends and set up your own low power FM station, one that will broadcast good quality programming that addresses local needs and interests. It’s going to take a few people, some serious time and a bit of money, so you’d do well to get on with the organizing now. The good people at the Prometheus Radio Project have lots of advice on offer.

What’s that, you say? What about a license? You may not know it but the airwaves are actually a natural resource owned by the people. We don’t need no stinkin’ licenses!

Seriously, after the cataclysm there’s not going to be any Federal Communications Commission around to keep you off the air and give away spots on the radio dial to the highest bidder. Problem is, if you wait until after the cataclysm to start your station, you won’t be able to find the equipment you need. Sure, do the cost-benefit analysis and apply for the license if you must, but don’t wait to start your own station. Fly the pirate radio Jolly Roger with pride! Even if all you’ve got is an Ipod.

My wind-up radio is cranked up and ready to tune in to your station.

Low power FM image: New Orleans Indymedia

How New Yorkers plan to survive the cataclysm

Proof that I’m not crazy!

The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) recently sponsored a Post-Disaster Housing Design contest that began, What if New York were hit by a category 3 hurricane? The purpose is to develop “innovative ideas for providing Provisional Housing for residents who may lose their homes as a result of a catastrophic coastal storm.”

Catastrophic coastal storms? Why should NYC worried about those? Did somebody say global warming?

OEM is scheduled to announce the contest winners today.

The more important point is this – if the City of New York is preparing to survive the climate change cataclysm, shouldn’t you?

Path to surviving climate change

No question about it, these folks at Path to Freedom in Pasadena, California, are going to survive the global climate change cataclysm in style. Their web site offers a wealth of information about urban homesteading and how to make it work. If you want to survive, you’d do well to read their journal and follow the directions.

And keep their street address close at hand. If the climate change cataclysm hits before I can get my act together, you’ll find me knocking at their door.

Thanks to reader KAT who told me about them. If you know of other resources, please pass them along.