Re: Alert! - Nuclear (and Economic) Meltdown

Welcome pete37---

You picked an interesting day to join the CM community---good first post.   

You will find some very smart people in this group. I suggest you check out Dogs  "Consolidated List of Links..." @  http://www.peakprosperity.com/forum/consolidated-list-links-existing-preparation-threads/27912

Is it not wise to prepare for a worst-case scenario then not?
We humans are the only creatures on this planet that can use our reasoning capabilities to distinguish between good or bad consequences. Therefore it seems logical and reasonable to prepare for a worst-case scenario in order to have a better chance of surviving an unintended crisis with your basic necessities in order.
The Japanese should have built a concrete wall around their nuclea plant to protect it from a tsunami, shame they didn't think of the worst-case scenario, or was it too expensive? Who knows why people are so short sighted. I think it's important to be responsible for yourself and loved one's. These actions don't hurt anyone and I am always surprised at peoples negativity towards people that like to be prepared for a worst-case scenario.

Yeah, I'd love to be an enrolled member, Mike, but it ain't gonna happen. Every dime I have is going to physical preps for short term and sustainable lifestyle items for long-term. I think that every one of us here on this site believes that whatever we can accomplish between now and disaster is better than no preparation at all. You're better situated than most  and I envy that, but you have been working at it longer.

To get back to what Poet said when he started this thread, do I think the Sh*t is about to HTF? Absolutely, but the Zombie Banks, Zombie Markets and Zombie Governments have yet to get the memo. They have their fingers jammed securely in their ears, yelling, "La, la, la!" to drown out any naysayers, but even they heard the tsunami and the earthquake smack the foundations of their house of cards. How did it start the dominoes falling? Here is my opinion.

The Japanese economy, as John Mauldin likes to say, has been a "bug in search of a windshield" for two lost decades. This is the windshield. Rather than face tough economic choices, the Japanese banks--in collusion with Japan's major industrial houses--let bad loans fester. The only reason that things did not spiral out of control was the fact that they, as a country, had a high savings rate. The savings are evaporating since their population is tilting toward elderly, and elderly people pull their savings out of the bank and spend them. Japan is an oil and food importing couintry that depends on high tech exports in a world where less and less consumers can buy anything but necessities. You add the nuclear meltdowns (plural, my God I never thought that would be plural) to the devastation from the tsunami and the earthquake and I do not see how the Japanese can rebuild to anything like their former wealth (which was debt-based anyhow, and THAT was dependent on cheap oil).

How does this help topple the global house of cards? As I said above, this disaster was actually loud enough that people--even central bankers--heard it through their complacency. It's a tipping point. You add the escalating food shortages, which will only get worse since there will be less and less oil for farming, fertilizers, and freight; add the comnig water shortages (no oil to pump it out of the ground, depleted aquifers, water-rights fights) and the global crushing debt load, and it does not take much to push us over the edge.

We'v been like the coyote chasing a growth-centered road runner off a cliff, briefly suspended in midair before we fall. The canyon floor looks mighty hard and mighty far away.

Holy Crap!!!!  Mike, you will hardly believe this!  I just read your Blog and when I was a kid (no, not a goat) I lived in Tuchekoi for a couple of years and went to Imbil State School.... OMG... I  have vivid memories of going into Pimona on weekends.... not very far from Cooran is it?  It is actually walking distance in an ideal world...

What a small world!  I live in the US at the moment & have been seriously considering buying my little piece of dirt in that region.... I really like your setup there & I am a BIG Solar fan.  We seriously need to talk!

I agree we don't have much time before economic implosion, but I am still not totally convinced it will lead to total anarchy.  It is a possibility and I am doing a lot of soul searching to appease the rational side of my brain.  I don't think the nuclear issue in Japan is any tangible threat to the US from a nuclear fallout perspective, but it certainly will contribute to the economic woes.

Hello Poet & other Non-members,

I have always been one of those who has believed in being prepared for the unexpected and keep a sense of what is going on beyond my street so to speak. However, if the arrival of unexpected  or expected events surpasses all the efforts for having prepared.....well then.......where do you turn?  If you have family they also can be overwhelmed. There will be those who will do all they can to protect their own. You can see this just standing in line at a theme park waiting to get on a ride or trying to watch a small parade. Adult men protect that space mapped out for the strollers, etc. so their children get to see that parade. But you also see parents of young children in resturants who order an abundance of food that is not eaten and the surrounding floor and table is littered with food that is left for the resturant staff to clean-up. And about those who are care takers of elderly relatives or diabled children?  I think black markets will develop and barter systems of all kinds.  I went into a small pawn shop a few weeks ago to try and sell a few pieces of jewlery I never wore. All of my really good/nice jewelery along with other valuable  had been stolen from the house I was renting 2-yrs ago. It  was considered a safe respectable area. They used my laundry basket to cart off my things.  I was amazed to see all kinds of items in that pawn shop (yard tools, surf boards, cell phones, CDs, cook stoves, camping gear). We all need to keep a level head when faced with extreme situations. Defending a spot for vieiwng a parade looks very different when it is for food, shelter or medical care. I've been a non-enrolled member of this forum for over a year now. It has been one of the most informative level thinking sources of information I've ever seen.  I'll continue to return as long as the access to the resources to do so are available to me.

In closing, I want to mention a book called The Powershift Era. Local libraries in my area will hold book sales or give away books no longer wanted. I happened to pick up this book. It is the third in a series #1 Future Shock # 2 The Third Wave #3 The Powershift Era which was published in 1990. Reading this book has been like reading today's headlines.

Sage

Japan has been important to us for so many reasons.  It's been our trading partner and  has helped shore up our debt for generations.  It's still the third biggest economy.   Even with its faltering economy, it has been stable and predictable.

Now what?

A triple whammy of one of the world's strongest earthquakes, a powerful tsunami, and a triple or quadruple nuclear accident?  Who would have thunk it?  What will they do?  What will we do?

It's as if countries are getting punched one by one----Russia, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, ...

As if our delicate balance, tipping towards disaster, is getting pushed again and again. Another punch, another push.

For those who have been watching for signs, this is another one.

Anyway, that's what I thought he meant.

Full moon - I love your shopping list!  I swear I lay in bed thinking "what to buy, what to buy?" 

What do you use the collodial silver machine for?  Do you know anyone drinking the water?  I just googled and read and was intrigued! 

We have the iodide rablets, but hope in michigan they won't be needed.  but sugar and cocoa and shampoo are on my list for this afternoon now, thanks.

Not an enrolled member, and I may get blasted for this comment, but I think it's pretty shallow for C.M. to make and article that important only available to enrolled members.  $30 a month is expensive.  I've even tried sending an email asking for a reduced rate for a full time student but to no avail.  I've got a year's supply of dehydrated food, a really good water filter, emergency first aid equip, cash on hand for about 2 mo. expenses, some gold and silver,  I know I could be better prepared though.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

-C.D.

Whew, got that off my chest.  Strong I know but time is of the essense and every day that will pass and vital information is saved for paying members only is just nothing short of tragedy on top of tragedy.

Here's what I remember from reading this site in 08

take your cash out of the bank

break large bills down into smaller nominations to be more readily used

purchase any last minute preps now (includes the already mentioned food, tangibles like tools, water filters, seeds, etc. PM's) assuming you already have food preps.

consider using a portion of your cash reserves for these tangibles as inflation will eat away at the value of the dollar and tangibles may be hard to find later or not at all available

This was all in regard to a bank holiday and subsequent disruption in our JIT delivery system

Best of luck everyone and lets hope this latest CM report becomes available for the rest of humanity.

Cheers

It took me a total of about 2 seconds to feel obligated to say something here.  In case you haven't noticed, Chris works his butt off.  This site is a result of his labor.  He gives a LOT of information away for free.  And you want more?  For nothing?  When other people are paying their hard earned money to obtain this information?  Gimme a break!  This is how this man earns a living and supports this site.  He has a wife and kids to support also.  Pray tell, what gives you the right to say what is wrong or right for him to do with information he has worked long and hard to acquire.  Shame on you for the audacity to make such statements.     

I second AO. 

I thought this thread was kinda cute at first as a former steerage. 

I've been there, wanting to read more when I was feeling insecure.  It was a big decision for me to enroll.  It's been a huge blessing and invaluable.  Expecting good things for nothing just because it's nice is more than half the reason we are in this crisis IMO.  But that's for another thread. 

Like I said earlier, Chris has more than prepared you (for free I might add) for what you need to do.  Quit griping and get about your business.

I don't mean to dodge any bullets but I have (ironicly) a cummunity disaster and emergency meeting to attend to.  I'll check back later to defend or appologize for my position on this subject.

BTW, I was an enrolled member for a time and found it to be worth every penny and I also promote CM and The Crash Course every chance I get (along with many rolled eyes and blank stares from those who just don't see the need) .  I truly get the rightous desire to defend this latest report being exclusive.  I just think it's a mistake to keep it from people THIS TIME.

peace