If The Sh** Hits The Fan, They Are Ready For It

If the sh** hits the fan, they are ready for it | The Observers: "Global economic meltdown, mass natural disasters, pandemics... Whatever the apocalyptic scenario, 'preppers' are ready for it. Lamps made from potatoes, toilet paper from cloth, toothpaste from glycerin and... lots of Spam.

It's no surprise that the trend, known as 'survivalism', was born in the United States, where the principle of self-reliance is one of the founding values of society. Convinced that disaster could strike when we least expect it, the most prudent of US citizens are preparing for the worst.

One self-described 'prepper' explains the reason for his lifestyle change to emergency 'survivalism' on his website: 'In May of last year, I had an epiphany: bad times lay ahead. I accurately predicted the current financial crisis back then, and with my new-found knowledge, I don't see much hope for recovery any time soon. I've learned that our 'global economy' is nothing more than a great Ponzi/pyramid scheme, and I've come to realise that the only way to insulate one's self from the collapse of that scheme is to prepare for self reliant living.'..."

How Food and Water Are Driving a 21st-century African Land Grab

How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab | Environment | The Observer: "... An Observer investigation estimates that up to 50m hectares of land – an area more than double the size of the UK – has been acquired in the last few years or is in the process of being negotiated by governments and wealthy investors working with state subsidies. The data used was collected by Grain, the International Institute for Environment and Development, the International Land Coalition, ActionAid and other non-governmental groups.

The land rush, which is still accelerating, has been triggered by the worldwide food shortages which followed the sharp oil price rises in 2008, growing water shortages and the European Union's insistence that 10% of all transport fuel must come from plant-based biofuels by 2015.

In many areas the deals have led to evictions, civil unrest and complaints of 'land grabbing'..."

Christopher Thornberg: Double Dip Is Coming in 2011

Christopher Thornberg: Double Dip Is Coming in 2011 -- Seeking Alpha: "Thornberg says the economic recovery is mostly government induced and could lead to a double dip as the government steps aside and attempts to hand over the baton to the private sector. In the presentation Thornberg noted the continuing concerns:

* The bad news: we haven’t completely fixed the problems, instead the economy is being driven by government policy

* The worse news: government policy is causing its own set of problems: namely public debt and the potential for inflation

Thornberg says 2010 is likely to be a good year for the economy, but as the stimulus wears off the true colors of the private sector will shine through and result in a double dip..."

Wyoming Governor Signs Sovereignty Resolution

Wyoming Governor Signs Sovereignty Resolution: "This week, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal signed House Joint Resolution 2 (HJ0002), claiming “sovereignty on behalf of the State of Wyoming and for its citizens under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government or reserved to the people by the Constitution of the United States.”

Freudenthal, a long-time Democrat, was previously a US attorney for the Clinton administration, and is currently serving his 2nd term as Governor of Wyoming. He endorsed Barack Obama for president and is commonly referred to as one of the most popular governors in the country..."

Why the U.S. Can't Inflate Its Way Out of Debt

Why the U.S. can't inflate its way out of debt - Mar. 11, 2010: "It's dawning on people that getting a handle on burgeoning U.S. debt will be a long and hard process.

So if lawmakers can't agree on a credible plan, some have suggested that the country could just 'inflate its way' out of its fiscal ditch.

The idea: Pursue policies that boost prices and wages and erode the value of the currency.

The United States would owe the same amount of actual dollars to its creditors -- but the debt becomes easier to pay off because the dollar becomes less valuable.

That's hardly a good plan, say a bevy of debt experts and economists..."

Strike Paralyzes Greece; Protests Turn Violent

Strike Paralyzes Greece; Protests Turn Violent - CNBC: "Greek public and private sector workers went on strike on Thursday, grounding flights, shutting schools and halting public transport in the second nationwide walkout in two weeks in protest against austerity plans.

Athens' streets echoed with loud-speakers blaring slogans calling for the rich to pay for a severe debt crisis, as thousands marched against cuts in civil servants' income, tax hikes, a pension freeze and increase in the retirement age.

'No sacrifice for the rich!' protesters chanted, beating drums and holding banners reading: 'Where did the money go?'

Greek police fired teargas at groups of stone-throwing youths in central Athens...

... soon after, clashes erupted at the march with some 30 youths hurling sticks and stones at police, who returned with several rounds of tear gas. Threre were no reports of injuries.

An official at the Citizen Protection Ministry said some 200 youths, whom he described as anarchists, were participating in the the march.

'Let parliament burn,' chanted dozens of youths wearing black hoods and waving leftist and anarchist flags..."

Economic Stimulus Was a Waste of Time

Road to Recovery - Economic Stimulus Was a Waste of Time: Analyst - CNBC: "... the economists at UK research company Independent Strategy have waded into the debate and come to the conclusion that stimulus spending by President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and others has been a complete waste of time and simply saddled future generations with a big bill that will crowd out the private sector for years..."

43% Have Less Than $10k for Retirement

Most Americans still unprepared for retirement - survey - Mar. 9, 2010: "The percentage of American workers with virtually no retirement savings grew for the third straight year, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The percentage of workers who said they have less than $10,000 in savings grew to 43% in 2010, from 39% in 2009, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's annual Retirement Confidence Survey..."

For Pennies, a Disposable Toilet That Could Help Grow Crops

Perhaps a useful addition to a well-stocked bug out bag?
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For Pennies, a Disposable Toilet That Could Help Grow Crops - NYTimes.com: "A Swedish entrepreneur is trying to market and sell a biodegradable plastic bag that acts as a single-use toilet for urban slums in the developing world.

Once used, the bag can be knotted and buried, and a layer of urea crystals breaks down the waste into fertilizer, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces.

The bag, called the Peepoo, is the brainchild of Anders Wilhelmson, an architect and professor in Stockholm...

... In his research, he found that urban slums in Kenya, despite being densely populated, had open spaces where waste could be buried.

He also found that slum dwellers there collected their excrement in a plastic bag and disposed of it by flinging it, calling it a 'flyaway toilet' or a 'helicopter toilet.'

This inspired Mr. Wilhelmson to design the Peepoo, an environmentally friendly alternative that he is confident will turn a profit.

'People will say, ‘It’s valuable to me, but well priced,’ ' he said.

He plans to sell it for about 2 or 3 cents — comparable to the cost of an ordinary plastic bag.

In the developing world, an estimated 2.6 billion people, or about 40 percent of the earth’s population, do not have access to a toilet, according to United Nations figures..."

Kansas City to Close Nearly Half It's Schools

District Closes Half its Schools - WSJ.com: "The Kansas City Missouri School Board voted Wednesday night to shutter nearly half of its schools in an effort to avoid going broke.

The action closes 28 of 58 campuses and eliminates about 700 of the district's 3,300 jobs, including 285 teachers.

'None of us like doing this but it was necessary, it had to be done,' said board member Arthur Benson after a tense five to four vote that was interrupted several times by upset parents.

The plan comes as school districts around the country, battered by the recession and budget cutbacks, are closing facilities to save money..."

Returning A Major American City To Nature

Detroit Looks at Downsizing to Save City: "Detroit, the very symbol of American industrial might for most of the 20th century, is drawing up a radical renewal plan that calls for turning large swaths of this now-blighted, rusted-out city back into the fields and farmland that existed before the automobile.

Operating on a scale never before attempted in this country, the city would demolish houses in some of the most desolate sections of Detroit and move residents into stronger neighborhoods. Roughly a quarter of the 139-square-mile city could go from urban to semi-rural.

Near downtown, fruit trees and vegetable farms would replace neighborhoods that are an eerie landscape of empty buildings and vacant lots. Suburban commuters heading into the city center might pass through what looks like the countryside to get there. Surviving neighborhoods in the birthplace of the auto industry would become pockets in expanses of green..."

Illinois Budget Crisis 2010: Big Cuts Coming For Schools, Police, Child Care

Illinois Budget Crisis 2010: Big Cuts Coming For Schools, Police, Child Care: "... the state can expect 17,000 teachers to lose their jobs, thousands of poor families to get less help with child care and fewer state troopers to patrol the roads..."

Williams: Expect Hyperinflation Within the Next 5 Years

Williams: Expect Hyperinflation Within the Next 5 Years by Lorimer Wilson: "... Williams sees the U.S. economic and systemic solvency crises of the last two years as just precursors to a Great Collapse – a hyperinflationary great depression. [To be specific] he sees:

a) a complete collapse in the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar,
b) a collapse in the normal stream of U.S. commercial and economic activity,
c) a collapse in the U.S. financial system as we know it, and
d) a likely realignment of the U.S. political environment.

Mr. Williams further maintains that the current U.S. financial markets, financial system and economy are highly unstable and vulnerable to unexpected shocks, the Federal Reserve is dedicated to preventing deflation and debasing the U.S. dollar. and that the results of those efforts are being seen in tentative selling pressures against the U.S. currency and in the rallying price of gold..."

The Coming Crisis

Another Earthquake, this one a 6.0, Kills At Least 51 in Eastern Turkey

Earthquake in eastern Turkey kills at least 51 - Yahoo! Canada News: "A strong earthquake killed at least 51 villagers in a remote part of eastern Turkey before dawn on Monday, officials said, and aftershocks continued for hours while rescuers searched for trapped survivors.

People were sleeping in their mud-brick houses when the 6.0-magnitude quake struck at 4:32 am local time (0232 GMT) in a sparsely-populated area of high steppe in Eastern Anatolia..."