I watched this programme on TV last week & could not believe my eyes. Is it just American 'nut-jobs', or do others think this way?
There was once a time when preachers standing on street corners predicting the apocalypse would have been deemed crazy.
Shoppers would cross the street to avoid the archetypal banner-waving man loudly proclaiming 'the end of the world is nigh.'
Today, however, it seems we're not quite so convinced that the rantings aren't actually prophecies for a doom-laden future.
As many as three million Americans now fall into the category dubber '' - people who are making detailed plans for the end of the world as we know it.
The are an ever-growing group of survivalists who take extreme measures to prepare for a major catastrophic event.
One man from Phoenix keeps 1,000 tilapia fish in the deep end of his swimming pool which he plans to eat when a massive solar flare 'knocks civilisation back to the Stone Age.'
While a couple living in a gated-home with 25,000 rounds of ammunition have enough food to last half a century.
More than 300,000 people a month visit the movement's website, survivalblog.com, which catalogues how people are preparing for the worst.
The website has been set up by James Rawles, a former US Army intelligence officer, who is one of the movement's leading figures.
Speaking to The Times, he said: 'Should the worst happen, it's become apparent that the Government can't provide for everybody. And now that realisation is becoming more widespread.'
Events such as the recession, 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina has added to the growth of the movement.
The Red Cross has also reported an increase in the number of people learning first aid.
Post apocalyptic movies like The Road which was released last year are thought to have contributed to an increase in the number of people joining the movement.
The group is also now the focus of a new reality TV show on the National Geographic channel called which will be broadcast in Britain later this year.
The programme features Megan Hurwitt from Houston who practices fleeing the city by foot in case of an oil crisis.
Target practice: Tim Ralston, centre, is one of a growing number of Americans preparing for the end times
Family bonding: Ralston takes his sons out to the Arizona dessert once a week for target practice
Stockpile: Ralston's garage is loaded with supplies, food, clothing, and other necessities
Tim Ralston, an ex-military man living with his family in Arizona, is one of many ‘ .’ His garage is full of food, water purifiers, weapons, and a trailer full of essentials ready to be hooked up to the family car should disaster strike.
About once a week, he takes his two sons out to the dessert for target practice. His one son has been practicing with an AK-47.
‘You just never know,’ he told ABC News. ‘God put you on this Earth for certain things, and for me, it’s to make sure my family lives and I can help other people.’
Among his stockpiling are water purifiers, a vast array of artillery, and canned chicken that is good for 15 years
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099714/Meet-preppers-Up-3-... Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Permalink Reply by Lady Skydancer on If things really got this bad my other half & I would take some strong pills, loads of booze and party until we dropped. I cannot see this taking off in the UK, not even in the Highlands of Scotland. But it seems to be catching on in the US. Why?
Oh, my!? I just read that a Scottish TV programme maker plans to do a series over here. Vinnie Jones will be staring in it.
Where are those pills?
Permalink Reply by Lilitu Xoc on It's because it's rooted in our culture which latched on to Evangelical doomsday prophecies.
Permalink Reply by Kixs on I wonder why the article had to mention an AK-47 as if it was some big bad thing. Those things are great for taking down barb wire fence that needs replaced. Just a line down the post and the barb wire pops, ping, ping, ping and your far enough away you don't get cut by the wire. I like mine, the ammo's a bit high though.
I dont think the "end is near" but my family does do some stockpiling of goods...we can our own veggies from the garden, have a good size gun collection in a safe, we always have extra jugs of water (last yr we really needed it during the flood), we also have some MRE's in the closet. I think its a good idea to be prepared to survive as comfortably as possible if a diaster happens...we might not be prepared to live for years, but hopefully it will be enough to keep us going until the electricity comes back on!....Last yr during the flood, the entire neighborhood stepped up to help each other, we shared generators, food and water, it was a good feeling to be able to do that.
Permalink Reply by Ritalin-Bunny on If you are interested in acquiring a fire arm Sat, I'd strongly suggest a single shot .22cal rifle. A really safe way to learn and they are accurate as well. A useful gun after you've cut your teeth on the learning curve.
Permalink Reply by Ritalin-Bunny on Let's break it down into a reasonable reflection of what preppers are really doing.
They are self reliant.
They are always making improvements to both their living arrangements and the essential stores to live comfortably.
They learn and teach valuable skills.
Rather than adopt this type of thinking, or accepting help from one of these types of family, you'd rather kill yourself if a crisis came about?
What a tragic loss, and completely unnecessary! I've seen good times and bad, and when I say bad, I mean really really bad.
People survive under all sorts of conditions, but one thing is dramatically clear. If you've put away extra food and fuel, have a supply of water, bought two pairs of boots instead of one, have a bicycle as well as an automobile, then you're prepared.
In all seriousness, what could possibly be found wrong with that?
I'm not a prepper, but I have a side by side 12G shotgun, a .22cal single shot rifle, and a 30 06 pump action rifle that's magazine feed. I have a chest full of ammo for all three fire arms. I have reloading equipment for the big rifle. My wife and I keep a well stocked pantry, we have raised meat rabbits and chickens for meat, as well as eggs. We raised our own Thanksgiving turkey. We grow and can our own vegetables. I make my own cider, wine, and beer. We heat our house with wood, which I cut and split.
I know how to make alcohol and I know how to convert my truck to burn it for fuel.
My camping equipment can sustain me out of doors in very inclement weather for days, even weeks if need be.
Things don't have to get bad all at once, they can slowly spiral down to pre Victorian living standards and we'd still be quite comfortable in my home.
When considering crisis the last people you can count on is the government, because they're dealing with a crisis. You have to be able to look out for yourself, your family, and your neighbors and friends.
Taking a hand full of pills is not the answer, because a crisis comes and a crisis goes, but so too do the seasons and the moments of our life that make things worth living.
Permalink Reply by Lady Skydancer on
Hi Ritalin-Bunny,
You could say that for the UK we husband & I) are able to help ourselves more than some. he was a Royal marine Commando and SBS member for 22yrs and also trained as a Front-line Medic. His skills would be valuable at a time of crisis. I also have my First Aid cert. am a very good cook and can make a little food go far. But unlike the US, we cannot go out & buy a firearm. What I noticed with the programme was the over emphasis on guns and other methods of self defence.
I too have known hard times, surviving for weeks on just what I could find in the fields after the farmer had harvested. Picking windfall apples, my own herbs for tea and picking berries & brambles. I have also lived around guns for while and I hated it. We are both retirement age so all it would mean to us is going out a little earlier than expected. I would rather that, than living in fear and having to carry & fire a gun.
Permalink Reply by Ritalin-Bunny on Thanks man, your contributions do not go unnoticed either.
Wise and inspiring words RB.
Here in the UK we have no easy way to obtaina firearm unless we have a lot of land -or are a member of a clay pigeon/skeet club.
That leaves the Lawful weapons -Crossbows,Compound Bows, `Slingbows` -and any pre regulation high powered air weapons we can acquire.
The spectre is ` Normalcy Bias`, which a great many folk live by -its never happened in my lifetime so it isnt going to happen.
A dangerous path to follow imho.
A.
Permalink Reply by Ritalin-Bunny on I hear what you're saying Adenine. I believe the best in people. It's the situation that makes some go off. I recall the riots in the United Kingdom a few year back, we were stupefied by it in my little corner of emptiness.
So stuff can happen and spread very quickly. Last year in Canada, where I reside right now, there was a riot after a hockey game. They went bananas! What makes it so shocking, for me at least; is that it happened in an affluent sophisticated city - Vancouver of all places.
You just never know what's going to set off the mob. That's why I think that even in areas with restrictions, such as the regulations dictate to the subjects of Great Britain; the mind is the greatest weapon/asset of any person. Human ingenuity. I would never ever consider breaking any laws set down by my government, nor would I advocate or be subversive to any other national in their personal endeavors on their home territory but frankly I could, in the vacuum of a state without governorship of rule of law; manufacturer both deliver systems and ordnance. I could do it in the comfort of my garage and make them out of literally the garbage laying around.
In fact it's not particularly challenging.
Knowledge good sir, that is what keeps the wolves at bay.
Indeed RB, maintaining observance of the laws of the country we call home -or reside in, living quietly, and looking after your own patch makes perfect sense.
Likewise, should Law and order fail completely due to unforseen circumstances, and a vaccum exist, manufacture and deliverance of ordanance isnt hard to achieve.
I believe that Canada also has quite strict gun restrictions like the UK, so alternative means of protection of my family seems prudent, and have been undertaken.
Though we live in semi rural area at present, we have lived in the high mountains of Wales where the next neighbour could be a few miles away, and as such time seems to be occupied with day to day life, and with sometimes, not so up to date current news and information reached us -no internet links in those days and poor tv reception.
Times like that you learn ingenueity, and learn to become less dependent on others and more on oneself, and I am sure that you are well adapted and capable:).
A.
Permalink Reply by ravenrois on It's not just American nut jobs, my Dad does it too so it's international ☺. I used to think it was a big overdramatic joke(ah the one liners I used) but after a particularly harsh winter two years ago I started to think about it in a different way and whilst i'm not quite ready for "the big one" I do take it a bit more seriously now, I don't hoard food or weapons but I do keep a good amount of medical supplies handy and enough general stuff to last a couple of months, I also did a basic first aid course.
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