SCOPE - Survivalist Coalition Of Puna & Environs?

[AlohaSteven]

"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson

This signature tagline which Hotcatz has been using gets a horse-laugh from me every time I read it! Ever so true, imho.

It also prompts me to wonder if there actually is a formal "survivalist" alliance of any sort in Puna. There sure are in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and so on ...but, quite unfortunately --in my not at all humble opinion on this topic-- there tends to also be a taint of revoltingly ignorant white supremist Nazi racism associated with the flavor of "survivalism" in those places. This is a shame, and of course need not be the case.

Of survivalism, Wikipedia sayeth:
Survivalism is a commonly used term for the preparedness strategy and subculture of individuals or groups anticipating and making preparations for future possible disruptions in local, regional or worldwide social or political order. Survivalists often prepare for this anticipated disruption by learning skills (e.g., emergency medical training), stockpiling food and water, preparing for self-defense and self-sufficiency, and/or building structures that will help them to survive or "disappear" (e.g., a survival retreat or underground shelter).

The specific preparations made by survivalists depend on the nature of the anticipated disruption(s), some of the most common scenarios being:

1. Natural disaster clusters, and patterns of apocalyptic planetary crises or Earth changes, such as Climate Change bringing on tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and severe thunderstorms, etc.
2. A disaster brought about by the activities of mankind: chemical spills, release of radioactive materials, war, or an oppressive government.
3. General collapse of society, resulting from the unavailability of electricity, fuel, food, and water.
4. Monetary disruption or economic collapse, stemming from monetary manipulation, hyperinflation or worldwide depression.
5. Widespread chaos, or some other unexplained apocalyptic event.

LDS families (Mormons) are supposed to maintain a year's supply of durable foodstuffs at all times; this makes all sorts of good practical sense as recent experiences with hurricane Katrina and so on have amply demonstrated. Does this mean any and all LDS folk following the self-sufficiency admonition are also survivalists because they are prepared to feed themselves in a time of disruption and crisis? I wonder what the difference, if any, is between shopping at yard sales, maintaining a stock of durable foodstuffs, and survivalism?

Wiki goes on to add:

Within pop-culture, especially in the United States, the term is also used to refer to isolationist groups, often with anti-government agendas. Pop-culture survivalism is often associated with paramilitary activity, though real world survivalism rarely includes such activities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism

Reading the to and fro on Punaweb it sometimes seems like many here might qualify as anti-government. I do not know, though, if shooting a rat out of a coconut tree qualifies as paramilitary activity.

On another part of the glorious rainbow spectrum from that of well-scrubbed and tightly clipped LDS lads peddling around in their black and white suits on bicycles are the shaggy, tie-dyed, patchouli oil annointed, ride-sharing Taylor Camp cadre, avowedly espousing a philosophy akin to being "not a survivalist, but a thrive-alist" (http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/01/f...s/lava.php), ...yet, really, I wonder, do both these crews and much else besides not all fit inside the same big Puna tent on this score?

What do you think, is there a survivalist vibe in Puna or not? Should there be: after all, there is already a civil defense network in place and on an individual, family-by-family, and neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis everyone knows exactly what to do and has full set of gear and big stockpile of durable foodstuffs ready to help not only themselves but their neighbors as well in the event of an emergency, especially a long protracted emergency, right?

Calling SCOPE (or S-COPE) to order! First item of business, please discuss what the local nature and character of survivalism in Puna might optimally be given the culture, traditions, and needs of Puna -if indeed survivalism per se should even constructively exist at all in Puna. But before totally ruling it out, just remember: "I like yard sales...All true survivalists like yard sales."




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"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

Pres. John Adams, Scholar and Statesman


"There's a scientific reason to be concerned and there's a scientific reason to push for action. But there's no scientific reason to despair."

NASA climate analyst Gavin Schmidt

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