Back many years ago I used to write for a small survivalist newsletter produced in Canberra and one of the gems I put together then is what follows. The idea is that it is a dramatization to get people thinking about what preparations they needed to make to help them survive in the case an economic collapse or whatever. It is somewhat dated but here it is in its original form. Enjoy!
NEWSCASTER - Here is the news for Tuesday the second of November, chaotic scenes on overseas stock markets over the last few days have taken their toll here in Australia with the gradual decline turning into a crash............
............News is worse for the Australian Dollar , linked to the American dollar it is trading very poorly against the Japanese Yen , consequently imports , which have doubled in price recently are set to double again............
............Domestic News: The government states that the economy is basically sound and although inflation has reached the record level of 20% the situation is improving and the inflation rate will level out soon............
- On this sunny Sunday the fourteenth of November there is not much to smile about , imports of much needed oil are slowed down due to overseas loss of confidence in Australia’s' economy. Several OPEC nations have expressed doubt last night as to whether they will be paid for recent shipments............
............Consequent to our oil problems, petrol is becoming scarcer and more expensive, and food transport across the nation, especially to our big cities, is breaking down..........
............The domestic inflation rate has soared to 50% per annum further driving food prices up while shortages of milk, canned meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and wheat products are causing growing concern. The government, while not wishing to cause panic, suggests that citizens ensure that they have a two week emergency store of food, water and essentials........
- This is the news for Monday November 28th, overnight developments have pushed the situation past the breaking point Inflation, now well over 100% per annum coupled with shortages of essential products has lead to food riots in major cities all along the eastern Australian coast. Strikes by essential services to force government intervention have only succeeded in making matters worse............
............The government, speaking from its new fortified crisis centre in the Blue Mountains, has warned that essential services of electricity water cannot be guaranteed and that citizens may have to fend for themselves.
THIS IS A CIVIL DEFENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to the breakdown of essential services, the following rules should be followed -
1.Keep all baths , sinks etc. full of water at all times.
2.Sewerage services have been rendered inoperative so earth closets should be dug in back yards or surrounding land where possible .
3.Stockpiles of canned goods should be purchased immediately to last citizens through the crisis as should candles and non-electric cooking apparatus etc .
4.Ensure a battery radio tuned to this station is close at hand to receive further announcements .
5.A curfew from 9pm to 8am is in force . Any person, apart from military personnel, seen on the street during this time is likely to be shot as a looter.
NARRATOR - What you have just heard is fictional, but may conceivably happen at any time due to any one of a number of crisis incidents. We shall now go on to examine how the foregoing affects two families, the Joneses who have made no preparations and the Smiths who have.
Mr Jones: This latest announcement is worrying, I suppose that we should do something for ourselves, but I thought the government was supposed to help in times like these.
Mrs Jones: Yes, but they seem just as badly off as we are . Tell you what, I'll nip down to the supermarket with what money we have left while you fill the bath and sinks with water and dig us an outdoor loo!
Mr Jones: OK, but be careful.
Mrs Jones: I will.
NARRATOR - Both have now finished their allotted tasks and Mrs Jones has just returned from the supermarket.
Mr Jones: How did you go?
Mrs Jones: Not too good, there wasn't much left but I got what I could, see?
Mr Jones: Two dozen tins! Is that all?
Mrs Jones: I'm afraid so and it took all the money I had.
Mr Jones: Ah well we'd probably have a week or two's worth of food in the pantry wouldn't we?
Mrs Jones: I hope so but I've been relying on the pantry since you've been out of work to save money. How did you go with your jobs?
Mr Jones: Well I was half way through filling the bath when the water went off; I hope it comes back on later. At least we have a nice deep hole in the back yard now.
Mrs Jones: Oh good, embarrassing but necessary. Call the kids in and I'll start tea. OH DAMN!
Mr Jones: Well, there goes the electricity! Where are those candles?
Mrs Jones: In the hall closet I think.
Mr Jones: That's better! But I wish we had more, ten candles won't last long.
Mrs Jones: Well, we'll just have to be sparing with them, would get the camp cooker out of the garage for me please. I hope that we at least have enough gas.
Mr Jones: Well there was three quarters of a bottle left when I loaned it to Jim last month. Oops!
Mrs Jones: And they still have it?
Mr Jones: Well...........
Mrs Jones: Looks like a cold tea for everybody.
NARRATOR - It's now been ten days with no running water or electricity, the stored water ran out on day seven and the food is almost gone.
Mr Jones: Well what on earth do you want me to do! I can't conjure up something if it isn't there!
Mrs Jones: Well you should have thought about preparing beforehand.
Jason: Mum I'm thirsty!
Mrs Jones: Shut up Jason!
Mr Jones: Well it's easy for you to say that but you weren't much help either.
Mrs Jones: Well? What are we going to do now?
Mr Jones: All I can think of is to try and get out of the city, as far as the petrol in the car will take us. Maybe up the North Coast - see if your parents are doing any better.
Mrs Jones: OK, but I hope we can get far enough out, we've no money for petrol even if it was available. I’ll start packing.
NARRATOR - So now with little or no food , water or money and not much petrol the Joneses have to take their chances on the road with the rest of Sydney’s' population. For the Smith’s, however, the story is different.
Mr Smith: This latest announcement is worrying but I must admit I wasn't surprised. We've been expecting it for some time. The government doesn't look like it’s going to be of much help.
Mrs Smith: No, it doesn't look like it . We better have a check and see how much we have put away and pick up any bits and pieces while we still can.
Mr Smith: OK I'll check the water supply as well as the stores under the house while you look through the cupboards; the pantry and the storage cupboard. I may as well dig us an "earth closet" in the backyard........... I was leaving that until the last minute!
Mrs Smith: Good idea!
NARRATOR - Their inventories complete the Smiths compare notes.
Mr Smith: Well the pool is almost full so we can use that for washing, there is a good five thousand litres in the tanks and five hundred litre emergency supply under the house in 25 litre containers .
Mrs Smith: Good, what about the grains?
Mr Smith: The wheat looks OK still and there's probably 800 Kg of that so when you add in 100 Kg of rice and 100 Kg of corn we've got enough to last us quite a while. How about canned goods?
Mrs Smith: We're pretty well up on most bits and pieces and have canned fruit, veggies and meat to last almost a year but I wish we had more in the way of sauce, we've only got two litres of tomato sauce.
Mr Smith: How much vinegar have we got?
Mrs Smith: HEAPS!
Mr Smith: No problems, I've been getting excess tomatoes from the veggie patch so I'll make you some homemade stuff.
Mrs Smith: Oh good! Do you think it's worthwhile going down to the supermarket to see If I can pick up any extras?
Mr Smith: No , the effort wouldn't be worth it , we've got all that we need so it would be better to leave what supplies are left for those who really need them . Besides I don't like you being out and around during times like these , you never know what might happen.
Mrs Smith: Fair enough, I'll start tea. Oh no! Now the power is out!
Mr Smith: Well at least they gave us plenty of warning! What would you prefer to cook with...........Gas or kero?
Mrs Smith: Gas please, the kero is a bit smelly and seems to heat the room up more..........something we don't need. Should you go and get more gas?
Mr Smith: All the cylinders are full so unless I could buy a full cylinder there is no point, what we have should keep us going for three months and after that there is 200 litres of kero in the back shed so we'll be OK.
Mrs Smith: That's good, well while you're out getting me the cooker could you pick me some candles as well please.
Mr Smith: OK dear.
NARRATOR - It has been ten days since the crisis, many neighbours have left but the smiths are carrying on.
Mrs Smith: How is the veggie patch extension going dear?
Mr Smith: Pretty well, I've now got about two thirds of the back yard under vegetables and what with those extra seeds I bought a while back and the ones we save from our own veggies I've got plenty spare in case of problems .
Mrs Smith: Sounds encouraging; I think Bill next door could do with some seeds from us. I saw him digging this morning but I think all that he had was a couple of packets of carrots.
Mr Smith: OK I'll give you some to take over when you go to see Carol about the baby - Did the Panadol we sent over help?
Mrs Smith: Yes, the fever is gone now.
Mr Smith: That's good to hear, is lunch going to be long.
Mrs Smith: No.........call the kids to wash their hands and get ready. They've been helping with the work pretty well lately, working hard too. Do you think we could take out a bit of chocolate from the storage for them after tea tonight?
Mr Smith: I don't see why not, I'll go call the kids.
NARRATOR - We have seen how an economic collapse has affected two different families. Which one would you rather live with?
