Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? [Survival Today

Yahoo ran an interesting article this morning indicating a rise in the number of survivalist communities cropping up around the country. I have been wondering myself how much of the recent energy crisis is causing people to do things like stockpile food and water, grow their own vegetables, etc. Could it be that there are many people out there stockpiling and their increased buying has caused food prices to increase? It’s an interesting theory, but I believe increased food prices have more to do with rising fuel prices as cost-to-market costs have increased and grocers are simply passing those increases along to the consumer. A recent stroll through the camping section of Wal-Mart did give me pause - what kinds of things are prudent to have on hand in the event of a worldwide shortage of food and/or fuel? Survivalist in Training

I’ve been interested in survival stories since I was a kid, which is funny considering I grew up in a city. Maybe that’s why the idea of living off the land appealed to me. My grandfather and I frequently took camping trips along the Blue Ridge Parkway and around the Smoky Mountains. Looking back, some of the best times we had were when we stayed at campgrounds without electricity hookups, because it forced us to use what we had to get by. My grandfather was well-prepared with a camp stove and lanterns (which ran off propane), and when the sun went to bed we usually did along with it. We played cards for entertainment, and in the absence of televisions, games, etc. we shared many great conversations. Survivalist in the Neighborhood

((Here we go - this is a whitewash of HR 2749 - See next post for what it REALLY entails!))

House panel passes food safety reform bill
Posted by admin On 2009-06-18 03:46:00

By Jasmin Melvin

WASHINGTON - A U.S. House Committee on Wednesday passed legislation that would increase government oversight of the U.S. food supply, which has been tarnished by a series of high-profile outbreaks since 2006.

The measure, cleared by a voice vote in the House Energy and Commerce committee, would be the most sweeping reform of the food safety system in close to 50 years.

Efforts to overhaul the antiquated food safety system and give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — which regulates 80 percent of the country’s food supply — more authority and funding have surged following outbreaks tied to lettuce, peppers, spinach, peanuts and peanut butter in recent years.

The bill broadens FDA’s regulatory authority by requiring all facilities to have a food safety plan in place, giving FDA mandatory recall authority and allowing FDA greater access to company records.

“But FDA will not be the only cop on the beat,” said the committee chair, Rep. Henry Waxman.

“One of the most important changes that will occur under this bill is a new focus on prevention, and a shared responsibility between FDA and food manufacturers to keep the food supply safe,” he said.

The legislation would require the industry to pay $500 per facility each year as part of a registration fee, generating an estimated $189 million. Lawmakers said the funding would go toward increasing plant inspections and other food safety activities. A cap would be set so no single company would pay more than $175,000.

Inspections would take place every six to 12 months at high-risk facilities and between 18 months and three years for those deemed to be at lower risk. Currently, many facilities can go several years without being inspected.

The food industry, though still concerned by some provisions of the bill, has shown support for the new legislation.

“Because consumer confidence is the foundation of everything we do, manufacturers take food safety very seriously,” said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

“We look forward to working with Congress to swiftly enact food safety legislation,” she added.

Similar food safety legislation also has been introduced in the Senate, but there is no timetable when the bipartisan measure will be taken up.

Waxman said he wanted the strong vote out of committee to “send a loud message about the need to move this legislation quickly.”

“I am hopeful that before too long, we can have a comprehensive food safety bill on President Obama’s desk,” he said.

An estimated 76 million people in the United States get sick every year with foodborne illness and 5,000 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Reporting by Jasmin Melvin; additional reporting by Christopher Doering; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

http://www.goozad.com/news/House+panel+passes+food+safety+reform+bill_33324

Alarming Provisions of HR 2749

June 18, 2009
We Are Change LA

Some of the more alarming provisions in the bill are:

* HR 2749 would impose an annual registration fee of $500 on any “facility” that holds, processes, or manufactures food. [isn’t this every home in the US, every garden?] Although “farms” are exempt, the agency has defined “farm” narrowly. [What is the definition?] And people making foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, cheeses, or breads would be required to register and pay the fee, which could drive beginning and small producers out of business during difficult economic times. [Yes. There are laws against this corporate-size-destroys-the-little-guy policy, aren’t there? Are home bread or cheese or lacto-fermented vegetable makers who make for their own families included in this?]

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to regulate how crops are raised and harvested. It puts the federal government right on the farm, dictating to our farmers. [What is missing in pointing out this astounding control, is that it opens the door to CODEX and WTO “good farming practices” will include the elimination of organic farming by eliminating manure, mandating GMO animal feed, imposing animal drugs, and ordering applications of petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers, thus, will be locked not only into the industrialization of once normal and organic farms but into the forced purchase of industry’s products. They will be slaves on the land, doing the work they are ordered to do - against their own best wisdom - and paying out to industry against their will. There will be no way to be frugal, to grow one’s own grain to feed the animals, to raise healthy animals without GMO grains or drugs, to work with nature at all. Grassfed cattle and poultry and hogs will be finished. So, it needs to be made clear where control will take us. And weren’t these the “rumors on the internet” that were dismissed but are clearly the case?]

* HR 2749 would give FDA the power to order a quarantine of a geographic area, including “prohibiting or restricting the movement of food or of any vehicle being used or that has been used to transport or hold such food within the geographic area.” [This - that has been used to transport or hold such food - would mean all cars that have ever brought groceries home so this means ALL TRANSPORTATION can be shut down under this. This is using food as a cover for martial law.] Under this provision, farmers markets and local food sources could be shut down, even if they are not the source of the contamination. The agency can halt all movement of all food in a geographic area. [This is also a means of total control over the population under the cover of food, and at any time.]

* HR 2749 would empower FDA to make random warrantless searches of the business records of small farmers and local food producers, without any evidence whatsoever that there has been a violation. [If these bills cover all who “hold food” then this allows for taking of records of anyone at any time on no basis at all.] Even farmers selling direct to consumers would have to provide the federal government with records on where they buy supplies, how they raise their crops, and a list of customers.

[NAIS for animals and all other foods?]

* HR 2749 charges the Secretary of Health and Human Services with establishing a tracing system for food. Each “person who produces, manufactures, processes, packs, transports, or holds such food” [Is this not every home in the US?] would have to “maintain the full pedigree of the origin and previous distribution history of the food,” and “establish and maintain a system for tracing the food that is interoperable with the systems established and maintained by other such persons.” The bill does not explain how far the traceback will extend or how it will be done for multi-ingredient foods. With all these ambiguities, [with all these ambiguities, it is dangerous, period, separate from the money] it’s far from clear how much it will cost either the farmers or the taxpayers. [It is massive and absurd and burdensome beyond the capacity of people to comply - is this not fascism? - so it is a set up for being used to impose penalties endlessly and/or to eliminate anyone at will.]

* HR 2749 creates severe criminal and civil penalties, including prison terms of up to 10 years and/or fines of up to $100,000 for each violation for individuals. [Does it include judicial review, Congressional oversight, a defined and limited set of penalties and punishments for a defined set of “crimes”? Or is it entirely ambiguous and left to the whim and sole power of “the Administrator”? Who is that person set to be? Is it Michael Taylor, Monsanto lawyer and executive, as Food Democracy has said? That is, do these bills set up an agency by which the entire US food supply will be turned over to the control of a multinational corporation under WTO regulations (and not to US farmers and not to US laws under the Constitution), with boundless freedom to do what it wants, and one infamous for harm to farmers and lack of safety of food?]

If it was not clear before how frightening these bills were, this small section of provisions, should make their actual fascism clear now. It goes way beyond “food safety” to absolute control over farms, animals, food, and us, including our movements and access to food at all.

http://wacla.org/2009/06/18/henry-waxmans-betrayal-of-our-existence-hr-2749/

Dear NaturalNews readers,

The psych drugs being pushed onto innocent children labeled “ADHD” have now been linked to an alarming 500 percent increase in the risk of sudden cardiac death.

But the FDA says: Don’t worry about it! The benefits outweigh the risks! (Where have we heard that before?)

Read the real story behind this disturbing (but not surprising) discovery that reveals Big Pharma is killing children with high-profit psychiatric drugs:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026459_adhd_drugs_ritalin.html

And speaking of Big Pharma, here’s a man who won a big lawsuit against a pharma company for the serious harm caused to his health by a polio vaccine:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026458_polio_polio_vaccine_disease.html

Also today: The many health benefits of the Gotu Kola herb ( http://www.naturalnews.com/026457_gotu_kola_blood_medicine.html), and metabolic typing for smarter diets ( http://www.naturalnews.com/026456_metabolic_typing_health_diets.html).

More stories below...

P.S. Thank you all for your support of the Health Revolution Petition! (www.HealthRevolutionPetition.org) Signatures have now exceeded 22,000. Please spread the word, as we need 100,000 signatures to take this to Washington D.C. and make an impact regarding the health care reform debate.

Listen to Real Health with Dr. Steve which features multiple guests in a fast-paced, information-dense format. The show is now listed on iTunes and can be accessed directly at: http://web.mac.com/drsteve720/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

To your health,

- Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

P.S. Don’t miss out on our NaturalNews DrugWatch database: It reveals the side effects and herbal interactions of more than 540 popular brand name drugs. Click the photo below to visit it right now, or click: http://www.naturalnews.com/DrugWatch_Home.html

(Click to view.)

http://www.naturalnews.com/026453_drought_food_food_production.html

Originally published June 16 2009
Global Food Production Plummets in 2009 (with chart)
by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Global food production is expected to plummet between 20 and 40 percent in 2009, due to widespread drought and other stresses on agricultural production

Two-thirds of the world’s food is produced in countries currently in the grip of droughts. The extent of this crisis can easily be seen by a chart on the Web site of the Center for Research on Globalization:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index....

Much media attention has focused on a severe drought in Northern China, one of the wheat producing capitals of the world. There, the worst drought in 50 years has already resulted in damage to 161 million mu (26.5 million acres) of crops. In Australia, suffering its worst drought in 117 years, 41 percent of crops have been harmed, farmers have begun abandoning land, rivers have run dry and lakes have evaporated to such an extent that they have turned toxic.

In the United States, Texas and the Southeast remains in the throes of a severe drought. California’s drought is the worst in recorded history, with thousands of acres already fallow and worse likely to come — the Northern Sierra snowpack, which provides much of the state’s water as it melts, only reached 49 percent of its average thickness this winter.

Less well-publicized but equally devastating droughts have also gripped other agricultural areas of the world. In Latin America, agricultural emergencies have been declared in six countries, including soy-, corn- and cattle-producing giants Argentina and Brazil. The La Nina weather pattern is expected to make the situation worse in both Pacific South America and the southern United States.

Eastern and southern Africa, and western and central Asia are also facing severe droughts. The wheat harvest in eastern South Africa is expected to be the lowest in 30 years. In Central Asia and the Middle East, wheat harvests have dropped an average of 22 percent, reaching as high as 98 percent in northern Iraq.

Farmers have also been hurt by a lack of credit due to the financial crisis, making it harder to buy fertilizer or seed. Even in Europe, which has been relatively untouched by drought, unusual climate conditions and degraded soil have led to a projected 10 to 15 percent drop in crop output.

Sources for this story include: www.globalresearch.ca.

http://www.naturalnews.com/026455_natural_remedies_flowers_bread.html

Use Natural Remedies for Bee Stings
by Sheryl Walters, citizen journalist
See all articles by this author
Email this author

(NaturalNews) Along with summer, comes pretty flowers. We all know how much bees are attracted to flowers. If you’ve ever experienced getting stung by a bee, you know how badly it can hurt. There are even certain people who are highly allergic to a bee’s venom and could be seriously affected if left untreated. These people should seek medical attention immediately. However, for those of us who aren’t affected in a life threatening way, here is what you should do when encountering the sting of a pesky bothersome bee.

Once you have been stung, remain calm. You will need to remove the stinger. Be careful that you do not break the stinger off in your skin as this can add more of the bee’s poison to the area. If you are unable to get all of the stinger out, make a bread and milk poultice. Use stale bread mixed with a little milk, and place it on your sting. This may be held on with a clean soft cloth to give it time to pull the stinger out. Reapply a new poultice if necessary. Another type of poultice which may be applied is a wet tea bag. The tannic acid in tea helps with the swelling of a bee sting and the swelling may be what is causing the stinger to stay embedded. Black tea is the most effective type to use.

Once the stinger has been completely removed, wash the area with warm water and a natural soap. If the area is causing pain, you may place ice on it. Slice a piece of potato, cucumber or an onion and place it directly on the sting area. Within a few hours, the bite will feel much better and a salve made of comfrey made be applied.

Another choice for overcoming the pain and swelling from the sting of a bee is a mixture of straight natural apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Apply this to the affected area. If you are able to collect a sample of rich soil, add water and turn it into a clay paste mixture. This can help to draw out the venom. If you happen to have any lavender or eucalyptus oil on hand, these may also be used to bring comfort.

Taking a natural supplement daily of B1, garlic or zinc, will make you less desirable to a bee. Certain dyes and perfumes as well as bright colors will attract bees so do all you can to experience a safe and happy summer.

Sources:
www.seekwellness.com
www.healthy.net
www.prevention.com

Buzz up!vote now

About the author
Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practitioner.
Her website www.younglivingguide.com provides the latest research on preventing disease, looking naturally gorgeous, and feeling emotionally and physically fabulous. You can also find some of the most powerful super foods on the planet including raw chocolate, purple corn, and many others.

I could have used this 3 hours ago.

I had 3 big flies that were driving me wild, and would not land so I could swat them.

So when one landed on my leg, I swatted it and then hit it again for it was still moving.......and then it got even.

One of the small bees in the house, attracked to the light over the computer.

The lesson learned, do not kill bugs that are on your body. and i learned that a bee will sting with its dying breath....
granny

http://www.naturalnews.com/026454_blood_spices_garlic.html

Originally published June 16 2009
Common Spices Work Better than Aspirin to Stop Blood Clots
by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor
See all articles by this author
Email this author

(NaturalNews) Spices do a whole lot more than liven up food. New research has found that the active ingredients in several common spices prevent platelet aggregation and blood clot formation up to 29 times better than aspirin, and without the side effects.

Scientists in India have done extensive testing to determine the health benefits of spices traditionally used in Indian cuisine. In the latest research to come from the Central Food Technological Research Institute, they evaluated the effect of the principle spice active compounds eugenol, capsaicin, piperine, quercetin, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, and allyl sulphide on human platelet aggregation. They demonstrated that each compound evaluated was able to significantly inhibit blood clotting. Furthermore, the compounds performed their anti-platelet aggregation activity against several different factors that promote the clotting of blood.

Eugenol and capsaicin were found to be the most potent inhibitors of arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation. This ability was shown by the other tested compounds in the declining order of curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, piperine, allyl sulphide, and quercetin. Eugenol was found to be 29-fold more potent than aspirin in inhibiting ararachidonic acid induced human platelet aggregation. Both eugenol and capsaicin inhibited production of clotting factors in a dose-dependent manner. Eugenol-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation was further confirmed by dose-dependent decrease in malondialdehyde in platelets. Platelet formation induced by collagen and calcium were also inhibited by eugenol and capsaicin, although to a lesser degree. (Prostaglandins Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, June 4)

Cardiovascular disease and inflammation often go hand in hand. Earlier research by this team of scientists found that eugenol was highly effective at inhibiting inflammatory conditions in humans. (Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, January, 2006)

Spices are powerful medicines

Eugenol is the active compound that gives cloves their aroma. It can also be extracted from cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon balm. Eugenol appears as a clear or pale yellow oily liquid that is slightly water soluble. It is used medicinally as a local antiseptic and analgesic. It has antioxidant properties and is often used in lotions and perfumes, as well as in artificial vanilla flavoring.

Spicing up food with cloves is one way to get this active compound. Eugenol is also available as essential oil for use in lotion and massage oil, or as aromatherapy in diffusers. Some clove oil products for internal use are also available. Drops are generally placed under the tongue.

It is possible to consume too much eugenol with serious consequences. The suggested amount on the bottle should not be exceeded.

Capsaicin is the active compound in hot peppers and the one that creates the heat. It is found in hot sauce, chili peppers, or as cayenne pepper. Aside from reducing platelet aggregation, capsaicin has a distinguished history as a cancer fighter through its ability to make cancer cells die. It is particularly effective against prostate and other hormone dependent cancers. Capsaicin sooths the digestive tract and may be a cure for inflammatory bowel disease. Eating chili peppers has been shown to protect against the effects of aspirin on the stomach.

Capsaicin protects the heart through other mechanisms besides inhibition of platelet aggregation. It reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, and has been shown able to dissolve fibrin, another action through which it can protect against blood clots. Cultures around the world that use hot peppers liberally have significantly lower rates of heart attack and stroke than cultures that do not.

Getting red pepper into the diet is easy. It is often kept on kitchen tables in the form of hot sauce, and sprinkled on meat, fish, side dishes, and snacks. Hot sauce is a natural accompaniment to Mexican foods. Chili made with fresh tomatoes and hot peppers offers the two major players against prostate cancer in one meal. Even a simple bowl of beans gets up to dance when hot sauce is added.

For anyone wanting a quantifiable amount of capsaicin, there are capsules available.

Curcumin is one of the best known herbal healers. It is the active ingredient in turmeric, one of the staples of Indian cooking. Turmeric has been used for centuries to help treat health conditions and is also a tradition in Chinese medicine. It has recently been shown to strengthen and order cell membranes, making cells more resistant to infection and malignancy. Turmeric treats digestive issues, arthritis, menstrual problems, and liver and gallbladder issues. It is one of the best natural pain relievers and has shown to be more effective at relieving pain that NSAIDS such as ibuprofen, without side effects. Turmeric also offers strong defense against colitis.

While curcumin is preventing blood clot formation, it is also preventing the oxidation of cholesterol, offering protection against blood vessel damage and plaque build up that can lead to heart attack and cancer. There is even mounting evidence that curcumin can keep away neurogenerative disease through its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an antioxidant.

Turmeric can spice up anything from baked potatoes to elaborate curries. It is a highly tasty addition to lentils. Both turmeric and curcumin are widely available in capsule form.

Cinnamaldehyde comes from cinnamon and provides that heavenly fragrance and spicy taste loved by almost everyone from childhood on. Cinnamon has been a popular healer for more than 2000 years, and is a powerful regulator of blood sugar levels. Taking one half teaspoon a day can completely normalize blood sugar for many people. Cinnamon has a beneficial impact on cholesterol, lowering LDL levels. It is a digestive aid and antibacterial.

Piperine is what gives black pepper its kick. It provides an overall health boost and is effective against colon cancer and inflammation. Sprinkling black pepper on food increases the bioavailability of its nutrients. Piperine can be ordered in capsule or tablet form from online retailers, and is a great addition to other supplements, increasing their bioavailability.

Allyl sulfide is found in the oil of garlic and is one of the compounds that gives it such a unique odor. The health benefits of garlic are legendary. Allyl sulfide is not available as a supplement and must be obtained by eating garlic or buying garlic supplements. Crush a clove of fresh organic garlic just before eating and add it to your food. The taste will be sensational, and you will get all the benefits garlic has to offer. Many of these benefits are lost if garlic is added to food while it is cooking.

Buy traditional spices from a spice shop

Cloves, red pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and garlic are all sold at traditional supermarkets and discount stores, often in ground form. These products may add a small amount of flavor to food, but they are deficient for anyone trying to get their health benefits.

To buy high quality herbs, visit a local spice shop or order them from a spice retailer online. This way you can get organic herbs that have their full range of nutrients and are not irradiated or sprayed with pesticide.

When you order herbs as tablets or capsules, unless the product states it is organic, it is not. Organic herbs sold in capsule form are difficult to find and are quite expensive. It is much more economical to purchase from a spice shop. The top spice shops package their spices in glass bottles that assure of a tight seal with no air seepage. They can be kept in the freezer for many months.

Taking a quantified dose of a whole herb that is not encapsulated may seem like a chore, but it can be quickly gotten used to. Remember that these are herbs, not drugs, so there is not the need to be overly precise about the amount taken. Once you have established the amount you wish to take, put it in a 1/8 or 1/4 sized teaspoon, open your mouth, place it on the back of your tongue, and swallow with water or tea. A teaspoon of bee pollen makes a wonderful chaser, providing all the nutrients needed for synergy with the herbs.

For more information:
http://www.indepthinfo.com/nutritio...
http://www.naturalnews.com/026076.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/025908_h...
http://www.naturalnews.com/025590.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/026419_b...
http://www.naturalnews.com/025821_g...

http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2009/06/19/sean-hannity-video-urban-survivalists/

Good video albeit I do not advocate buying 99% of the so called “survival” gadgets which more times than not are crap !

Self reliance is not just for disasters. For example if you get laid off and can’t find a job for a few months to a year ,or illness / injury cuts back on your ability to earn an income your stash / cache is a viable preparation. I personally tend to see myself self reliant at home and a survivalist when away from home. I have lived in countries with no power or running water for months, here in the states I have been snowed in for weeks without power to my home. Even my entire small town I live in now has lost power for 2 weeks due a mere storm that killed a transformer “station” a few winters ago.

Preparedness , self reliance and redundant systems will let you survive any unseen situation that may happen to YOU and yours.

Shelter from the elements
Water and Food stored
Water and Food sources that can be collected
Communications
Transportation
Hygiene
Medical
Security

All the above are considerations to keep in mind when planning IMO. Consider all of the above at your primary residence, a alternate location be it family or friends or just the boonies.

In the video the comments were to carry a large kit or pack etc .....a simple book bag or messenger bag you can carry to and from work easily with your lunch in it can carry all you need for a simple emergency kit to get ya home at walking speed.

A weather shell with insulators for the season

Good walking shoes and spare socks

2 ltrs of water and a water filter if ya have to refill from a puddle or pond in urban areas.

Large bandanna that is multiple use from dust mask to sling or bandage for injury.

Pair of goggles that will fit over glasses if ya wear em for such industrial dust and smoke as was seen on 9-11.

2 or more good energy bars, consider sharing or not when considering numbers carried. I have 6 in my bag.

Pain meds for aches if your not used to walking a long distance.

Spare cell phone battery

Small waterproof LED flashlight w/ a wrist lanyard

Sharpie twin tip RED marker, leave message on yer office wall and along your route when you rest where people or rescue will see them as to your condition and where you were headed with date and time .

A whistle, fox 40 regular size or even the mini. Scares dogs, and criminals as well as lets folks know your there if trapped by debris.

A small bic disposable lighter that will set a dumpster or trash can fire easily for warmth or signal for help.

A compact golf umbrella, use day to day when walking in the rain or shade for a very long walk home in hot sun.

A multi tool like the leatherman or a Gerber etc ....unless yer in a socialist hell hole ville and such is verboten.

Now if ya live in state like mine where a firearm is allowed I keep a few spare magazines in my small day pack for my concealed carry sidearm as well.

My suggestions my opinion about the video.......:o)

Stay safe !

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