Anyone familiar with a ‘Mad Max’ Movie or the work of Kevin Costner in “Waterworld” or “The Postman” will be aware of one Hollywood truism about post-apocalyptic worlds. There are only two types of survivor: “Communities of Builders” and the “Criminal Parasites”. One will farm and produce a sustainable existence through the combined strength of people coming together. The other will just steal everything it needs from those Farmers. They farm Farmers.

 

One of these Survivors has a Future. The other does not. Sadly, this will remain the reason why the Communities of Builders will also be a Community of Soldiers. Maybe “soldiers” is a strong word. Maybe “guardians” is better. There is no point trying to build sustainability if someone will just steal it from you. That is no future for anyone if it perpetuates a cycle of self-destruction.

 

Hence the idealistic utopian future of some environmentalists is nothing more than a fantasy. The future probably lies in fences. The sustainers cannot build unless they can keep the gangsters out. There is no future in serfdom. It is here that the ridiculous and scary right-wing US cult of 'survivalism has a point. These guys may be nuts living up there in a shack in the mountains, but their love of guns probably mean they will keep what is their's. Of course, it isn't that simple. Evil begets evil and guns only lead to killing. A sustainer cannot defend just himself. He must build a community of likeminded people and then defend that community with everything in their arsenals.

 

How do sustainers sustain their lives without armed fortification and conflict? Indeed, for every sustainer there are five reckless thieves out there quite happy to use the fossil fuels you didn't. Demoralising isn't it? The more we build a sustainable future the more short term resources are left for the thieves. The sustainers have the moral high-ground at all times. You see the thieves everywhere, in the 4x4’s or in positions of power. Protect yourself from these parasites and don't be down-heartened. YOU have a future, they do not. But don't live with your head in the clouds. The future is not all peace and love man. Resource scarcity means doing without. Many people don't like doing without. Many people can't do without. Many will be envious of your ability to cope with that crisis in a way that they can't. So, one day they will knock on your door. At first they will ask you. Then they will demand. Then they will take. There are too many people for what little there is left. Maybe the only answer is to remain well hidden and preserve your knowledge and your humanity for a future when all the wars are over and we are left with a much quieter planet. Something resembling the world of Roman times maybe? They lived well.... But they fought wars and had an empire. They had slaves. It is the human condition.

 

Bottom-line - survival is a community project. Expect to have to learn how to plough and to fight.