I’ve had several conversations
recently with friends and associates about the current thinking on “survival”
and self-reliance issues. Some folks
are interested in surviving in the woods with next to nothing. Some are just interested in taking care of
themselves in an emergency.
I had to think back to my earliest
interests, where I wanted to go backpacking and carry as little weight as
possible. I found an answer by studying the ethnobotany of the local indigenous
people, and have studied this fascinating field ever since. I was also studying
the methods of modern agriculture, post-green revolution, and its effects on
the soil and nutrition. I also studied
how food is stored, processed, and transported in our economic system. The complexity was somewhat alarming to my
teenage mind, and I oft wondered how food ever gets to anyone’s table. I could see many scenarios where our
accepted normal way of life could be easily disrupted.
In a nutshell, that is what put me
on the path I’m on today.
I recently had a short meeting with
the founder of an organization devoted exclusively to the study and education
of survival in all aspect. Richard
White, with his military background, was so intent on this focus that he began
regular study groups in the 1960s called the Noah Seminars, where the intent
was to share the facts of our world situation and to work to find solutions
that could actually be put into practice.
When reading some of the minutes of
those early meetings, they concerned themselves with wilderness survival and
physical survival, but their concern was much broader than that. They focused
on verifying the geologic and ecological changes in the world, both those
man-made and natural. They looked at the economic issue that were even then
threatening to undermine our security in the U.S. They examined the health of
the individual, the cities, and our poor methods of communication. And perhaps
most importantly, they examined how our moral, ethical, and spiritual
weaknesses were threats to our survival.
Each of these areas has since been
the subject of many books – perhaps hundreds in some cases.
My meetings with members of the
Noah Seminars, and the non-profit that grew out of it [WTI, go to www.wtinc.info], had an increasingly greater
influence on the way that I perceived the world, and the solutions that were
both practical and right to pursue.
In fact, to this day, I feel that many of the so-called
“survival schools” and survival ideologies are sorely lacking because they
focus very narrowly on one very limited aspect of that vast spectrum of what is
meant by “survival.”
During my recent brief meeting with
founder White, he shared that part of his original stimulus was the fact that
the U.S.S.R. had plans to bomb those parts of Los Angeles County where we
lived. Local targets included the
nearby aerospace facilities, the communication towers on Mount Wilson, and
other strategic targets. Since he felt
then that there was a significant possibility of such a bombing actually
occurring, he explained to his students that such an event would mean that you
simply couldn’t go to the local store or fast food place for lunch. The study of wild foods became mandatory, as
well as some of the skills of hunting and food procurement. Today, it has become somewhat “hip and cool”
to grow only foods in one’s yard, rather than lawns and ornamentals. This is a good sign.
Physical fitness was also stressed,
since in the event of a bombing scenario, one might have no choice but to
evacuate. That would mean a few days,
or longer, of evacuating on foot, carrying all of your needed gear, and folks
who were excessively overwe ight or out of
shape simply wouldn’t be able to do this.
Another part of the thinking was
that, assuming such a scenario actually happened, “law and order” would be
non-existent, and various gangs would exert control and authority. It would be essential to be able to defend
oneself and one’s family. Firearms and
martial arts were essential.
These are just a few of the many
ways in which we approached survival-thinking and preparedness. Through non-sectarian spiritual studies, we
also explored how our honesty and dishonesty can affect the situation we find
ourselves in. In fact, we studied many
of the precepts of all major religions as a way to find those higher “survival
tools” of right living that could only serve us well. These continue to be included in many of the classes and writing
that I conduct, as well as in all the classes that WTI conducts.
Of course, we are not living in the
same world situation as we were in the 1960s.
Some things are better, some are worse.
Things always change, and part of a good survival-strategy is to stay
abreast of the news, understanding how the political situation can affect us
locally and personally.
It is still my belief that the
Golden Rule is the best policy, and that the world would be transformed if we
all practiced that. Unfortunately, we must recognize that most folks do NOT
practice that simple precept, which is why the world is the way it is. Still, by awareness of the full scope of
survival, and by attempting to develop in all these areas, we become fuller
human beings. We become part of the
solution. Our thinking on survival
should not be simply about my own personal well-being, but should include our
concern and compassion for everyone.
As always, I invite your comments and questions, and
welcome you to attend any of the classes we conduct.
See our Schedule at www.ChristopherNyerges.com, or
write to School of Self-reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041.
3 comments:
Christopher,
Odd how things have changed since the 1960's. I spoke with my uncle (actually my aunts husband, who I suppose can still be considered an uncle). He stated that he was sent out (he's former military, high ranking, and a west point grad) to investigate nuclear war head security back in the 1980's the U.S. had in (if I'm remembering correctly) Europe. His analysis was that anyone, at anytime could come in and take them when ever they wanted. They would have been easy to get, and to use. They no longer exist but we as a people have always been one mans decision away from tragedy. Yet, by God's grace were still pretty comfortable.
I do believe people are beginning to realize that we are not as removed from such possibilities as we've been led to believe. It is good to prepare to one's ability. It is good to to learn as much as one can about being self sufficient. It is good to live a moral and spiritually up lifting life. As good as learning self reliant/survival skills are, it is all for nothing if one becomes consumed with fear concerning potential scenarios. I have seen too many people in "survival circles" that have the wrong mind set. I don't know a fraction of the physical skills some have. Yet, long term I bet I would fare better than some who have a superior skill set. I'm good in stressful situations, I can normally keep a cool head. Given that I have a special needs child (and I work full time, opposite from my wife, so I'm it on my days off) I have not had the opportunity to get out and learn many of the skills I would like to get. That being said I have read Tom Brown's book on survival (and yours survival and wild edibles I might add) and have worked on what I can. Wild edibles around my location (elderberries, oaks, thimbleberry, salal, mustard, wild carrot, blackberry, oregon grape, dandelion, wild lettuce's, miner's lettuce, hawthorne, choke cherry, maple, exc.). But mostly I have worked on my spiritual being, and self control over my emotions. Not perfect, but 100% better than I was even 5 years ago. I do want to learn to build a primitive fire and a simple shelter even my mechanically ungifted self could make someday soon.
Take Care,
Marc
P.S. Good blog bit.
Yes, "survival" encompasses a lot of things -- a LOT more than knives, guns, dried food... I suggest you get my How To Survive Anywhere, and read the last chapter. Just keep learning, and sharing, and you'll be on the right path.
I'm glad you included the part about others. In the end each of us has to die. We just don't have to all die at the same time. What matters is that the wheel of life keeps rolling.
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