kiwibird
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http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nat...ock-up-ready-for-the-worst-20090501-aq6w.html
Survivalists stock up ready for the worst
Tim Elliott
May 2, 2009
LLOYD Hughes isn't particularly worried about swine flu. If the Government declares a pandemic, the 63-year-old truck driver will simply bunker down with his wife, three teenage children and their 200 cans of tomatoes.
"We've also got 250 kilograms of rice, 25 litres of olive oil and loads of flour, plus toilet paper and toothpaste," Mr Hughes, who lives in the Upper Hunter region, said. "It's about a year's worth. And if I have to keep the kids at home, I will."
Like many survivalists, Mr Hughes also has "an extensive supply" of over-the-counter medicines: ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, antiseptic creams - everything except Tamiflu.
"Tamiflu won't work with swine fever. It only addresses the symptoms. What you really got to do is keep to yourself and avoid crowded areas."
News of swine fever has been manna from heaven for survivalists, with the outbreak dominating websites both in Australia and overseas. The US website Glock Talk urged visitors to monitor schools for outbreaks and to "Be vigilant! Be prepared!"
Members of the Aussurvivalist website debated the merits of gas masks versus vaccinations in between conjecture on "kill rates" and disease distribution. "It doesn't really matter what the percentage death rate is," writes Brian, "when you are talking millions/billions of people the death toll will be high."
Many survivalists feel vindicated by swine flu, according to Simon Beer, founder of survival.
org.au. "There's a fair bit of 'I told you so,' " Mr Beer says. "But it's nothing compared to how survivalists will feel in a few years' time when society collapses completely."
Mr Beer believes the "whole thing is a bit of a beat-up", but has posted some advice on his site nonetheless in a section entitled "Swine Flu Survival - Surviving the Pandemic".
Other survivalists, like Tony, a 44-year-old former stockbroker, agree that "this is not the end. Rather, it's just another nail in the coffin of civilisation".
Tony has stockpiled several months' worth of food, including rice, multivitamins, peanut butter and honey in his Baulkham Hills garage.
"Even the Government is now saying you should keep two weeks' supply. So it's just common sense really."
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Survivalists stock up ready for the worst
Tim Elliott
May 2, 2009
LLOYD Hughes isn't particularly worried about swine flu. If the Government declares a pandemic, the 63-year-old truck driver will simply bunker down with his wife, three teenage children and their 200 cans of tomatoes.
"We've also got 250 kilograms of rice, 25 litres of olive oil and loads of flour, plus toilet paper and toothpaste," Mr Hughes, who lives in the Upper Hunter region, said. "It's about a year's worth. And if I have to keep the kids at home, I will."
Like many survivalists, Mr Hughes also has "an extensive supply" of over-the-counter medicines: ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, antiseptic creams - everything except Tamiflu.
"Tamiflu won't work with swine fever. It only addresses the symptoms. What you really got to do is keep to yourself and avoid crowded areas."
News of swine fever has been manna from heaven for survivalists, with the outbreak dominating websites both in Australia and overseas. The US website Glock Talk urged visitors to monitor schools for outbreaks and to "Be vigilant! Be prepared!"
Members of the Aussurvivalist website debated the merits of gas masks versus vaccinations in between conjecture on "kill rates" and disease distribution. "It doesn't really matter what the percentage death rate is," writes Brian, "when you are talking millions/billions of people the death toll will be high."
Many survivalists feel vindicated by swine flu, according to Simon Beer, founder of survival.
org.au. "There's a fair bit of 'I told you so,' " Mr Beer says. "But it's nothing compared to how survivalists will feel in a few years' time when society collapses completely."
Mr Beer believes the "whole thing is a bit of a beat-up", but has posted some advice on his site nonetheless in a section entitled "Swine Flu Survival - Surviving the Pandemic".
Other survivalists, like Tony, a 44-year-old former stockbroker, agree that "this is not the end. Rather, it's just another nail in the coffin of civilisation".
Tony has stockpiled several months' worth of food, including rice, multivitamins, peanut butter and honey in his Baulkham Hills garage.
"Even the Government is now saying you should keep two weeks' supply. So it's just common sense really."
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald