How to Survive a Famine -
Severe Weather, Natural Disaster, and Nuclear Attack can Bring on Mass Starvation - Be Prepared
By James Roberts and Mark Lawrence, SecretsOfSurvival.com 
 
   

On movie screens in 1981, The Road Warrior (Mel Gibson) resorted to eating dog food out of a can when faced with apparent famine and widespread starvation in the world.
We don't want to see you go out like that. Here are a few good tips for preparing for a famine of Biblical proportions, a famine that experts believe could be a direct consequence of global warming, natural disaster, or nuclear terrorist attack.

Mass starvation on a global scale is a very real threat and can threaten your very survival. That includes your family and friends.

No matter what you've been led to believe, your microwave is not a magic box that will always serve you food when you need it.

Nor will there be any employee fridge to forage in on your lunch break... because when famine hits, the 'lunch break' will be a thing of the past.

And your co-workers may resort to cannibalism - so be ready to make a fast exit if you see that gleam in their eyes, or just have some Milk Bones on hand. Because if you don't prepare for the very real possibility of famine brought on by natural disaster or nuclear attack, you might be eating Milk Bones yourself.

And when those run out, you might have to eat your dog.


Famine, in History

The End of the Old Kingdom- In the mid 22nd century B.C., Egypt was a place of great magnitude. Then there was an unspecified and short lived climatic change that truly impacted during the time of Unas (2381-2345). No one really understands what caused the weather problems; however, the results of these climate changes seems clear.

Lake Moeris dried out, the Nile lowered, and bad harvests followed. Unfortunately for the Old Kingdom of Egypt, that spurred on a great famine throughout their lands. All of these factors also led to civil disobedience and strife.

And the Old Kingdom never fully recovered.

Famine - A social and economic crisis that is often accompanied by widespread malnutrition and starvation which leads to epidemic and significantly increased mortality.


Famine, Present Day

The Causes of Famine and Mass Starvation

Famine can be caused by any number of factors. However, some of the most common reasons for famine are climate changes (as noted in the previous example concerning Egypt's Old Kingdom). Therefore, drought, crop issues, and pestilence are oftentimes the culprits. That said, famine can also be brought on by war and political problems.

In fact, from a political vantage there have been instances when certain political maneuvers seemed to have caused or inexplicably failed to stop famine. In such cases, those in power have literally ended up depriving the middle income and poor. In fact, many believe that the North Korean famine of the 1990's was a direct result of such issues.

There are many whom believe that almost all famine is- in essence- truly compelled more by politics than nature (in other words, problems that cause issues in the food supply can be handled by a savvy and caring government).

Regardless, with the natural changes occurring all around us - global warming, anyone? - the possibility of widespread famine due to climatic changes is becoming more and more plausible, even in the United States of America.


How to Survive a Famine

Okay, the first thing you do is contact emergency personnel if problems with your family's ability to sustain itself occurs. Historically, the United States- unlike countries like North Korea, for example- will make decisions that are more in the best interests of its people during such a situation.

However, you shouldn't assume that the United States will be able to come through for you. After all, if it wasn't completely clear after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans that we are not in charge of nature, then here's a newsflash:

We are not in charge of nature.

Editor's note: God is.

Still, political policies will play a huge role in determining whether or not we survive a famine. However, since that is in essence outside of our control (with the exception, of course, of the voting process) let's talk about three other things that could help during a famine. Namely, these are growing food, hunting / trapping food, and storing food.


Growing Food During a Famine

This one is tough to talk about simply because the growing of food may in essence be dependent on why the famine came about. That said, here is a concept worth mentioning.

The Green Revolution- Okay, the Green Revolution basically refers to the spread of technologies for subsistence agriculture to countries that needed them. Thus, things like pesticides, irrigation projects, and nitrogen fertilizer. These concepts and materials were first spread to Mexico in 1943 via a collaborative effort between the Rockefeller Institute and Manuel Avila's presidential administration from Mexico.

Actually, we left something out. You see, there were also these 'miracle seeds'. In other words, scientists involved in the Green Revolution created strains of wheat, rice, and maize that were hardier than the others before it. Thus, these seeds and their offspring tended to survive better than those before it. These seeds were called high yield or hybrid seeds.

Now you're probably asking what this has to do with surviving a famine on your own. Well, simply follow suit. In other words, you'll need some know how, strong seeds (look for hybrids), land, and pesticides / fertilizers. Further, if you're worried about a famine in your neck of the woods, call a garden center and ask them what crops, pesticides, and fertilizers would work best in your area.

Regardless, during a famine growing food will almost certainly be a tough prospect. After all, if it were easy, then the famine wouldn't be occurring, right?

Which leads us to the next section of this article.