Patricia Greene wrote "It isn't even that cold and we're close to Canada, if escape is necessary"; like if everything got pretty bad in the U.S. that it would be OK to "escape" to Canada. We had 20 feet of snow here this year so bring lots of food and a good shovel. A lot of the people that are up here are talking about going to the U.S. because it is warmer and won't cost them $5,000 to$10,000 a year to heat their homes.
I have taught bush survival for 20 years and I just want to set the record straight, most people,(probably about 2/3rd's) Americans or Canadians or Mexicans or whatever will perish within the first 3 months following a disaster of major proportions country wide, (this comes from numerous studies by the armed forces as to the effect of major disasters on the population). Katrina was a testament to this. Not only are the governments unable to deal with a small catastrophe such as Katrina but they are unwilling to allocate the funding to prepare for the eventuality of disasters of even as small as 1 or 2 cities that are in dire straits. It is simply too overwhelming for them.
It is every community for itself, sorry, and if the community is divided, then it is every person for themselves. That's the reality of it. Now you can change that reality bit by bit through getting your own act together then helping your community to get it's collective act together the help your surrounding communities to get their acts together to recreate an extended family of LIKE thinkers.
The cruel reality is that the Amish and Mennonite communities and communities like them probably won't even realize that something is even wrong with our society until the air starts to get cleaner.
If you don't have any self sufficiency skills then get some, there is a wealth of information out there, if you are not prepared to look after yourself and you think someone else is going to do it for you, you will die. It is hard enough to look after yourself, if you are looking after too many others your energy won't last long and you will die. Work together, share your chosen skills, accept whatever help comes your way learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones and you may make it through all the changes that are imminent.
Most people are under the impression that the changes may just be in one direction. I can see natural, economic and fear driven panic disasters all coming down the pipe here where I live, in the country. I can't even imagine what it will be like in the cities, where most people live.
By the way this isn't 'coming' it has started we are now accepting that diesel fuel is 65 cents per gallon(15 cents/litre) more expensive than gasoline. This doesn't make sense, unless you own the diesel and want to take advantage of the situation and make money. How does your food get to your neighborhood? The weather has started to change the way we do things and the economy is on the edge of the toilet bowl. Hang on it will only get bumpier.
I know a lot of folks will say I am negative, a doomsayer etc. All I can say is look deeper into your own knowing, open your eyes and mind and take a look at all that is going on, without hopeful prejudice, see the reality. Don't weep, prepare.

John Dixon
Muskoka Relocalization Co-Op
post carbon
http://postcarbon.org/