Doomsday
Diary
How to thrive and prosper
on the final day
or if things
get really bad
By Dr. James Tower
Dedicated to nut jobs (like me) who know something is terribly wrong with the current system, and is likely to get much worse, but want a legitimate plan to thrive and prosper
Table of Contents
Preface – Doomsday
Why This Book Was Written
9 Things You Will Get From Reading This Book
This Book Won’t Help Zombies and Kooks
The United States is Vulnerable
A Legitimate Plan
Introduction
How to Prosper if Things Get Bad
Doomsday Cults and Other Survivalist Groups
Keeping Your Head When All Others Are Losing Theirs
Chapter 1
Preserving the Quality of Life
Carving Your Own Path
Chapter 2 - Mental Preparation
How to Perform Well in a Survival Situation
The Absolute Will To Survive!
Understanding Stress in a Survival Situation
Acute Stress Reaction - Fight or Flight
The Bear Grylls Mind Set
Chapter 3 – Hedging Your Bets
Why You Need When Hedging the System
How to Hedge Your Best
The Seven Truths of Capital
The Benefits of Holding Physical Gold and Silver
Chapter 4 – Assessing Your Health and Wellness Needs
How People Survived the Black Plague
How to Get the Stuff You Need
4,000 Year Old Remedies
The Iodine Secret
The Most Effective Antibiotics, Painkillers, Anesthetics and Other Miracle Drugs
Seven Genuine Super-foods for Maximum Vitality
Chapter 5 – Urban Survival Guide
Are Urban Survival Skills Necessary?
How the “Right” Skills Could Save Your Life
Black Belt Avoidance Strategies
Neil Strauss Emergency Plan
Chapter 6 – Living Abundantly “Off the Grid”
How to Live Off the Grid - A Personal Journey
The Deyo Food Storage Guide
Trusting the Right People (Money, Barter and Trade)
World-class Luxuries
Chapter 7
An International Escape Plan
Jedi Knight Security Checkpoint Tips
14 Travel Tips from a Savvy International Man
8 Best Locations to Consider for Relocation
The Four Safest Places in the World to Avoid Natural Disasters
Chapter 8 – Flawed Sense of “Community”
The Amish and Other Resilient Communities
Homeschoolers
The Beauty of Online Communities
Chapter 9 – How to Live Free and Independent
You Can Be Free and Independent
Six Ways to Enjoy Economic Independence
Seeking Alternate Sources of Income
The Shift in Consumer Demand
Is Moving to a Foreign Country a Viable Option?
Chapter 10 – Choosing Your Battles Wisely
You Have Limited Time, Energy and Resources
Why Politics is NOT the Answer
Chapter 11 – Rise of the Individual
The Active Man
The Passive Man
How to Reduce the Effects of Groupthink
The Libertarian Philosophy
The End Game (Your life is in your hands)
Chapter 12 – The Key to a Fuller Life
Accepting Reality
How the Brain Changes Itself
Is Learned Optimism New Age Hogwash?
The Magic of Prioritization
Chapter 13- An Inside View of Marshal Law
The Stages of Gun Control
How Will the Internet “Kill Switch” Affect You?
Police Brutality on the Rise – Filming is Banned!
Chapter 14 - When Systems Fail
Little-Known Secrets of the Power Grid and Smart Meters
What About “Smart” Meters?
Watch Out When the Food Distribution Breaks Down
Ethical Hacking on the Rise
Chapter 15 – Doomsday Action Plan
How to Profit When There is Blood in the Street
Investing during Doomsday (or if things get really bad)
There Will Be No Inflation or Recovery Any Time Soon
Japan is a Mess – But There is a Window of Opportunity
Ranking Opportunities
The Wisdom of Traveling Lite
Developing In-Demand Skills
Appendix – Doomsday Reference Library
Resources for Survival Kits, Emergency Preparedness and Information
The Prepper Movement
Closing Words
Bonus Chapter: Trader’s Guide to Precious Metal Profits
About the Author
Preface – Doomsday
Why This Book Was Written
It should obvious the old ways of doing things have changed.
The “old system” was based on industrial concepts, ideas and strategies.
The “new system” is built on the information and digital realities.
Sometimes the concepts and ideas of both systems interact.
But the Industrial Age has given way to the Information Age.
Goodbye horse and buggy -- hello high-speed bullet train.
Today most information and publications are delivered by “cloud computing”. That means information follows everyone, wherever they go, with whatever device they may be using.
People are catching on to fiat money too.
The old central bank system controlled fiat money. Fiat money is money which derives its value from government regulation or law, not real assets or commodities.
New forms of currency and payment have arisen; including BitCoin and encrypted P2P transactions. Barter has become an intricate science.
There’s been a shift in power and ideas too as we’ve entered the Information Age.
But this isn’t new. And you acquired this book for something NEW!
I’ll do my best to deliver new insight, information, tactics and strategies.
The coming months and years will most likely deliver changes which have never seen or encountered before.
In fact, I’ve seen more change in my life, economy, business and investments in past 24 months than I’ve seen my entire life.
We’re already witnessing the ramifications of the new shift; there are violent protests, bankers and brokerages (like MP Global) seizing cash, government crack downs on free speech, travel and the way we do business.
We’ve seen professional hackers’ gone wild, widespread global defaults, real estate collapses and more.
We’ve also seen “ethical hackers” like the group Anonymous. They’re penetrating computer systems and networks of corrupt governments, corporations, news organizations and more (and revealing the information to the public).
Politicians, bureaucrats and government hacks are clueless as to how thwart “ethical hackers”. This is because they’ve spent their lives pushing paper, writing regulations, and finding ways to tax people, rather than learn about technology and digital realities.
The government’s solution to stopping the free flow of ideas and “ethical hackers” is an Internet “kill switch”.
They’re hopeless and clueless when it comes to technology, look at the post office or government agencies….most of them do not even have email or citizen support areas.
Government’s solution to keep people in line is force, laws and things like the Internet “kill switch”.
Our safety and livelihood is at stake.
Our businesses are in jeopardy.
Our families are being assaulted on multiple fronts including but not limited to mandatory government training (public schools), over taxation, limits on free speech, travel, spending and stonewalling our right to petition the government with grievances.
This book was written to help you, your family and business if there’s a doomsday occurrence or if things get nasty.
More importantly, this book was written to help you and your loved ones thrive and prosper in the coming days.
It’s not just about surviving.
You can build a bomb shelter one hundred feet underground, and stay there for two years.
But at some point you’ll need to come to the surface. If you’re not prepared mentally, physically, financially and spiritually, you will fail in a big way.
This book is different from anything you’ve ever read or seen before.
I developed this content over several years with the help of savvy investors, entrepreneurs, teachers and experts in the field of finance, business, personal security, international travel and survival.
In the end, this is the most comprehensive resource I’m aware of to help anyone thrive and prosper in the coming weeks, months and years.
This book is not about a political or religious event. The book transcends politics, religion and doomsday philosophies.
This book is a “How To” manual for living through Doomsday and in the new system.
If I’m wrong, and the old system remains unchanged, and there’s no doomsday you can still profit from the information in this book.
If doomsday, the apocalypse or “end days” do not happen, this book will still be a tremendous guide to prospering in any situation.
I hope you enjoy the ride.
9 Things You Will Get From Reading This Book
1. A positive outlook for the coming turmoil without succumbing to doomsday mindset
The tendency of most people in hard times is to become negative, withdraw, and despondent. People lose hope of better things to come.
This is NOT the focus or objective of this book. If you study and apply the material you will maintain a positive outlook of life because you’ll have legitimate answers and insight.
2. A greater understanding of what’s happening around you
Most people have no clue what’s happening around them. They watch the news, read stuff online, rifle through newspapers and books, but still remain clueless as far as “connecting the dots”. This book will help you connect the dots.
3. A clear action strategy for your life, family and business
Insider information, wisdom and understanding are useless if there’s no clear strategy for moving ahead. This book will give you a clear action strategy.
4. Specific steps for “hedging” the system
Wall Street lied to you. The investments they’ve recommended are a sham.
When I say Wall Street I refer to the largest investment firms, banks, brokerages and financial media.
In most cases, the so-called “hedge funds” are an easy way to line investment banker or money manager’s pockets.
Wall Street hedge fund managers partied with champagne on balconies overlooking recent Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, and they were all laughing (along with their girlfriends).
Granted, the Occupy Movement is a joke, a pathetic moaning of spoiled baby boomer kids, who are mostly given everything they have, including iPads, designer clothes, rail passes, debit cards and education.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t protest or hedge the syste,
This book will give you viable steps for hedging the system.
5. Comprehensive resources for health and wellness needs
The medical industry is a business venture.
If people were healthy, vibrant and enjoyed optimal wellness they would be out of business, and broke.
You will discover new comprehensive resources to optimize your health, and wellness.
6. A concise guide for ranking opportunities in life, health and generating wealth
There are unlimited opportunities available to most humans today.
The trick is ranking opportunities with regards to time, resources, capital and other factors. You will be able to rank opportunities for life, health and wealth much easier by reading this book.
7. The keys for a living a richer, fuller life
One of the great keys to living a full rich life is to avoid the things you cannot change, and focus on the things you can control. My life changed a thousand fold when I learned and applied this principle.
You will learn how to do this by reading this book.
8. Expert insights from savvy, street smart people
It’s invaluable to have access and insight of people who have gone before you and from people who understand how to be successful in hard times. It’s easy to make money when it’s boom time.
You’ll have access to some of the smartest people on the planet.
9. Learn new ways of developing valuable in-demand skills
In order to thrive and prosper in difficult times it will be necessary to develop new skills which have real value in the marketplace. I’ll show you where and how to develop valuable (in-demand) skills.
This Book Won’t Help Zombies and Kooks
It’s heartbreaking to see men and woman go off the deep in difficult times.
And I’ve met my fair share of zombies and kooks.
It’s easy to see why it happens. When you feel cornered, without God and without hope, and you’ve got nothing to live for people often snap.
But just like in the last Great Depression, when times got tough the tough got going.
Our culture has brainwashed people, making them lazy and complacent.
People think someone or the government is supposed to take care of them.
When the wheels fall off the “system”, they’re lost and start to panic.
When people panic they’re ruled by emotion, not logic. When we’re ruled by crazed emotion we become irrational and do some “crazy” things.
In other words, this book is not about living in underwater caves, on icebergs, tree houses or self-styled “patriot camps” (typically ruled by a charismatic leader).
No.
This book is for the mentally stable, sane and deep thinking individual.
This book is designed to help you make rational, sound decisions for your life, family, health and business.
Granted, sometimes everyone feels like they’re at the end of the rope and ready to “snap”.
If you have young kids (or even older ones) or parents with dementia you know what it’s like.
It’s normal to get frustrated with a corrupt system, the lack of opportunities, lies, deceit and fascism.
But, if we stay calm and logical, stay at rest on the inside, and don’t allow ourselves to be ruled by panic and emotion, we know there’s a way out!
We don’t snap or make rash decisions.
We are in complete control of our mind and senses.
When we’re in control of our mind and senses we’re able to make sound, critical decisions in times of tremendous stress and hardship.
The United States is Vulnerable
The United States and Europe are borrowing boatloads of money to pay the interest on the money they’ve already borrowed.
These governments can’t fund mandatory entitlement programs without going into the hole. Their options going forward are very limited.
Option one: Continue borrowing, and keep the party going
As long as a government can do this, they’ll do it. We’ve all seen this on a grand scale and on microscopic level like small towns and villages.
Regardless of someone’s intentions more debt worsens the situation, creating higher borrowing costs in the long run, and even more debt.
As this happens, the pool of buyers dries up, and especially from overseas.
Option two: Inflation
The more buyers stop purchasing Treasury securities, the more the Federal Reserve will mop up excess liquidity.
In doing so, the Fed essentially conjures up money and loans it to the government.
No matter what the government statistics say, this is inflationary.
The more money the Federal Reserve (or any Central Bank) print, the greater the level of inflation.
Meanwhile, as foreigners simultaneously reduce their US dollar holdings, this inflation will become more acutely felt in the US.
Option three: Austerity
There’s going to come a time when the US government is forced to face its economic reality and make some incredibly deep cuts which would be felt across society.
You’ll see it on Wall Street and the military industrial complex to housing projects in the darker areas of town.
Option four: Default
Eventually, the debt burden will be too much. The most obvious solution is default.
Politicians will make countries like China and India out to be the enemy.
They will probably invent a war just to have an excuse to default on Chinese owned debt. Americans will wave the flag and celebrate defaulting on their enemies.
Option five: Economic cannibalism
In the traditions of Atlas Shrugged, the government will continue its persecution of the productive class– professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers.
Existing taxes will rise, new taxes will be created, trade barriers will be enacted, and a maze of cost prohibitive regulations will be passed.
The first option (keeping the party going) is what has been happening for years.
Politicians make small concessions to show they’re “serious” about fiscal discipline, cutting small programs while dumping hundreds of billions of dollars into wars and entitlement programs.
The worse the debt situation becomes, the higher the borrowing costs become, and the worse the debt situation becomes.
It’s not an enviable position.
Existing lenders will continue backing away from the US Treasury market, giving option one a few months of life at best.
In the longer term, only options 2-5 remain: inflation, austerity, default, and cannibalism. Each of these remaining options will shake the financial system to its core.
More importantly, each of these has the power to create widespread social upheaval.
When inflation eats away at a family’s meager standard of living, when austerity eliminates the benefits to which recipients have grown accustomed, when default vanquishes a retiree’s savings, when high taxes make workers feel like they’re just government serfs– this is when the real turmoil begins.
We will see:
Rising crime: devoid of a job or means to support their families, people will turn to crime out of desperation
Class warfare: with dividing lines drawn between have vs. have-not’s, it will become unpopular and even dangerous to be successful
Corruption: low-level public service officials will look to supplement their income through bribery and kickbacks
Black economy: An underground, cash-only (probably gold or foreign currency) economy will emerge with people getting paid in envelopes
Censorship: Of course they’ll blame it on national security, but the idea will be to prevent public disparaging of government policy
War: The government will need another major event to distract people from the real problems
Protests/Riots: This is when things turn bloody
Police state conditions: The government will close ranks and send the cops out to show all the little people who’s really in charge
There are a number of other manifestations, and many are already showing signs of emergence. The US and European police states are alive and well. Crime is on the rise.
In Europe, cops are doing battle in the streets with their citizens.
If you don’t think it can happen in the US, think again. It’s already happening on a small scale and it will accelerate.
Do you remember tanks in the streets during the LA riots? Do you remember what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? Do you remember the G8/G20 protests?
The proverbial bottom line
Glance at the headlines to see what happens when you strip people of their livelihood, their ability to feed their families.
The US government has been able pass the buck because the country benefits from a US-oriented financial system.
This is coming to an end very quickly.
This much is obvious -- the greater the economic distortion the harder the collapse.
In other words, the US economy has been living a fantasy for so long, when its “almighty supremacy” is yanked away the collapse is likely to be a free-fall.
I’m not talking about the end of the world.
I’m talking about the difficult times ahead, and the things which go beyond economics. It’s time to face the facts and ask how society will change if there’s a disruption. And we’ve already seen spring training!
The United States is vulnerable.
A Legitimate Plan
The entire collection of ideas and recommendations in this book is an emergency plan of sorts for sound thinking individuals.
In every section of the book you’ll find invaluable insight and guidance to help you in the coming days, weeks and years.
Here is a brief overview of what I call a legitimate plan:
Build a solid understanding of the situation
Learn self-reliance
Choose a viable path
Prepare mentally
Trust your instinct
Learn how to hedge “the system”
Assess your health and wellness needs
Acquire basic survival skills
Plant and maintain a garden
Build a trusted network of people and contacts
Develop an international escape plan (even if you never plan to leave your home country)
Understand effective ways to preserve capital
Focus on what you can control
Understand prioritization
Learn how to rank the best opportunities in life
Develop valuable, in-demand skills
The Keystone of Success in Hard Times - Self Reliance
The old system and ways of doing things means your choices are limited.
In other words, people are often given option “templates” for major decisions in their lives.
For example:
Do you want to be a doctor? Option template: Follow this career path and go to this school.
Would you like to be a pilot? Option template: Follow this template for learning how to fly, and then go this school or military branch of service.
Would you like to invest your money? Option template: Select from these mutual funds, or these stocks, or these Wall Street recommendations.
All of these option templates are limiting.
These option templates are a tradition in our society.
Our reality is usually defined by other people and regulations and usually constrains our creativity.
For example, if you walk into a bank and tell the manager you would like to protect your dollar savings with other currencies or gold, the manager will be clueless. He or she would probably recommend CDs, mutual funds or insurance policies.
US banks are not going to recommend Chinese renminbi or gold bullion.
The political process is about limiting choices.
In 2012 there are basically two political parties.
Granted, may be more than a dozen parties on a particular ballot. But these parties are irrelevant, only there for show.
Any time a viable third or fourth party emerges from beneath the ashes they are quickly eliminated – discredited, slandered, polarized, whatever.
And most often, when a third or fourth party gains traction on the two party lockdown the original leader is eliminated or replaced with a nut job (financed by the two party system).
How many times have you been forced to decide between two pathetic, incompetent candidates? In the end, you vote for the lesser of two evils.
This strategy works as long as the system is working properly.
The problem is limiting choices like this are not designed to help you when the system collapses.
Career templates and racking up hundreds of thousands in school debt, investing in mutual funds, or putting cash into a savings account have been mildly successful tactics over the past 30 years or so.
But when and if the system falls apart, or changes slightly these option template options become destructive.
Introduction
How to Prosper if Things Get Bad
It seems whenever someone brings up the topic of prosperity or poverty, religion and politics are close behind.
Religion and politics have never prospered anyone.
Granted, religion or politics may have set the stage for prosperity. But the essence of prosperity has nothing to do with a religious leader, movement or political figure.
Prosperity is a condition or effect of applying certain principles.
What’s more, you can be dead broke with no money in the bank, no physical assets, and no friends or family around, and no prospects for better things ahead, and a person can STILL prosper.
The bible (and hundreds of other books) document great prosperity on people in the worst of times.
The essence of true prosperity is spiritual. This doesn’t mean it’s religious, it simply means the basis of genuine prosperity is spiritual.
However, if you had fifty people assembled in a room, and you asked each person if they believed prosperity was spiritual, half of them would disagree. The dissenters would probably believe a political party determined the conditions for prosperity. And some people would say religious dogma determines the conditions for prosperity.
But this book is not a study of spiritual or political philosophies.
Let’s just agree prosperity is more than making money or having a lot of “stuff”. True prosperity can affect every aspect of our lives including health, work, business, marriage, friendships and even relationships with our enemies!
Here’s the only bible verse in this book, and it deals with prosperity:
Psalm 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.
The “he” in this verse is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, but rather delights in the law (truth) of God.
In other word, if you believe prosperity is spiritual, and that perhaps the one true God is the source of it, then this verse makes a lot of sense.
Now, the problem with most religious folks is this…..
When they do not understand something they often guess, or force truth to fit their situation.
For example, most religious folks do not understand the principle of believing. Believing is simply seeing something (which is available) in your mind and acting like its true until it comes to pass.
The principle of believing is too simple for most people, and so they add, subtract, multiply and divide the simple truth of it.
And so, when it comes to prosperity, if someone is not prospering they make up all kinds of reasons and excuses why God is not working in “their” situation.
The bottom line is prosperity is available. It’s spiritual in nature. And there appears to be a force large than you or I responsible for it.
This section is about how to prosper if things get bad. But these keys will work when things are going great too.
There are things we can do to prepare for prosperity too.
This doesn’t mean God or a spiritual force needs your help to unleash prosperity. It simply means there are things we can do in our lives which will enable us to prepare and utilize prosperity when it arrives.
In my study of great prosperity, I’ve made a list of five things which can help us prepare to receive great prosperity and utilize it to help others.
In reality, it’s better to give than receive. If we receive great prosperity, it’s a natural thing to want to help and serve others with it.
1. Prosperity is much more than money
2. Prosperity is spiritual in nature
3. Prosperity is not a respecter of persons
4. Prosperity is a good thing
5. Prosperity can be multiplied
If things go from bad to worse it will be a good thing to understand and be in a situation to receive great prosperity.
Doomsday Cults and Other Survivalist Groups
A doomsday cult is typically a term used to describe groups obsessed with Apocalypse, the Last Days, Doomsday or Millenarianism.
These groups prophesy catastrophe and destruction.
Doomsday cults are most appealing to people who are under great duress or stress, or emotional upheaval.
What’s more, doomsday cults tend to be cyclical in nature.
The rise of doomsday cults can often be tracked to periods in history of great economic or financial hardship.
The modern day term was popularized in John Lofland's 1966 book on the Unification Church called Doomsday Cult: A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith.
People often use the term to characterize groups which use acts of violence to harm their members and/or others.
Several years ago there was a doomsday cult called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. They were accused of salmonella poisoning at restaurant salad bars.
There was also mass murder/suicide of members in the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God.
The term can also refer to groups which made and then later revised apocalyptic prophesies or predictions, such as the Church Universal and Triumphant led by Elizabeth Clare Prophet.
Still others have used the term to refer to groups which prophesied impending doom and cataclysmic events, and also carried out violent acts, such as the Aum Shinrikyo saran gas attack on the Tokyo subway.
Probably the most well-known doomsday cult was the mass murder/suicide of members of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple.
The term cognitive dissonance comes into play as well. It is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously.
The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance.
They do this by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions.
Dissonance is reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying.
The phrase was coined by Leon Festinger in his 1956 book When Prophecy Fails. The book chronicled the followers of a UFO cult as reality clashed with their fervent beliefs.
It is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology.
A closely related term, cognitive disequilibrium refers to the experience of a discrepancy between something new and something already known or believed.
And so, this gives us a basic understanding and foundation as to the rise of doomsday cults and other groups in our current state of affairs.
People are also experiencing of a discrepancy between the “new” system and the “old” antiquated system.
Obviously, not everyone turns to a doomsday cult or religion for relief from the discomfort.
One solution can found in self-reliance and keeping your head when others are losing theirs.
Keeping Your Head When All Others Are Losing Theirs
Few people have said this better than Rudyard Kipling:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
It’s so important to trust yourself, your instincts and your head in dire situations or even cataclysmic events.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have a higher power or God with whom gives you guidance.
But so many people succumb to mysticism and occultism because they lack self-trust, self-sufficiency or confidence.
The idea is to think for ourselves. We need trust our abilities and stop looking to a mystical figure or voodoo doll to take care of us.
Sometimes you can pray until you’re blue in the face and nothing happens because you were ALREADY given the ability and power to get out of a situation.
Chapter 1
Preserving the Quality of Life
In order to achieve true freedom, you need to be able to make money, control your time, and eliminate the mindset which says you are subject to a corrupt government which is bent on limiting your personal liberty.
There are the principles in life which serve as a guide for preserving the quality of life.
It’s time to expand our thinking and consider the great possibilities which exist. The things the old system told us were impossible, are actually possible, such as:
You don’t have to be a slave to geography anymore; live where you want, how you want.
You can take control of your time and spend it how you want, not how others tell you
You can live a luxurious and worry-free lifestyle overseas that would be unaffordable elsewhere
You can make money anywhere, whether it’s China, Panama, New Zealand, Chile, or online
Genuine freedom is being able to make your own choices, without having the influence of other entities you haven’t invited into your life.
Freedom is having control of your time, resources and the ability to make choices. The choices should be based on what you want, and not what someone else or the government wants.
This is NOT a magic pill.
Everybody is completely different with regards to the things which make them happy, and which they think will improve the quality of his or her life.
Most people want more freedom in life.
Whether it’s freedom from a boss, freedom from a lack of money, or bills, these are the types of things people want freedom.
You know everybody has issues and challenges, and it’s about the ability to build away from that.
That’s what I’m providing in this book.
I want to provide actionable advice to help you achieve more freedom. This will enable you to live a happier, richer and fuller life – and to preserve the quality of your life.
In the next chapter we’ll look at defining your reality and self-reliance at a deeper level.
Blazing Your Own Trail
It’s a sad day for most people less than 40 years of age.
Governments around the world have sacrificed their future to pay for their mistakes of the past.
For example, students in London protested in droves recently about the British parliament’s austerity measures which tripled the cap on their university tuition to $15,000.
Granted, Britain is imposing all kinds of austerity measures on its citizens… but students are having their benefits cut far more than any other segment of the population.
Aside from the small segment of high-income earners who will be robbed of their wealth, the younger generation will receive the brunt of the fallout crisis.
Younger people have lower incomes, benefits, job opportunities, and political clout than their seniors.
And yet they are expected to assume a larger burden of the consequences of government shenanigans.
The younger people are called on to fight and die in pointless wars in faraway lands. But it’s the younger generation who are forced to assume the debts of their forefathers.
The younger generation always gets pushed to the back of the political bus.
Here is the fate of an average young person today:
1) Government-run university tuition is going through the roof, saddling you with unfathomable debt before you even enter the world as an adult;
2) Once you graduate, you’ll be the last in the hiring queue
3) If you get hired, you’ll be the lowest on the totem pole and the first to get fired when tough times hit
4) If the labor market stabilizes, you’ll enter your prime earning years with the highest tax rates ever seen in history. Government will cannibalize your generation to pay off its largess and indebted entitlement programs which benefited older generations
5) You’ll pay into a pension system which will be bankrupt by the time you’re qualified to draw on it
6) There’s a good chance you won’t achieve the standard of living your parents enjoyed
7) Whatever wealth your parents accumulated won’t be left to you. The bulk of your parent’s estate will be confiscated by the state due to a host of new “death taxes”.
The system in place right now – a failed cycle of debt and consumption fed by government intervention - has stuck you with the bill!
Fortunately, there’s a silver lining (as always).
Younger people are less anchored than their elders; it’s much easier to for them to opt out of this perverse system.
If you’re angry your government is saddling you with the responsibility to pay off generations of bad decisions, and then get out of dodge.
Stop playing by the same rules which worked in the past.
The old playbook (go to school, get a good job, work your way up the ladder) doesn’t apply anymore.
Don’t stick around a society which has completely forsaken you.
You can get out of dodge while it’s still fairly easy to do and you have much less at risk.
Go explore the world and get an education based on experience, not expensive academic theory.
You could seek opportunities in wild “frontier markets” overseas… like Kurdistan, Mongolia, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Croatia and Chile.
You can soak up the local intelligence and become the guy or gal on the ground which can make things happen.
I’ve instructed my own kids very carefully. I’ve told them I’m not paying for a college or university education in North America. If they want to go to school they’ll need to go to a “frontier market” or free economy region.
One of the most exciting things to do as young person is to find people whose lifestyles you want to emulate and make yourself indispensable to them as an apprentice.
This will be the only time in your life you can afford to work for nothing in exchange for a valuable, first-hand education.
Most of all, stop playing by everyone else’s rules!
Do not accept the idea it’s your duty and moral responsibility to pay off the debts of your government’s failures.
Summon the courage to live a life by your own design.
The path to prosperity in difficult times depends on the ability to reject the old system, declare your independence, and blazing out your own trail!
Chapter 2 - Mental Preparation
How to Perform in a Survival Situation
Most outdoor enthusiasts spends hours learning and practicing survival skills which could save his or her life in emergency situations.
The benefit to practicing survival skills is it encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
Outdoor skills like fire-building, knot tying, wilderness navigation and orienteering can improve your confidence and ability to handle emergency situations, which is crucial to your personal survival.
Orienteering is also a sport which requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving with a time deadline.
The Absolute Will to Survive!
Practicing wilderness skills (building shelters, finding food and water, making fires, navigation etc.) is extremely valuable.
It improves your mental attitude and the absolute will to survive.
Having the will to survive is crucial.
When a person is in a survival situation, they will encounter acute mental stress.
This stress can impact your mind in many ways but it can also impact your physical health and wellness.
Acute mental stress can produce thoughts and emotions, which if misunderstood, can directly impact your ability to survive.
It’s is crucial to identify and cope with the mental stress associated with survival, as well as your responses to it.
The following are some mental preparation steps you can take to improve your odds of survival.
Understanding Stress in a Survival Situation
Stress is not an ailment you can discover and fix.
Stress is a natural reaction to pressure.
It can be described as the psychological experience a person has as they respond to life’s challenges.
But stress can have positive benefits when handled correctly too.
Stress can spotlight our adaptability and stimulate us to do more than we thought we could do.
The objective of any survival situation is to stay alive.
It’s important to understand fear, anxiety and frustration are typical emotions a person experiences due to the stress of a survival situation.
But a combination of confidence and survival skills will help use stress as a motivational tool rather than an inhibitor.
Your reaction to stress in the right way can increase your chances of survival.
On top of that, being in control of your mental capacity often leads to paying closer attention to your surroundings. The goal is to ensure your safety and security in the face of incredible odds.
How to Prepare
You won’t find a definitive list of things you must do in order to survive an emergency because every situation, person and ability is different.
However, as I’ve said, learning and practicing a range of skills is the best way to increase preparedness.
Try to anticipate your fear by thinking about what would scare you the most if faced with a survival situation.
For example, some people have a fear of falling or being trapped underwater or on a mountainside.
Make an honest assessment of your skill in relation to this fear and develop the skill where you may be lacking.
If you can’t swim take swimming lessons. If you have a fear of falling take go skydiving. If you tremble at the thought of being caught on a mountain ledge with no way out, go technical climbing a couple of times and repel.
Failure to prepare for a survival situation can have dire consequences.
Stay positive.
Even when preparing for the worst always hope for the best.
There most valuable tool in any emergency situation is your mind and mental state.
Practice your skills. You can also practice variations of the skill using different materials, methods, and tools.
The more realistic your preparation the less overwhelming an actual emergency will be.
You Can Do It
The survival instinct is something everyone possesses.
But you need to remind yourself you can do it.
Primal instincts can be leveraged with preparation, practicing the right skills.
It’s crucial to sharpen your focus on the key objective; survival!
In the next section we’ll see how acute stress reaction plays a role in the survival game.
Acute Stress Reaction - Fight or Flight
Acute stress reaction is a psychological condition arising in response to a terrifying or traumatic event.
It should not be confused with the unrelated circulatory condition of shock.
Acute stress reaction was first described by Walter Cannon in the 1920s as a theory regarding animal reaction to threats with a discharge of the sympathetic nervous system.
The onset of an acute stress response is associated with physiological actions in the sympathetic nervous system.
There is a release of epinephrine from the medulla of the adrenal glands.
These hormones facilitate immediate physical reactions by triggering increases in heart rate and breathing, constricting blood vessels.
This facilitates reliance on spontaneous or intuitive behaviors often related to combat or escape.
By definition, acute stress reaction is the result of a traumatic event in which the person experiences or witnesses an event which causes the victim or witness to experience extreme or unexpected fear, stress or pain.
Acute stress reaction is a variation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is the mind and body's response to feelings (both perceived and real) of intense helplessness.
Symptoms of Acute Stress Reaction
The symptoms typically include an initial state of "daze", with some constriction of consciousness and a lack of focus, an inability to comprehend things and disorientation.
This state is usually followed by withdrawal from the surrounding situation or by agitation and over-activity, anxiety and impaired judgment or confusion.
Autonomic signs of panic anxiety (tachycardia, sweating, flushing) are also commonly present.
The symptoms usually appear within minutes of the impact of the stressful stimulus or event, and disappear within 2–3 days (but often within a few hours). Partial or complete amnesia for the episode may be present.
Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity. But relaxation, cognitive restructuring, vivo exposure and supportive counseling are often the most effective.
In 1898, after being attacked and stabbed, Austrian empress Elisabeth of Bavaria boarded a ship, unaware of the severity of her condition as a consequence of an acute stress reaction.
Bleeding to death from a puncture wound to the heart, Elisabeth's last words were, "What happened to me?"
The Bear Grylls Mind Set
Bear Grylls is a popular survivalist and TV star. In the next section we’ll see how his mind set in survival situations can help you.
Edward Michael Grylls, nicknamed Bear, (born 7 June 1974) is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Man Versus Wild.
Bear Grylls has become known around the world as an expert survivalist and outdoor adventurer.
His journey started in the UK on the Isle of Wight, where his late father taught him to climb and sail. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, serving with 21 SAS.
It was in the Special Forces he perfected many of the skills his fans all over the world enjoy watching him pit against mother-nature.
Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places, and enduring months in military rehabilitation, Bear went on to become one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Bear has led record-breaking expeditions from Antarctica to the Arctic.
He has authored 10 books, including the No 1 Bestseller: Mud Sweat & Tears.
The following is an overview of Bear’s Mindset when confronted with an extreme survival situation.
Bear Gryll’s Essentials for Survival
1. Waterproofed Cell Phone
"Never go without a cell-phone and make sure it's waterproofed. All you need to do is double-bag or even single-bag it in Ziplocs. And this kinda goes without saying, but always, always tell someone where you're going and when you're due back."
2. A Kayak Backpack
"I'm not very particular about the brand of my backpack. I love kayak ones though because they're light, waterproof, and small. Since they're waterproof, you don't need liners and they're buoyant."
3. My Own Pee
"No joke: it can save your life. You can drink it, you can use it to clean wounds, and it will neutralize jellyfish stings. If you're in extremely hot temperatures, you can pee on a shirt and use and use it to cool your head. I bring it everywhere with me!"
4. Degree Everest Deodorant
"Shameless plug: The cool thing about this deodorant though is that it responds to spikes in adrenaline, which will come in handy more places than just the polar icecaps."
5. Extra Hiking Socks
"I don't even wear underpants, but I always like having a spare pair of socks. It's as important emotionally as it is physically. There's nothing better at the end of the day when you're cold and wet than pulling on a dry pair. Another thing you should waterproof with Ziplocs, too."
6. A Laminated Picture of My Family
"Survival is all about hope, keeping your spirits up, and smiling when it's raining. So bring something that does that for you. Take a laminated picture of your loved ones, for instance, and stick it in the sole of your shoe. I have one of all three of my kids that I keep in my boot."
7. Trash Bags
"Stick a couple in your bag. They weigh nothing, and you can do so much with them. You can waterproof all of your stuff, make a shelter, collect water, hide the smell of leftover food, and store it away from a bear's grasp. And if you really need to, you can use them as a loo."
8. The Ultimate Knife
"This is the knife I use on every show. It can take a beating, let me tell you. It has a fire striker, a sharpener, a serrated blade, a normal blade, and even a whistle."
9. The Bible
"I always bring my Grandpa's old New Testament. I actually only know one verse, Matthew 28:20: 'Be sure of this, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the Earth' When you're in the kind of situations I'm in, it's a good one to have."
10. Barefoot Shoes
"I am an advocate of the barefoot-shoe trend. They take a bit of getting used to, but they give you more sensitivity on the ground and when you're moving. I'm a massive fan of the style and feel of these from Inov-8 in particular."
Survival Gear Check List
An extreme survival situation could occur at any moment. A sound strategy includes a survival gear check list.
Here is Bear Grylls Survival Kit. It’s a fifteen piece kit containing the following items:
* Multi-tool – it’s stainless steel, weather resistant and has needle nose pliers, wire cutter, fine and serrated edge knives, Phillips screwdriver along with small and medium flat drivers, lanyard ring, bottle opener and tweezers.
* Miniature light
* Hand saw
* Signaling mirror
* Survival blanket
* Fire starter. Have you ever tried to rub two sticks together?
* Waterproof matches
* Cotton ball fire tinder
* Snare wire
* Emergency cord
* Waxed thread
* Fishing kit
* Sewing kit
* Pocket survival guide
* Rescue instructions
* Nylon pouch
This is a great kit with the basic for a survival situation.
The Bear Gryll’s Mindset can be summed up this way:
Be prepared before disaster strikes.
The most important objective in a survival situation is to make it our alive. Focus on food, shelter, water and staying dry.
Chapter 3 – Hedging the System
Think about some of the things you need when you start your day.
You flip the switch and the lights come on.
You turn the faucet and the water starts running.
You open the refrigerator and it’s full of cold food and beverages.
You jump in your car and head down the road. Sometimes you stop at the store to pick up some things and the shelves are packed to the gills.
We exchange money without thinking about its value.
We all depend on these systems.
The “money system” is run by central bankers. The highway system is run by bureaucrats. Commercial activity is heavily influenced by politicians.
What about the electric grid or the transportation network for food and fuel, or the water treatment facilities?
Why Do We Need to Hedge the System?
We need to “hedge” these systems because they can FAIL.
Japan learned about system failures the hard way recently. The country went dark due to TWO earthquakes, a tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown!
We don’t have to obsess over all of the things that can go wrong. But we should consider the possibility that banks, governments, and utilities, etc. -- are prone to failure
It’s obvious to causal bystanders our governments, politicians, and central bankers have failed.
They are desperately hoping the same tactics will prop up a system which is now defunct.
The US Treasury Department recently stated government officials know what’s best for us and how to make the best choices.
The Argentina Experiment
Argentina’s economy took a turn for the worst in 2000. It completely collapsed later that year.
There was tremendous pressure to maintain an unrealistic currency value, fight recession, and pay its swelling debts. The government defaulted on its debt obligations, devalued the peso, closed banks, and confiscated every penny of private funds they could find.
Then blood ran in the streets.
Protestors in Buenos Aires staged huge riots demanding change.
Sound familiar?
In response, President Fernando de la Rua sent police and military into the streets to engage the protestors.
It was not Argentina’s finest hour.
Argentina lost the confidence of investors and the flight of money increased exponentially.
In 2001, people began withdrawing money from their bank accounts, turning pesos into dollars and sending them abroad, which caused a run on the banks.
The government enacted several measures which effectively froze all bank accounts for twelve months.
Only small sums of cash could be withdrawn, initially about $250 a week.
Because of this limit many Argentines became enraged and took to the streets in droves and especially in Buenos Aires.
Most businesses installed metal barriers because windows and glass facades were being broken and fires were being started at their doors.
Billboards of companies like Coca Cola and others were ripped down by demonstrators.
Amid rioting, President Fernando de la Rua resigned (December 21, 2001).
Confrontations between the police and citizens became a commonplace.
Fernando de la Rúa declared a state of emergency. This only worsened the situation, and the violence continued.
The fall of the government resulted.
The President fled the country in a helicopter.
Argentina defaulted on the larger part of the public debt which was more than $130 billion.
The new Presidential administration came up with a project dubbed the "Third Currency" Plan.
It consisted of creating a new, non-convertible currency called Argentino coexisting with convertible pesos and U.S. dollars.
It would only circulate as cash (checks and promissory notes could be nominated in pesos or dollars but not in Argentinos).
It would be partially secured with federally managed land. This was expected to counterbalance inflationary tendencies.
Critics called the plan a "controlled devaluation".
Many private companies were affected by the crisis: Aerolíneas Argentinas (the country’s largest airline) canceled international flights in 2002.
The airline almost went bankrupt, but survived.
Most barter networks collapsed as large numbers of people turned to them desperate to save as many pesos as they could in exchange for hard currency.
Thousands of people became homeless and jobless. A large number of Argentines found work as cardboard collectors. The unemployment rate soared to almost 25%.
Argentine products were rejected because countries feared products would arrive damaged. The USDA put restrictions on Argentine food and drugs arriving into the United States.
The So-Called Argentina Recovery
The government encouraged import substitution and accessible credit for businesses. They also promoted an aggressive plan to improve tax collection, and set aside large amounts of money for social welfare.
The government also controlled debt and expenditure in other fields.
As a result the peso slowly revalued, reaching a 3-to-1 rate to the dollar.
Agricultural exports grew and tourism returned.
The huge trade surplus caused an inflow of dollars.
The government was forced to intervene to keep the peso from revaluing further, which would ruin the tax collection scheme (largely based on import taxes and royalties) and discourage further re-industrialization.
The central bank started buying dollars in the local market and using them as reserves.
By December 2005, foreign currency reserves reached $28 billion.
The downside of the accumulation strategy is dollars had to be bought with freshly issued pesos, which could have induced inflation.
The exchange rate and currency eventually stabilized, and the country recovered.
Argentina may still doomed
The country has vast natural resource wealth and once one of the richest in the world.
The current president of Argentina is Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, wife of her predecessor Nestor Kirchner.
The couple has been in power since 2003 and has been extraordinarily effective at consolidating power at the federal executive level. They are among the most anti-market leaders in the world whose policies have continued to waste and squander Argentina’s natural wealth.
The problem with Argentina is not the Kirchners, or even the long history of criminals who ran the country before them. The problem with Argentina is Argentines.
It is a great place to visit and full of natural splendor.
But Argentines have revolution in their blood.
They are intolerant of politicians.
Most situations like this never improve because people never look inward.
What makes a country great, wealthy, and competitive is not related to its government, but to its people.
A country like China prospers because its people are industrious and thrifty. They work hard and save their money.
Argentines don’t come to work when it’s raining outside.
Argentina will probably experience another revolution.
Their economy will continue to deteriorate, and I doubt Cristina has the capacity to survive.
Unlike Honduras where the present coup is political in nature, Argentina’s will be economic and likely result in substantial instability.
The Seven Truths of Capital
The seven truths of capital is also referred to as the “golden rules” of money by author George S. Clason in his book The Richest Man in Babylon.
These truths are applicable in the current situation, and especially if doomsday arrives.
The Seven Truths of Capital:
1. Start the Purse to Fattening by Paying Yourself First
2. Control Expenditure
3. Make Money Multiply
4. Guard the Money from Loss
5. Invest the Money in Safe, Profitable Investments
6. Insure a Future Income
7. Increase the Ability to Earn
By adhering to the Seven Truths of Capital you can build great wealth, stability and confidence in handling money.
Current Risks in the Good Old USA
Let’s say you're a U.S. citizen, a U.S. taxpayer, you live in the United States and you work in the United States. You also own your property in the United States.
Your savings are in the United States.
If you own gold, you hold it in the United States. You have investments in the United States. You structure your company or your business through a corporation registered in the United States.
Now imagine something goes wrong.
Maybe a bureaucrat who works for a three-letter agency decides you violated some obscure law.
Or maybe your neighbor's knucklehead kid falls into your swimming pool.
There are a number of things, big or small, that can happen.
If you have all of those assets and interests tied up in the United States, you're in big trouble.
Anyone, whether it's a judge or a bureaucrat, can just click a couple keys on their keyboard to freeze your accounts and confiscate your assets.
In most cases, it's a "guilty until proven innocent" system.
They assume you're guilty, take away your assets (with which you could prove your innocence) and say, "Well now that you're guilty, it's up to you to prove that you're innocent." It's a scary proposition.
This is what some people call sovereign risk.
Sovereign risk is when you have all of your assets and interests in one basket, in one country.
And as you can see, it's not just a concern for the very wealthy, like many people assume.
Nor is it only a concern for criminals, "gold bugs," or those who think America is headed for a dollar crisis though that's a serious concern too..
This is something everyone should consider.
Ask yourself, "What would I do if this happened to me? How would I put food on the table for my family?"
The simple solution to this problem is to diversify... simply spread the risk around a little.
If used the same scenario where your neighbor's knucklehead kid falls into your swimming pool and somebody wants to sue you and take your money, take over your business, and take your assets... what happens if your money is in Hong Kong?
What happens if your business is structured in Nieves?
What happens if you own foreign property instead of U.S. property, and it's owned through a trust in the Cook Islands?
With these types of things, nobody can come after you anymore.
Society is increasingly litigious, and government and individuals are increasingly going after people that have assets.
You'll sleep better knowing your assets are diversified. Knowing they're spread across different places and where nobody can touch them anymore.
The Biggest Risk Right Now
Sovereign risk is the biggest risk we all face.
The best strategy is to diversify assets and interests overseas.
One way to do this is with a foreign bank account.
First, you instantly get more control over your own money.
You can free yourself from the risk of confiscation or having all your assets frozen, because now some of your accounts are overseas. If the United States, for example, imposes capital controls, you won't be subject to those.
Second, many foreign banks are actually safer.
Many banks in the United States are still technically insolvent. But you have banks in places like Singapore which has never failed!
These are strong banks with healthy balance sheets.
Third, you get exposure to things outside of the U.S. dollar. The US Dollar is not exactly the soundest currency these days.
When you bank overseas, you get into other currencies which have better fundamentals. It's an easy way to diversify your assets from the U.S. dollar (and away from US banks).
Best of all, it's surprisingly easy to do.
It does take some work to find and contact various banks, but almost anyone can do it.
The Benefits of Holding Physical Gold and Silver
The writing is on the wall. It seems fairly obvious precious metals will again be confiscated, outlawed, or at least severely restricted in many countries.
What possible sense would it make to reduce or restrict gold ownership?
It’s very simple.
The modern financial system is a joke.
Money is created out of thin air, and backed by false promises from bankrupt (usually corrupt) governments.
Then there's the fractional reserve swindle, imaginary interest rates, government-produced inflation, manufactured statistics, and sovereign debt bubbles, etc.
It's a fraud. But like any good con, it depends on confidence.
In order for a system based on nothing to perpetuate, it's imperative the system commands the confidence of the people.
And people in rich western countries have been programmed since birth to believe paper money has intrinsic value.
Most developing countries already know it's a scam.
They don't trust their governments, and they don't trust colored pieces of paper either.
In Asia for example, most of the region is gold-oriented. They use paper as a medium of exchange, but it's a cultural norm to save with gold.
People in western countries are starting to get it too. More people every day are peeking behind the curtain to how the game is really played.
When the masses catch on the system will be finished.
The gold price is a constant reminder the fiat financial system is a con job.
And the higher the gold price becomes, the more people become aware.
The political establishment will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo.
It is possible precious metals restrictions will become a tactic:
Step 1: Make gold harder to buy, transport and to own.
Think about the changes we've seen over the last three years; government-regulated exchanges are continually hiking their gold margin requirements, increasing investors' burden to buy.
On the physical side, the US government buried some insane regulations deep within the healthcare bill. The new rules required a mountain of paperwork for anyone who purchased a single ounce of gold from a coin shop AND requires citizens to submit a special 1099 form to the IRS.
(The rule was modified under intense pressure from various lobby groups. But it gives you an idea of what government hacks are thinking)
There's new legislation which makes it nearly impossible for US citizens to trade securities and commodities from overseas accounts beyond the reach of the federal government.
Then there's the Liberty Dollar debacle. The US government used counterfeit laws to seize millions of dollars of silver coins that were owned by the firm's customers!
Then last year, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued new guidance requiring US taxpayers who hold gold in certain offshore financial accounts report such holdings on their annual FBAR.
This ruling put up a barrier for Americans to use Gold Money.
Gold Money's battle with the Dutch regulators is another example of governments making gold ownership more cumbersome.
Step 2: Plant seeds of doubt
Celebrity economists are pounding the table against precious metals with vigor. And the propaganda ministry is focusing its efforts on gold's recent price drop to make people believe that it's dangerous to buy.
In a recent media clip a reporter extols the virtues of the US dollar being backed by the federal government says it all. It's already begun, and we should expect more.
Step 3: Tie gold to terrorism and plant evidence
Here are two incontrovertible facts: Westerners are petrified of Arab terrorists. The Arab world is a gold-oriented society. It wouldn't take much effort to link the two by suggesting (and planting evidence) terrorists use gold to move money and finance their operations.
This is most likely the next step... and if we start seeing this, you can bet your last ounce restrictive controls are coming.
So how does a person respond to all of this restriction?
If you live in a broke western nation, whatever you do, don't store your gold in a bank safety deposit box.
Bankers are unpaid government spies.
Ideally you’ll want to consider moving your gold out of the country.
One company in Vienna (Das Safe) offers anonymous boxes and Hong Kong's The Storage. Both of these are nice options to buy and store gold.
Chapter 4
Assessing Your Health and Wellness Needs
It’s important to assess our health and wellness needs to insure they are the best they can be.
Our health is usually compromised when we’re under great mental, physical and emotional stress.
In order to enjoy life to its fullest and maintain great health we need access our situation, and acquire the tools, information and supplies we need to stay healthy.
This information may be controversial. It has been criticized and condemned by the traditional medical industry.
But my primary concern (and responsibility) is to convey information and insight which helps you not pleasing the traditional medical or the pharmaceutical industry.
It’s true….some scientists, researchers and medical professionals withhold, distort, cover-up and even destroy information, products or tools which enable people to live longer, healthier lives.
I know this is hard to believe but it’s absolutely true.
Often accumulation of huge sums of money is more important than the public’s health, wellness and vitality.
For example, I mentioned the current research regarding grapefruit seed extract and its miraculous anti-pathogenic properties to high-ranking medical professional recently and he proclaimed, “That’s nothing but folklore and junk science”.
I said, “There’s proof grapefruit seed extract has tremendous anti-pathogenic effects”.
“That’s hogwash”, the doctor said.
“Have you ever researched grapefruit seed extract”, I asked.
“No. It would be a waste of time. I went to medical school for eight years. We only focused on the most significant developments and research”, he said.
That is part of the problem.
Most medical students leave school and enter residency with a clearly defined approach to health and wellness which in most cases is drugs and surgery.
Most medical students have very little knowledge; let alone an understanding, of natural cures, remedies or naturopathic science.
When you go to a conventional medical professional today they’ll usually prescribe drugs and/or surgery without hesitation.
My intention is not to blast traditional medicine or the pharmaceutical industry. I’m simply presenting other possibilities and alternative methods which may be available to you.
If financial, economic, food and government systems are prone to failure, there’s a good chance healthcare and medical systems are prone to failure as well.
If Doomsday arrives, or if things get bad, we need to be self-reliant, and especially when it comes to our life, health and wellness.
Let’s explore some available options so we can experience great health, wellness and vitality in our lives.
How People Survived the Black Death
In Medieval England, the Black Death killed about 1.5 million people out of an estimated total of 4 million people between 1348 and 1350.
No medical knowledge existed in Medieval England to cope with the disease.
After 1350, the black plague hit England six more times by the end of the century.
The peasants were terrified at the news the Black Death might be approaching their town or village.
The Black Death is the name given to the disease called the bubonic plague.
The Black Death was caused by fleas carried by rats which were very common in towns and villages. The fleas bit into their victims literally injecting them with the disease. Death was often quick for the weaker victims.
The plague spread like wildfire
In towns and cities people lived close to each other. Most people knew nothing about contagious diseases.
The disposal of bodies was very crude too. This contributed to the spread of the disease even more. The people handling dead bodies did not protect themselves.
The filth that littered streets gave rats the perfect environment to breed and increase their number. It was commonly believed rats caused the disease. But it was actually the fleas.
However, the rats enabled the disease to spread like wildfire.
Lack of medical knowledge meant people tried anything to help them escape the disease. One of the more extreme was the flagellants.
These people wanted to show their love of God by whipping themselves, hoping God would forgive their sins and spare them from the Black Death.
Bogus Cures for the Black Death
Bogus cures, remedies and ill-conceived advice ran rampant. Here are a few of the bogus cures discovered in literature:
Vinegar and water treatment
If a person gets the disease they should be washed with vinegar and rose water
Lancing the buboes
The swellings associated with the Black Death should be cut open to allow the disease to leave the body. A mixture of tree resin, roots of white lilies and dried human excrement should be applied to the places where the body has been cut open.
Bleeding
People believed the disease was in the blood. Therefore the veins leading to the heart should be cut open. This would allow the disease to leave the body. An ointment made of clay and violets should be applied to the place where the cuts have been made.
Diet
Food which rots easily and smells badly such as meat, cheese and fish should be avoided. Instead patients should eat bread, fruit and vegetables
Sanitation
The streets were cleaned with human and animal waste. It should then be taken by a cart to a field outside of the village and burnt. All bodies should be buried in deep pits outside of the village and their clothes should also be burnt.
Pestilence medicine
Roast the shells of newly laid eggs. Ground the roasted shells into a powder. Chop up the leaves and petals of marigold flowers. Put the egg shells and marigolds into a pot of good ale. Add treacle and warm over a fire. The patient should drink this mixture every morning and night.
Witchcraft
Place a live hen next to the swelling to draw out the pestilence from the body. To aid recovery you should drink a glass of your own urine twice a day.
The Black Death had a big impact on society
Fields went unplowed. Harvests could not be made without manpower.
Animals were lost as the people in a village would not have been around to tend them.
Therefore entire villages faced starvation.
Another consequence of the Black Death was inflation. The price of food went up dramatically creating even more hardship for the poor.
In some parts of England, food prices went up by four times.
The Peasants’ Revolt!
Those who survived the Black Death believed they were special – as if God saved and protected them.
Therefore, some took the opportunity offered by the disease to improve their lifestyle.
Feudal law stated that peasants could only leave their village if they had their lord’s permission. Many lords experienced a shortage of labor.
After the Black Death, lords encouraged peasants to leave their village to come to work for them.
Often when the peasants did this, the lord refused to return them to their original village.
Peasants could demand higher wages because they knew a lord was desperate to get in his harvest.
So the government faced the prospect of peasants leaving their villages to find a better “deal” from a lord. This upset the concept of the Feudal System which had been introduced to tie peasants to the land.
Ironically, this revolt by the peasants was encouraged by the lords who were meant to benefit from the Feudal System.
To curb peasants roaming around the countryside looking for better pay, the government introduced the Statute of Labourers in 1351which stated:
No peasants could be paid more than the wages paid in 1346. No lord or master should offer more wages than paid in 1346. No peasants could leave the village they belonged to.
Many peasants ignored the statute but they also knew disobedience would lead to serious punishment.
This created great anger amongst the peasants which led to the Peasants Revolt in 1381.
Was the Black Death Eradicated?
An epidemic like the Black Death dies after a few months because it has no host in which the bacteria can survive.
However this does not mean it could not break out again.
If there is somewhere for a surviving infection, in a rodent or flea or in a warm place, this could act as a reservoir and a breakout breaks could occur.
The Black Death plague returned to Europe and the Mediterranean several times throughout the 14th to 17th centuries.
Although the plague is easily treatable with antibiotics, it has not yet been fully eradicated.
This is nearly impossible because countless fleas and rodents still carry the disease. The plague can be found throughout most of the world today, including the United States, Africa and southern Asia.
As many as 3,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organization annually.
There are things you can do to reduce exposure to the disease, such as avoiding contact with rats and fleas, live in sanitary conditions, and use powerful natural bug repellants.
Some natural health experts are concerned with the effects of DEET on a person’s health and wellness. But there are “DEET Free” products available too.
DEET is slightly yellow oil. It is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing, and provides protection against tick bites, mosquito bites, chiggers, and other insects which can transmit disease.
DEET was developed by the United States Army, following its experience of jungle warfare during World War II. It was originally tested as a pesticide on farm fields.
It is good to have a backup storage of antibiotics readily available. There are natural antibiotics on the market too.
If you own cats or dogs they should be fully bathed with flea repellent, or wear flea and tick repellent collars.
How to Get the Stuff You Need
It’s easier than ever to get the health, wellness and medical supplies you need today.
But if systems break down it may be more difficult to get some items. You may consider having backup supplies of the most crucial items and products.
Granted, a prescription is usually required from a medical doctor for certain medicine and supplies. But doctors or medical professionals are not always readily accessible. So it’s good to have a backup plan.
Most products and supplies can be easily acquired on Internet, or by phone and postal mail. In most cases you’ll need a physical address but mail forwarding services work fine too.
A common question we receive with regards to ordering products online is “How can we trust a company doing business online”?
One of the great things about the Internet is the “community” aspect of it.
For example, when you do business on eBay it’s easy to spot the people or companies who are trustworthy because of the buying and selling “community”.
In most cases, if a company or person has thousands of reviews and a Feedback Score of 95% positive they can usually be trusted with confidence.
The companies or people with poor feedback scores should be avoided, even if the products they offer are priced lower than everywhere else.
The “community” on sites like eBay, Amazon.com and Newegg.com are self-policing. This means buyers and sellers talk to each other.
Another way to test a company’s trustworthiness is to place a small order and observe how it’s confirmed, fulfilled and shipped. Call or email them with a hypothetic problem to observe the response.
If a company screws up the first order the chances are they will screw up again.
Another way to test a company’s validity is by crosschecking a few reference points.
For example, does a company have a physical addresses and landline phone?
It may be the age of cellular phones.
But most companies on the Internet selling products to the public should have a physical address, landline phone and physical address for returns.
If they don’t, move to the next company on the list.
The Chinese site Alibaba.com recently discovered a fraud perpetrated by a few middle managers and e-commerce store owners. The fraud centered on consumer electronics. Faulty products were being shipped or not at all.
The fraudulent e-commerce stores DID NOT have a physical address, contact person or landline phones.
The fraud was discovered, managers were fired, and the e-commerce stores were removed. New practices were put into place immediately after.
Incidentally, Alibaba.com and the sister site AliExpress.com is a great source for health, wellness and medical supplies.
Ten trustworthy companies in which to acquire health, wellness and medical supplies:
Swanson Vitamins
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/
NorthStar Nutritionals
https://www.northstarnutritionals.com/
Mountain Rose Medicinal Herbs
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Raintree Nutrition
Dim Mak Herbs
Allegro Medical
Hsu's American Ginseng
Ray Sahelian, M.D
Mercola.com
Emerson Ecologics
http://www.emersonecologics.com/
4,000 Year Old Remedies
The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for more than 4,000 years.
But there are discoveries being made every day!
Research is starting to unlock ancient secrets of green tea and hundreds of other herbs including ginseng, burdock, blood root, thistle and even sea kelp or coral calcium.
Research has been accelerated in the past few years because of the rising trend and interest in natural remedies, cures and alternative medicine.
Here are some of medical conditions green tea is reputed to be helpful:
Cancer
Rheumatoid arthritis
High cholesterol levels
Cardiovascular disease
Infection
Impaired immune function
Controlling high blood pressure
Lowering blood sugar
Researchers claim the secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in EGCG, a powerful anti-oxidant.
EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.
A University of Purdue study concluded a compound in green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
Red wine contains resveratrol, a polyphenol which limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.
But researchers at the University of Kansas determined EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol.
Research also indicates green tea lowers cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
It may be a miracle tea.
The health benefits of green tea are even more far reaching. Green tea inhibits abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
New studies have shown green tea can even help you lose weight.
Hundreds of studies have shown drinking green tea can give your body a greater ability to fight infection and kill bacteria.
Green tea also inhibits tooth decay. Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill bacteria which cause dental plaque and aid the immune system with its antifungal properties by improving digestive function.
As the research of this ancient beverage continues it may take years to unlock all its secrets.
Green tea should not be considered a “magic bullet” researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising
The Iodine Secret
Iodine is an essential mineral nutriment.
“Essential” means in order to maintain a healthy body we must get the necessary nutriment from outside our bodies; we cannot make it from other materials.
The most important use for iodine is in the thyroid gland, and without iodine the thyroid hormones cannot be produced.
One of the most important functions of thyroid hormones is to regulate the rate of metabolism.
If the proper amount of thyroid hormones in our body nothing works correctly.
The inadequate hormone production causes hypothyroidism.
In children sustained hypothyroidism also leads to mental retardation and other problems.
In women it is associated with infertility, miscarriages and breast and ovarian cancer.
In 1940, the average American diet contained about 800 micrograms a day of iodine.
By 1995, the daily intake dropped down to about 140 mcg.
Early symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Fatigue
Cold intolerance, increased sensitivity to cold
Cold hands and feet
Constipation
Weight gain
High cholesterol
Essential hypertension
Thin, brittle fingernails
Hair loss; thin, brittle hair
Puffiness in face and elsewhere
Depression; poor concentration
Muscle aches
Dry, itchy skin
It is important to note iodine is found in every tissue in the body - not just the thyroid gland.
The second highest concentration of iodine is found in breast tissue.
Low iodine is associated with fibrocystic breast disease and in animal studies low iodine increases the risk for breast cancer.
Iodine is also found in the prostate gland, gastrointestinal tract, salivary glands, bones, connective tissues, brain, ovaries, thymus gland, adrenal glands, and elsewhere.
However, too much iodine can be a problem too.
There is research which indicates high doses of iodine can actually cause hypothyroidism in sensitive people, as well as hyperthyroidism. This is rare; you need to be careful with taking too much iodine.
In the meanwhile, most people would do well to supplement with kelp, a natural source of iodine.
Sea vegetables are excellent sources of bio-available iodine.
The coastal Japanese consume large quantities of sea vegetables and have very little thyroid disease.
Kelp supplementation goes a long way towards protecting people with iodine deficiency.
The Most Effective Antibiotics, Painkillers, Anesthetics and Other Miracle Drugs
As Doomsday unfolds (as I suspect) a few remedies, cures and medicines may be hard to get or scarce
It is important to be knowledgeable regarding the most effective antibiotics, painkillers, anesthetics and other miracle drugs on the market. It’s equally important to know how to acquire these products before and after a system unravels.
There’s a need to panic, wear tin-foil hats or hide in caves.
It is simply a sound strategy to be prepared for your family’s health, wellness and medical needs.
Talk to your family physician or medical professional for his or her insight too.
I am NOT a medical doctor and I am NOT dispensing medical advice or diagnosis of any kind.
I am offering my opinion for informational and educational basis only.
It’s important to know how to obtain antibiotics, painkillers, and anesthetics when a doctor can’t be found.
If things get bad some doctors and dentists may accept food as payment.
But this is a worst case scenario.
More than likely cash will remain king for a long time. Cash should be able to enable most things you need.
But there may come a time when barter with food; gold or silver comes into play.
If you are on prescription drugs is a good idea to have several month supply.
Most of the raw ingredients for "life-or-death drugs" come from Third-World countries, and we can’t rely on them in a crisis.
Antibiotics, Painkillers and Anesthetics
Injectable Penicillin
Short-acting (crystalline)
Intermediate-acting (Procaine Penicillin)
Long-acting (Benzanthine)
Syringes
You should be able to get these at your pharmacist without a prescription. A box of 100, sterile, single use is fine. These are good for Vitamin B-12 injections also, when fresh meat and eggs are not readily available.
Vitamins and minerals
Whole food vitamin and mineral powder or liquid is best, with no additives or preservatives. Emerson Ecologics offers pharmaceutical grade vitamin and mineral powders.
Antibiotics
Ampicillin Tablets: (500 mg. tablets)
Erythromycin: (alternative to Penicillin)
Tetracycline/Terramycin
Pet Meds (In some cases these are safe for humans too and you don’t need a prescription)
Drs. Smith and Foster
Nystatin and Gentian Violet for fungi
Mebendazole or Albendazole, and Piperazine for worms
Neosporin Opthamlic Solution antibiotic eye ointments for eyes
Silver Nitrate Eye Drops
Lidocaine (Xylocaine) (sewing wounds)
Tetanus Immune Globulin
For immunization Doctors recommend Super-Tet Tetanus Toxoid
Silvadene (for burns)
Huperazine A
Iodine crystals (better than Chlorine for water purification)
Evicol (water purification)
Pain Killers
Aspirin, acetaminophen, and other NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Chemical Warfare Agents (This is serious stuff folks)
Super Tropical Bleach (STB)
Decontaminates against G- and V-Agents, Mustard agents, and Lewisite
Biological Agents
Start on antibiotics.
(Important Note: Penicillin and tetracyclines, amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and gentamycin are good for Anthrax.
If an organism has developed resistance, penicillin and tetracyclines may not be effective).
Huperzine A (Hup A): Takes the place of Physostigmine, (a prescription drug for neural agents (chemical warfare)
Hup A is not a prescription drug.
Chemical and biological decontamination
Liquid chlorine bleach (dry form available too)
You can use it for water purification, chemical and biological decontamination
Calcium Hypochlorite is an algicide; bactercide; deodorant; potable water purification; fungicide; and a strong bleaching agent
AIDS
There are a number of O-T-C, over-the-counter medications which can stop the aids virus if they are used quick enough like Nonoxynol 9.
Get a current edition of The Merck Manual for consultation.
Author’s note: I am offering this information for educational purposes only. This information is offered in case you are unable to see a physician, get to a hospital or to a medical facility.
Chemical Warfare and Biological Attack Treatment Protocol
(Courtesy of the Medscape Reference Manual)
Have the patient perform as much of the decontamination as possible is preferable to decrease the amount of cross-contamination.
Remove the patient's clothes and jewelry and place them in plastic bags.
Wash the patient from head to toe with soap and water. Avoid vigorous scrubbing to prevent skin breakdown.
Decontaminate open wounds by irrigation with saline or water for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Avoid contaminating unexposed skin on the patient. Use surgical drapes if necessary.
Flush exposed areas with soap and water for 10-15 minutes with gentle sponging.
Irrigate exposed eyes with saline for 10-15 minutes, except in alkali exposures, which require 30-60 minutes of irrigation.
Clean under fingernails with a scrub brush.
The best universal liquid decontamination agent for chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is 0.5% hypochlorite solution.
It is prepared by diluting household bleach to one-tenth strength (9 parts water or saline to 1 part bleach).
Hypochlorite solutions are for use on the skin and soft-tissue injuries, including open lacerations. Do not use it in penetrating abdominal wounds (leads to development of peritoneal adhesions), in the eye, open chest wounds, or in open brain or spinal cord injuries (effects unknown). Irrigate these areas with copious amounts of sterile saline solution.
After using hypochlorite solution on either the skin or soft-tissue wounds, subsequently irrigate these areas with sterile saline solution
Miracle Drugs
The term “miracle drug” is often used with reckless abandon to increase sales. There are few drugs which actually perform “miracles”.
But there are drugs which are living up to the claims by the medical and research communities.
In this section we offer information on five such drugs.
Please consult your physician or medical professional for further insight or to see if these drugs are right for your situation.
Avastin
In 1989, Napoleone Ferrara discovered vascular endothelial growth factor (which led Genentech to pursue a new type of cancer therapy which starves tumors of their blood supply). Avastin, appears to extend cancer patients' lives.
Bextra
Chemist John Talley says every atom in a drug should have a purpose. He left a job at Pharmacia to lead research at Microbia where he studies antifungal drugs. Bextra is an antifungal drug.
Enbrel
Biochemists Craig Smith and Ray Goodwin developed the autoimmune drug Enbrel. Enbrel targets the prototype member of the gene family: tumor necrosis factor.
Velcade
Julian Adams developed the drug Velcade. Velcade targets the obscure proteasome which acts as a cellular garbage disposal.
Celebrex
Another drug developed by master chemist John Talley. Celebrex is a Cox-2 inhibitor which relieves pain and inflammation without harming the digestive tract.
Seven Genuine Super-foods for Maximum Vitality
Organic apples
Apples are prime sources of healthy flavonoids, including cancer-fighting compounds called triterpenoids, You still need to wash them in lukewarm water to remove all the natural and unnatural stuff used, such as fertilizer. The skin is where most of the nutrients reside.
Goji berries
Goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and other compounds which may help prevent cancer and other illnesses, including heart disease. Antioxidants may also boost the immune system and lower cholesterol.
Organic broccoli
Broccoli is a rich source of bio-chemicals which are known to fight cancer. One of the most well-known bio-chemicals is isothiocyanates. These powerful chemicals stimulate certain enzymes produced by the liver which act to neutralize the effects of cancer causing agents that enter the body.
Organic Swiss chard
Organic Swiss chard provides cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory benefits, antioxidant protection and immune support. It is also good for maintaining bone health; reducing the risk of cataracts; providing higher levels of energy; and promoting lung health; and helping to regulate nerve and muscle tone by balancing the effects of calcium.
Grapefruit (and grapefruit seed extract!)
Grapefruit is high in enzymes that burn fats, has high water content and has less sodium. It contains salicylic acid which helps break down the body’s inorganic calcium, which builds up in the cartilage of joints and may lead to arthritis.
It contains Lycopene which is a carotenoid pigment and is a powerful agent against tumors and cancers as it acts as a scavenger of cancer-causing free radicals.
Grapefruit seed extract is often referred to as “liquid gold”, and rightly so. It can help to protect nerve and brain tissue by penetrating the blood brain barrier. It prevents formation of plaque in arteries, improves mental alertness, may help to prevent senility, prevents tooth decay, helps to prevent osteoporosis, may interfere with cancer cell growth and proliferation, may inhibit virus expression and replication in individuals with HIV, it aids in poor circulation, addresses complications due to diabetes and relieves constipation
Organic spinach
It improves eyesight, blood pressure, strengthens muscles, prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. It also known to prevent atherosclerosis and heart attack, has neurological benefits, anti-ulcerative, anti-cancerous property, and skin protection
Free range, fertile eggs
Free-range eggs are superior to supermarket eggs in many ways. They typically contain1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, more vitamin, more omega-3 fatty acids, three times more vitamin E, seven times more beta carotene. Eggs are naturally rich in vitamin D. Free range; fertile eggs are often referred to as the “perfect food”.
In the next section I’ll show you vital principles of urban survival and why they may be needed.
Chapter 5 – Urban Survival Guide
Are Urban Survival Skills Necessary?
Cities and large urban areas are vulnerable to any disruption in the system.
We’re already witnessing some sections of urban areas run by criminal gangs.