y2k-prep

cc99 - the urgency of y2k preparations

There are less than 350 days left to January 1, 2000. Not much time to prepare for the disruptions to many essential services because of the year 2000 computer date problem (Y2K), some of which may come sooner.

The effect of system disruptions could mean shortages of food, fuel, money, and electricity. Telephones in some areas may not work. Many big and small businesses that do not fix their systems may fail. Even those that do succeed, will still have trouble because their suppliers will not survive. A global economic depression lasting many years seems likely.

What to do?

Preparation begins with awareness and information. There is a wealth of it on the internet (see below).

Contingency planning and emergency preparedness appear to be the order of the day, which is why 350 days is scarcely enough, particularly when we humans tend to avoid serious problems. For instance, how many people in earthquake zones are prepared for an earthquake?

As money becomes scarcer, or becomes valueless, community currencies (cc) become a lifeboat strategy. No community has to do without money, even in the worst of times. During the Great Depression over 2000 local currencies were used when federal money dried up. In the 1970’s, the Irish economy ran quite successfully for a whole year without banks during the Central Bank strike.

For information about the most widely used community currency systems in the world, LETSystems... http://www.gmlets.u-net.com

Our recommended strategy for starting LETSystems is to raise money for the cause (any cause - like y2k prep) through business donations in merchant credits (community way)… http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/go/

Smart cards carrying several cc (any community can have its own money) are now available in sets of 5 transactors and 50 cards, enough to start community way in a small town or city neighbourhood.

There is much work to be done and very little time left to mobilize our communities to ensure that all people, particularly those who cannot look after themselves, have access to essential services. For an example of how cc systems can work in any community, see our food security plan.

Perhaps we will discover, like many others before us, that adversity brings people together in community. And Y2K may be our last hope of averting the global ecological disasters that we know are coming. It may be the rite of passage to a better world, if we can confront our fears and start working on solutions.

Community/neighborhood preparation:

http://cassandraproject.org/home.html

Utne Citizen's Action Guide

http://www.utne.com/y2k/cover.html

Tom Atlee on danger and opportunity

http://www.co-intelligence.org/Y2K.html

Excellent social and tech commentary

http://tmn.com/y2k/y2kweek_archives.htm

Network for community prep

http://www.coalition2000.org/

Co-author Y2K Risk Management plus much more

http://www.erols.com/steve451/impact.htm