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Preparing for an apocalypse now Preparing for an apocalypse now
(about 19 hours later)
By Paul Moss BBC World Tonight reporterBy Paul Moss BBC World Tonight reporter
Survivalists hope they will be able to prepare for a possible disasterSurvivalists hope they will be able to prepare for a possible disaster
Amid concerns about future shortages of fuel and food, so-called survivalists are learning how to live without the trappings that modern society currently provides.Amid concerns about future shortages of fuel and food, so-called survivalists are learning how to live without the trappings that modern society currently provides.
John Niven wants to make one thing absolutely clear. He is not, he assures me, "one of those nutters".John Niven wants to make one thing absolutely clear. He is not, he assures me, "one of those nutters".
I have not actually questioned John's sanity - he certainly appears to have his marbles intact.I have not actually questioned John's sanity - he certainly appears to have his marbles intact.
But we are speaking in a sparse area of woodland in rural Gloucestershire, where John is on a course, learning how to survive in the wild.But we are speaking in a sparse area of woodland in rural Gloucestershire, where John is on a course, learning how to survive in the wild.
Normally, he works as a maintenance engineer in Hereford. But now, he's learning how to trap and skin a rabbit.Normally, he works as a maintenance engineer in Hereford. But now, he's learning how to trap and skin a rabbit.
Energy risksEnergy risks
"We don't know when the next catastrophe is going to happen," he says. "What if there's major anarchy in the cities? We don't know when the power supplies are going to go. So why not be prepared?""We don't know when the next catastrophe is going to happen," he says. "What if there's major anarchy in the cities? We don't know when the power supplies are going to go. So why not be prepared?"
It's a very real concern right now, and not just among survivalists. The energy regulator, Ofgem, has released a report warning that Britain must invest more in its energy infrastructure.It's a very real concern right now, and not just among survivalists. The energy regulator, Ofgem, has released a report warning that Britain must invest more in its energy infrastructure.
Otherwise, it warns, the risk to gas supply is "high", and that to electricity even higher.Otherwise, it warns, the risk to gas supply is "high", and that to electricity even higher.
There is a sense that we live in a really complex society, which is incredibly fragile Madeleine BuntingThere is a sense that we live in a really complex society, which is incredibly fragile Madeleine Bunting
The report says there must be unprecedented effort to "decarbonise" the economy, or face the consequences.The report says there must be unprecedented effort to "decarbonise" the economy, or face the consequences.
Meanwhile a group of British business leaders, including Richard Branson, has warned that the world is running out of oil far quicker than expected.Meanwhile a group of British business leaders, including Richard Branson, has warned that the world is running out of oil far quicker than expected.
Much more needs to be done by the government, they say, to prepare the country for the effect this will have on everyone's lives.Much more needs to be done by the government, they say, to prepare the country for the effect this will have on everyone's lives.
But more and more people are apparently taking matters into their own hands.But more and more people are apparently taking matters into their own hands.
"It's your aunt, your uncle, becoming worried," says Glyn David, the man running the Gloucestershire survival course."It's your aunt, your uncle, becoming worried," says Glyn David, the man running the Gloucestershire survival course.
His company Trueways has had to increase the number of courses it runs in order to accommodate this heightened interest.His company Trueways has had to increase the number of courses it runs in order to accommodate this heightened interest.
"It is ordinary members of the public concerned about 'What happens if I end up in a survival situation in my own city?' It takes so little for things to go wrong.""It is ordinary members of the public concerned about 'What happens if I end up in a survival situation in my own city?' It takes so little for things to go wrong."
John thinks of himself as an ordinary member of the public. A nurse, working in the West country, he too was out in the Gloucestershire wilderness, preparing for the worst.John thinks of himself as an ordinary member of the public. A nurse, working in the West country, he too was out in the Gloucestershire wilderness, preparing for the worst.
"There could be a major disease epidemic," he told me, "or a terrorist act." He seems to be enjoying the course, happily fashioning a snare out of some pieces of wire and a couple of twigs."There could be a major disease epidemic," he told me, "or a terrorist act." He seems to be enjoying the course, happily fashioning a snare out of some pieces of wire and a couple of twigs.
Apocalyptic dramasApocalyptic dramas
"I'm feeling prepared enough that I can keep my family ticking over, until society gets back on track.""I'm feeling prepared enough that I can keep my family ticking over, until society gets back on track."
Of course, you don't have to go on formal survival training to make preparations.Of course, you don't have to go on formal survival training to make preparations.
The website off-grid.net teaches people how to live without the electricity supply and other mod cons they may be used to.The website off-grid.net teaches people how to live without the electricity supply and other mod cons they may be used to.
The number of visitors to the site has doubled in the past six months.The number of visitors to the site has doubled in the past six months.
But you also get a clear impression of society's concern if you watch television or films these days.But you also get a clear impression of society's concern if you watch television or films these days.
There has been a glut of apocalyptic dramas, like the BBC programme Survivors, which focuses on one group of people ekeing out an existence after most of the population has been wiped out by disease. There has been a glut of apocalyptic dramas, like the BBC programme Survivors, which focuses on one group of people eking out an existence after most of the population has been wiped out by disease.
And the feature film The Road is still pulling in audiences with its bleak depiction of how humanity fares after some unspecified cataclysm.And the feature film The Road is still pulling in audiences with its bleak depiction of how humanity fares after some unspecified cataclysm.
If this is what we are looking to for entertainment, that's because the theme touches a collective raw nerve, according to the writer and columnist Madeleine Bunting.If this is what we are looking to for entertainment, that's because the theme touches a collective raw nerve, according to the writer and columnist Madeleine Bunting.
Back in 1935, no-one knew there was going to be a war in 1939 - I feel that we are in a 1935 situation here. We need to be making preparations in order to live through what is coming Chris JonesBack in 1935, no-one knew there was going to be a war in 1939 - I feel that we are in a 1935 situation here. We need to be making preparations in order to live through what is coming Chris Jones
"We have seen a financial crisis which we are told brought the British banking system to within hours of collapse. We have seen snow at the beginning of January which was jeopardising just-in-time food supplies. There is a sense that we live in a really complex society, which is incredibly fragile.""We have seen a financial crisis which we are told brought the British banking system to within hours of collapse. We have seen snow at the beginning of January which was jeopardising just-in-time food supplies. There is a sense that we live in a really complex society, which is incredibly fragile."
That fragility is what prompted Chris Jones to start making preparations.That fragility is what prompted Chris Jones to start making preparations.
He has long worried about the security of energy supplies, believing that we have either reached peak oil production already, or will do soon. And this won't just affect our ability to drive cars or heat our homes, he says, but also our ability to eat.He has long worried about the security of energy supplies, believing that we have either reached peak oil production already, or will do soon. And this won't just affect our ability to drive cars or heat our homes, he says, but also our ability to eat.
"Food production is so heavily geared towards the use of cheap energy. And if we can't get that energy… it could get very ugly. There's a saying that you're only ever three meals from revolution.""Food production is so heavily geared towards the use of cheap energy. And if we can't get that energy… it could get very ugly. There's a saying that you're only ever three meals from revolution."
But should there be food shortages and a consequent breakdown of law and order, Chris has no plans to go and live wild in the woods.But should there be food shortages and a consequent breakdown of law and order, Chris has no plans to go and live wild in the woods.
Instead, at his farm in central Cornwall, he has installed a set of solar panels, and is planning other forms of alternative energy. He has also increased the amount of food he grows, hoping he would be able to supply himself and his local community.Instead, at his farm in central Cornwall, he has installed a set of solar panels, and is planning other forms of alternative energy. He has also increased the amount of food he grows, hoping he would be able to supply himself and his local community.
"Back in 1935, no-one knew there was going to be a war in 1939. I feel that we are in a 1935 situation here. We need to be making preparations in order to live through what is coming.""Back in 1935, no-one knew there was going to be a war in 1939. I feel that we are in a 1935 situation here. We need to be making preparations in order to live through what is coming."
This will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight at 2200 GMT on 10 February 2010 and can be listened to for one week afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.This will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight at 2200 GMT on 10 February 2010 and can be listened to for one week afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.