French government expected to issue all citizens with survival manual

[MrEd]

Indeed, but realistically, what are you going to do with it? As I say on social media regularly, I cover 160m to 70cm, legally, at home. It should keep working in many/most circumstances where I'm still able to operate it all, and on a good day I can speak to a random person half a world away. But even on a good day, where everything else functions I can't reliably order a pizza, call an ambulance or talk to my cousin 15 miles away with it. If I needed help, I'd be more likely to open the window and shout than spark up any of my radios. YMMV if you've a prearranged network and amateur radio definitely has a role in emergency/disaster communications but it's all down to luck or prearrangement, which brings back the question of community.

I know lots of hams in person and there is quite a large 80m net on a regular basis all round the UK and that would carry in - many of us monitor 80m outside of the net aswell and an AM net too. I don’t think I would be looking to communicate to order a pizza or an ambulance tbh, more for information finding. I find amateur radio bands quite reliable tbh, I have not been able to get a signal out near or far and I am sure you know from amateur radio, I have never been on the radio and _not_ found someone to talk to so its a totally valid form of communication if the mobile networks and land lines are all down for an extended period of time.
Easy and free long distance comms aswell as more local comms,

 

[Woody girl]

I live in a valley, many TV stations are unavailable in certain parts of town, and in others digital radio doesn't work. So I have doubts a ham radio would work well round here.
Cb radio was very popular in the 80's. Nobody seems to mention it nowadays. Would it be worth a cb rig at all? If I climb out of the valley, I can see for many miles, and 5 miles away on the tops, I can even see Wales. Maybe not for me, but it could be an option for some perhaps?
Like I say, I have no experience or understanding of this sort of thing so maybe I'm thinking rubbish, perhaps it's a good time to make it more popular?
What do you think?

 

[Woody girl]

Well this has been an interesting read.

I wonder if this is part of a wider (at least perceived) shift I've seen over the last few years promoting things like growing your own veg for example.

Given the state of the world these days a leaflet like this makes sense and I'd be surprised if other governments don't start doing something similar in the years to come. The UK govt might not catch on for a while though.


I can't say I'm a prepper. Though in recent years, particularly now with the kids, I am hugely more open to the idea of having at least a few extra bits in the house just in case. It just seems to make sense to me. I'd like to think if it came to it I could take care of me and mine for a bit at least.

But I have to say I think a lot of "preppers" are kidding themselves on. I know some may take offence at that but hey ho.


All the best
Andy

You are right in it being common sense to keep a bit by for events. Make sure you have alternative lighting and cooking, plus easy to prepare food. Especially with children.
I think preparing for a week long power cut, should be normal thing, and a reasonable prep for everyone. Don't forget a bit of cash stashed, as atms, phones and cards, wont work, perhaps a spare gallon or two of petrol, though if you have an electric car...
All this digitalisation and reliance on just electric makes us all very vunerable in every single way.
The sun has been throwing out a lot of flares recently, and the coronal holes are massive. We have so far dodged a few bullets as regards another Carrington event, but its going to happen one day. In the past it was not such a big deal, as we were not so reliant on electricity for everything. A large, earth directed solar flare could be devastating to modern life. We are in a solar cycle so we go from min, sun activity to max , at the moment we are at max.
I often watch stephan burns on yt. He's a geophysicist, may be a bit woo woo for some with his grounding teas, I just ignore that, but the basic info he gives is scientificly sound. Schuman resonance data etc. I've learned a lot about how the natural system works, even if some still goes over my head.
I still think social unrest is the most likely threat at the moment.

 

[demented dale]

You are right in it being common sense to keep a bit by for events. Make sure you have alternative lighting and cooking, plus easy to prepare food. Especially with children.
I think preparing for a week long power cut, should be normal thing, and a reasonable prep for everyone. Don't forget a bit of cash stashed, as atms, phones and cards, wont work, perhaps a spare gallon or two of petrol, though if you have an electric car...
All this digitalisation and reliance on just electric makes us all very vunerable in every single way.
The sun has been throwing out a lot of flares recently, and the coronal holes are massive. We have so far dodged a few bullets as regards another Carrington event, but its going to happen one day. In the past it was not such a big deal, as we were not so reliant on electricity for everything. A large, earth directed solar flare could be devastating to modern life. We are in a solar cycle so we go from min, sun activity to max , at the moment we are at max.
I often watch stephan burns on yt. He's a geophysicist, may be a bit woo woo for some with his grounding teas, I just ignore that, but the basic info he gives is scientificly sound. Schuman resonance data etc. I've learned a lot about how the natural system works, even if some still goes over my head.
I still think social unrest is the most likely threat at the moment.

I am not optimistic about the way the world is heading and I think that power outage is the only thing that can stop this technological dystopian tyranny we are heading for. Which ever way it goes it will be a hard road. Bringing it back to 'what can I do?' It is both sensible and self empowering to be ready . The need to become more self reliant was how I got into bush craft in the first place. Apocalypse or no the Scouts told me to Be Prepared and that always stands me in good stead. . x

 

[Woody girl]

Being prepared has become the business of prepping. As usual it's a money making exersize,
This 72hr thing won't be much use in a big emergency. Power cut, ok, that will get you through, but anything bigger just postpones the inevitable
Did covid last 3 days? Ukraine war? Any war, come to that! Natural disasters like massive floods, earthquakes, etc
All we can do is be as prepared as possible, and learn skills, ancient and modern, that will keep you alive. Put a few things by like a water filter, alternative light and heat, blankets hot water bottles etc
Some food in tins or dried , and make a veg garden a priority over a lawn. Live a simpler life, old fashoned skills, there is less to go wrong, and it's easier to keep going when you don't rely on a button to deliver your wants and needs.
What gets me, is we talk about digital detox and the damage it all does to minds, particularly youngsters, but the government forces us more and more to rely on it. (Shrug of shoulders with confusion and puzzlement.)

 

[MrEd]

I live in a valley, many TV stations are unavailable in certain parts of town, and in others digital radio doesn't work. So I have doubts a ham radio would work well round here.
Cb radio was very popular in the 80's. Nobody seems to mention it nowadays. Would it be worth a cb rig at all? If I climb out of the valley, I can see for many miles, and 5 miles away on the tops, I can even see Wales. Maybe not for me, but it could be an option for some perhaps?
Like I say, I have no experience or understanding of this sort of thing so maybe I'm thinking rubbish, perhaps it's a good time to make it more popular?
What do you think?

I wouldn’t bother with CB, it’s either dead or foul languaged idiots.

HF or indirect radio would work, by bouncing the waves up directly (almost) and they would then reflect back down off the ionosphere and would get out to a quite long distance (upto hundreds of miles) but you are absolutely correct that line of sight type stuff (VHf) wouldn’t work in your location, or not very well, and cb even less so. But from the top of the valley you would be able to broadcast atleast as far as you can see even with low power VHF

Trouble is to use HF you have to be licensed! The test is easy though

 

[MrEd]

Being prepared has become the business of prepping. As usual it's a money making exersize,
This 72hr thing won't be much use in a big emergency. Power cut, ok, that will get you through, but anything bigger just postpones the inevitable
Did covid last 3 days? Ukraine war? Any war, come to that! Natural disasters like massive floods, earthquakes, etc
All we can do is be as prepared as possible, and learn skills, ancient and modern, that will keep you alive. Put a few things by like a water filter, alternative light and heat, blankets hot water bottles etc
Some food in tins or dried , and make a veg garden a priority over a lawn. Live a simpler life, old fashoned skills, there is less to go wrong, and it's easier to keep going when you don't rely on a button to deliver your wants and needs.
What gets me, is we talk about digital detox and the damage it all does to minds, particularly youngsters, but the government forces us more and more to rely on it. (Shrug of shoulders with confusion and puzzlement.)

This is spot on, and I agree with you 100%

 

[RonW]

To be Frank, no. I wouldn't get anywhere, I'd get stressed and I already suffer high blood pressure. So I'll just look out for myself as best I can, and help a few chosen ones that I know would help me.
I'm resigned to whatever happens, happens.
Once my phone line goes digital later this year, I know communication is gone in an "oh bother" situation I can't afford to set up other coms, and have no clue as to how, and I know nobody local who does. So that's something that will instantly become a problem for many, as others have said.
I'm making my home less reliant on electricaly powered items, and buying old fashoned kitchenalia, home made hay box etc, to be able to keep the kitchen working.
I have a few items that will catch small protein if needed, I forage, and have a small veg production area. I can and dry food.
I have a wood burner.
I can do no more, and if that's not enough, so be it.
When it comes to the bigger picture, most round here, either have no idea, can't be bothered, not interested,or tell me they will probably be dead when it happens.
You can't push water uphill.
I'm pretty much on my own. So be it. I'm not gonna flog myself silly for those sort of people. Sorry, they will have to figure it out themselves when the time comes. Sounds harsh, but I've tried for years to get people on board, I just get funny looks, and they walk off as quickly as possible. I'm done with them.
Nowadays, I'm just that poor old pensioner on a stick or with a walker, grey woman. If it ever gets brought up, I laugh and say, "well, the pandemic proved it was all fearmongering, so I've given up on all that malarkey."
I Stay low now.

I can relate to your sentiments.
Around here

Being prepared has become the business of prepping. As usual it's a money making exersize,
This 72hr thing won't be much use in a big emergency. Power cut, ok, that will get you through, but anything bigger just postpones the inevitable
Did covid last 3 days? Ukraine war? Any war, come to that! Natural disasters like massive floods, earthquakes, etc
All we can do is be as prepared as possible, and learn skills, ancient and modern, that will keep you alive. Put a few things by like a water filter, alternative light and heat, blankets hot water bottles etc
Some food in tins or dried , and make a veg garden a priority over a lawn. Live a simpler life, old fashoned skills, there is less to go wrong, and it's easier to keep going when you don't rely on a button to deliver your wants and needs.
What gets me, is we talk about digital detox and the damage it all does to minds, particularly youngsters, but the government forces us more and more to rely on it. (Shrug of shoulders with confusion and puzzlement.)

And such a detox has much bigger impacts that most of us even realize.
Sugar is another one that is really underestimated and which potentially might mess you up real good when withdrawel kicks in.

 

[ONE]

The UK govt might not catch on for a while though.

Oh, they were well ahead of the curve on these. 21 years ahead to be exact!

Info is all still online.

 

[ONE]

its a totally valid form of communication if the mobile networks and land lines are all down for an extended period of time.

Of course it is. But it in terms of getting something done, be it ordering a pizza (facile) or calling an ambulance (serious) it's not an adequate replacement for a phone service. See also speaking to specific individuals.

You can negate the shortfall to a degree by having arrangements in place ahead of time. Which is kinda a 'community', which was another of the points being made in the thread.

Amateur equipment and the ability to use it is a great arrow to have in your quiver, it's its actual utility to an individual in a given situation without prior planning that I doubt. That said, I've considerable investment, financial and otherwise in being on the air and having multiple fallbacks to ensure that I can stay there in periods of unpleasantness, so I must recognise some usefulness in it!

 

[Woody girl]

Just watched survival lily's latest video on the situation in Europe. She shows the 72 hrs survival kit video at the beginning. Just a complete joke! I'm sure it's a comedy sketch taking the mickey out of being prepared. Worth a listen to her whole video.
I'm waiting for France to go into civil unrest madness after what has happened to le Penn.
I think this April will be ..shall we say...interesting.
Met a friend, who I don't see very often this morning. Had a conversation about what's happening at her instigation. She's a tad on the kooky side, but she is in real fear now. Totaly paralysed to be able to do anything for herself. I've told her many times to get in basic preps, but she still hasn't. She asked yet again, what she should do. As she was about to go into the co op, I said start today, get a big box of matches and a bag of tealights. She came out ten mins later without them.
My fave phrase comes to mind.
You can't push water uphill!

Afterthought..
Did the French gov issue this prep advice in the for knowledge of the outcome of that case, and knowing their people, expect some form of protest or civil unrest? ....just the cynic in me popping up.

 

[RonW]

Just watched survival lily's latest video on the situation in Europe. She shows the 72 hrs survival kit video at the beginning. Just a complete joke! I'm sure it's a comedy sketch taking the mickey out of being prepared. Worth a listen to her whole video.
I'm waiting for France to go into civil unrest madness after what has happened to le Penn.
I think this April will be ..shall we say...interesting.
Met a friend, who I don't see very often this morning. Had a conversation about what's happening at her instigation. She's a tad on the kooky side, but she is in real fear now. Totaly paralysed to be able to do anything for herself. I've told her many times to get in basic preps, but she still hasn't. She asked yet again, what she should do. As she was about to go into the co op, I said start today, get a big box of matches and a bag of tealights. She came out ten mins later without them.
My fave phrase comes to mind.
You can't push water uphill!

Afterthought..
Did the French gov issue this prep advice in the for knowledge of the outcome of that case, and knowing their people, expect some form of protest or civil unrest? ....just the cynic in me popping up.

Or lead a horse to water, but can not make it drink.
I think they pulled a fast one on Le Pen, even though she still is a politician, so would not put it past her either.

 

[Woody girl]

Or lead a horse to water, but can not make it drink.
I think they pulled a fast one on Le Pen, even though she still is a politician, so would not put it past her either.

I wouldn't know, I don't realy follow French politics, or any other European politics, just catching a couple of vids today made me wonder. Seems like quite a few oppositions are being targeted by the sitting tennent of late.
I'm usualy steering clear of it, and just attempt to sit quietly through the mess this world is in, but be aware enough to take appropriate action when needed.
I got through the last emergency very well by anticipating and listening to my niggles about what might happen, and getting out before everyone else, and making sure I had 6 months worth of supplies. Two weeks ahead of the general panic.Told at the time I was stupid, but I listened to an inner feeling that stood me well. I'm getting niggles again. But I'm still fairly well set, so I don't feel the urgency as much as I did before.
I'll just stay calm, and carry on.
One new bed dug in the garden already, so now planning what to sow and the new dehydrator will be in use all summer long.
New skills being refined from nalbinding to leather work, foraging to kefir and kimchi, yoghurt and cheese and butter making. No time to worry!

 

[slowworm]

My fave phrase comes to mind.
You can't push water uphill!

I've not really heard the phrase before and funnily enough you can and we do! Our ram pump does exactly this, pushes all our water a few hundred meters up a hill to our house. Currently it's our most sustainable asset and it has meant a constant supply of fairly clean eater over the last few years.

 

[British Red]

Blaming the council for the waste piles might be appropriate to an extent but what that implies is that you want Council tax to go up beyond what can be afforded (or allowed). There are at least four stake holders in this issue.

The (Labour) council has been effectively bankrupt since 2023. They have to make £148,000,000 of savings

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2025-02-04/bankrupt-birmingham-confirms-148m-of-council-cuts-in-second-budget-blow

The council is deadlocked with the Unite union over savings to waste management

In a world of spiralling debt where councils & governments live beyond their means we can only see more of this

 

[TeeDee]

I think we need to accept that the general standard of living and our place in the financial pecking order overall has changed / degraded somewhat. Once you accept that things seen and experienced can be a little easier to come to terms with.

 

[MrEd]

I've not really heard the phrase before and funnily enough you can and we do! Our ram pump does exactly this, pushes all our water a few hundred meters up a hill to our house. Currently it's our most sustainable asset and it has meant a constant supply of fairly clean eater over the last few years.

Ram pumps are excellent. A few years back, myself and a historian locally to me set about looking for ram pumps marked on our locale on OS mapping, we found most of them, amazingly one still in use to feed cattle troughs, and most other still in situ but not running, including a really nice double one in a lovely stone built nook in the side of the stream cutting.

 

[Broch]

Fittingly, for the subject of the OP, first developed in 1796 by Montgolfier of hot air balloon fame

 

[Pattree]

Gordon Brown, as PM, was quite clear that the British standard of living had to go down.
This obviously means lower relative incomes, reduction in services & welfare and reduction in opportunities. This is what we are experiencing as Britain loses its influence on the world stage.

Unfortunately, without a totalitarian government this cannot be applied evenly/proportionally across all levels of influence power and income.

As @TeeDee suggests, once we accept th this decline and see countries like Portugal and Korea surpassing us in various fields, we might achieve some form of contentment.

Inevitably a couple of generations who’ve lived in the good times are going to kick off, demanding resources that we simply haven’t got. Sooner or later the borrowing has to stop. It’s no good wailing about the actions of previous governments, this is now!

In my lifetime this country has gone from the leadership of Empire, via an influential role in Europe to an isolated Island archipelago.

This isn’t a complaint, it was inevitable as the producing countries on which we preyed / depended gained independence.

We may yet see the return of the British peasant - indeed I might be a British peasant!

 

[slowworm]

Ram pumps are excellent.

Ours is a Blakes No. 1. Getting very old now and at the mercy of the acidic water; but still running on a mix of gravity, luck and magic.