3 Events That Emphasize The Importance Of Prepping

There are times when world events help us realize the importance of prepping. September 2016 was one of those times. The month’s events helped reinforce the mindset that we should all be preparing for times when society functions a little differently than it has up to now. The following three events emphasize the importance of prepping.

1. Charlotte Riots

The idea of an American race war is edging further into public consciousness. Anger is growing throughout American communities due to perceived lack of equality and a streak of police shootings. As a result, more people are starting to voice their concerns and discontent. Charlotte Riots, following closely on the heels of heated Black Lives Matter demonstrations and not so long after the Ferguson, Missouri riots in 2014, show how anger is quickly turning into hostility and violence.

Watching the role of police during these events, it seems that they are preparing for civil unrest. They employ brutal tactics such as use of tasers, tear gas and EDP bags. Police are up-arming themselves with military weapons and equipment, seemingly preparing themselves for something apocalyptic. They are increasingly assuming confrontational and threatening postures when dealing with the public. With such a force, the likelihood of a peaceful protest turning violent increases exponentially.

Mainstream media is quick to stoke the fire. They focus on any violence that ensues and any way they can blame this violence on racial tensions. They lack to emphasize militarization of the police force, lack of police accountability, and growing income inequality as the factors that have gotten us to this place.

With the addition of relentless focus on violence in mainstream media and popular culture, it is now common for a person living in the US to become violent and act irrationally when the right buttons are pushed. And it seems that these buttons will be pushed more and more as racial and social tensions continue to grow. The Charlotte riots following the shooting of Keith Scott September 21, 2016 in North Carolina are the perfect example. Peaceful protests can quickly turn into more shootings, looting and assault, both by civilians and police. Are you prepared to stay locked up in the safety of your own home should riots break out in the streets of your home town?

2. Deutsche Bank’s Plummeting Share Prices

Shares of one of the largest banks in Europe, Deutsche Bank, have hit record-low prices. Investors have started to panic following the disclosure that the bank has been penalized by the United States Justice Department a whopping $14 billion for its actions leading up to the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. The bank’s market capitalization stands at $14 billion, although its derivative exposure is much higher.

To make matters worse, shortly following the record-low share prices, Deutsche Bank was charged for market manipulation in Italy:

Six current and former managers of Deutsche Bank, including Michele Faissola, Michele Foresti and Ivor Dunbar, were charged in Milan for colluding to falsify the accounts of Italy’s third-biggest bank, Monte Paschi (which itself is so insolvent it is currently scrambling to finalize a private sector bailout) and manipulate the market. ~ Source: Zero Hedge

Is Deutsche Bank set for failure? There are speculations that the bank’s collapse is imminent. Many think that the German government would not allow Deutsche to fail due to its prevailing role in the German and global economy, although in a recent statement Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said that it will not offer any bailouts or intervene in any way.

How does the stability of Deutsche Bank affect the global financial system? The video below explains:

The reality remains that we are frighteningly beholden to international bankers who manipulate global currencies to enrich themselves and enslave us in debt. Due to this manipulation, global economic crisis has been brewing for decades. No one knows when it will hit, but it will no doubt involve the collapse of banks and investment institutions. Basic preparedness can be as simple as having cash on hand, savings spread out among credible banks, ideas for alternate income streams, and a stockpile of essential supplies such as healthy storable food, gardens, water, medicines, energy, and first aid.

3. Gas Shortage in Southeast U.S.

The Colonial Pipeline break that resulted in the gas shortage that affected certain Southeast states in September 2016 was a good reminder to keep a few canisters of gasoline as part of your prepper storage. But was the gas shortage really a result of a pipeline spill, or was it a self-fulfilling prophecy resulting from panic? News of a possible gas shortage spread like wildfire via social media, so within a few hours of the story breaking people were heading out en-masse to fill up. This resulted in lines at the pump, and that’s really when consumers started to freak out. The Tennessean reports:

The Tennessean had reported that gas sales were 50 percent higher in the state as people rushed to top off of their tanks and fill up lawn mowers, tractors and every available extra container, only exacerbating the situation.

Let’s face it. People are not going to remain calm if there is any type of emergency, especially one that threatens the supply of basic necessities. Any major disturbance to our just-in-time delivery system will result in irrational buying, emotional decision-making, and potential social disorder, even riots.

Most people know the best thing to do during an emergency is to remain calm, but most will do the opposite. Why? Because most people are not prepared. Are you?

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Vic Bishop is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com and OffgridOutpost.com Survival Tips blog. He is an observer of people, animals, nature, and he loves to ponder the connection and relationship between them all. He is a believer in always striving to becoming self-sufficient and free from the matrix.

This article (3 Events That Emphasize the Importance of Prepping) was originally created and published by emergency food supplier Offgrid Outpost and is published here on Survival Tips under a Creative Commons license with attribution to author Vic Bishop and OffgridOutpost.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution and this copyright statement. Please contact online@offgridoutpost.com for more info or visit Offgrid Outpost on Facebook.