Old Index

This is the working archival website of a handbook in progress. The writings here are based on the premises that industrial civilization is unsustainable, and that its collapse is inevitable. Industrial civilization is systematically destroying the biosphere and exploiting the inhabitants of this planet. It is reducing the long-term prospects of living creatures in general, and the sooner it is gone the better off we'll be. If we wait until civilization destroys so much of the biosphere that it collapses itself then our situation will be even worse.

This handbook is for learning the skills that we need to encourage the dismantlement of industrial civilization as soon as possible, and to create healthy, democratic, ecological communities in the wake of its collapse.

The project is open to suggestions or contributions of information from interested folks (but much of the site is now archival).

This website is roughly organized by the chapters of the handbook. If you click on the header for a given chapter at left or below, you can see that chapter's page and some of the topics which have been suggested for inclusion in it. Links for any given topic will only be displayed on the index page below if there is material for it.

Square brackets [like this] after a topic give the date it was updated.

Interviews

• Lierre Keith
• Megan Quinn
• Chellis Glendinning
• George Draffan
• Matt Savinar
• Richard Heinberg

Introduction

• Is this a survival book? [Dec 30, 04]
• General Premises [Jan 4, 04]
• What is civilization? [Jan 2, 05]
• What is 'Collapse'? [Jan 16, 05]
• How to Contribute [Jan 4, 04]
• Succession of ecology, success of revolution: Notes on ecological succession as a model for successful post-industrial community building [Jan 04, 05]
• On Hedging with Precious Metals [Dec 31, 04]

Practical Q&A Series

• Q&A #1: Toothpastes, soaps, and razors
• Q&A #2: Strategies for shortages
• Q&A #3: Security issues
• Q&A #4: Communications
• Q&A #5: Transportation
• Q&A #6: Expanding specialized skills
• Q&A #7: Tobacco and Fermentation
• Q&A #8: Condoms and Birth Control
• Q&A #9: Medical Supplies

1. Basic Survival

2. First Aid and Wellness

3. Tools

Booklet #1: Tools for Gridcrash:
[Jan 14, 05]

Introduction to Booklet #1

• Premises
• The Purpose of this Booklet
• Further Reading

Water

• Water Introduction, and Contamination
• Water Sources
• Water Treatment

Latrines and Greywater

• Basic Latrines
• Composting Toilets
• Greywater

A note on Heat

Cool Food Storage

Cooking

Quick Lighting and Heat

Rubbish

• Five reasons not to invest in electric/"renewable" infrastructure for the collapse. [Jan 3, 04]

DIY Recycling:

• How to make plastic bags into more durable plastic sheets and other articles.
• Four uses for yogurt containers in seed-starting (illustrated how-to).
• How to use glass and plastic bottles for solar water disinfection.

4. Shelter and Clothing

5. De-Industrialization

6. Tactical Skills and Discussions

7. Community Skills and Discussions

8. Food Gathering and Production

• Notes towards an egalitarian food gathering process. [Jan 11, 04]

Bibliography and Links