In times of survival we tend to imagine ourselves alone or with a few unknown people up against the world. In reality, however, most people have many friends and family members who they will be close with during these times and likely will want to protect. Also, most people rely on each other for food, shelter, clothing and all of the other things we share and trade. This is why it is vital that communities form strong ties and work together to ensure security for all. The more practice a community has at sustaining itself in stable times the better it will function in an emergency or disaster. This is why shifting towards a more local and sustainable community is essential. If a community can support most of the food, water, material and energy needs of it's people on a local basis, the chances of community member survival is greatly increased.

The best way to start, is to be the example you wish to see. People will listen to you more if you are the living example of what you wish to convey. Start by planting your own small organic garden. Grow some of your own food and share some of it with your neighbors. This is one the simplest and one of the oldest ways that people connect to the earth and to each other. It is also one of the best forms of survival and sustainability. Think about it, you are growing your own food. What else is needed? Air, water, and shelter.

The other thing that is most needed is protection from the elements: a home or a shelter. Hopefully this can be accomplished without ruing the air and water needed to survive. If it is very cold where you live, you will need warmth. If it is very warm, you will need shade and water. Either of these things will require another element called energy. For peoples energy needs to be met, we will need to use renewable energy sources. If you own a home, start finding ways to be more efficient and employ these new technologies that will reduce pollution and carbon output. These technologies include wind, solar, and micro-hydro.

Once you have created a more sustainable lifestyle within your personal life, then you can begin helping the community become more aware of sustainability and survival.

To protect the community, start forming community action groups. Organize, fundraise and educate people about community survival and sustainability. It is also possible for communities to form disaster plans and prepare for natural disaster. This is mostly up to local governments to assess the risk of natural disaster, but it has become evident that we cannot always rely on the government to protect us.

These type of community owned and operated groups will give power back to the people. Build membership based survival committees. With membership fees rent a warehouse and begin stockpiling food and supplies. These supplies are only to be used to feed the community incase of an emergency. As the grains begin to reach their expiration, they must be donated. Also, with the membership fees a farm producing grains and other essential can be funded. To form such a group will require the participation of most of the community. Part of the function of the committee will also be to address survival issues and educate the community on emergency strategies.

Don't wait until it is too late. Act now and start building the communities that will last into the future.