In a further confirmation that the so-called allies in the “War Against Terror” are a manipulative and simultaneously mindless bunch of fear mongers, the BBC reports that the local authority of Australia’s largest city, Sydney, has urged residents to pack an emergency “Go-Bag” for use after a terror attack, natural calamity or general bitch slap from God(s) Almighty.
I’d previously ridiculed a similar concept from Lufast Industries in the US (and their ICE-qube, see article HERE) but you see Lufast has a trump card over the Sydney authorities. Lufast sells the ICE-qube for the not inconsequential sum of 850 USD and in the spirit of all things capitalism, I applaud their efforts; meeting a niche (or not) demand for product and all that economic jazz.
The Sydney authorities, however, would have their citizens believe that they are at imminent risk of devastating attack. Why else would they urge the following items to be included in the Go-Bag: a radio, map, compass, first-aid kit, running shoes, baseball cap, toilet paper, sticky tape, phone numbers, insurance details, spare keys, spare change, energy bars, food in general.
All in all, just further reaffirmation that the leadership in the developed world has been so cosseted by decades of luxury, they have no idea what to do in these tumultuous times. You see, in times of true disaster, there is no need for money, so forget about carrying spare change. Don’t bother with insurance details either as established entities will no longer be functioning. Essentially, when the shit has come into contact with the fan, we’ve got to rely on basic human dignity, courage and community to pull us through (witness a normally apathetic city like Bombay pull together during the floods of 2005).
The Sydney authorities have certainly taken a page from the US government’s book in how to manipulate public perception to their advantage. A citizenry living in fear is easy to lead, nay, beguile. You only have to look at the farce that was the Dr. Haneef episode (check out the Wikipedia page HERE) to see how paranoid and figuratively trigger-happy the Australian authorities are.
Here are the facts. There has yet to be a major terror attack in Australia. There are about fifteen people in all of Australia (some 21 million actually) and really, no one gives a crap about them since they are hardly on the world stage. Al Qaeda is a master at manipulating the media as well as getting the most bang for their proverbial buck. Consequently, an attack in Australia simply wouldn’t have the impact as one in a more populated, more prominent part of the world. Australia is Down Under, enough said. Conclusion: Aussies, quit playing American and just get back to throwing a ‘Roo on the barbie and shearing sheep.
That said, it’s not like I am advocating a lackadaisical approach to public safety and the issue of terrorism. I’m just saying, “you must be like the Koala.” Be prudent and wise, not apocalyptic. There’s no need for the contagion of fear to spread.
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And they call themselves Aussies? They seem to have completely forgot the alcohol in their emergency kit. Alcohol, preferably, of the harder variety, is the one item that is absolutely necessary in any emergency situation, and not only because if things get so bad, you have a way to dull the pain, but because there is ALWAYS somebody in a lot of pain who properly prepared but forgot the alcohol, and therefore the alcohol becomes a very powerful trading commodity.
Then again, it may very well be true that the powers that be in Australia don’t want the public to stock up on alcohol so that when they themselves do have the alcohol it becomes a matter of supply and demand, and with enough alcohol they could take complete control of the people.
But I thought they held a freshly deep-fried Bloomin’ Onion in higher regard than alcohol. If so, onions would be the commmodity to stock up on, plus it keeps away vampires … or is that werewolves.
Either way, for a country supposedly settled by convicts, I do think they’re being a bit pansy.