Nexus - 0604 - New Times Magazine-pages

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BOOKS Reviewed by Ruth Parnell HOW TO SURVIVE THE Y2K CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA: The Essential Guide for Every Household by Chris Gilbey Publisher: Bantam, Australia, 1999 ISBN: 1-86325-180-4 (247pp tpb) Price: AUD$17.95 Available: Australia—Random House N one really knows what's going to hap- pen when the computer clocks tick over at midnight on | January 2000. But it's bet- ter to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, to paraphrase Chris Gilbey's philos- ophy in his guidebook, How to Survive the Y2K Crisis in Australia. And best to start preparing now—as individuals, families, groups, communities and businesses—if you've not yet begun to consider the so- called Y2K problem seriously. Chris Gilbey, a leading technology, infor- mation and media consultant (and a speaker at this year's NEXUS Conference), adopts a common-sense approach to the problem without resorting to rhetoric or suggesting we all don combat fatigues and head for the hills to join the survivalist movement. But, when governments, water and power utilities, airline companies and so on cannot say with certainty that there won't be any disruption to normal services "when the chips go down", it's time to take ownership of the solution, create a safe haven, run your own in-house Y2K audit and ensure you're supplied with essentials—water, food, ener- gy supply, medicines, clothing—for we may have to become more self-reliant than we're JUNE — JULY 1999 © REVIEWS used to, for a little while at least. The hypotheticals and scenarios that Gilbey describes are indeed cause for con- cern. If, say, you work or live in a high-rise building, where air conditioning, power, water and sewage systems may not be Y2K- compliant, it may be a wise to consider relo- cating over the new-year period. Gilbey includes checklists, survival rules, supply lists and emergency service resources to help Australians prepare for Y2K (or any crisis, for that matter) without panic. Reader, which is fortunate for all those who have not had access to this relatively small- distribution US zine. To give an idea of the contents, section headings cover: JFK, with reference to the Gemstone File; Suspicious Deaths, from John Lennon to Yitzhak Rabin; and the UFO Enigma, from Virgin Mary sightings to David Bowie's space oddities. If that weren't enough, the editors reveal samplings of government crimes and cover-ups from FEMA to the TWA 800 missile theory; media manipulation and CIA psy-ops; and Hollywood-connected cults and secret soci- eties. And no conspiracy book is worth its salt without some analysis of the theory of AIDS as a man-made disease, secret Nazi UFO technology, Gulf biowarfare or the dangers of aspartame. This compilation can't be expected to cover all possible conspiracy angles and spins, but it does its job well in presenting an interesting variety of material. N one really knows what's going to hap- THE CONSPIRACY READER Hollywood-connected cults and secret soci- pen when the computer clocks tick over compiled by Al Hidell and Joan d'Arc eties. And no conspiracy book is worth its at midnight on ey 2000. Butts bee Publisher: Citadel Press, USA, 1999 salt without some analysis of the theory of rer e e prepared for the worst and hope for |gBn]: 0-8065-2041-8 (354pp tpb) AIDS as a man-made disease, secret Nazi e best, to paraphrase Chris Gilbey’ s philos- price: $4 4.95; NLGf45,90; USD$18.95; UFO technology, Gulf biowarfare or the DEC ns areas } red boat to i CAD$27.95 : This compilation can't be expected to preparing now—~as individuals, families, alee Praircsohe arabes US cover all possible conspiracy angles and groups, communities and businesses —if 120 Enterprise Ave, Secaucus. Ni 97094, spins, but it does its job well in presenting you've not yet begun to consider the so- tel (201) 866 0490; Canada—Canadian an interesting variety of material. called Y2K problem seriously. Chris Gilbey, a leading technology, infor- mation and media consultant (and a speaker at this year's NEXUS Conference), adopts a common-sense approach to the problem Manda Group, Toronto, Ontario here's nothing like a good conspiracy theory to get the mind working overtime. And one conspiracy zine that enjoys "under- ground" respect is Paranoia: The without resorting to rhetoric or suggesting Conspiracy Reader, started up on Rhode we all don combat fatigues and head for the sland, USA, in 1992 by a loose-knit bunch hills to join the survivalist movement. of conspiracy truth-seekers. Its editors But, when governments, water and power —_admit that they don't necessarily agree with utilities, airline companies and so on cannot _ everything printed in its pages, but they also say with certainty that there won't be any realise that serious subjects don't always disruption to normal services "when the have to be taken too seriously, and that chips go down", it's time to take ownership _ sometimes it's necessary to have a modicum of the solution, create a safe haven, run your —_ of humour and irony to cope with the mass own in-house Y2K audit and ensure you're of competing conspiracy views out there. supplied with essentials—water, food, ener- The editors of Paranoia have compiled a gy supply, medicines, clothing—for we may _ selection of their favourite stories over the have to become more self-reliant than we're 1993-1997 period in The Conspiracy NEXUS -75