What if … disaster struck?
What would you do?
What-if questions prompt possible calamities.
Sharp disaster mongerers are putting out videos about potential food shortages in America.
Are they overstating the case?
Are they merely promoting the products and services they sell? ?
This country is not a happy place.
Political turmoil, social unrest, and looting spring to mind.
Planned fires burning precious vegetation and targeting homes.
?But there’s a lot more…
No one predicted the rioting, looting, and killing in 2021.
The economy has been heavily dented through ideology.
Policies that benefit a few.
Below is a run-through of things to be concerned about in 2024.
No one knows the probability of any of this coming about.
But it’s prudent to think about what could go wrong.
How would you survive?
Worrying things:
- Droughts leading to water shortages and agricultural difficulties.
- Wildfires exacerbated by dry conditions and high temperatures.
- Flooding, especially in low-lying areas or areas prone to heavy rains.
- Disease outbreaks, such as cholera or malaria, due to inadequate sanitation or healthcare infrastructure.
- Civil unrest or political instability resulting in violence or social disruption.
- Economic crises impacting livelihoods and exacerbating social tensions.
- Power outages or infrastructure failures leading to disruptions in essential services.
- Industrial accidents, particularly in mining or manufacturing sectors, causing environmental damage or human casualties.
- Pandemic-related challenges, including strain on healthcare systems and socioeconomic impacts.
- Environmental degradation and pollution affecting ecosystems and public health.
- Elections~: The country’s most industrialized economy is gearing up for elections scheduled for next year, which could influence the political landscape and potentially lead to increased polarization 1
- Power Outages~: The nation is bracing itself for 43 weeks of severe blackouts, with state-owned company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. implementing daily outages of up to 5,000 megawatts to prevent the national power grid from collapsing 1
- Cost-of-Living Crisis~: Ongoing power outages contribute to a cost-of-living crisis, as they limit access to essential services and goods 1
- Increasing Tensions~: The Centre for Risk Analysis projects that these conditions could lead to a winter of social unrest, as sustained power outages hinder economic growth and job creation 1.
- Rioting and Looting: July 2021 Riots~: Previous instances of rioting and looting, such as those in July 2021, have resulted in significant loss of life and property damage, with over 300 deaths and thousands of arrests 5.
- Encouragement of Violence~: Online posts and messages have been analyzed that suggest some individuals encourage and endorse violence and looting, although specific statistics on the frequency of such incidents are not provided 3
- Food Shortages~:
- Looting: Food riots and looting have historically occurred in South Africa, with instances of unrest leading to the theft of food supplies 78.
- Shortage Potential: While the exact figures are not provided, it can be inferred that food shortages could occur due to disruptions in supply chains or increases in demand-induced scarcity 2.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is of a topical nature and is intended for informational purposes only. None of the risks or potential disasters mentioned may ever occur, and this post in no way makes any predictions or forecasts about future events.
For more accurate and up-to-date information on potential risks in this country, it is advisable to consult specialized surveys and engage with political forecasters, as well as experts in agriculture, trade and industry, and other relevant fields.
Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and analysis to make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances. The author and publisher of this blog post disclaim any liability for actions taken based on the information provided herein.
