In response to heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Sweden’s NATO accession, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency distributed five million pamphlets titled “If Crisis or War Comes.” This updated booklet, advising citizens on preparing for various emergencies including war, natural disasters, and cyberattacks, emphasizes wartime readiness more strongly than previous versions. The initiative coincides with Finland’s launch of a new crisis preparedness website. The pamphlets, available in multiple languages, provide practical advice such as stockpiling food and water.
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When news broke about a port strike causing toilet paper ‘panic buying’ and leaving store shelves empty, my initial reaction was disbelief. I mean, are we really importing toilet paper? I always assumed it was mostly made domestically. Seeing videos of empty shelves and people hoarding toilet paper during this crisis reminded me of the chaos we witnessed during the early days of the pandemic.
It’s rather telling of the average American mindset that in times of crisis, the first thing on people’s minds is their own personal comfort, specifically their own behinds. But why toilet paper? Out of all the things one could panic buy, why has there been a shift from essentials like food, water, and fuel to toilet paper?… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker