Preparing for the end of times
能源与环境问题严峻 人类末日意识抬头
Characters in a scene from The Day After Tomorrow look to the sky.
THEY stock their basements full of canned food and bottled water. They read newspapers for signs of the apocalypse. They prepare for civilization's end, fully expecting to witness it before they die, or as they die.
Such American "survivalists" have long been dismissed as extremists, but recently more appear to be joining their number, according to a story in the New York Times.
The newspaper quotes from a new book, Wealth, War and Wisdom, by the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley, Barton M. Biggs. In its pages, Biggs warns of "the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure". He recommends that people build a safe place that is "self-sufficient and well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine and clothes".
Such calls for preparedness have existed for years in the US. For instance, during the Cold War, some Americans built underground bomb shelters. In the late 1990s, as the new millennium approached, others stocked closets full of food, water and gold. They feared a global computer crash might throw civilization into chaos.
At the same time, Americans have always been encouraged by their local governments to prepare for seasonal storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. Pop culture and religion have also cultivated an attitude of fear and preparedness. Movies such as The Day After Tomorrow depict humanity's struggle to survive cataclysmic events. The Bible predicts that in the "end times" earthquakes and wars will shake the planet.
But according to the Times, fears of global warming, high oil prices and disasters like Hurricane Katrina have heightened apocalyptic fears among Americans.
Jim Rawles, the editor of the preparedness website SurvivalBlog.com, told the newspaper that the survivalist movement "is experiencing its largest growth since the late 1970s". He says his readership has doubled in the last 11 months. His site now has more than 67,000 unique visitors per week.
"Faced with a confluence of threats, people who do not consider themselves extremists are starting to discuss doomsday measures once associated with the social fringes," concludes the Times.
Plotting mankind's survival
A thread of "survivalism" has run through American pop culture for years. Here are some of the latest examples:
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
This documentary film by the former US vice-president Al Gore sounds the alarm on global warming. If human beings do not take action immediately, some scientists fear entire cities will be flooded, thanks to rising temperatures that are melting polar ice caps.
Way out: Making personal sacrifices to protect the environment
I Am Legend (2007)
In this film, which stars Will Smith and is set in New York City in 2012, a US army scientist attempts to save the entire human race from extinction. A virus has turned most surviving humans into vampires. With his dog Samantha as company, Smith's character tries to invent a vaccine that will kill the virus and bring hope to humanity.
Way out: Relying on a hero and science
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
In this 2006 novel, which won a Pulitzer Prize, Cormac McCarthy plants a lonely father and son in the middle of a world that has nearly lost everything, including its governments. The little of the planet's food and water that remains is being stripped bare by bands of hungry cannibals. In this horrific tale, a father and a son walk a dangerous road that they hope will lead to survival.
Way out: Rationing food while clinging to love and faith
Notes:
apocalypse 大灾难，启示录
cannibal 食人者
cataclysmic 大变动的
closet 壁橱
confluence 融合，群集
doomsday 世界末日
extinction 灭绝
extremist 极端主义者
fringe 边缘；见解偏激的人
humanity 人类
hurricane 飓风
ice cap 冰冠
infrastructure 基础设施
millennium 一千年
ration 定量配给
survivalist 生存主义者，活命主义者
tornado 龙卷风
unique visitor 独立访客，每天相同的客户端只被计算一次
vampire 吸血鬼
Bonus
Expressions
strip bare 剥夺净尽
I want to strip bare the secret life of that mysterious woman.
我想了解清楚那个神秘女人的秘密生活。
throw sth into chaos 使陷入混乱状态
The wedding was thrown into chaos when a man rushed in and declared that he was in love with the bride.
一个男人冲进来说他深爱着新娘，结果婚礼陷入了一片混乱。
The following everyday expressions are based upon fear of the apocalypse:
be doomed 注定要失败
I'm telling you: Our picnic plans are doomed. See those dark clouds?
跟你说哈，我们的野餐计划肯定泡汤了。看见那些乌云没？
all hell breaks loose 天塌地陷，(比喻)极大变动，不可收拾
If you tell the staff that they won't be getting the wage increase you promised them, all hell will break loose.
如果你告诉员工说，你答应给增加的工资不加了，那么他们就会闹翻天。
(someone's) sky is falling 天塌下来了
When your sky is falling and your dreams are sinking, remember that I'll always be by your side.
如果你的世界天翻地覆，你的梦想全部落空，记住，我永远在你身边。
