Member-only story
Want to Survive Shortages? Learn from the Poor
The effect may be greater than COVID 19 pandemic
As the world remains largely confronted with escalating economic instability, disruptions in the supply chains, and environmental problems, the fear of shortages — whether in terms of food, energy or medicine — is no longer a far-off issue.
Many are now wondering how they will cope should the systems that they have always relied on start to fail. Perhaps the answer does not lie in new technologies or in governmental plans, but in the biographies of people who’ve survived on the fringes all along.
Poverty has been endured by generations without, for many of them, scarcity being a mere temporary nuisance but as a daily experience. Their ability to bounce back, creativity, and profound knowledge on how to make ends meet with limited resources provide indispensable lessons to anyone wishing to survive hard times.
In this article, we’ll look at the practical wisdom and approaches that have helped poor communities survive — and sometimes even prosper — under lack.
1. Resourcefulness Is a Survival Skill
Without the privilege of replacing something that breaks or buying a solution off of the shelf, you train yourself to become resourceful. Ruined communities have a…
