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Do You Want To Survive The End Of The World?

Posted by neilramsden from Cardiff - Published on 24/11/2010 at 14:24
4 comments » - Tagged as Environment, Topical

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As we all know, the end of the world is nigh. There are a variety of ways we might collectively be kicking the bucket; meteorite strike, climate upheaval, financial meltdown, even alien invasion (have you noticed the proliferation of alien-based films on the way?).

The year 2012 has provided conspiracy theorists with plenty to get excited about, despite the fact that the Mayan calendar does not predict the end of the world, but merely starts over; think our 'Millennium Bug' situation, when the clock ticked over to 00:00:00.

So in light of the end of the world, why not treat yourself to a Silohome? Only $2.3 million can buy you the most secure home known to man. These are Cold War nuclear missile silos, built but thankfully never needed, which are now being converted into ultra-secure homes in the American countryside.

An impressive recycling of the expensive and now seemingly useless sites, the frightening thing is how they are being marketed. www.survivalcondo.com (the name gives you a flavour of the website) states "The year 2012, the current worldwide economic crisis, global climate change, and threats of terrorism all add to a growing list of threats that make owning a "Survival Condo" the smart choice."

The year 2012! It seems that this dread of a date is not just held by a slightly eccentric minority but by enough fabulously wealthy people to form a market for underground homes. The same website boasts that they had recently featured on an episode of Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura! How could I not follow that up?

For those of you not familiar with Mr. Ventura's work, he is not a pet detective but seems to be Steven Seagal's long-lost brother, who in the interests of the American public uncovers the truths that the government is hiding from them. Was this really a good marketing tool for survival condos?

My favourite line from Jesse Ventura's investigative journalism piece is "When I first heard of this 2012 conspiracy, it sounded like a bunch of new age mumbo-jumbo. But then we got a tip from a guy named Jim Higgins. He edits books on conspiracies..."

Whoa! Hold the phones! Jim Higgins? That guy who edits conspiracy books? He must know what he's talking about, what did he have to say? "He said this could be the one to end all." Wow. If Jim Higgins says that maybe I should reconsider... The gist of his work, for those that don't want to enjoy this fantastic programme, was that there is scientific evidence of disastrous occurrences in 2012, and that the American government have been preparing bunkers for the elite to survive in. Presumably, according to survialcondos.com, you too can be in that hated but safe minority!

A different website, www.silohome.com, states as a 'possible use' of their development in New York's state park: "With the reality of September 11th, why not have a safe haven to retreat to if one needs the option. At the same time, a great weekend or vacation getaway." Wonderful that they can reconcile an apocalyptic hideaway and a holiday home. This website also has a number of links which, as far as I can tell, are present so that if you search for any of the phrases: '2012 end', 'Mayan calendar', 'shelter fallout' or 'ultimate survival', you get directed to their silohome showroom. It truly worries me that people can take a conspiracy theory so seriously that you can market $2.3 million homes on the back of their fear.

I think that the real question is, has anybody considered what happens to the silohome under a tsunami? If I'm spending that sort of money I want a waterproof nuclear missile silo thanks very much.