By now most people have probably heard something about the "millennium virus," or "Y2K" as it is known in more technical circles. This problem is caused by the fact that many of the world's computers will recognize the date January 1, 2000 as January 1, 1900, and may shut down or malfunction as a result.

Just what the effects of this world wide computer malfunction will be is completely unpredictable. Scenarios forecast by both computer experts and politicians run the gamut from a few days of minor disruptions to six months or more in which the power grid, telecommunications, food and petroleum deliveries will be completely disrupted world wide. Nearly everyone prognosticating agrees on one thing-it is difficult to predict the effects with much certainty.

One of the biggest problems faced by the computer "experts" is there is no "one size fits all" upgrade or other quick fix that can be applied to reprogram all the computers. The core programming of the computers controlling everything from generators in dams and power plants, to the checking account at your bank or credit union, was in most cases written from scratch. The lines of computer language, or "code," were designed a little different for each. To correct the problem, it is necessary to manually review each line of code in the computer. Major entities like General Motors and the Pentagon have billions of lines of code in their systems.

The Pentagon already admitted there is no way it is going to correct even the majority of their systems before the year 2000. Major corporations like GM and Exxon have kept quiet about their progress-for obvious reasons. However, rumors abound they are meeting with a similar lack of success. Another problem is something called "embedded chips." Many pieces of machinery, from pocket cameras to robots on assembly lines, have pre-programmed micro-chips built in which might malfunction in the same way. Fixing these will require the replacement of the entire piece of machinery in many cases.

While it is easy to dismiss the possibility that this will cause major disruptions in the economic systems as either wide-eyed ravings or hopeful dreaming, governments and others are taking it very seriously. The US Senate has already convened a special subcommittee on the year 2000 problem. The chair of that committee, Senator Bennet (R-UT) said in June, "If Y2K were to hit tomorrow the power would go out." Economists with the German Deutsche Bank, have predicted that Y2K will cause a world wide depression "at least as severe as in 1973."

As the turn of the century approaches banks, and multi-nationals are claiming they are "Y2K compliant" (i.e. that their system has had the problem corrected.) Unfortunately for them, when a compliant computer receives data from a non-compliant computer, the former can become defective again. Nobody knows to what extent this will occur, but it becomes very relevant for those computers involved with international banking or multinational corporations that are constantly communicating with ones overseas. Many foreign countries are doing nothing about Y2K, and certainly most are doing less than the US.

So how does this affect us as Earth First!ers? Should we all take a 14-month holiday and wait to "dance on the ruins?" Should we prepare to fuck shit up as much as possible when the bug strikes? Bare in mind jail will be one of the worst places to be after January 1. All doors and ventilation systems are controlled by, you guessed it... computers.

Following any kind of breakdown, people are going to be scared and the government will be all too willing to declare martial law at the slightest provocation. There won't be any even reasonably sympathetic press to cry foul when they knock down the doors of every enviro after a few folks drop a power line or two. Instead of trying to hack the weakened infrastructure by force, I believe we should prepare to open the eyes of the myriad of people who would have been left dangling by their techno-cratric and corporate priests.

First of all, we need to set a good and attractive example. We need to be sure that our communities of Earth First!ers are well prepared. This means having stocks of food, homemade, dried and canned goods, and the ability to procure clean water and sources of heating. This will strike the country in winter don't forget. Ideally we should have enough put away so we can share some with the more mainstream elements of our communities, or at least be prepared to teach them what skill we do have.

Events that took place following the 1989 San Francisco earthquake illustrate the potential outcome from these two differing approaches. When the quake struck, the only organization feeding people in the east bay for almost the first 24 hours was Seeds of Peace. Because they were funky, anarchic and low tech, they were able to do what multi-million-dollar organizations like the Red Cross couldn't. Because of this, they garnered much public good will and even a new generator. A subsequent downing of power lines, either by genuine monkeywrenchers or agents provocateurs, served only to alienate the quake traumatized public and set the stage for the FBI to arrest Judi Barry and Darryl Cherney in the wake of the near-fatal bombing of their car.

I suggest that we begin a continuing brainstorm and active skills sharing focusing on ways we can be prepared with both aid and educational information at a time when there are millions who will be open to it.

Many of us are already accustomed to camping out, keeping warm in the weather and Working together under pressure and severe conditions. I would propose that we include workshops on dying, canning and food preservation as part of all the regional rendezvous and activist conferences for the next 14 months. Dumpstering shit loads of food fro your action or Food Not Bombs? Why not dry what you do not use and keep it in air tight containers? How about a post Y2K blank wall-distributed beforehand, of course-that could be passed out in cities and neighborhoods showing people that there is an alternative. Imagine how many people would tune into free state radio stations when there's nothing else on!

Even if things are only minimally disrupted, preparation we put into Y2K preparedness could later be used in other campaigns. We are right about technology, centralization and corporate power! Let's be ready to show other people there is an alternative.