The American economy is close to double dip, and ordinary Americans are wondering whether they can trust the government to protect them through the times that may be just around the corner.

US retail sales fell 1.1% in May and 0.5% in June. Manufacturing output fell 0.4% in June. The Philly Index for new manufacturing orders fell to -4.3 in July.

Other confidence indicators are also falling, and as we wonder what might be ahead of us, some Americans are taking out an insurance policy — by going off the grid. They figure that if the worst happens, they and their families living in communities powered by wind and solar will still be able to function as normal.

The Fed is talking about QE2 — another wall of money thrown at the long term problem. Even if it happens, there will still be many more forecloures and layoffs, and the price of oil will continue to rise.

But for the thousands of families who are making the move off grid each month, the economy is only one consideration. Many have had it with the dysfunctional state, or the threat from global climate change.

They want to be free of the need to pay a mortgage — a small, three bed off-grid home with electricity and water can run as little as $75,000 including land. That is a compelling agrument at a time when new homes sales have dried up.

As the technology continues to improve, living off-grid has become more comfortable. Of course there will always be millions of Americans for whom the lifestyle is out of the question — a return to the stone age. But millions more value the simplicity of off the grid living, and the freedom it confers because it is a low-cost existence.

In future postings I will outline what you need to live off the grid, and why its a good thing to consider.

Other Stats:

New homes sales collapsed in May 2010 to a record low of 300,000 with the expiry of tax credits for first-time buyers.

The American Trucking Association said tonnage fell 0.6% in May (the most recent available).

The American Association of Railroads said car loadings fell 1.1% in May, and a further 1.3% in June (month-on-month, seasonally adjusted)

Outbound traffic from the Port of Long Beach fell from 139,000 containers in May to 116,000 in June. Shipments from the Port of Los Angeles fell from 161,000 to 155,000.

Nick Rosen Huffington Post

THE national government has declared drought-hit Amathole District Municipality a disaster area.

Typical is Dutya, where desperate residents have been queueing for water until late at night after their water dried up 10 days ago.

Municipal spokesperson Gail Pullen said they were one of five district municipalities declared disaster areas.

Their dams had completely run dry in such towns as Bedford, Adelaide, Chintsa, Dutywa and, recently, Hogsback.

Cathcart had about a month’s supply of water left.

In Dutywa yesterday, some people collected water from a tanker while others walked around with empty buckets and bottles looking for a place to fill up with water.

“We are struggling very much,” said local resident Toto Jack. “What we have to do is stand in long queues, sometimes till nine at night, and when the water tanks are empty we just have to go back and try again tomorrow.”

Jack, who grew up in Dutywa, said: “All my life I am living here and it has never been this bad. Since last year there have been water restrictions and what is worse is that we don’t hear anything from the municipality.

“We feel terrible that we don’t know when this problem will end. We can’t live like this.”

Local businesses are furious with the lack of a steady water supply.

Yolanda Mausi, of Mausa’s Salon, said they had been forced to close shop for the past three weeks because the municipality had failed to provide JoJo tanks to the town’s CBD. “We need about 80 litres of water a day to do our business. Today is the first time these water tanks are stopping on this road.”

Dutywa hotel owner John Botha said his business was suffering. “Last week all 33 rooms were full and our guests could only shower in the afternoon, using the rain water we had collected.” He had requested water tanks from the municipality but had not received them.

Pupils staying at hostels in Dutywa said the situation was hampering their learning time.

“We sometimes don’t get a chance to do our homework because we finish class at three in the afternoon and then we have to go and fetch water from the tanks,” said Mida Christian School Grade 12 pupil Sinazo Dlambulo. “When the lines are long we wait there till 9, 10, or even 11pm, so there is no time for us to study.”

Her friend Aneza Luningo said they also had to contend with bullies. “We wait in the lines for a long time and sometimes bullies come and try to steal our water. So we have to fight to keep our buckets.”

For others, like concerned resident Yonela Kwinana, hygiene is a major concern as there is not enough water to clean themselves properly.

Toilets no longer work. Sibongile Futshane said she and her family had no choice but to go into the fields.

Pullen said the municipality had contingency plans. “We are doing the best we can with what we have. We are tankering water to a number of towns within the district where dams have run dry. We are currently hiring two 30 000 litre tankers to cart water from Butterworth to fill up 11 JoJo tanks that we have placed in Dutywa. In addition, we are using two 10 000 litre tankers (one of them hired) to cart water for the Goven Mbeki and Mputhi Villages.”

Pullen said they applied for R156million in drought relief funding from the national Treasury. So far, they had received only R12m. It cost the municipality about R25000 a day to tanker water to Chintsa alone.

“We are looking at all other alternatives, including sinking and commissioning boreholes … Even the boreholes are starting to run dry.

“We have established a drought task team and have developed a drought action plan to try and provide water to all our affected communities. However, we are in urgent need of additional funding.” — By LOIS MOODLEY Daily Dispatch

Twenty years after the release of Nelson Mandela, and the day after the opening of parliament where Zuma promises a year of action, South Africa is still in a desperate water situation. Published by www.Runningdry.org the video incorporates South Africa into the Running Dry campaign. Running dry is committed to working for access to safe, affordable and sustainable water for all.