Anyway, for the record, here are some thoughts as to how the problem should be addressed.
- There are more efficient ways to preserve knowledge than a single multi-billion dollar government-supported facility. A single site would be vulnerable to whatever catastrophe befell the world. Assuming it survived, its location and contents would probably be known and the facility would therefore probably be a tempting prize for whichever semi-literate local warlord(s) eventually came to power. In the event it was overrun, it would likely be trashed to some degree.
- My idea for knowledge preservation is based on a science fiction story I read years ago. In that story, aliens planted a “knowledge gate” on earth to monitor the progress of human intelligence. The “gate” was actually a series of gates to sequential virtual rooms, each one containing knowledge of increasing complexity. Access to the next room required solving a puzzle based on knowledge mastered in the previous room. A similar concept could be applied successfully to advance a post-apocalyptic world.
- Based on the foregoing and probably because I’m a Geological Engineer by training, my vision is as follows:
o Scores of sites would be built around the world in abandoned mine workings. Most of these would survive any conceivable catastrophe short of a very large asteroid impact.
o Locations would be semi-secret but it would be made generally known that the sites contained little of value except knowledge media. This would eliminate the “war prize” factor.
o Surface entrances would be concealed, but at each location, there would be an indicator (light, siren) on a timer programmed to broadcast its presence and entry instructions at various random intervals, say 50 to 500 years out. Sites would broadcast their locations at different times
o Each location would consist of several underground rooms containing knowledge media. Instructions regarding the location of the next room would require mastering the knowledge in the previous one. If the rooms were camouflaged to some degree, they would be almost impossible to find in an underground labyrinth of abandoned drifts, raises, stopes, etc. without instructions.
o Rooms’ contents would be similar at all sites, probably starting with basic language (English, Chinese?) instruction. Sites would have to include local content to some degree. It would make little sense to show someone how to mine bauxite to smelt aluminum in places where there is none or how to make steel where there is little coal, limestone or iron ore.
- Initially, significant research will be necessary to get something like this going. I’m pretty sure, however, that each site could eventually be built at a cost comparable to that of building a few of modern school buildings. The research, knowledge accumulation and site construction could therefore probably be undertaken by a non-profit private foundation. I’d be willing to contribute funds to such a foundation myself and I’m convinced thousands of people like me around the world would do likewise.
Anyway, that’s my two cents worth for now. Hopefully some like-minded people will read this and contact me to try and get something concrete like this off the ground. There’s probably still a few decades left before the doo-doo hits the fan but time definitely appears to be running out.

U.S. GDP includes funds borrowed to purchase goods that are consumed (destroyed) without those goods producing any ongoing benefit that approaches, let alone exceeds the original cost. U.S. GDP includes capital/funds expended to repair damaged or destroyed property to be celebrated in the same manner as capital/funds invested in means for increased beneficial production.

Envision a civilization where families had a secure home and garden that provided their life support. Envision appliances designed to be durable for long term use, and ease of home repair. Financial GDP, or the exchange of a currency, could be minimal, yet there could be an advanced, well fed, healthy society that is expanding knowledge and capability.

If someone believes that absent current technology and knowledge, a global population of 7+ billion can be sustained, what are the factors? I suggest that human numbers are is SIGNIFICANTLY into “overshoot”. As a collapse progresses, the destruction by angry and panicked people may strip and destroy food and infrastructure as legendary plagues of locusts devastated farmlands. Isolated small pockets of those who survive being overrun, not matter how individually skilled of gifted, may not be able to hold on to technology. If a community as proposed in this website does not already exist, expect the need for some means of post-collapse global communication for survivors to reach out to each other, and consolidate to create a community. It will need to be done relatively quickly after the locust phase has ended, as tools, information, and skilled individuals are lost they may not be replaceable. Technologically speaking we are today standing on the shoulders of giants, who are themselves being held up by other giants.

I opine that for a solitary pocket of humans to hold on to present technology and continue to advance, that pocket needs to be a community of around one million.

If pre-collapse a specific “Perenno” community is not established (and it does not appear it is going to happen) then what?

Examine and determine whether your community is a viable prospective location for a post-crash gathering. If not, you know you are going to have to relocate, now or later.

If you cannot relocate now, then examine the potential of places you believe you will want to go, and if potentially viable, become knowledgeable about your goal location. Establish as much of a “presence” as you can. Wake up as many people there as you can.