Ever since I read The Stand in fourth form, I have had a small obsession with fatal pandemics and what might happen in a post-apocalyptic world. And I don’t think it would necessarily be a bad thing, as we’d be growing our own vegetables, and there’d be time to read all the books and we’d relying on each other in a community type manner; living a much simpler life. Because my post-apocalyptic world is a lefty socialist commune (think The Smurfs) and there are no looting, gun-toting, paranoid psychopaths. Anyway despite the faithful news reportage from Nosty fans that ‘there will come of people and beasts a horrible rout’ (because a pig is a beast and a rout is the flu and oh my goodness), it is unlikely that a few cases of swine flu signals the End Times (for sense and sensibility see Science is Sexy and Poneke).

But say the piggies DO spread their beastly rout? And you know a load of bad stuff happens and the the chosen few are left to start again? Well they could do much much worse for the New Earth Constitution than this puppy. Erected in 1979 by an anonymous group, is a massive stone structure in Elbert County. The ‘Georgia Guidestones’ are almost 20 feet (6.1 m) tall, and made from six granite slabs which have instructions in eight languages for reconstructing society after the collapse of civilization:

‘Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

Guide production wisely improving fitness and diversity.

Unite humanity with a living new language.

Rule passion, faith, tradition and all things with tempered reason.

Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.

Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

Balance personal rights with social duties.

Prize truth, beauty, love, seeking harmony with the infinite.

Be not a cancer on the earth, leave room for nature’.

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