Things you can do in your area about y2k

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Things You Can Do About The Year 2000 Problem by Norman Kurland 1. Ask governments at all levels, particularly your local government, what is being done to address the Y2k problem. Ask them what contingency planning they are doing to prepare for any serious problems that may arise after December 31, 1999. Urge them to adopt measures to insure that basic infrastructure (electricity, water, food, medical and emergency services, and communication) will function. Seek out opportunities to help either professionally or as a volunteer. 2. Ask candidates for office what they will do to address Y2k problems. 3. Ask your employer what it is doing. If the answer is nothing or not enough, urge -- no, demand -- that action be taken immediately. Your job is at stake. Offer your assistance even if you are not a programmer. As 2000 approaches there will be many non-technical tasks to be done such as developing alternatives to computer-dependent services. 4. Use only banks, credit card and insurance companies that guarantee that they will be 2000 compliant. Have in writing all financial records before end of December 1999. Pay all bills due in January 2000 by mid December, 1999. 5. Check to be sure that every device you own that may contain a computer chip (computers, fax machines, programmable thermostats, microwaves, VCRs, autos) will function after the turn of the millennium. Do not do any testing unless you know how and take proper precautions, such as backing up all data. Check your computers and software for Y2k compliance. Don't buy any electronic device or software that is not guaranteed to be 2000 compliant.

6. Don't travel, particularly by plane, over the transition week-end. Try to avoid hospitalization during January 2000. 7. If you are a business owner, manager or director be sure that your firm is addressing the problem and that employees have the resources necessary to do the job on time. Be sure that all your suppliers and any others with whom you do business will be functioning properly after December 31, 1999. 8. Invest only in companies that are working on the problem now and that will be fully compliant by 2000 (or, even better, by January 1, 1999, so they will have a full year to test their systems.) Check to be sure they are assessing the Y2k status of suppliers, customers, and others on whose viability their profitability depends. 9. Select investments that will retain value if there is a Y2k-induced recession. 10. Develop contingency plans for your family, your neighborhood and business in case there are electrical power outages in early 2000 and shortages of water, food and other essentials. During 1999 gradually build up a supply of non-perishable food and other essentials. That includes cash to meet basic expenses in case your bank is closed or pay or pension checks do not arrive in time. 11. Do not panic. Wild rumors will be rampant as the millennium approaches. Check them out. If the community works together and takes reasonable precautions, everyone will survive. -----------

Thanks to the many people whose ideas helped in formulating this list.

Norman Kurland Listserv Moderator: Y2k and Social Responsibility Sponored by CPSR (Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility) To subscribe send a message to listserv@cpsr.org. In the body of the message, write: subscribe cpsr-y2k yourfirstname yourlastname Web site For list Archive

-- cynthia (cabeal@efn.org), December 23, 1998


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