POTSDAM -- Peak Moment TV host Janaia Donaldson speaks with Dmitry Orlov, the author of Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Example and American Prospects, in the next Peak Moment TV program, at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec, 12 and 13, on WCKN, cable channel 30.

Orlov recommends that Americans learn from the Soviets. The Russian-born writer thinks the American empire is following the USSR into collapse, with financial collapse happening first, followed by commercial and then political collapse. An U.S. resident for several decades, he suggests lowering our needs and expectations and replacing money transactions with barter and exchanges.

One of the things that really confines people is the American house, with all that it comes with — central heating, air conditioning, plugged into the electrical grid and the sewer or a septic tank, which is an expensive thing — and all of those other trappings that are requirements, and that aren't all that necessary in order to survive, according to Orlov.

Orlov says, “The best thing you can invest in is human relationships, because that gives you something to fall back on. If you take care of people, people will take care of you.”

You can learn more at his blog, http://www.cluborlov.com.

Now in its third year, the Peak Moment TV programs air every week at 7 pm on Monday and Tuesday on WCKN, Time Warner Channel 30. Peak Moment explores locally reliant living for challenging times. The programs are underwritten locally by The Center for Excellence in Communication at Clarkson University and the Seymour Family of Potsdam.

The December Peak Moment TV shows include Dec. 19 and 20, a Soccer Mom Prepares for the Unexpected; and Dec. 26 and 27, Oil Puts the Squeeze on the Economy.

In the weeks and months to come, WCKN will continue to air PEAK Moment TV. The topics covered will include local food production, renewable energy, transportation alternatives, sustainable building, preparedness and psychological, business, and governmental responses. All the programs are available on the internet at www.wordpress.peakmoment.tv/conversations/ in video and audio formats.

In addition, more than 80 Peak Moment TV shows are now available on DVDs which can be borrowed from the Potsdam Public Library from the collection of shows purchased for broadcast locally.