Aton Edwards

Aton Edwards is is an internationally recognized self-reliance/emergency preparedness/sustainable living expert and the" Executive Director of the ""'International Preparedness Network [http://www.readyforanything.org] , an organization he co-founded in 1989 (originally called P.R.I.S.M., NYC Preparedness Network--now also known as the International Self-Reliance and Preparedness Network), with a group of friends who strongly believed there was a need for special emergency preparedness and disaster response units that could train civilians in the greater New York and tri-state area to mitigate against and, properly respond to several large-scale emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes, global geophysical events [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3549812.stm] , pandemics similar to the 1918 "Spanish Flu" [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no01/05-0979.htm] and other pending crises [http://nymag.com/news/articles/02/terror/page2.htm] [http://www.laalternative.com/index.php/2006/07/21/duck-and-cover/] . Another motivating factor behind the creation of the unit was his concern about the prospect of major terrorist attacks, some involving WMD's (nuclear, biological and chemical weapons) being used against the city by terrorist organizations [http://nti.org/] . In 1997, Edwards began to speak publicly about commercial aircraft being used as missiles to attack skyscrapers often referring to the World Trade Center site as "Ground Zero." One year later at a John Jay College of Criminal Justice F.E.M.A. meeting, he suggested that surface-to-air (SAM's) missiles be set up around the World Trade Center, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and other landmarks to protect them from attacks. [http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/politics/newyork/features/1312/] . In February 2001, on the WRKS-FM radio program The Open Line [http://www.987kissfm.com/openline/] , in answer to a callers question about his comments on the show regarding potential terrorist attacks against the city, Edwards accurately predicted the month, time and location of the 911 attacks."' One week later, he returned to the program to strongly rebuke the former head of the EPA Christine Todd Whitman for her statements regarding the air quality around the disaster site. He made a heartfelt plea to Firefighters, Ironworkers and Police working on or, near the area to wear respirators and personal protective equipment. [http://pdr.blogomat.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=65]

The IPN continued to grow and began to function as a non-traditional NGO in 1999 to accommodate the rapidly growing body of members and expanding mission. Not only did it train civilians to mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural, technological, environmental, civil disasters and other emergencies; it also created a special division called LIFE-O.N.E. (One Nation Earth) program [http://readyforanything.org/ipn_lifeone_pt1.html] that designs special disaster-resistant emergency shelters and homes for impoverished communities along with other innovative equipment and gear that would make Aton's icon R. Buckminster Fuller take notice and the Batman green with envy. Most of the homes used in the LIFE-O.N.E. program are designed by Edwards, such as his "Gaiatat", a portable disaster resistant floating structure that is constructed from re-cast scrap metal and plastic. He was motivated to create the LIFE-O.N.E. project by the birth of his beloved son Amen Shepsu Adio in 1998.

Improvisational Adaptation

Aton is also the creator of a system called Ayedo a name drawn from his "Improvisational Adaptation" protocol (pronounced EYE-YAY-DO). This is a highly comprehensive "life-defense" program that combines the full range of self-reliance, preparedness, outdoor survival, sustainable living, personal health/fitness and self-defense disciplines. Ayedo's form is based on the animal cell (human) where practitioners become self-contained units (like cells) that use the specific preparedness related tools, skills and information to stabilize and maintain their living environments during disasters in a process similar to the internal workings of the organelles within an animal cell. His Ayedo operational protocol places the individual at the center of their own self-reliance, personal preparedness/sustainable living/disaster response program [http://current.com/items/85614661_top_10_disaster_needs] . Edwards feels that his Ayedo system can provide the public with the methods they will need to protect themselves from the many different dangers and hazards that our world will face over the next few decades as the effects of global warming worsen along with many other growing crises. create. [www.marc.org/emergency/pdfs/safetycitynews.pdf] Fact|date=February 2007

In the summer of 2006, Process Media Inc. http://processmediainc.com/ released Preparedness NOW! [http://processmediainc.com/press/mini_sites/preparedness_now/] a civilian emergency preparedness manual written by Edwards featuring a summarized version of his Ayedo emergency preparedness protocols. The project is part of a number of other related books, videos & other products that Edwards will release in 2008-2009 as part of his The Transitions series, something he calls, the most critical 21st century human survival project ever created. Beginning in the fall of 2008, Edwards will kick-off the Global Meltdown Survival Clinic, and the National Urban Self-Reliance and Preparedness Program, one stop information sources for all things related to preparedness, self-reliance, cutting edge renewable energy technology, alternative health and nutrition; and, the development of advanced mitigation strategies against the full spectrum of natural, technological, environmental, and civil emergencies.

He plans to utilize all of his skills to generate public interest in his program including the resurrection of a long forgotten talent.

Back in the mid to late 80's Aton was a former popular and highly controversial stand-up comedian called "Badd Guy." called "the most dangerous man in comedy" by Entertainment Tonight, The "Strongman of Comedy" by the NY Post, and a cross between George Carlin & Richard Pryor by none other than Andy Warhol. Aton has performed on Showtime Cable with Chris Rock and other peers such as John Leguizamo, Tommy Davidson, Adam Sandler, and many others. He is also a skilled mimic that uses his vocal talents for radio voice overs. Upon the re-opening of the Apollo theatre in 1985, Aton was selected as the first house comic after winning the infamous amateur night three times in a row, a feat unprecedented by a comedian even to this day. The first win was during an NBC special called Motown's 50th anniversary salute to the Apollo theatre starring Bill Cosby. Aton beat out Tisha Campbell (My Wife & Kids) & T'china Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris, Martin) & was selected by audience member David Geffen to star as the Dentist in the feature Film Little Shop of Horrors until a bad management deal ruined that opportunity.

Edwards has also drafted a National Preparedness Initiative bill that he is sponsoring, and will introduce to the U.S. Senate in September 2008. He will use it to lobby for the elimination of sales taxes for all critical personal emergency preparedness items, "Grab and Go" emergency bags become tax-deductable items, and that emergency preparedness classes must be incorporated into grade school curriculums.

International Preparedness Network

The International Preparedness Network has roughly 30,000 members across the United States and 16 other countries including Nigeria, Japan, Canada, India, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Ghana, Jamaica, Germany and Mexico.

ee also

*Emergency management
*Earthquake preparedness