Anyone else concerned about oil?
By wisedragon
@wisedragon (2325)
Philippines
November 24, 2007 7:57am CST
Oil has just hit $99 per barrel. Transportation is getting more and more expensive.
To give you an idea how terrible this is, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf of Mexico and devastated the oil rigs there, the price of oil went up to $70+. People were starting to panic. Analysts then projected a doomsday scenario wherein oil would hit $100. Now, 2 years later, oil is at $99. That means we are now living in the doomsday scenario predicted 2 years ago.
And it gets worse: We don't even have a major catastrophe right now. There is no major supply disruption. What if war breaks out in oil-producing countries? What if terrorists attack the supply chain? What if no new oil fields are discovered?
I am not trying to create panic here. I want people to realize that we need to start changing our lifestyle, stop being dependent on fossil fuels. Stop buying gas-guzzling vehicles. Start buying hybrid (gas-electric) vehicles or hydrogen-powered vehicles. They also benefit the environment.
What do you think?
6 responses
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
24 Nov 07
i am concerned too. we all should be. and it is good that we know we can do something about it. like for example as you identified them clearly, changing lifestyles can mean a lot of difference. however, we should engage our governments too because influencing their policies on this matter will bring definitive changes that whatever we as individuals can do.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
24 Nov 07
Yeah I'm frustrated at my government for not taking concrete steps to encourage the entry of hybrid vehicles here. I suggest doubling the tax for purely gas-fed vehicles, while making hybrids tax free.
Perhaps the influence of multibillion oil companies is too strong eh?
@summer218 (197)
• United States
24 Nov 07
Someone told me recently that if we were to drill in Alaska, where there is oil, that it would help tremendously. As of yet, you never hear about this available oil and it's promise. It makes you wonder what our government is trying to do... Gas will hit 4-5 dollar a gallon soon, and then panic and hard times will follow... very scary.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
26 Nov 07
I think that everyone is concerned with the price. The wealthy, don't as much, they are the ones that can afford the hybrids and hydrogen powered vehicles. If they want us to buy them, they have to make them affordable. It is getting so out of hand and the jobs are all leaving, or pay poorly. It is getting very scary.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
26 Nov 07
It's very unfortunate that right now the hybrids and hydrogen vehicles are significantly more expensive. That is why governments need to step in by hiking the taxes for traditional automobiles, while making environment-friendly vehicles tax free. But then the giant oil companies would pour in billions on congressmen to prevent that from happening. Damn them.
@spoiled311 (5500)
• Philippines
24 Nov 07
i think everyone oil prices are everyone's concern. we are all affected. however, the wealthy ones do not really feel it much, it is those who underprivileged who are hit the most.
as for me, my husband only drives me using the famil car if i have a delivery to make and the goods are heavy. on other occasions, i take the public transportation. but if the distance is only about 5-6 blocks, i would just rather walk.
i don't have my personal car-=-i think it is too much for me to maintain. i am satisfied with riding public transport--at least for now. but i am not closing my doors, as i may need it in the future. :-)
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
24 Nov 07
Yeah walking would be a great way to escape the high cost of fuel. I love walking too.
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
24 Nov 07
I am frustrated with this as well. In the area I reside in, everything is in driving distance. Nothing is close enough to walk to i.e. jobs, grocery store, post office and so forth. I try not to drive one or two days a week to cut back. I keep my errands to one day and try to put them altogether so I do not go through as much gas. I also drive a compact car. Prices are just becoming so expensive to keep up with these days. You do make a good point.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
25 Nov 07
Yeah, oil affects everything. When gas goes up, everything else goes up. I commend you for taking measures to cut back on gas consumption.
@chunter (1759)
• Singapore
25 Nov 07
I think its no big deal, simply because there are alternatives to fossil fuels...just that they are not mass in production yet due to costs...
Moreover, its not like we do not want to buy hybrid or hydrogen powered vehicles....The question is whether they are available in the countries where we are at...Only a handful of countries are using alternative fuels.
The crisis is not at the oil price but the rest of the food supply chain that makes up the alternative fuel...Cheese, Palm oil, milk, etc
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
25 Nov 07
Yeah if we rely on biofuels (from crops), that would drive up the prices of food. It's the same inflation problem.
@suidongli (47)
• China
25 Nov 07
I think it is indeed a serious problem that our total humen-beings are facing with.People all around the world should take actions to prevent our earth from being more worse and make our environment more comfortable for humen-beings.
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
25 Nov 07
Yes, it's not just our wallets we would be taking care of, but the environment as well. Let's show those oil-producing countries that we don't need them!
