Green Options

The UK government, oil producing countries and oil companies are to blame for high oil prices, according to a recent poll. But taxation is irrelevant to long term oil prices, as prices will inevitably rise as demand outstrips supply. It is in this respect that governments need to face up to the necessity of policies aimed at eliminating dependence on oil.

As the price of oil continues to climb, we are beginning to get a glimpse of what the post peak-oil world may  look like, and it’s not entirely pretty.

Protests in Europe have been widespread, as Europeans who already pay twice that of our US cousins for fuel begin to feel the financial consequences of consistent price increases.

Truck drivers in Spain and France have blockaded major roadways and paralysed traffic on major city arteries. Meanwhile in the UK, similar protests by truck drivers - who claim they are rapidly being forced out of business by high fuel prices - have taken place across the country.

Adding to the chaos, Shell tanker drivers chose the same weekend to strike over pay disputes, causing many petrol (gas) stations to run out of fuel. Government calls to avoid panic buying have predictably caused a peak-oil dress rehearsal, with long queues forming on many petrol station forecourts.