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| High fuel prices spark protests in Asia and Europe |
| 2008-06-11 |
| Protesters marched in India, Hong Kong and Nepal over soaring oil prices on Tuesday and Spaniards stockpiled fuel and food, fearing shortages because of a truck drivers' strike that has halted deliveries. South Korean truck drivers also threatened to strike, increasing pressure on Asian governments struggling to prevent rising prices from breaking their budgets and avoid making the burden on the public so heavy it threatens political stability. The strike by Spanish truck drivers, which Portuguese drivers have also joined, was backed by protests across the border in France over the impact of high oil prices, now at record highs of over $139 per barrel. Diesel has risen to 1.30 euros/liter from 0.95 euros a year ago, putting pressure on European Union governments to help heavy fuel users such as truck and taxi drivers, fishermen and farmers. In Spain, cars queued at petrol stations -- 40 percent of which had run out of fuel in the worst affected area of Catalonia -- and supplies of fresh food began to run low in some markets, Spanish media reported. "I heard all the petrol stations were running out of fuel so I came to fill up, otherwise I worried I won't be able to get to work tomorrow," said a Madrid driver who gave his name as Raul. Police motorbike riders escorted fuel tankers to some petrol stations to break picket lines and prevent attacks, after some strikers slashed lorry tires on Monday. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 "Looks like there may be a need to stock up on some popcorn." I've got extra boxcar-loads in the pipeline, Spike. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-06-11 15:44 |
| #4 ...Well, this was something that was definitely forseen: the nations whose expanded use of oil (for instance, India, PRC, and more than a few Euronations - have been able to avoid the pain of cost increases so far because those governments have been subsidizing the cost to their consumers. When those governments have to face either cutting/stopping those subsidies or bankruptcy, you watch demand go down right quick. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-06-11 14:19 |
| #3 Imma gonna be stockin up on food and ammo. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-06-11 10:55 |
| #2 2008 -2012 POTUS Period in America = Amerika is coming along nicely. NET Poster > opined that CARTERBAMA hasn't even defeated Gerald Ford yet and the Soviets have already invaded Afghanistan and the US embassy in Tehran has been taken. ION TIMES OF INDIA [Title Paraphs] > INDIA: GROWING RISK OF TERRORISTS GETTING N-BOMB ACCESS; + GATES:WILL BE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STATES THAT GIVE TERRORISTS NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WMDS USED TO ATTACK THE USA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-06-11 02:44 |
| #1 Looks like there may be a need to stock up on some popcorn. I am not sure that in the swirl of events the true culprits will be nailed down (metaphorically speaking), but watch for the sales of lengthy, fiber based products to go up. |
| Posted by: Spike Uniter 2008-06-11 00:25 |