Saturday, May 24, 2008

Black gold woes

So I was watching Inside Africa on cnn and one of the stories they covered this week was the attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria. I have always heard of these attacks on the news and how oil prices shoot up shortly after but never really heard the reasons behind such attacks. Apparently the locals around the Niger delta live off $1usd a day whilst they see billions of dollars in oil being pumped out of the ground and they want the money to benefit the people.

Where does the money go? good question I wasn't paying that much attention but I think they were saying to corruption in the government. Anyway to add insult to injury the oil industry also was causing great damage to the environment and their way of life fishing and farming are no longer viable. I guess I can support their cause but they need to find alternate ways of resolving that situation.

In the mean time gas prices are breaking records worldwide. What was funny/sad that after 7pm news on Wednesday(when they announced massive gas price increase effective Thu) I was on the road I saw long lines at many gas stations because people where trying to cash in on the cheap prices before the increase. Things look grim as the prices per barrel we are hearing now are futures contracts and are yet to take effect.

So have y'all started feeling the pinch yet? if so do you plan any lifestyle changes to help ease the effects? I think I am a minimalist by nurture so there isn't much for me to change. I remember I used to have a bad habit of driving over to the supermarket close to me for small items.. what a waste, it literally takes me a minute to walk there. Maybe I can get a scooter, I hear those things get 80 miles per gallon.

12 comments:

Dee said...

i would have walked 2 work friday to save money but it rained. i have a small economy car. good mpg but it cost $40 to fill up thursday. they don't announce price increases here til after they've happened. wish they would give me a heads up.

Pepper said...

so the scooter is for going to the store that u jus said takes you a minutes walk??? no you meant you were gonna replace your car right? mus dat

my bus price remains the same so i naa ball too much yet :)

Adrian said...

no.. the scooter would be for going around town, it wouldn't be a replacement for a car.

@gc: you can walk to work? $40 to fill ain't so bad, whats that 11gal? how long does it last you?

Anonymous said...

Me thinks thou art a lazy man!! if my calculations are correct, on a cool morning you should be able to walk from home to work(up town office) within a 1/2 hour not to mention the supermarket.
But seriously the gas prices are going through the roof. As david Suzuki(Canadian eco warrior) why do you need a car to carry a 110 kg frame??

Adrian said...

walk to work? cool morning? does Jamaica have such a thing?

personal transportation is still very necessary for my work, as of recently I go to work at one office and manage to traverse my two other desks across town during the same day. yes somehow I still have an office downtown as well even though we moved and the building is sold.

Crankyputz said...

I definately am enjoying the liberties of my metro pass more..

Sadly the spikes have concided with my office move....

Unknown said...

The currupt governments are always behind the suffering of the poor!

But seriously these high oil prices are pinching, some serious dutty pinch! Light bill, gas! I try to go to the pump every Wednesday, didn't go this week but I have enough to serve me till they announce the new gas price. As for the scooter, mi nah ride nuh bike with these mad people driving crazy on the road!

Anonymous said...

Re the scooter, my yute, tek my eediat advice! If you ride a scooter, you won't have to worry about gas prices again! Is you family will have to worry, about funeral costs! Dem scooters dangerous, you know. I nearly killed a guy on one just this week!
Leave out the scooter business.
Re the gas business, me easy! Me ah meet ALL my bills! Ok, so I have to be selling myself to the horny old women from the cruise ships, but nobody said life was dead easy, right?

Ann (MobayDP) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ann (MobayDP) said...

I'm actually getting rid of my gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient car. And yup, I've started walking to more places and yes, even to work.

Jamaicans are too proud. Most will not be caught dead walking in Jamaica, yet they'll go foreign and walk and tek bus. Mi no have dat "proudness" affliction. In Mobay it's $82 per litre for 90 octane and $80 for 87. Diesel is $85 per litre. Pride nuh have no place here mi dear.

BTW, for those of you who don't already know, in JA, gas prices change every Thursday.

Unknown said...

about 6 months ago I moved up 25 miles north. Most of my friends, my toastmasters club and my church are back south and so it created a bit of a burden travelling back as often as my wife and I do. On the bright side I know live 15 mins from work, when before I had to drive those 25 miles to get to work. Currently looking to move my TM club and possibly find new friends close to home.

Adrian said...

hmm.. thats from like Kingston to Portmore ? lol I would have found new friends and club long time ago.