We Need Alternative Fuels Now!

Have you heard about the price of oil recently? I read an article today that states that the troubled greenback is driving the price of oil even higher. The cost of a barrel of oil rose to $110.33 today. This is insane. We all need fuel for our vehicles so we can keep the capitalist machine working; but how are we going to do that while we are being ripped off at the gas pump?

Now certainly is the time for alternative fuels to dominate the market place. Granted that with a better rate of exchange with the American greenback the price of gas should see a slight drop; but we are seeing the exact opposite. When are we going to show the oil barons that we can live with out them? I hope that day is sooner than later. The longer we are willing to pay high prices to fill our tanks the longer the oil barons win. And driving those SUVs certainly doesn't make matters any better.

I know that bio-diesel is a good alternative, much cleaner than regular diesel fuel, but the demand is still low. With gas prices unaffected by demand we have to do something just to keep food on the table. We cannot just sit back and let people empty our pockets for us.

As for how this affects Canadians, well we've been paying a higher price for gas than Americans for years and that is not going to change. Unfortunately the troubled American dollar is forcing the cost of oil up. Having a better exchange rate with the greenback just gives the oil barons more of a reason to gouge us; it's really quite ignorant. I'm sure we will hear more and more excuses as to why the cost of gas is going up, but those alternative fuels that are in the future should really be in the present. Maybe when we use more alternative fuels for our cars and trucks; the price of gas will come down. But until that day, we must aspire to bring alternative fuels to the market place.

Well that's my opinion, what's yours?

Image Source: Wiki Media Commons
News Story: Oil rises to new highs as U.S. dollar weakens

Gas Prices Going Up!

What do you think of current gas prices? Are they too high for you? Well they certainly are too high for me. The current unfolding story of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is helping to force the price of oil higher. Oil prices for a February contract gained almost a dollar. As if our society needs higher prices.

We all can't do much to reduce the cost of oil, but there are lots of people who can affect change. Here in Canada, we can get a tax deduction for using public transportation, making your old bus passes diamonds in the rough. I'm even reconsidering the commute to work. But with new technologies and alternative fuels on the horizon, it is imperative for all of us to invest what we can into renewable fuels. Bio diesel is made from dirty oil previously used in deep fryers, ethanol can be produced from corn, with all the farmland we have it is possible we can create a sustainable renewable fuel industry.

Our economy is facing a challenge because of current events affecting the prices of goods. The poor are being stamped out by rising costs, not just on oil but everything. Pretty soon bottled water could cost upwards of $5 for a small bottle, that just tells me that our society is so obsessed with making a buck that we have forgotten how to live off the land. Our industrialization of the world has created many problems for us to solve, global warming is only one of them. Rising prices on oil really haven't done a lot to encourage alternative fuels, but it is time to start! What's your opinion?

New Story: Oil prices higher on tighter U.S. supply, Bhutto death

Image: 19 ways to improve MPG - www.fourwheeler.com

Are Gas Prices Going Even Higher?

While surfing today I happened upon this article 'OPEC to study effect of weak U.S. dollar on oil prices' on the C.B.C.s website. I found it interesting because right now, OPEC is blaming the faltering U.S. Dollar for increase in the cost of their crude oil. Apparently, the cost of a barrel of oil is priced in U.S. Dollars and OPEC is concerned about having less reserve dollars because of the weakened greenback. Once again, people are being greedy!

Now here in Canada, where I live, the average cost per litre is hovering around $1 which is too high if you ask me. Unfortunately I have to commute to work every day and my expenses for gasoline is growing. In the article, OPEC is looking into the affect that a weakening greenback has on the cost of a barrel of oil. It doesn't take a bunch of economist to get together to see that in the end they are losing money and have to raise prices to stay in their mansions! But that's what capitalism seems to be, rip off the poor so they stay poor and keep the rich lining their pockets with gold.

Is it not time to level the playing field? Are we not all entitled to have food and shelter? The higher the rich want the prices, the greater the divide between the classes will be, soon their will not be a middle class if the few rich aristocrats get what they want. It is appalling to see prices going up, granted there really is only two things in life that are certain, taxes and death, but what kind of society are we creating by forcing more and more people below the poverty line?

In my experience, the harder you work to get ahead, the deeper in debt you get. The system of working for a living works, but only if you get paid large sums of money to come up with ideas. Labour intensive jobs are cut almost every day just to increase profit margins, once again to keep the poor on the brinks of bankruptcy and continue lining rich pockets with gold. The longer this practise continues, the larger the homeless population becomes.

By raising costs of oil, more an more people are going to be forced below the poverty line. With more people below the poverty line, retailers would have no choice but to bring down the price, but it won't be until a large number of people have been forced into that situation. My final thought is, oil prices are high, and if we do not put our collective heads together and start integrating a renewable fuel for our vehicles, more and more people are going to feel the pinch at the pumps! Lets all work together and get the necessary infrastructure for renewable fuels so we all can afford to have food and shelter!