Energy costs become global concern

Long underwear in South Korea, extra sweaters in U.S. classrooms, rising sales of wood-burning stoves in Denmark. Winter is here, and because of a spike in heating costs, people from Tokyo to Toledo are looking for alternatives to oil.

Heating oil and other energy prices are up to 40 percent higher than three years ago. That translates into bad news for Northern Hemisphere consumers whose budget already is stretched by a summer of high prices at the gasoline pumps - and into opportunities for those who cash in on the cold.

In South Korea, where a vigorous save-energy campaign is under way, the clothing industry expects a 10 percent rise in profits from sales of warm apparel. But not only manufacturers see an opportunity. "We have seen a lot of thefts of heating oil ... stolen from private properties and construction sites," says Peter Josephsen, a police officer in Ringkoebing, 140 miles west of Copenhagen.

Peak Oil events for UK citizens

peakoil.com -> prleap.com :

A series of events in the UK in December aimed at raising awareness of the imminent peak and decline of global oil supply looks to press 'Peak Oil' onto the national consciousness, culminating in a large conference at the London School of Economics on December 14th.

We have already seen the end of 'cheap' oil as supply has struggled to meet demand. 'Peak Oil' means demand will have to be destroyed as it is the point of maximum global oil supply, followed by a terminal decline which will present significant challenges for the oil-based way of living, and according to an increasing number of analysts, we can expect it very soon. With no combination of alternatives able to make up for the shortfall, everything from trade and agriculture to plastics and healthcare will be affected.

Events start on December 3rd at the Campaign against Climate Change march in London, where Peak Oil campaigners will team up with Climate Change protestors. The alliance between the climate change and peak oil movements is a natural one as the methods of mitigation for both are very similar with the key mantra being "Reduce, reuse and recycle" ...

(2005-11-27 14:20:24 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

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