Belly,

I'm sorry you took it as an attack on your person and your education. It was not meant as such as I assumed you were being lazy. I take it back and apologize unreservedly.

I agree that education is not a measure of IQ.

I do not imagine that any of us can have any impact on oil prices except by refusing to buy it. If we could do this together globally, it would most definitely have some effect.

My only addition to this topic is to relate the explanation of an economics analyst for higher prices. He noted that the rise in price is almost entirely unrelated to the rise in demand, and this difference can be explained by the speculators profit taking.

I am rereading Great Expectations, and you must forgive my more flowery posts of late for this is the cause. A truly great book.

60 minutes -- Johnnie on the spot as always has highlighted shale oil and oil sands.

Two years ago I used these as examples to refute the peak oil claim. 60 Min also failed to mention that China has bought a significant amount of Canada's present and future production.

The environmental movement that has stopped most oil exploration and has stopped building a new US oil refinery for 35 years are more to blame than the oil companies.

Yes I know what happens when oil exploration moves in as I have seen it in the Over Thrust Belt. But I also know what it is like to walk to work as well.

Scoff at technology all you wish but it is technology that enables the human population to increase. Nothing is certain except death and there would be far fewer humans alive if it were not for technology.

BTW Snake

China thinks that when official reports recommend lowering the population the Chinese interpret this as China must lower their population.

Hence, China's recent interest in increased military spending. Gadzooks a society that thinks ahead!

They didn't even invite a million citizens over to stuff the suggestion box either. What would Kev think of that?

I found it a tad ironic that the same Rudd govt which came to power on an anti-fossil fuel crusade, a little more than six months ago, was last week asking for pressure to be put on the oil producers- to produce more oil. And warning local explorers that if they didn’t quickly develop their finds, they’d loose them.

Pragmatism (?)–a desire top protect existing industry & workers –perhaps –but, when Howard moved to push clean coal technology he was shouted down by labourite naysayers(!)

And when you add in the fact that Rudd recently saw fit to cut funding to the CSIRO and gut subsidies for solar power installation. It does make you wonder if all the pre-election sermonising about climate change, was only ever about power –a labor power grab.

No worries PaulL reading all I can find on the web about next generation fuels and cars.
Also re reading old but loved recollections of a bleeding heart about Paul Keating.
One impact of international fuel prices is sure to be some better cheaper cars.
The protests will continue it is international and the impacts are too.
No use at all increasing oil out puts we must get new fuels better fuels and soon.
2010? my mate Kev can stick that! we need innovation now.
Think with me folks if next years car built in Australia included a VW sized LPG fueled car without any government tax, and free rego paid by the federal government for first 5 years could we impact on oil prices?
Or our balance of payments? could we as some one Else has pointed out use coal Field gas to run part of our country's fleet?

Horus,

You are in denial if you do not realise the impact fuel prices have on everyone. Rudd is encouraging greater levels of production because high fuel prices can send economies into recession, which can mean significant job losses, mortgage stress, and inflation etc. It hurts everyone, but always hits those least able to afford it the hardest.

This is not to say we shouldn't be working on new energy sources, we clearly should. In the meantime, though, we need to put downard pressure on oil prices any way we can.