Your Comments

Hi,

96.5% of all carbon dioxide emissions are from natural sources, mankind is responsible for only 3.5%, with 0.6% coming from fuel to move vehicles, and about 1% from fuel to heat buildings. Yet vehicle fuel (petrol) is taxed at 300% while fuel to heat buildings is taxed at 5% even though buildings emit nearly twice as much carbon dioxide!

As much as Adrian's idea is a good one, the government know they are on to a win win situation.

Everybody uses fuel in one capacity or another so the highest ever tax rate is applied to maximise profit.

Sod the customer, sod the consumer, sod the voters, sod us all. Just pay up and shut up seems the order of the day.

As I have said before, in this country we allow ourselves to be treated in this fashion. In France they would be burning sheep in the roads by now.

A UK protest? Whatever.

HI,

Gordon 'robbem' Brown and his un-assistant, Alistair 'misleading' Darling are the magicians with the slight of hand.

Promises to throw money at the elderly and disabled (not vote catching of course) only to retract and play down the claims later on, are designed to make us look in one direction whilst plucking from pockets with unseen hands in the other. Think Oliver.

The book is closed on bets Adrian, too one sided. All said in blog 3 is only too true.

There will be the usual posts soon claiming the strength of the pound is the cause of the price of fuel. Nothing to do with 73% tax then?

There would be mass demonstrations and riots in the streets if 73% were added to the price of Mars Bars. Or lamb chops. heh heh.

What can one say other than without a doubt the fuel duty rise will go ahead.
The costs of paying the rewards for failure and secret expenses claims must come from the "cash cow" that is the humble motorist and come the delayed budget it will be too late to reverse the increase in fuel duty. Quite typical,
as usual too late to change anything once it's been implemented e.g obscene
pension payments etc. I don't think we accept and follow things blindly like sheep, we behave more like lemmings.

*7
It seems that one of the many manifestations of Greg Brown has put in an appearance again.
If you could get yourself out of your pit in the morning you'd have heard on
GMTV that the E.U commission is investigating British fuel prices after it was alleged that a cartel is keeping petrol/diesel prices artificially high.
To help you out cost of petrol leaving refinery approx 24 pence per litre 6 pence per litre delivery so thats 30 pence in all, cost at pumps 90 pence per
litre so what would be your estimate as to the percentage of gain.
As for the strength of the pound:
The Euro is also weakening; and could you explain why in a recent poll 85%
of German people and 75% of Dutch people wanted to revert to their old currency and abandon the Euro altogether, one size really doesn't fit all.

Reply to No 7. Franc Onions.

PUMP PRICE 80.9
= vat @ 15% 10.55 Without VAT 70.34
Fuel Tax 50.35 Untaxed price 19.99
Total tax 60.9. % of which is tax 75%
Overall tax rate 302%

PUMP PRICE 99.9
= vat @ 15% = 13.03 Without VAT 86.86
Fuel Tax 50.35 Untaxed price 36.51
Total tax 63.38. % of which is tax 63%
Overall tax rate 173%

As correctly pointed out in *11 V.A.T. will rise in December this year but when it was reduced in December last year it was reported that when it increased again it would have to go up higher than 17.5% to maybe 18, 19% or more, so
we are currently "enjoying" (tongue in cheek moment) 15% V.A.T. rate so
fuel duty will rise in April, October (pre budget report) and the cost of fuel will rise AGAIN in December with the V.A.T increases.
So more a triple whammy.

Hi Capri, hope you are well.

Yes unfortunately as far as our fuel prices go, the only way is up but the anger that spills from us is the fact of the high fuel duty grab in this country. We are at a point where we are losing thousands of jobs daily and those people lucky
enough to still have jobs are expected to accept a pay freeze or even a pay cut to remain employed, so it's costing more just to stand still. At times such as these fuel duty should be frozen until recovery is well under way.
You've no doubt heard of the bogof offers well that's how
a great many unscrupulous employers view the labor market at the moment
to wit why employ a British worker when for the same money you can employ 2 foreign workers (Buy One Get One Free) and this situation can only get worse as we witnessed a taster just recently with the oil refinery workers striking because of foreign workers brought in.
Nothing in this world is free or even cheap, well...................
I was in a local builders merchants today and a customer in front of me asked
quite genuinely "how much is free delivery"? Could they see something that I couldn't?

Thank you AJB I am quite well.
I return the question, how are you?
You know, the refinery strikes were I feel the tip of an underlying ice-berg.
People are genuinely going to be scared as they prepare for family life without the cash to sustain a lifestyle that so many enjoyed. Living outside their means is another way of putting it.
More and more strikes could happen or even worse, a blame pointed in the direction of immigrants. The fault is not theirs, or ours. It is the governing powers who are to blame. Not just this country but all leading bodies.
Greed and the misunderstood belief that oil was the saviour. All the eggs thrown in one basket. Although Peak Oil has been effectively placed into exile to spread his word to a new audience, his underlying message was correct. The effects of reliance to oil and its unreliable price fluctuations are being felt already. False economies, job losses, recession, price increases.
Some leading financial experts predict perhaps two or three years before any real improvement is seen. By then it will be too late for many.
I often ask young cashiers how much is the 99p packet of cashew nuts.
Just to see their face contort and contract is worth it.
Us old' uns get away with murder.

15 you know how to google.

18 yes. Is this a surprise? Over here it is taught in schools. My skills are so-so. Do you have a sister - Raspberry?

Hey onions,

If you are French how come you have not spotted the deliberate spelling mistakes in my last blog?

And yes you are correct, I should not converse with a dimwit.

Franc Onions
Any idea what this means:- Ydw i'n twp.
to which you should answer "ydw rydw i'n twp" if you were truthful.
Anyway
Capri thank you I'm well on the mend now.
I agree with you on the tip of the iceberg problem but I honestly think two
or three years is being a bit optimistic, we have dug ourselves into deep doo doo and we are still digging. Perhaps we should send for a crack team of French farmers to sort it out for us, we did enough for them in the last century.Still they keep sending us cheap labor though.Bless 'em.
I knew a French girl once, well she was half French, shaved under one arm.
Steve M. Hope too that you are well and that you are more mobile now. Remember though. Never argue with an idiot he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. Franc Onions(I don't think he's French either)
falls into this category.

22, 23, 24, 25 the cabal cannot leave me alone? Why so worried? Unconfident with your own brains? No more Latin - harder to Google n'est ce pas? Sorry for you 25 but liquide is wet not fluent - probably a good summary for you no?. Keep your barbs for the immigrants - always the sign of a weak person and mind that they let another take away their jobs and liberty.
But I do like your style 25, all the ... as if you don't care. It almost works.....but....you...still....need....to....argue....with...a....dimwit, so at least you know your level. Why add deliberate mistakes to your real ones ....confusion tactics?
21 we will shed tears for your lack of input. I am sure you have more worthwhile listeners. Please confirm when you have saved us all.

Reply to 26 Franc Onions. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
I was going to actually allow myself to degenerate to a lower level of discussion with you. Thankfully my basic instincts kicked in and I have decided to give you just a few seconds of my time. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter, although I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid. Now I am old, wise and unchallenged by your unique point of view. Your time is up.
Post 24 Adrian and 25 Steve M. Do you think three years is insufficient time to bring stability to economic problems?
Imagine how many building sites, private hire firms, hairdressers and countless other professions use cheap manual labour. It is an unfortunate sign of our times. Comments of "*sign of a weak person and mind that they let another take away their jobs and liberty.*" are poorly thought out.
Employing a cash in hand work force is not only illegal but keeps legitimate workers on the unemployment list and robs the government of millions in unpaid taxes. We then have to pay more taxes to keep unemployed workers with an income to survive. So comments similar to those in post 26 are thoughtless and pointless.

Exxon Mobil Corporation plans to invest at record levels -- between $25 billion and $30 billion annually over the next five years -- to meet expected long-term growth in world energy demand.
"The global economy is currently experiencing a downturn, but at ExxonMobil we are focused on the long term," Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer, said at an annual briefing for investment analysts at the New York Stock Exchange.
Production started at eight major projects in 2008, which at their peak are expected to add the net equivalent of 260,000 barrels per day to the company's production. A further nine major projects are expected to commence production in 2009, and at their peak are expected to add the net equivalent of an additional 485,000 barrels per day to production. The company once again replaced more than 100 percent of production through proved reserves additions in 2008.
It was the 15th consecutive year that the company's proved reserves additions have more than replaced production. In addition, net exploration acreage has been increased by about 40 percent since 2003.
In the downstream, the company is progressing plans to invest more than $1 billion in lower-sulfur diesel projects at three refineries in the US and Europe.
Once complete in 2010, these projects will allow an increase in lower-sulfur diesel production of 140,000 barrels per day.
Published 06/03/2009.
------------------------------
Where is this peak oil?
All this investment in a fossil fuel that is about to cease in production is short sighted. Or are they not telling the whole story and oil demands will continue to be met for many more years to come.
More questions than answers.
What are your thoughts?

Ce wil imbecile lhave nous croit qu'il est francais quand infact il est un jour libere le patient d'un asile fou.
Peut-etre le français n'a pas un site si interessant comme le notre.
Si les Oignons etaient francais ils seraient tres heureux de voir le dos de lui.
Regle(Autorite) Britania.

You forgot Regle(Autorite) Britania.

30 31 32 33 where is your famed English sense of humor? We make a little fun amongst the trials and tribulations! Maybe you think this is a serious forum - apologies, I must have missed it in translation? We enjoy the funny names and silly website translations! An interesting diversion up the garden path you might say? But perhaps you are right - not so interesting after all. En fait it is boring - or as you say "infact"! Perhaps the impotent crying is a relief? Au revoir. Keep up the French lessons!

No; 36 is aimed at Franc Onion.
Sorry for any confusion.

Ah. At last an adult to converse with.
I must admit I had totally forgotten Gordon Brown's rallying speech to the hauliers.
As we all know an untruth-er when we see one, it was obviously hard for him to recollect his earlier statements. There are as many yearly months as you are told to have.
At least Obama is on our side. With his gift of 25 greatest American films believed to include E.T, Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz this should keep the PM away from crucial matters for almost a month and allow this country to at least climb to its knees.
Or he will be found playing with his sons gifts of replica toy helicopters modelled on Marine One.
YeeHaa.

A very warm welcome AJB.
There was also Liar Liar which starred Jim Carrey but in this one he could not tell a lie for 24 hours.
Perhaps one of Gordon Browns sons could make a similar birthday wish to the one in the film. Imagine his responses in PMs questions.
I thought April fools day was every day in politics.

42
On the 16 th July 2008 Gordon Brown said "we are freezing fuel duty for a full year" NOT we have or we will but that we ARE so the fuel duty should have been frozen til at least July this year.
Education, education, education is your grasp of English so poor that you have to use the word "better" twice just 4 words apart?
Perhaps you ought to pay better better better attention to what you read.
AJB Capri, we'll have to stop doing joined up writing because where as most of us understand it, it's obviously confusing a small minority.

44
I can only say again "we ARE freezing fuel duty" are, meaning as of now not did
or will be but ARE, Perhaps you can enlighten me? every new year begins on the 1st January and ends on the 31st December so how can raising fuel duty under the guise of any excuse (lower vat? yeah whatever!) on the 1st December 2008 be a FULL year from July 16th 2008.
Joined up writing? perhaps you'll understand sign language:-
Middle finger either hand pointed in an upward direction. Work it out.
As AJB pointed out fuel duty will rise on April 1st and to hell with the economic crisis.

RE Mark S. Postings 46, 44, 42.
Politician, politician, politician.
However the words are dressed the outcome is the same.
More tax, more tax, more tax.

47 you are right - more tax. All Governments need it to sort out the current financial mess. Do you like paying it? Of course not! No need to say is there?
48 we continue our kindergarten (you have in England too?) ping-pong? Duty was increased in December 2008. The previous increase was in October 2007 - more than one year previously. Do you understand now? Sometimes it is more dignified to concede defeat? You interpreted the statement wrongly but continue to wriggle! Perhaps a career in politics would be good for you!
"what was risen": your grammar jars in my ears! Do you mean 'raised'? Perhaps your website could not translate this time! Sorry - I get you back for your finger joke!

50 sometimes resident, sometimes not! We are all in Europe though so I may help with the interpretation? Why am I ill-equipped, why is it none of my business? I am interested and this blog is free for all to post, it is not for members only! Are you a 'little Waleser'?
Sorry, but I do not understand your point about American's right to bear arms. I would argue against it, but I do not think that is your question?
I think you do yourself down if you say you are mislead so easily! Over-emotional perhaps, but so silly - I'm not sure!

On 16 July 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Parliament: "In recognition of the problems that people face with petrol, we are freezing petrol duty for a full year."
He did not say "from Oct 2007 we are freezing fuel duty for one year"
If he did, he lied.
He did say in his July 2008 speech "we will freeze duty for one year" In English this means "for one year, we will freeze fuel duty"
He didn't. He lied.

53
Thank you Capri
This is what I've been trying to tell sausages but he's having none of it.

53 still you get it wrong! He said "the" full year not "a" full year! He did not say "we will freeze duty for one year" - in English or any other language (and surely that was English that you translated into - English)!
You are good for amusing 53! I won't say you lied - just didn't understand!

@2 - "96.5% of all carbon dioxide emissions are from natural sources, mankind is responsible for only 3.5%.........fuel to heat buildings is taxed at 5% even though buildings emit nearly twice as much carbon dioxide!"

You're forgetting that natural sources absorb as much as they emit; what's significant is the "man-made" emissions effectively accumulate. Imagine breathing in and out, but inhaling a little more each time than you exhale, it would soon become uncomfortable.

Buildings could and should be made far more energy efficient - totally with you on that one.

This comment has been removed as it was found to be in breach of our Blog Policies.

@56

1052 41c M
1086 43e o
1075 433 r
1083 43B n
1086 O
1103 44F R (reversed)
1082 43A k
1086 O
1084 43C m
1084 m
1077 435 e
1085 43D H
1090 442 T
1080 438 N (reversed)

e.g. - fileformat info info unicode char 43D index
(why does this blog have to block URLs?)


No - doesn't make any sense to me either.

I will be as concise as possible.

Don't waste anything, be it Fuel, food, water, even life, as it's all limited.
Look after yourself and YOU may life longer.
Look after the planet and we ALL may live longer.

We need to work together to make a difference and that means all of us and there lies is the problem.
The Human race is fueled by greed and a me first attitude.

As soon as we all realize that we need to change our ways the sooner we can start saving ourselves but until then the outlook is pretty bleak.

In whatever we do, we should look to find the most efficient way of doing it and don't just opt for the quickest or cheapest, recycle where ever possible and if we can do this we will all reap the rewards.

You don't have to believe me but bare in mind what I'm saying when you hear the news or drive to work or even stand in a queue. Simply just watch other people's behavior and you will see exactly what I mean.
Sad but true.

re 62.
how do you know what 56 is saying unless you posted it????
honestly, some people.

Hi,

RE 66. G.brown,

Not guilty. I have not posted since 7 March.

The numbers thing in blog 56 happened to me in the past when I attempted to copy some English to Russian text.

This post (56) is nothing to do with me.

Adrian, I hope you are well.

Did you know that PO still exists even if you are wearing rose tinted spectacles.

Paranoia is rife on this site.
Why not post as yourself with a user ID if you prefer. Pretending to be other people and accusations of multiple posts do nothing to the continuity of a blog. Although I am a newcomer to these pages I have found them an inspirational source where like minded individuals can come together and discuss alternatives. Of course not all postings totally agree and it is this which makes it such an entertaining place to visit.
Apart from the juvenile postings it is still a good place to air our views.