25.04.08 Petrol protests in London to coincide with Grangemouth strikes
Are diesel prices too high?
One of the groups behind the fuel protests in 2000 has announced that it is organising a fuel protest in London to coincide with the strikes at the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland.
The strike has the support of Unite, the same union supporting the workers threatening to strike at the Ineos refinery in Grangemouth.
Transaction 2007 say that rising fuel prices are pushing hauliers out of business – 6 independent hauliers have gone out of business in the last week.
Diesel prices have risen 16.2p per litre since the beginning of the year, with the national average currently standing at a record 119.0p.
Unleaded has risen 6.9p since the beginning of the year. The national average is currently at a record high of 109.1p.
The group plan to drive a coffin from Park Lane in Spalding, Lincolnshire to Park Lane in London (the site of the 2000 fuel protests) on Tuesday 29th April, to represent the death of the UK road haulage industry as a result of increased fuel prices.
They will meet additional protesters at Park Lane, and from there they will be escorted by officers from the Metropolitan Police to the House of Commons to present a letter signed by independent hauliers to Right Hon Mr Derek Wyatt MP.
Transaction 2007 organised protests around the country in December 2007, but were unsuccessful because of a lack of support. They now have the support of the Transport and General Workers Union and 250-strong United Truckers campaign group. They also feel that there is a better appetite for action this time and hope the public will join in.
Mike Presneill, spokesperson for Transaction 2007 told PetrolPrices.com today: “Fuel prices are crippling the haulage industry, so this protest should make the government and the treasury aware that we are still here, against all odds, and we won't give up until they take some action. We want an 'essential user rebate' to keep UK hauliers competitive against foreign truckers working over here”
Petrol prices have risen an alarming amount since the beginning of the year. Expensive fuel affects everyone, even non-drivers because it makes it more expensive to transport food and other goods around the country. Hauliers often have no choice but to pass those costs on or they'll put themselves out of business.”
The government needs to take action now. The tax on fuel is extortionate as it is, and they simply haven't taken into account the oil price rises we've had. Protesting may be the only way to make motorists' views known – as long as it's legal, which Transaction's is, PetrolPrices.com supports anything which will make UK fuel cheaper.
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If you read the fine print on Transaction 2007 website, you will see that they aren't fighting for the general motorist. They are demanding a larger VAT element in the price of diesel, which the hauliers can claim back as part of their business. Last time I looked not everyone can claim the VAT back for fuel purchases.
Fight for the lowering of fuel prices but don't fool yourselves into thinking that if Transaction 2007 get their VAT consession they will continue to campaign for the common motorist.
<quote>'The government needs to take action now'.</quote>
And what do you suggest that ANY government, anywhere in the world, can do about the growing problem of PEAK OIL?
If you haven't heard the term 'Peak Oil'; brace yourself as you'll be hearing it a lot more in the years to come. It's been a whispered term for many years, much like "global warming" was back in the 60's.
In 1956, geophysicist Dr. M. King Hubbert predicted that oil production in the USA would reach its peak around 1970 and then go into a state of decline. He also predicted that global oil production would peak around the late 90's/early 21st century. He plotted the increase, peak and decrease of oil production on a graph; and his theory is popularly known as Hubbert's Peak.
Dr Hubbert also flagged with the world the issue not only of declining oil production, but the increasing cost associated in extracting what oil remained after the "low hanging fruit" had been picked.
There is no doubt that the cost of oil production in recent times has been huge - not only in the exploration and production itself in financial terms; but also in terms of environmental damage caused. Added to that has been the huge military expense and associated human suffering caused through wars that have been pushed on the public by their governments as being issues of national safety rather than their true motivation - control of oil reserves. The war in Iraq is a classic example of that.
Dr Hubbert was ridiculed by many when he released his research; but his predictions appear to have come true. USA oil production did indeed go into rapid decline around 1971.
Fact: we are consuming more oil globally and the trend will continue
Fact: it is not a renewable resource in relation to our consumption levels
Fact: countries go to war over control of oil reserves
Fact: oil consumption has a negative impact on the environment
Fact: gas at the pump continues to, generally speaking, increase in price
Fact: many plastics and other trappings of the modern world are made from oil
Fact: the world is running out of easily sourced oil; i.e. production using current technology has peaked, and what oil is left will cost more to pull out of the ground using methods most likely to be even more unfriendly to the environment.
Paints a rather grim picture for our oil addicted society doesn't it? If we're willing to invade a country for oil, how much more aggressive will we be when supply really gets tight?
How does food get to your table? Do you grow it in your yard, or is it trucked in to your supermarket? How do you collect it; do you walk to the supermarket or drive? How do you get to work?
How many affordable alternative energy vehicles are now on the market?
When the Iraq war and other geo-political issues pushed the price of oil to record levels; people stopped buying SUV's. Within a couple of weeks of a drop in prices; they went back to buying them again. It just goes to show how little we learn. We had a taste of what really expensive petrol was like, yet as soon as the pressure was backed off a little; we went straight back to our previous oil-greedy ways.
We won't learn, oil will have to run out or become so horribly expensive that only few can use it to any degree. What will it cost? How much will it impact on the cost of other items? How many more people will have to die and how much more will our environment suffer while we squeeze out the last viable drop of oil that the planet has to offer?
These are important issues to think about - don't rely on governments to provide the answers to a world without oil as they've all been in denial for way too long. Yes, there are renewable/alternative energy programs in place; but given the major role that oil plays in our lives; permeating just about every aspect; whether these new, cleaner technologies can be rolled out before we hit the real crunch is another question.
The time is now to start thinking about and making changes to the way you live so your life is not so oil-centered. Remember that a lack of oil extends far beyond just not being able to drive your car - so many other products, services and industries are based on oil.
Start preparing for a life of austerity. NOW!
Find local employment. Reduce your debts. Reduce your fuel consumption. Grow your own vegetables or buy from local suppliers. Exercise regularly. Insulate your home. Help your family, friends and colleagues to understand the implications of Peak Oil.
"Find local employment. Reduce your debts. Reduce your fuel consumption. Grow your own vegetables or buy from local suppliers. Exercise regularly. Insulate your home. Help your family, friends and colleagues to understand the implications of Peak Oil."
Ok, you give me £200,000 for me to go and buy a house and clear my debts then.
Actually i might need a bit more than that, i'll need land to grow my vegetables. You put that money in my bank account then i'll listen to you.
And my employment is Motor Trade anyway, im constantly in a car and i need everybody else to do similair or else i dont make money.
And your comments sound like when a nutter goes "take the canned food to the basement, they've landed!" And you reply with the same over exagerated nonsense in every single post. Lighten up or buggar off look. Nobody cares about your Spam.
This whole fuel tax thing is now beyond a joke, this retarded government expects the world to be saved if we stop driving cars so it charges massive tax to halt using the stuff, it all sound very communist to me. Whatever happened to the carrot approach?
Cmon... the whole global warming thing is a load of old crock, the money we pay to allow us to travel around without having our heads crammed up someones armpit within a public bus/train pays for useless lazy MP's in the Labour party to screw our country further into the mire.
Lets have some freedom and encouragement to go alternative, not more bloody kicking!
And yes I work in the flagging motor trade...
Leon Condon : "They are demanding a larger VAT element in the price of diesel, which the hauliers can claim back as part of their business. Last time I looked not everyone can claim the VAT back for fuel purchases."
Where does it say that ? The demand is for a reduction in FUEL TAX - vat is not mentioned other than it being charged on top of the fuel tax. Reduce the fuel tax and vat will reduce at the same time.
Then again, VAT is a tax on the value of the PRODUCT, so why the hell is it being charged on the fuel tax which is not a part of the product ?
Answer - because they make the rules - right or wrong !
The term being used is "rebated road fuel" which applies to commercial enterprises, not private motorists. Connections to "Trade Unions" serves the same end, they've improved their website and are now linked to this site.
Post #3 Martin in response to post #2 Peak Oil.
Don't you realise he is trying to help you? soon there won't be a motor trade, soon there won't be any oil for people to drive their own cars since it will be needed for farming, petrochemicals, emergency services, plastics.
I know it probably hurts but try to use that thing between your ears. Instead of reading about some celebrity or watching some stupid game show on tv for the next week try finding our about peak oil and think how it will change your life and the lives of everyone on the planet. Without plentiful cheap supplies of oil it is likely that at least half the world's population will die. It will not be business as usual for those who are left.
I havent got time to sit listening to scare stories or reading up about them ive got money to make, cars to sell and bills to pay. As for the price of fuel, whether supply is struggling or not is irrelivant, people shouldnt have to pay ludicrous prices. I'd buy the same amount if it was 1p a litre of 150p a litre. Buy any less i cant get where im going. Thats what people fail to realise.
I apologise for double posting but this member Peak Oil thinks all this is easy. "Clear your debts!" Yeah, great advice Sherlock. I think we're all trying to do that anyway. Its not like we sit here going "gee i really like this debt i have, i think i'll keep it."
And "find local employment" well i live 19 miles from my place of work, but in the motor trade im in a car most of the time anyway, dodging between sites etc. But if i could live right next door then i would. Unfortunatley i dont have the 200k to buy the house next door to it. If PeakOil puts that 200k in my bank account i'll go and do it.
Martin has got the right idea. In the real world bills need to be paid. I know many environmentalists have all the time in the world but when Peak Oil and others join us in the real world they will be singing a different song.
I have a question for Mr peak oil why are you a member of a web looking for cheap fuel when you walk everywhere?
A ridiculous proportion of fuel price in the UK is TAX.
How can the green argument stand up in the UK whilst America consumes such vast amounts with 3 and 5 litre cars?!!?
Despite the looming recession and global credit crunch, the government seem indifferent about sending the UK haulier business the way of the UK car industry.
It is essential that we are heard and that the government take note and lower taxes on fuel duty overall to avoid a much bigger problem instead of taxing us to the hilt. Especially with the recent announcement of MP's expenses and the abuse of their position and OUR money!
There are many sides to this matter -- and everyone needs equal careful consideration in the effort to find best solutions. I believe there should be special lower prices for haulage and transport industries - linked to incentives like fuel efficiency and low carbon - these are real people with real lives 99% of who want to do best they can for in these areas ane at the same time keep the jobs for their employees and tackle unemployment by positive contributions, this is peoples jobs and livelihoods, their families, and the wider impact on society. Do we really want to add to the unemployment figures just so Gov can grab more money ? Slightly higher prices for car fuel along with the increasing fuel efficiency and help for us ordinary motorists to buy fuel efficient vehicles - again incentives. And please make public transport USER friendly available when needed reliable going to places people need to get to and economically viable. Gov. should not keep bleeding dry every member of UK society in every way - what happens when there is no more blood to be squeezed out of people. Mass recession
It's time that the motorists of this country made a stand against this government and the ridiculous amount of revenue it creams off us, but what I want to know is where does it all go? No doubt to clear the £140,000,000,000 + debt NuLabour have buried this country under. There needs to be a proper co-ordinnated drive by a) the motorist b) transport unions c) refineries to bring this madness to an end. Energy prices keep rising, Gas, Elec up by 15-20% Council Tax up by 5-10% + Diesel up by .20p/litre since Jan 08 ............ but salaries up by 1-1.5% and each time the governemt hangs their hat on he old "green" issues, what a load of complete twaddle. Can't that baffon Gordon Brown see that there is one hell of a black cloud hanging over this country and we are heading for some really serious trouble ! I doubt it because control freaks unfortunately cannot see the error of their ways. Do the honourable thing Gordy old boy and call an election. I know that irrespective of whatever government is in power they will not shoot the golden goose "fuel tax" but atleast a.n.other goverment can start to re-build what "Nu-Labour" has managed to destroy.
A full scale uk wide "abandon the pumps" protest is required urgently.
the only option is to bring the country to a halt and disrupt the government.
Who orgaised the last protest? they deserve to be in the queens honours list. and they get my full support.
I own a car...
I use my car for business as well as pleasure...
I enjoy driving my car, but...
I have studied Dr Hubberts work and it IS worrying. It doesn't matter how much we whine and whinge about fuel prices, it's a FACT that oil is a finite resource and it IS running out. Peak Oils' post makes painful reading, but don't shoot the messenger. Go Google for the info if you dare. It's all out there and Dr Hubberts conclusions are very well supported by the scientific community and even governments. The only reason we don't hear about it from ours, is because Gordon Brown knows damn well that there'd be panic if the true scale of the problem was made public. Not to mention the effect such an announcement would have on the economy.
It really is time to wake up and smell the coffee because when the oil supply begins to dwindle, there won't BE coffee in your cup, Transporting it from where-ever it's produced will be too expensive and it will be considered a waste of fuel, and it will the same situation regarding many other products we take for granted...
Keiran, post #12 it is because petrol is so ridiculously cheap in the US that they have huge cars and drive far more than here. If it was as cheap here people would just buy more gas guzzlers and increase the demand and hence the price would go up even more. The US is heading for major problems since they have actively encourage people to move out to the suburbs and commute miles by car even ripping up rail track. I totally agree this government is useless and abuse us with their expenses - same for MEPs. Cutting fuel prices for the private motorist is not the answer, but somehow should be done for essential transport but not carting more unnecessary Chinese "stuff" around.
Janet post #13, help for the ordinary motorist to drive more is not what we need but an improvement in public transport. Oil will soon reach $200/barrel so petrol maybe £2/litre?
Cooper post #15 yes abandon the pumps but bringing the country to a halt will just damage everyone, petrol will son be £2/litre so we need to get away from using cars. It will happen whether or not we like it.
Nemesis post #16, you get it!!
Oil is not just going to continue flowing as now for the next 30 years but will reduce for the next 100 years. There might be a small increase over the 2-3 years as desperate attempts are made to get more from existing wells but after that it is downhill all the way. Six billion+ fighting for "their share" prices rocketing. There will be no more business as usual, forget rising prosperity think declining wealth, no more cheap flights to holiday homes, no more driving the kids 20 miles to football, no more food flown halfway round the world, no more silly service jobs, no more cheap clothes...
The current Labour Government needs to go, hopefully we can do that at the next Election. We also need at huge reduction on the price of tax we pay per litre of fuel. We get shafted from all angles, road tax.. the roads are pathetic.
I work for the emergency services, i work 4 12hr shifts. leaving at times when there is no viable public transport available, i'd love to leave my car at home, but it simply isnt possible. Right now im doing my bit to save diesel costs, walking the kids to school etc. I check here and ring round local garages before i leave to fill my tank up. Another point that may help some folks is Tesco quite often gives you 5p a litre off fuel when you spend £50 or more on groceries, if you time filling up to coincide with your weekly shop, you can save some cash.
I've found the smaller independent filling stations tend to be more expensive. I can get Diesel from my local Jet Garage for £116.9 a litre, a private station, no more than 500 yards up the road charges £126.9 per litre..
WHY ARE WE ALL MOANING ????? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROTESTS WE HAD A FEW YEARS BACK JUST BEFORE IT HIT £1 PER LITRE.
IM TIRED OF THE PATHETIC MOANING - WE KNOW WE PAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY SO STOP STATING THE OBVIOUS.
INSTEAD OF MOANING LETS ACT BUT FOR LONGER - BRING ON THE BLOCKADES IM UP FOR IT!!!!
I am sick of having to pay so much tax on petrol. I would like to know what they are doing with all this money!
We pay more tax on petrol than anywhere else in the world. WHY?!!
We need to do something about this now.
Hi,
Diesel Prices have rocketed what I think is if all people in UK don;t buy diesel for 2-3 days the petrol companies will suffer a major losses which will bring their brain to sense and lower the price........
A full scale uk wide "abandon the pumps" protest is required urgently.
INSTEAD OF MOANING LETS ACT BUT FOR LONGER - BRING ON THE BLOCKADES IM UP FOR IT!!!!
Im thinking of setting up a protest website to present to 10, Downing st, london. anyone interested let me know on this site.
Let's get the media involved, i,e Watchdog, the sun, the mirror and the like. And set up a website purely about these rip off prices.
The thing is the wages of our jobs don't go up. Young people don't stand a chance. Another point is the Tax for older cars what another rip off......
Yes i understand that oil is slowly running out.
Yes i understand the arguments regarding global warming.
What i can't understand is why a government, that we employ ourselves, will not listen to its employers. Why is their answer to this problem to take more money off us and give us nothing in return.
I am a shift worker, working to keep the railways running. With my shift start and finish times i can not use public transport to get to work, however it is getting to the point that i will not be able to afford to go to work, what then?
The old saying 'born free, taxed to death' must be this governments moto.
We need the media on our side, we cannot keep saying that these fuel prices are due to global market fuel costs, it's not, we are being abused by the people in power and must make a stand soon
Colin post #23,
What do you mean we get nothing in return? we get tons of bullsh*t, loads of lies & spin etc. OK we don't get any really good policies or truth or leadership but hey never mind the quality feel the width.
I am glad to hear you are in the rail because in the future as the oil becomes more expensive and scarce then we will have to expand the rail network. So your job should be safe. Sorry to hear you have to drive to work since when petrol is too expensive then it's going to be hard - but it will be like this for everyone, except for gordon clown of course since he will still have a limo. In the States places that are miles away and require long driving commutes have started to fall faster in price than those that are near rail:-) Who would have thought it.
In France the plan is for every town of over 100,000 people to have good light rail or trams.
Best hopes for electric rail to get us around after oil.
At the turn of the year I was going to change my car to a hybrid from a diesel. It made sense as I do c.30,000 miles a year between my job and private. I've had to shelve that as I am paying so much more fuelling my current vehicle.
I am currently looking for a more local job without success. I could work in London which is a 55 minute commute but would pay £6500 for the privilege. I could get that down to £3750 if I drive 15 miles. There seems to be a heavy penalty to going green!
That job in the USA looks mighty attractive.................
ITS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE DONE SOMETHING. I MEAN IVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING FOR 3 MONTHS SINCE I PAST MY TEST AND IN JANUARY 2008 I WAS ONLY PAYING 99.9P PER L NOW IM PAYING AT THE SAME PETROL STATION 111.9 FOR UNLEADED PETROL. I MEAN IF AMERICA CAN OFFER A GALLON FOR JUST UNDER £2.50 WHY CANT WE. BUT THEN AGAIN IT DOES NOT SURPRISE ME ALL THE GOVERMENT THINKS ABOUT IS NOT THE PEOPLE ITS THERE POCKETS. I WILL AND ALWAYS WILL SUPPORT A FUEL PROTEST UNTILL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT IT.