[Peakoil] News items from Canberra Times Thur, 10 and Fri, 11 Aug 2006

[Antony Barry]

Thursday
========

"Petrol '20c higher than should be' by Andrew Fraser p.3

NRMA says petrol companies and profiteering and rejects PMs claims  
that NRMA are alarmist. Praised proposed subsidy of $1000 to convert  
cars to LPG. Christine Milne says chasing subsidies doe not find long  
term solutions.

Comment: No mention of peak oil.
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"Radical therapy needed to kick our addiction to oil" - 3 letters

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=your% 
20say&subclass=general&story_id=500968&category=Letters%20to% 
20Editor&m=8&y=2006

letter by Doug Moncur says rather than cutting the petrol excise  
increase it and use the revenue to cut our oil addiction.

Letter from Frank Boddy LPG is still oil based. Government should  
push for a switch of cars to natural gas.

Letter from Peter Marshall says petrol prices are set by speculation  
and somebody is making a profit out of it.

Comment: None of these letters, other than Moncur indirectly, address  
peak oil.
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Friday
======

"Ethanol fuel is slow burn for ACT motorists" by Andrew Fraser. p.3

Few places in the ACT where you can buy ethanol blends. Fuel may only  
be 3c per litre cheaper.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp? 
class=news&subclass=general&story_id=501352&category=general&m=8&y=2006

Comment: A 10% blend is never going to drop prices much. Neglects the  
cost of the fuel needed to grow, process and transport the alcohol.
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"Time for ACTION" letter by Sandra Garland p.12

Suggests politicians don't have to pay for petrl so should be forces  
to use small cars or buses.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=your% 
20say&subclass=general&story_id=501347&category=Letters%20to% 
20Editor&m=8&y=2006

"Greed is good until we pay" Letter by Kim Pullen p.12

Comments on previous letter. Suggests electing a government which  
focuses on shourt term gain is why we have oilo addiction.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=your% 
20say&subclass=general&story_id=501349&category=Letters%20to% 
20Editor&m=8&y=2006
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"Parish pumps seem like empty vessels in oil trend: big need for  
political vision now to overcome fuel supply problems" by Andrew  
Fraser. p.13

Discusses peak oil. Quotes Senator Milne which she describes as the  
"elephant in the room". Criticises the government and oppositions  
focus on prices and alternatives. In the long term we need to look  
harder at public transport.

http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=your% 
20say&subclass=general&story_id=501343&category=Opinion&m=8&y=2006

Comment: At last a piece that is starting to get it. In the long term  
we will not have a car based culture. When rich consumers drive the  
price of petrol up as much as bananas went up a lot of people will  
stop driving.
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Tony


Feral Librarian | http://tony-barry.emu.id.au
P: 02 6241 7659 | tony at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
M: 04 1242 0397 | tony.barry at alianet.alia.org.au