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Re: Petrol problems in Europe

To: Ajhsys@aol.com
Subject: Re: Petrol problems in Europe
From: mgraziano@mindspring.com
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 18:31:39 -0400
from CNN:

Fuel protests: UK government gets the blame
  
Taking time out in the petrol queues    
September 12, 2000
Web posted at: 7:37 PM EDT (2337 GMT)

By Ann Busby, CNN.com writer

LONDON, England -- The motorists cramped in their cars in the long queues 
outside UK petrol stations on Tuesday may have been frustrated, but most were 
agreed that the inconvenience was a price worth paying. 

For as fuel protests continued across Europe, there was general agreement in 
Britain -- where the demonstrations have hit hardest -- that the disruption was 
not the fault of the hauliers and farmers blockading oil depots. 

Tempers may have been running high as fuel supplies ran low or dried up 
altogether, but the anger of motorists was aimed at the government and its high 
fuel taxes. 

"Motorists in this country are being ripped off and I agree with what the 
protesters are saying even though what they're doing affects me," Jonathan 
Braimah told CNN.com, after he visited 15 petrol stations in London in an 
unsuccessful bid to fill up his car. 

"People understand that the government needs to raise money to fund schools and 
hospitals but I think they'd prefer to pay a penny more in income tax -- that's 
more honest at least than taking more and more from drivers." 

   MESSAGE BOARD 
Inside the United Kingdom 
 
 
  
   ALSO 
Blair moves to end growing UK fuel crisis

Alternative power sources: pros and cons

Fuel protests: Head to head debate

Fuel crisis could endanger life: NHS

Stalemate amid Belgian fuel protests

Oil prices drop

Clinton says watching oil market 'very closely'

 
 
  
 
It is a feeling echoed around the country. 

"The protest causes major disruption, which I disagree with, but overall I 
agree with the protesters," one disgruntled driver in Scotland told the BBC. 

Beryl Rhodes, from the northern English town of Rotherham said: "It's worrying 
because lack of fuel affects so many other things -- emergency services, 
supplies of food -- but petrol is just too expensive in this country and people 
sympathise with the demonstrators." 

One woman told CNN: "I think it's great. It's time British people stood up for 
themselves." 

Words like "horrendous", "scandalous" and "ridiculous" are frequently used to 
describe the price of fuel in the UK, which is the highest in Europe. 

And the protesters, angry at UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's refusal to follow 
the French government in making concessions, are confident they have the 
support of the public. 

  
There is widespread support for the blockades    
"Tony Blair has made a gross mistake and has grossly underestimated the will of 
the country," said Brynle Williams, a spokesman for protesting farmers and 
truckers. 

Certainly members of the public were showing their support for demonstrators 
outside BP Amoco's gigantic refinery at Grangemouth, on the Firth of Forth in 
Scotland. 

As passing drivers honked their support, local people handed out mugs of 
vegetable soup to guard against the chilly autumn day. 

"It's a load of rubbish. We'll strangle London… We will bring it to its knees," 
he said outside the Woodford oil terminal near the north-western city 
Manchester, where he was one of around 50 people setting up camp for the night. 

Some motorists are less certain of the demonstrators' determination. 

"I suspect it'll blow over soon because people in this country are fickle. 
Those taking the action will abandon their principles once their personal lives 
become inconvenienced," Joanne Walker, from Manchester, told CNN.com. 

Her friend Fiona Wall is hoping that is the case. She is getting married in 
Manchester on Saturday. Her mother and siblings live in Newcastle, in the 
north-east, more than 230 km (144 miles) away. 

  
Beating the blockades in Belgium: One man's solution    
"I'm getting increasingly worried that they won't be able to make it to my 
wedding," she said. 

Tony Blair's hard line has won support from environmentalists. 

"Greenpeace agrees with the government - it is absolutely right not to reduce 
fuel taxes," said Stephen Tindale, a British spokesman for the environmental 
group. 

But the Prime Minister may be mistaken if he believes, as he said on Tuesday, 
that the British people understand the government cannot change policy in 
response to illegal blockades. 

In the words of motorist Colin Spriggs: "Tony Blair says he's adamant that he's 
not going move on this issue but I think he better had or he could well find 
himself moving in the next general election." 



Ajhsys@aol.com wrote:
> What's going on over there?  Is there a shortage, or are protesters just 
blocking delivery?  How are you getting about?  Is the air pollution getting 
better now that nobody can drive?  Is this problem a result of the last list 
thread on petrol prices in the UK?

Just curious to hear more from our friends across the pond.

Allen Hefner
SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport


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