Whether you believe in global warming or not it really doesn’t make two hoots of difference.  On a personal level I believe there is some strength in the argument that supports global warming.  I see every day pictures of the ice shelves breaking off and melting into the sea.  I know for a fact that sea levels around the globe are rising.

Say bye bye

I also believe to an extent that these global changes are not all man’s doing.  By checking trees and digging in ice packs, our scientists have already agreed that there has been ice-ages and also times of huge temperature rises causing deserts around our planet.

Where I live in Yorkshire in the U.K. we have streets named Vineyard street or Grape lane.  There are pictures in local libraries of Yorkshire men treading grapes in the centre of Sheffield!  The wine producers were wearing Toga’s or skirts if you will.  The temperature was such that we could produce wine in Yorkshire, the average temperature was over 10c higher!

Now excuse me for being old fashioned but man didn’t have cars or refrigerators or fly in gas guzzling jet aircraft.  However the temperature was significantly higher, if you back 400 years or so.  My personal opinion is if you take the opposing views of Global warming and mix them with the view that the planet temperature changes would have happened anyway, then there you are the middle lane the average view is achieved.

When your reading this article ask yourself, do I drive a gas-guzzling SUV or an electric car?  If you drive you will probably say a gas-guzzler and,  I will tell you why electric cars suck!  Do you take a vacation over seas and do you get there by jet aircraft? The probable answer is yes I fly because its difficult to walk 2,000mls to my vacation of choice!

It beats walking.

If the human race really believed the world will become a barren desert planet in 150 years then would we change our ways?  I bet you your thinking of course I would but I don’t believe the majority of people would.  The Human race is a party animal, if everything seems ok Man will not stop treating the planet the way he does.  If Man is at a party and is drinking and dancing, you will have to turn off the music and take the drink out of his hand to stop him partying, it’s a fact.

I watched a very intense documentary at the weekend, it was listing all the species of fish that will be extinct in 5 years.  I was genuinely shocked, over fishing will decimate our fish stocks until they are all extinct (Unless they taste horrible)  Now man is aware the fish stocks are down by 90% compared to 30 years ago what is he   doing about it?

Man is now building super-sized fishing trawlers to catch what’s left of the fish stocks before another country does!  In other words I’m alright jack pull up the ladder!  Humans are not the kind caring eco-friendly creatures we make out to be.  Do any of you car share? Some of you might but the majority of drivers drive themselves only to work.  Just count the amount of cars in rush hour that only have the driver in.

Mankind has not taken global warming seriously at all.  Its predicted that all the rain forests will be cut down in 8 years!  Are we planting replacement trees? No we are not.  Please don’t think I need knocking off my high horse, I’m as guilty as the next man.  When I was fit and able, I still drove to the supermarket I didn’t walk there even though I could have.  I preferred to turn the ignition key on my Ford and drive there, because its convenient.

I could get builders to dig up my concrete rear yard so I can plant vegetables and support my family in vegetables.  The trouble is Tesco is 2 minutes away in my car and all the vegetables are neatly packed and washed for me and in bags.

Ok so where do I park my car now?

Do you remember as a child you would leave doing your home work until last thing Sunday night, and then rush it and get lower grades?  Why did we do this? Its because it was more fun to play in the park with your friends than do your boring homework.

I see organic vegetables on show in Tesco, now I know they are better for me and have no genetically modified chemicals running around in my carrots!  I wont buy them because they are significantly more expensive than non GM vegetables.

I feel I am just telling the truth as I see it, Man isn’t intrinsically evil or non-caring Man is just a party animal and will continue partying until the parties over fact!

Lord Banks

Gas prices have gone up about 33% since the beginning of the year. Many experts say the rising prices of gasoline are the result of supply and demand, and won’t come down until supply is increased or demand is reduced. The polls say that 74% of people say they will alter their driving habits this summer, and travel less if gas prices rise above $4 per gallon. Some people are even buying motorcycles to save on gas. More people are coming to the dreaded conclusion that bigger isn’t better. People are moving toward smaller, more fuel-efficient sedans and compact cars. When you look at the broader picture, you will see a big shift towards more environmentally friendly, and fuel efficient vehicles. Many people are giving up the big gas guzzlers, the Dodge Ram, the Ford F150, or the Chevy Silverado they bought somewhere in the late 1990s to early 2000s, to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle.

There are some fuel economy tips to help increase your car’s gas mileage. The best fuel economy tip is to lighten your load. Pack light when going on vacation. Remove heavy items from your truck bed. Reduce some of the excess weight, by removing some of the clutter you are lugging around in your car. Getting rid of clutter and excess weight will increase your gas mileage. Have your engine tuned properly, and use the correct grade of fuel. If your engine is not tuned properly, you could waste as much as 40% of your gas.

Changing driving habits can be a big help. When you are in the drivers seat, don’t try to be the first off the line when the red light turns green. Instead of breaking, let your foot off the gas and let your car coast before you brake to a stoplight or stop sign. Don’t tailgate people. Observe the speed limit, and allow plenty of room between you, and the driver in front of you, while driving at a normal, smooth speed. Stoplights are set up in a timed manner. Try to time your speed between stoplights, so that you won’t waste gas trying to race to the next stoplight. Never leave your car running idle with the air conditioner on. Check your tire pressure once a week. The correct pressure in your tires helps them get better traction, therefore giving you better gas mileage.

Consumers are entering the summer season with a cautious view of increasing gas prices, but despite high gas prices, most of us are planning on keeping our cool and will remain in the drivers seat.

Immediate Benefits of Expensive Petroleum

Whenever the price of petroleum goes up, even by a few cents, consumers become alert to the higher price and look for ways to reduce that cost. Immediately drivers begin to drive less and look at other ways to reduce the consumption of petroleum. One other way of reducing petroleum consumption is by driving less and by driving less aggressively.

1. The higher price of petroleum will immediately increase the number of persons searching for a solution to the high price of petroleum. All drivers and stakeholders will look for ways to save money. When the number of people looking for a solution to a problem increases then the likelihood of finding a solution also increases. This increase in the number of researchers will translate into more researchers looking at more remote possibilities for saving petroleum money. Eventually more ideas will be explored and the most optimal solution will emerge.

   The higher price of petroleum will lead to less aggressive driving. Less aggressive driving will reduce the number of accidents and associated fatalities and costs. A study in Canada has found that for drivers aged 15 to 17 years the rate of accidents declined by 6 % and for drivers aged 18 to 21 years the decrease was 3.2 %. This study looked at fatalities through 2006 i.e. before the latest increase in gas prices. It is now predicted that more than 100 lives will be saved each month. Thanks to the high price of petroleum.

2. The higher price of petroleum will lead to less driving. Less driving will translate to less motor vehicle accidents. This will meant that vehicle owners will save money, so will insurance companies. Hopefully, this will be a win win situation for the insurance companies and the public.
3. The higher price of petroleum will reduce the demand on petroleum. Reduced demand will have the effect of reducing the price. Indeed if no motorist were to buy petroleum even for a few days then petroleum will become cheaper but this is unlikely to happen.
4. The number of cars on the road will decrease. The peak hour congestion will become reduced. So drivers will get to work quicker and will get there using less petroleum.
5. Big cars and sports utility vehicles will become cheaper to buy. However, these will be more expensive to drive.
6. Manufacturing of big vehicles, gas guzzlers, will stop

Small cars will gain popularity as price of petroleum rises.

Intermediate Benefits of Expensive Petroleum

These benefits are not noticed immediately because they do not occur immediately. These benefits only occur if the behaviour or action is repeated over a period of time. It may take anything from one to six months for these benefits to become noticeable statistically.

1. The higher price of petroleum will lead to more persons looking for other forms of transport to work. Pedal power, like cycling, will have positive impacts on obesity and coronary artery diseases. This will decrease the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Hence there will be a corresponding decrease in health costs.

   The benefits of physical activity on the heart and cardiovascular systems have already been demonstrated.

2. In the intermediate range it may lead more people to car sharing. Car sharing will have a long term consequence increasing social interactions. Social interactions will likely lead to more understanding between people and more appreciation for the other person’s perspective of events.
3. As other forms of transport increase the reliance on the car will decrease. This will have positive effects on other industries and life styles. Healthier lifestyles will translate to longer life expectancy and a better quality of life.
4. Other forms of energy will begin to emerge. It is likely that persons who drive short distances will start using rechargeable battery power. short for this will reduces the number of automobile accidents, damage from automobile accidents and fatalities from automobile accidents.
5. Fewer cars on road for an intermediate period of time will lead to fewer repairs, people getting to work more quickly, and increased individual and corporate productivity. Hopefully this will mean more money for the employee and the employer.
6. Reduction in insurance costs. One of the intermediate benefits of higher petroleum prices is a reduction in insurance costs. Reductions in insurance costs for motor vehicle accidents and mortality costs will result in savings for the consumer and the industry. Hopefully this will be a “win win” situation for the industry and the consumer.



Expensive petroleum will reduce the number of accidents and related costs of treatment. Sickness time will also be reduced.

7. Savings in health care costs. The decreased number of accidents will decrease costs of treatment. Reduction in sick time will lead to increased employee productivity.

Long-term Benefits of Expensive Petroleum

These benefits will not be noticeable by ordinary everyday users. However these are real benefits and often lead to strategic shifts which last over several years. It most often affects individuals, communities and countries.

1. I have predicted that the price of foods will go up by about 150 % because the EU and the US have legislated the use of bio fuels in their fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions. Bio fuels are cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuels. Please read the article here.

Quote, “On Friday 4th. July 2008 the European Union announced that it would continue to push ahead with plans to see bio fuels account for at least 10 per cent of energy used by the bloc’s huge transport sector by 2020”. Hence it is reasonable to conclude that production and usage of bio fuels will increase.

2. It is known that bio fuels are cleaner and cheaper than current fuel prices. In the long run the greater usage of bio fuels will lead to a cleaner environment and increased quality and quantity of life.
3. Production of bio fuels will be done by agricultural countries. Hence there will be a strategic shift from fossil rich fuel producers of the Middle East to agricultural countries of Asia, Africa and America. The Middle East will lose its strategic importance as a supplier of fossil fuels.
4. The Middle East countries which are raking in money now will end up paying for bio fuels in the future. These countries will be least prepared for the change. Some countries are now producing as much as 25 % of their energy from bio fuels. Brazil is one such example. I must confess that shifting to bio fuels will push up prices of essential food items. This will negatively impact poorer people of poorer nations.
5. A new breed of small generators and energy producers will be born. These new generators will run on bio fuels produced on small energy farms. The small energy producers will feed energy into the main grid. The business model for this energy generation will be similar to small farms.
6. There will be a decrease in terrorism. One of the reasons for increased terrorism is the “disfranchised” feelings of the youth of the Middle East. They have the money and do not have “useful motives” in life. This environment creates terrorists. Young men who are involved in energy production and useful economic activities will want to live see the rewards of their labour!
7. Initially there will be many producers of energy. Later there will consolidation of energy producers and big energy farms. Upward and downward mergers will produce synergies which are still not known or predictable.
8. Shipping lanes which transport fossil fuels will become less important strategically. The Straits of Hormuz will become tourist spots not strategic military bases.
9. Tankers which transport fossil fuels will become dodos because more bio fuels will be produced where they are needed most. Asia, Africa, America and Europe will become self sufficient in bio fuels which will be supplemented with nuclear energy.



Agricultural countries will produce food for humans and bio fuels for cars.

10. The number of nuclear power stations will increase globally
11. Bio fuel producers will become strategically important because food prices and bio fuel prices will need to be balanced
12. Other forms of energy e.g. methane gas from organic waste and energy from solar panels will become more important.
13. As the numbers of energy producers increase the cost of energy will decrease. However, we all know that the population of the world is increasing so the amount of agricultural land is decreasing. Therefore there will be a net increase in the cost of energy.
14. In the long run human beings will adjust to the higher price of petroleum and they will accept it as normal. Also, they will accept smaller cars as they will be more fuel efficient.
15. There will be more fuel efficient cars with fewer emissions and less release of lead and carbon into the environment
16. Smaller cars will become cheaper as the unit cost of production goes down due to increased demand
17. The harmful “greenhouse effects” will not bring about global warming
18. Producers of food and bio fuels will become strategically important again

Obviously, an SUV is not an economical choice for a car as far as gas is concerned. Most SUVs are lucky to achieve 15 miles to the gallon, whereas a compact car like a Nissan Sentra can achieve as high as 33 miles to the gallon. This is because the SUV weighs a lot more, so it takes more power (gas) to haul it down the street.
So obviously, the person driving the SUV is going to have to fill up much more often (and in much larger quantities) to get the same amount of usage out of their vehicle as a Sentra driver. To put this in much more simpler terms, take two people who have to drive 100 miles to work each day, with the miles per gallon noted above. The SUV driver would need about 7 gallons whereas the more economical Sentra driver would only take about 3 gallons. Put these figures over the course of a year, and times it by all of the SUV drivers in the world, and you’ve got a serious problem.

I don’t buy the argument that SUV drivers need the room, because I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen one small woman driving a huge SUV. This is the worst display of ego, ignorance, and consumerism I’ve seen in recent times. The gas supply is short as it is, why do we need to put more stress on the situation by continuing to drive these wastes of space we call SUVs? It is this author’s firm belief that the vanity of SUV owners are a significant cause of the gas crisis.

Some SUV drivers I’ve spoken to express regret over their purchases, because their gas bills now far exceed the monthly payment for the vehicle itself. To sell the SUV would be difficult in a time when people are trying to save money, not add to their bills. So we shouldn’t look at all SUV drivers as if they are doing this on purpose—they may just have no other choice at this point but to drive these gas guzzlers.

So if you are a young person who is nagging your parents for a big truck, curb your enthusiasm and think about the fact that you wouldn’t be able to afford it in due time. If you are going through a mid life crisis or have a napoleon complex, please go see a therapist rather than satisfying your urge to buy an SUV. A big truck will not fill the void!