K.S. NIKHIL KUMAR forwards this chain-mail from Poona: Petrol in Pakistan is Rs 17 per litre. In Malaysia, it's Rs 18 per litre. In India? It's Rs 51 per litre.
Why this difference in Asia itself? The global price of crude oil is one reason. But the greed of the oil companies is also to blame. So, how can we, the common man and woman of R.K. Laxman's India, raise our voice to be heard?
Here's one way: It has been calculated that if each and every one of us does not purchase a single drop of petrol for one day—for just one day and all at the same time—the oil companies would choke on their stock piles.
At the same time it would hit the entire industry with a net loss over 4.6 billion dollars which affects the bottomlines of the oil companies.
Therefore Friday, 22 September, 2006 has been formally declared "Stick It Up Their Behind" day. If you believe the price you pay for petrol is unfair, join in. Don't buy a single drop of petrol that day to register your protest.
Waiting for the government to step in and control the prices is not going to happen. Remember what happened to the reduction and control in prices that the Arab nations promised some time ago?
Remember: when the price of petrol goes up, everything else goes up. Airlines are forced to raise their prices. Trucking companies are forced to raise their prices which affects prices on everything that is shipped like food, clothing, building supplies, medical supplies, etc.
Who pays in the end? We do!
We—you—can make a difference if the government doesn't get the message. After 22-09-06, we will do it again and again. So do your part and spread the word.
We tried here ( Boycotting buting gas from Chevron,exxon and shell) when GAS price went up by 3$ , it never worked .Because we all need oversized SUV’s and Pickup trucks .Dont we?? With not adequate public transports availablity even in big cities .It was a BIG failure .
But no one understands the economics of crude oil .Exxon made a HUGE profit
last quarter , we all said ‘How great India is?’ coz Government has direct control the price unlike here where Corporates control .Now I am confused
who is better and who benefits?
If someone has done a study and comparision please enlighten.
Not a bad idea at all…
There is report in Indian Express dated 13th instant tha petrol prices could be halved if the exchange rate is pegged on the basis of Purchasing Power Parity since the ruppee is grossly undervalued. There must be other mechanisms like inducing people to go for cycling. Europe and lately London have shown the way taking to cylcling in a massive way. What is necessary is now to concentrate in developing cylcle tracks which has many advantages. THis has to be taken with same zeal and persistency as Delhi showed in change over to CNG.
Wow! Are we short of hare-brained ideas that we need some more? Are you kidding me when you talk about Oil Companies making a profit?? They are bleeding losses by the day, thanks to the interventionist government! If the prices of petrol are high, they are because of the 50% taxes and duties levied by a slew of governmental layers (Central, State etc.). This is anyway the norm in most nations, which I have no complaints against, because it checks wasteful usage.
Greed of oil companies, my foot! If this stupid demand of controlling the prices goes through, you and I are anyway going to pay up. We already have a huge oil-pool deficit that is serviced by government tax revenues. So, if not through this direct fuel increase, all taxpayers are the ones to be hit eventually.
Let’s not compare with Pakistan or Indonesia. The comparison just doesn’t work.
let’s leave ‘not buy a single drop’ to left parties who’d call for a Bharat Bandh and same result wud come.
The high taxes go to making roads. Instead let’s use less of fuel, depend on public transport more. Though for common man who’s already doing wud be still a burden.
The car prices are coming down. Let’s levy more consumption tax on white goods and generate more revenue.
Let’s thank companies like Honda who wud shortlycome out with alternatives like Hydrogen!
Let’s also have a differential price: For conservative users and those who burn rubber and oil during midnights.
for the time being…
let’s wait and see…….
I agree with HR Bapu Satyanarayana. We must take up Cycling. But with such a maddening traffic, will there be some orderly driving by the motorists?
Two comments: before we buy into urban legends like Rs 17 – 18 per litre Petrol prices, a quick google search might not be a bad idea, if only to check out facts. having said that, i am all for cutting down on fossil fuel consumption, not merely because of high fuel prices.