Truckers, Farmers, Fisherman Protest Fuel Price Hyperinflation
Throughout Europe
inaction of governments against the unabated,
speculative rise of gasoline and diesel prices has provoked a
wave of protests in Europe, notably among truckers fishermen,
farmers, and individual drivers in several countries of Europe.
In Britain, 1,000 truckers descended upon central London
today, protesting against high fuel prices and demanding a 25
pence per liter rebate, because the current price of 120 pence is
driving companies and independents out of business. "If the
government does not help us, hundreds and hundreds of U.K. family
firms will go to the wall, and that work will be done by
continental haulers who pay nothing to the U.K. exchequer,"
protest organizer Peter Carroll told the {Daily Telegraph}. The
organizers expect the general driving public to support the
protest as well. The trucks entered London in convoy making their
way to Marbel Arch, in the heart of London, and then delivered a
letter of protest to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
In Austria, the national car drivers association has begun
collecting signatures on a petition calling for government
intervention against gasoline price hyperinflation. The call also
goes out to motorists in neighboring Germany and Switzerland. In
Germany, unrest about the fuel prices is voiced among farmers,
whose operating costs are rising to an extent that farming
profitability is threatened for many. Related to the rise of the
crude oil prices, is also the new round of price increases for
household gas, which in Germany will be 25% or more, as announced
by more than 100 gas companies. The price will be up before the
heating season, and add several hundred euros to the average
household heating and cooking bill. For about 50 years, the
prices of crude oil and natural gas have been coupled--a practice
by tacit private-sector agreement that has come under public
attack again and again in recent years. The broad public
discontent with the situation has compelled German Economics
Minister Michael Glos to threaten legal action against gas
companies, for violating anti-cartel regulations..
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