October 2005

OIL' is (not) well
Nishtha Singhal
(LACS Delhi 2004, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi, nishtha_ice@yahoo.com)  

Extremely late, but, the realization, that water and electricity must be saved has finally 'dusked' on us, the residents of privileged earth, particularly India and more specifically, Delhi.

In the sweltering Delhi heat, we have gone without water for days together and cursed rain gods during perpetual power cuts. So, we can no longer afford to (both physically and financially) ignore the need for judicious use of water and electricity.

But, before we knew it, another 'crisis of shortage' came knocking at our door. The visitor has been hovering over the earth for decades, but has now finally set foot onto it.

If you're still clueless, here you go ­­-- it's the oil crisis.

O-I-L – the 'bottom-lying' and 'bottom line' of all life on earth is scarcer than ever.

The oil crisis, which is believed to fuel USA's unilateral and hegemonic foreign policy, now confronts us in our everyday life.

Of the 86 million barrels that the world's oil wells produce in a day, 84.5 million are consumed. With demand and supply hugging each other and setbacks such as terrorist attacks, natural calamities etc. always knocking at the door; the vulnerability of supply to fall behind demand cannot be overlooked.

As there is negligible probability of an increase in supply, the result is… skyrocketing oil prices.

To prevent prices from crossing unimaginable limits, there is, but one solution – reducing consumption.

Among all fallouts of an oil crisis, the panic-politics that it triggers at the international level, hogs most of the limelight. The impact of unaffordable prices on the common man remains unattended to.

In the case of India, the public long remained under an illusion. In spite of oil prices going over the roof globally, they thought the government will manage to protect the low prices here.

But, now, the bubble has burst.

Exhausted in the race to escape high oil prices, the government has passed the baton on to us, the public.

Now what?

It's high time we realize the gravity of the situation.  Let's start saving oil, or else, the crisis will fuel unmanageable fires in our pockets.

So, it's bicycle time folks!

But, who can ride bicycles on Delhi roads?

Well, that's another crisis all together.
 

Centre for Civil Society
K 36 Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi  110 016 Tel: 011 26537456, Fax: 26512347, Web: www.ccsindia.org

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