An interesting week, all in all. I have, like many others been following the mine rescue in Tasmania, it just goes to show that, even when the shit hits the fan and the worst things happen. That attention to safety standards can minimize the loss of life in mining. The US of course, led by the great George Bush, who does not give a fig over the loss of a few miners lives as long as the profits keep coming. Could look to Tasmania and the unionized workforce there as to how to run a safer mining industry. The two miners should be free in a few hours. The loss of their work mate is a sad thing, but at least these two are going to be safe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4974276.stm


WASHINGTON -- High pump prices are pinching the pocketbooks of seven in 10 Americans, a financial hardship that more middle- and higher-income drivers say they are starting to feel, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-gaspoll07.html

One of the solutions put forward to help alleviate the problem is to use public transport more, well in the US apart from a couple of major cites there is no public transportation system, it is at best fragmented or adhoc, we have spent our infrastructure money over several generations on more roads to accommodate the ever increasing numbers of cars, not on a cheap, workable and reliable public transport system, we have made some halfhearted attempts in some cites but not near enough to go to change the car usage of the average American driver.
We can not in any way blame the American driver for this system, many if not all have absolutely no alternative to using private transportation, there is no usable public transport available to get to work and back, go shopping or even go to the movies in most American cities.
There have been some suggestions put forward to make more use of hybrid cars, well not many people I know can afford one of those, even if they could get their hands on one.
The real answer is an American Government has to make some tough choices on mandating new car pollution levels and to make those cars more fuel efficient, the new mandates just given to the industry by the Federal Government on those issues are laughable, it seems that the power of the oil and car lobbies along with their money have once again bought an Administration.
If any change is to happen the American people need to make far more noise and let their elected representatives know that they are ready for major change. The current cost of gas at nearly $3 might actually be the spur needed to effect change.