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Friday, April 21, 2006
Espinoza: Cool it, Bush, for humanity’s sake
By Fred C. Espinoza
I wish US President George W. Bush would stop throwing dagger looks at Iran to ease tension in the Persian Gulf and help restore sanity in the world oil market, for the sake of humanity.
I really wouldn’t mind if he keeps telling his minions and the rest of the world that the Philippines is the “laggard of Asia,” as long as he will not push the entire world into the brink of a nuclear war.
Reports say crude oil futures surged to fresh record-highs on the global market last Tuesday amid growing fears of a possible military conflict between the United States and Iran. Some friends in the business community said they wish America would stop pestering Iran with nasty innuendoes, which can only heighten fears among the people of Iran of a looming attack by American forces.
Here at home, it would require at least a lightning jolt from the global energy sector to get our leaders to sit down and plan together strategies to cushion the impact of surging oil prices.
Right now, the future seems hazy as the mitigating measures of the Arroyo administration require the involvement of private investors and a longer gestation period before the relief can be felt among the poor. On the other hand, the Senate is reportedly moving closer to a measure mandating the use of locally produced fuel in the transport sector.
Three Senate committees—energy, agriculture and food, and finance—approved Senate Bill 226, the proposed Biofuels Act of 2006, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil by tapping biofuels like those obtained from plants and animals.
I’m sure many Filipinos would rather endure the long wait for economic relief than see ourselves reduced to a mere collateral damage in the aftermath of a nuclear war.
Cool it, Mr. Bush!
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 21, 2006 issue)
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