Points:
National Gas Price Average...as of March 22, 2012...drum roll please...no? Didn't think so, its $3.88 per gallon. Yeah, fun times. What's caused this recent increase? To understand that you need to understand world gas flow. There are a lot of nations that produce oil, these nations supply that oil to everyone else in addition to themselves. Simplified, these nations have a limit they can produce due to their production ability having limits. So when things in the world happen, like recent Libyans and Egyptians having enough of their governments tyrannical rule, oil flow can be halted or put in jeopardy like in the first Gulf War (where oil fields where set ablaze in an attempt to make America withdraw its forces). Libya, Egypt, and Syria (who is currently in a civil war) are all small players in oil production, but they still produce. We, being the smart country we are, do not want to buy oil from a few countries, but many to diversify for these reasons. We also diversify to limit a countries ability to place any sort of economical choke-hold on us as a sanction. Could you imagine if we obtained all our oil from a select few countries and they had a war break out? No bueno. Unfortunately, we aren't the only country in the world that imports these nations oil supplies so when i.e. Libya has a halt in oil production other countries go elsewhere to buy oil and oil producing countries produce at top level to meet demand. Yet, higher demand means higher rise in gas prices, because the world supply is limited. In other words, we buy it at a premium. Few countries have the ability to increase productivity, most stay at maximum output. So you can see how small disruptions can be massive in effect. This is a simplified way of how it works, without getting into why it doesn't really go back down to where it should.
- Why Sudanese government doesn't like Ugandan support of South Sudan?
- Why Sudanese government withdrew support of Kony after he was wanted by ICC?
- Why its good for U.S. to show support for Ugandan government?
Now Syria as I stated is in a civil war. Furthermore, some of you may have heard the U.S. is imposing sanctions on Iran, due to their nuclear pursuits. This has entailed a naval task force at the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran or other vessels of other countries from exporting Iranian oil. Now, as you may well know, we don't buy oil from Iran. Most of our oil actually comes from Canada, safe bet right...lol. However, a spike in prices occurred due to other countries demands for oil not being met due to this sanction, so they buy more oil from the places we get oil, higher demand, higher prices. So its an indirect effect caused by our actions. Sidenote: I approve these sanctions. Mostly because Iran's economy will crumble before ours due to gas prices. This means Iran doesn't get nuclear weapons, and potentially is overthrown by its people. There are a few countries I don't trust due to history, and Iran is one of them. Now back on topic, in addition to these current events, there is one more event taking place which relates to my beginning points.
The Sudan has had civil war for some time, ever heard of Darfur, educate yourself (this video is very graphic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzzg. The reasons seems to be simple, the government doesn't give the people a "fair shake". The people just want some civil rights and to be respected by being supported properly by their government. The last stronghold of these people are in a chain of communities along the south Sudan border. Now this region has been openly recognized as its own entity, South Sudan. Here's the key thing to remember about this situation, the people that want civil rights are non-combatants, meaning no weapons as of now. There is a fighting force for the South Sudan, but the people being attacked have no reason to be attacked. They aren't caching weapons and often South Sudanese forces aren't near them. So absolutely NO grounds for an attack or targeting civilians. A lot like the people (many women and children without arms in an attempt to demoralize rebel forces) in Homs, Syria who are being murdered by government forces for wanting rights. How's this relate to the need for U.S. interference and gas prices? The Sudan oil production pipe line "off/on switch" is in South Sudan. The South Sudan leadership has turned it off because the Sudan government is selling the oil to buy weapons that they use to kill the South Sudanese with. So why continue to supply your enemy with means? Makes sense. The problem here is that the U.S. and China are huge importers of oil. Guess who buys a lot of oil from Sudan? Chi...how'd you know? So if the oil is switched off, China has to buy elsewhere, oil continues to go up. So it makes sense for China and the U.S. to get together on this and end this quite frankly, genocide (more on this later). If you followed Egypt in its turmoil, you saw the U.S. who initially supported the Egyptian President switch to supporting the people. It is in the best interest of the U.S. to support who wins. If they hate you, they can refuse to give you oil. China needs to do something similar, it hates to end a built relationship with the Sudan, but the oil lies with South Sudan. So why not support them, it even looks good because you are protecting innocent civilians. This is the current issue you saw George Clooney arrested for just a week or so ago. They are attacking these people who are forced to live in caves because their randomly mortared. He supports the Satellite Sentinel Project which is designed to provide proof that these attacks aren't rebel led but government led. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSG_lpIXiQY
So we can see the oil and gas price side of things. So the Sudanese government didn't like Ugandan support in South Sudan because it limited and eventually led to total loss of oil control. It withdrew its support of Kony only because it wanted to have a good appearance to the world and hopefully get help to put down "rebels" or innocent civilians so it could regain oil control. At the very least it was to not be viewed in a negative light by world and draw attention to itself why it slaughtered non-combatants. Lastly, showing support to Ugandan government in their crisis, means they might help us resolve this "genocide?" in Sudan to more rapidly alleviate our gas prices.
Genocide?:
The reason I would call this genocide is because it is usually due to ethnicity or race that genocide occurs. Well, in this case its really just that, but whats happening is people who live in specific regions are being wiped out from attacks. So those people no longer exist or become refugees. They aren't chasing exactly and eradicating, but they are killing those that stay and removing these peoples way of life. Watch Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY1XuQZ4jVo.
My Take:
Ultimately, the time is coming when the Sudan government is going to unleash everything it has on South Sudan to regain oil control. Who's knows how long that will drag out? So the government needs to act now for its own interest, for YOUR interest. The window of opportunity is closing. So voice yourself to your reps. votesmart.org. We want cheaper gas right? Say it with me? We want cheaper gas...then do something about it, and at the same time save some lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UceKpupu1_g&feature=related Just the First 25 mins.