Issue 65 Vol III, June 15, 2008

T H I S  O U R  N O R T H  A M E R I C A

Gas prices hitting the sky
Khushwant Toor writes from Toronto

GONE are the good old days when families used to venture out on cross country trips, with zero consideration for the fuel the car would consume. Practical do-able travel trips are turning into budget denting dream trips; thanks to the soaring gas (petrol prices) prices. So much so that people are offering silent prayers in the churches to the God almighty to lower oil prices.

In the Greater Toronto Area, oil price for a liter of gas was around $0.46 in 1998 and this week at some pumps in Toronto area it reached $1.35 per liter mark which is a 193.47% increase or say 2.93 times increase.  However, gasoline averaged $1.37 a liter across Canada during the first week of June. Montreal area in Quebec, Canada is the priciest at $1.48 a liter.

It is expected that it will cross $1.50 per liter during the peak summer days of 2008. Similar is the position in the United States. Crude oil prices have broken historical records since last year and peaked at $139 a barrel on June 6. Moscow-based Gazprom, which holds the world's largest reserves of natural gas, on June 10, predicted $250 per barrel for next year.

From daily commuters to the pizza delivery man and to the churchgoers every one is feeling a big pinch while filling up their tanks, not to mention the truck operators. The City of Toronto predicts it will be $600,000 over its $18 million fuel budget for 2008. The Toronto District School Board is anticipating a $1.5 million increase in fuel transportation costs for next year.

Hotels have started to offer gas gift coupons if you book a one night stay accommodation to lure the tourists. Incidents of gas theft being reported to the police are on the rise and so is the number of people filling and driving away without paying at the pumps. People are taking out their frustration at the gas pump owners.

Volunteer organizations which allow the general public to raise their voice against high gas prices are gaining popularity over the internet. One such organization, Gas Buddy, which operates cheap gas forums across North America including torontogasprices.com, clocked 1 million daily viewers throughout its network in January of this year. Now they're up to 5 million per day

Torontogasprices.com is a volunteer organization where consumers work together to fight high gas prices. The website works by having consumers, report local gas prices so that everyone can avoid high priced gas pumps and save money by filling up at lower prices pumps. Through out North America, in a typical city, gas prices vary by about 30-50 cents per gallon in the US or 10-15c/L in Canada. The fundamental behind such websites is that; if everyone buys gas at the lower priced stations, it puts pressure on the higher priced stations to lower their gas prices since their sales will decrease.

However, retailers generally get a gross margin of about five or six cents for each liter sold. They have to pay the same higher prices to buy the gas from the oil distribution companies. In fact, at the gas pumping stations the margins are declining. Gas stations have been seeing their credit card fees go up along with the cost of fuel, which eats into margins.

In the wake of higher oil prices, sales of gas guzzling sports utility and other heavy American made vehicles have dropped drastically and production of lighter, fuel efficient Japanese cars is on the rise in North America. Once known as the might of the United States, GM, in the first week of June 2008, in its latest series of cuts again announced to lay off about 2600 employees in the Oshawa, Ontario, plant alone. The Oshawa, plant produces Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra trucks, two of the heavy vehicles produced by the GM. The plant is expected to close in 2009. On the other hand Honda has increased production of their fuel efficient Honda Civic car, at the Alliston, Ontario, and plant in an effort to catch up with the higher demand.

With the fewer sales haunting the dealerships around Canada and the U.S., American car manufacturers are offering cash rebate incentives ranging from $5000 to $11000 per car. In an effort to stay competitive similar is the case with foreign car makers; but the rebate incentives offered are in comparison less than the American counterparts.

In Canada the federal government annually collects almost $4.7 billion in gasoline taxes but invests only a very small percentage of these proceeds on road construction and highway development? Consumers are resorting to now question the governments to lower the gas taxes imposed.

Analysis of the petroleum market points to the cost of crude oil as the main contributor to the record high gasoline prices that we are now suffering from.  The cost of crude oil accounts for about 73% of the gasoline pump price. World crude oil prices are at record highs due mainly to high worldwide oil demand relative to supply. Other contributing factors include political events and conflicts in some major oil producing regions, such as Iran, Iraq, Venezuela etc. As well the booming economies of India and China are being blamed for driving the crude oil demand around the world.

Besides that, gasoline prices typically increase during the spring and summer due to seasonal increase in demand and the additional cost of producing summer-grade “reformulated” gasoline required to meet air quality standards in many urban areas.

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Complex relationship of culture and politics
Dr. Amrik Singh writes from Sacramento

THE lack of authentic Punjabi identity manifests in people’s indifference towards language, literature, culture and politics. The fear of Punjabi’s extinction has awakened concerns in all sections of the society. The Patronizing efforts at the political and legislative levels have created a positive environment and hopes for the Punjabi renaissance.

Though Punjabi literature negotiated all historic movements for the betterment of the society, it could not root out the hold of ignorance, superstitions and apathy from the society. The globalization has introduced consumerist tendencies in Punjabi culture. The Punjabi music and dance have lost their distinct forms to the indignity and infamy of the counterfeit culture of the West. Drugs have seized Punjabi youths. Sports, no longer define their power and prowess. Punjabi Literature of the subalterns (Dalits) remained ignored in spite of the literary merit and wide acceptability.

These concerns were highlighted in the panel discussion organized by Punjabi Sahit Sabha California (Regd) on May 31, 2008 in Jimmy Restaurant Yuba City, California. Dr. Ronki Ram, Chairperson, Dept of Political Science Panjab University Chandigarh, Dr. Pirthipal Singh Sohi of Government College Ludhiana, Prof. Pritam Singh of Union City and Dr. Karmjit Singh Brar of GHG Khalsa College Gursar Sadhar Ludhiana comprised the panel. The program was especially organized to honor intellectuals from India, Dr. Ronki Ram and Prithipal Singh Sohi.

The audience responded positively to two hours of intense discussion that enlightened them on the key issues. Punjabi Sahit Sabha California has decided to continue in future with ‘Discussion Forum’ to conduct lectures, panel discussions and debates. President of the Sabha,  Harbans Singh Jagyasu introduced panelists on the stage. Two minutes silence was observed to mourn deaths of Ulfat Bajwa and Harpal Singh Chohan.

Politics, literature and culture are bound in a complex relationship that influences dreams, hopes and aspirations of a nation. The progress, prosperity and overall destiny of a nation are dependent on these feelings. The mother tongue provides stability to the ethnic identity and also extricates its people from the self-loathing and inferiority complexes.

Dr. Amrik Singh moderating the discussion asked Dr. Ronki Ram about threats of extinction to Punjabi Language in the next 50 years. Dr. Ronki Ram referred to the period from 1799-1849 in Punjab history when Punjabi language could have won the respect and admiration but did not. The symbols of unity (Punjabi language and sub-cultures) became faint, the society experienced division and undercurrents of hatred. Though Punjabi has got official patronage for the first time, the positive results are still awaited.

Interrelationship of Politics, literature and culture defines both love and coldness for the mother tongue. Obscene, consumerist and selfish interests can be defeated by creating a sense of pride for the Punjabi identity. He also said that caste, class and religion based hatred is counterproductive to Punjabi culture. Prof. Pritam Singh pointed out that the tendency to steal ideas of other writers for self promotion has dogged some writers. It has done a great disservice to readers who shy away from Punjabi books. Dr. Karmjit Singh Brar said that sports remained an important part of Punjabi identity, but unfortunately good players are discouraged by officials like KPS Gill who use sports for enjoying power.

At the end, the discussion was open to the audience. Sumittar Uppal, Manjit Kaur Sekhon, Jyoti Singh, Mohinder Singh Ghagg asked questions from the panelists. It increased more interest in discussion.

Dr. Ronki Ram and Pirthipal Singh Sohi were given plaques of honor.  After lunch,  Kavi and Kahani Darbar (poetical recitation and story reading) was held.  Dr. Jasbir Kaur Brar, Tara Singh Sagar and Prithipal Singh Sohi presided over the session. Tatinder Kaur and Rabinder Atwal read their stories. Kamal Banga conducted the stage for the afternoon session. Gurcharan Singh Jakhmi, Abhi Saini, Parminder Singh Rai, Makhan Lohar, Ram Pal, Mohan Gill, Subedar Joginder Singh, Dr. Amrik Singh, Kamal Banga, Manjit Kaur Sekhon, Mohinder Singh Ghagg, Santokh Gill, Jyoti Singh, Tara Singh Sagar, Neelam Saini, Simran Kaur Dhillon, Harbans Singh Jagyasu, Dr. PS Sohi, Dr. Jasbir Brar, Gurbachan Chopra, Manjit Dhillon, Ranjit Singh Kandola, Iqbal Johal, Prem Sondhi participated in the Kavi Darbar Parminder Rai presented each member with his three books and an audio- cassette.

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Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control
Next stage of occupation

BUSH wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors in Iraq. According to a fiercely independent British  newspaper, The Independent, a secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

The Indpdent also said, “The terms of the impending deal, details of which The Independent reported on Kune 5 are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.”

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the powerful and usually moderate Iranian leader, said yesterday that such a deal would create "a permanent occupation". He added: "The essence of this agreement is to turn the Iraqis into slaves of the Americans."

Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is believed to be personally opposed to the terms of the new pact but feels his coalition government cannot stay in power without US backing.

Now this is being talked aboput open in Washington’s politiical  circles. The accord could threaten to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November.

The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate, John McCain, who has claimed the United States is on the verge of victory in Iraq – a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal.

America currently has 151,000 troops in Iraq and, even after projected withdrawals next month, troop levels will stand at more than 142,000 – 10 000 more than when the military "surge" began in January 2007. Under the terms of the new treaty, the Americans would retain the long-term use of more than 50 bases in Iraq. American negotiators are also demanding immunity from Iraqi law for US troops and contractors, and a free hand to carry out arrests and conduct military activities in Iraq without consulting the Baghdad government.

The US has repeatedly denied it wants permanent bases in Iraq but one Iraqi source according to The Independent said: "This is just a tactical subterfuge." Washington also wants control of Iraqi airspace below 29,000ft and the right to pursue its "war on terror" in Iraq, giving it the authority to arrest anybody it wants and to launch military campaigns without consultation.

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