With the price of gas promising to be in the $3.00 range thissummer, a gas war has been started via the Internet. E-mail hadbeen circling the Internet trying to get people to protest Exxonand Mobile (now one company) because they are two of the biggestoil producers.  

The idea is that this type of protest isbetter than boycotting gas on one day because people still need tobuy gas. Boycott organizers say that buyers need to take aggressiveaction. “The only way we are going to see the price of gascome down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasingtheir gas…If they are not selling any gas they will beinclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, theother companies will have to follow suit.”  

“I think protests like these areimportant,” said sophomore radio, tv and film major, MelaniePate. “The problem is people don’t know aboutit.” 

Another group operating on the website www.targetoil.com,is protesting gas prices for an entirely different reason. Theyclaim that the price of oil is too high and that America should notgo to war over oil. They are calling for worldwide participationand recently held protests across the globe.  

“[We] sent a powerful message of NO WARFOR OIL today. Demonstrators condemned military action and calledon the Bush and Blair Administrations to reduce their nations?Dependence on oil is a key step toward sane national security andenergy policies.” According to the web site. “Thousandsof citizens in both the US & UK, many who had never beforeparticipated in anti-war activities, educated their neighbors atthe point where the conflict is “fueled” every day. Hundreds of gasstations in both the U.S. and the U.K. saw street theater,leafleting, pageantry, and displays of alternatively fueledvehicles.” 

They are backed by many organizationsincluding, Baltimore Coalition to End War and Terrorism,Greenpeace, Student Environmental Action Coalition and Black Voicesfor Peace. 

“Gas prices are ridiculous. I’mfrom California and our prices are always the highest in thecountry” said junior Daniel Russell, “I know when I gethome I’m going to be paying $2.50 to $3. What am I supposedto do not drive?” 

Not only are gasoline prices a hot politicalissue but also becoming an economic issue because sales of SUVs andtrucks have slowed down enough to cause concern.