Oil Prices Prompt Protest In Paris, London

(AP)  Truckers and taxi drivers slowed traffic around Paris' business district to a crawl Tuesday in a protest over rising fuel prices, and hundreds of fishermen demonstrated in London to demand government help.

Dozens of trucks and taxis in Paris drove slowly toward and around the headquarters of oil giant Total SA in La Defense, site of the main financial district, to protest a new tax on heavily polluting vehicles.

Authorities said the operation snarled traffic on several highways.

Farmers elsewhere in France blocked ports and oil terminals as part of protests started by fishermen last month demanding government aid to help compensate for high fuel costs.

Fishermen from around the United Kingdom demonstrated in central London on Tuesday to demand their government's help in coping with soaring fuel prices.

Hundreds of fishermen gathered outside the London headquarters of the department responsible for food, seeking financial support for an industry they say is especially vulnerable to rising fuel costs.

Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organizations, said the cost of fuel for fishing boats was making it impossible for many in the industry to keep going.

"Boats are going out to sea and fish for five days in terrible conditions and we're not getting enough to even pay our crews," he said.

World oil prices have been climbing for months, and topped $135 a barrel on May 22. They have since fallen slightly but remain at near-record levels.

[downsteamjim]

We can''t protest the failure to drill ANWAR; failure to construct new refineries; failure to build new nuclear power plants; failure to drill offshore. We may have high fuel prices but we are politically correct.

[dobbershome]

ndjam:

Sorry to admit it but I think you''re right. I think more people would be willing to protest but just don''t know where to start. Hifh fuel cost are killing our economy--airlines,food,truckers ect... I think when things get bad enough people will speak up.

[downsteamjim]

There is already a huge oil derrick in Paris. It''s called the Eiffle Tower.

[ndjam]

By the way, if the price of a gallon of gas goes up to $10.00 we will do nothing about it. Nothing but continue are everyday misery.

[ndjam]

The reason why the protests are not happening here in the U.S. is because the American people are cowards. Look at the unity in France, the unity in the U.K, the unity in Bulgaria(Last week gas stations were set on fire there prompting for a tax relief on ALL gas. Those countries that I just mentioned the people stand united together and protest violently. Thats how you get things done. Here in the U.S we all fear losing our jobs, we fear not getting a raise, we fear ending up homeless.. All the U.S government puts in our heads is FEAR, FEAR, FEAR. That is why we should change the name to the Cowardly States of America (C.S.A) Not the U.S.A. There is nothing united about us.

[beehive21-2009]

How ? "How come there are no protest in this country?I guess nobody cares enough. " / dobbershome ? the Americans blow up, all at once ?

[dobbershome]

I think most people are afraid of "big brother"

[wearedoomed]

Americans don''t stick together anymore like other countries back in the day Americans helped one another now everything is so high people don''t think of others they are just looking out for themselves trying to make it transfer trucks should shut down for awhile along with every other kind of transporters and maybe something would happen but truck drivers and others need to make a living too and so it is almost impossible to do but it will happen eventually

[dobbershome]

Lochlan:

I''m not being critical of the French. I think it''s great that their trying to make a statement along with England.

[lochlan-2009]

How come there are no protest in this country?I guess nobody cares enough.

Posted by dobbershome

It''s amazing how Americans love to say how cowardice the French are. Don''t see Americans protesting the torch or war or gas or.... What a sad state America has become, all of us hoping someone else will step up and solve our problems.