Pipelines to power
Oil pipelines are supposed to bring power to the people, but Chris Richards finds conflict and corruption littering their length.

Pipedreams
The facts and fictions behind the PR hype used to build Africa's Chad-Cameroon pipeline.

Once upon a pipeline.
James Marriott and Greg Muttitt tell tales of how public funds used for private projects will rob the people of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia.

Moths to the flame
In Colombia's civil war, the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline keeps both the Government and guerrillas in arms. Pick the true terrorist with Jason Hagen.

Paying the pipers - THE FACTS
Who's got oil, who wants it and who profits from it.

The blessed curse
Asia's richest country is trying to take oil and gas away from Asia's poorest country. Quinton Temby uncovers some devious diplomacy.

And the oil runneth over
A gallery of spills, explosions and flares from around the world.

Running on empty
Oil's running out. Adam Porter surveys the consequences.

Kicking the oil-habit
Alternative approaches to oil consumption and transportation.

True gold of our future
Costa Rica has banned oil exploration. Mark Engler and Nadia Martinez find out how.

There they were, blowing all over the park. A public park, where city dwellers come for play and enjoyment. A milk-crate-load of magazines, just dumped! I know it was a crate-load because that's what I carted them away in. I had to. Because although they weren't MY magazines, it was part of MY world that they were littering.

All very noble. But I had to laugh. For while I was taking environmental responsibility for that pile of magazines, I was thinking how irresponsible I am about oil consumption. You see, I drive a car that uses a tank of petrol every fortnight. Even though its emissions are contributing to climate change. Even though the oil that flows in abundant amounts down the world's pipelines towards my petrol tank causes conflict, death and destruction along the way. So why do I do it?

I can give you many excuses. For instance, Australians like me often drive long distances to get to inaccessible places for work, holidays and celebrations, so cars are a feature of our lives. Travelling on trams and trains is much more relaxing than going by car, but with time pressing against other public and family commitments, it seems to take longer than I've often got.

These excuses are understandable, but they're prolonging the inevitable. Oil is running out. Soon it will cost more than I can afford to pay. One story in this magazine describes how Costa Ricans have taken admirable strides to break their country's oil dependence. I'm inspired. If a country can do it, why can't I?

Chris Richards
for the New Internationalist
Co-operative
chrisr@newint.com.au