The way the oil giants are behaving, especially ExxonMobil (it being the one most against investing in alternative fuels), on what they are doing to help mitigate the high gas prices and global warming.
Price fixing was explored for both corporations as well as the influence of OPEC. While some may still argue that price fixing is occurring others say that it is the free market deciding.
Many people are involved in all of these controversies including but not limited to:
- Individuals like you and I;
- Corporations (Some like Toyota and Honda have a large stake with their Hybrid Technology);
- Power companies (they buy some energy from renewable sources);
- Oil companies (ie. ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, BP);
- Local, State & Federal Governments (ie. Investigations & tax breaks);
- Scientists (paid by various parties on both sides of the issues);
- OPEC; and
- Activist groups.
These are only some of the examples of those that act upon each other to further their beliefs. While many people can form their own opinions, many times it is flawed as they are using information provided by a group that expresses some bias. In order to create a completely unbiased opinion, one would have to perform their own tests and monitor the experiments themselves which are (1) too costly, (2) lack of education or technical training makes it difficult and (3) absence of proper equipment prevent some experiments.
Overall, the issues of our world concerning green house gasses and energy, be it fossil fuels or alternative energy, will never go away. As long as there are profits to be made by big oil companies and countries, and the thinking of many people on the earth about driving, our world's energy will be at the center of our focus for many years or decades to come.