Noah approached me with an interesting idea: No Gas Day.
It’s simple, try your best to not use gas on May 22nd. That’s the day Noah has chosen. I think that one day isn’t enough, think of it as January 1st: it’s a day to make a resolution. Starting May 22nd I resolve to use less gas. Not becuase I hate Exxon, not becuase I think it’s bad for the environment: it’s bad for me!
I’m spending an extra $10 to fill my tank than I did last year. I drive enough that I have to fill up every 2 or 3 weeks. Some simple math shows that I’m out over $250 each year because prices have shifted. Economics suggests I need to shift my demand (or supply, whichever way you see it) curve and use a bit less. It really can’t be too hard, I have a free bus pass for goodness sakes!
I’ve seen a few petitions and things spread around but this is different. This is a blog meme: something that we hope to pass around the internet through bloggers. If blogs are as powerful as they say they are then why wouldn’t something like this get noticed? I’m thinking social change here, not a “lets lower gas prices by collectively complaining.” I see this as an opportunity to start thinking differently about usage. So, why wouldn’t every blogger make a little post tagged “nogasday” and spread the idea?
Seriously, bloggers are (for the most part) very self-centered and are only interested in a) their taffic, b) their earnings, c) theirselves or any mixture of the three. Why else do you think I have the Feedburner button over on the right side of my site?
My point is this: I wish a few bloggers would see some value in spreading this idea. It’s not an attempt to get the government/oil companies/prices to change. It’s an attempt to get ourselves to change. Who deserves a break more than I do? I wish some people out there had some interesting conservation ideas/tips/stories.
Anyway, I’ll be very interested to see if a) enough people would be willing to post their thoughts about this and b) actively resolve to make some sort of change next week.
Here’s Noah’s original post (with very interesting comments) and here’s Derek’s post with buttons made available.
[tags]nogasday, gasoline, oil, prices, conservation[/tags]
Good idea but aren’t you just putting off your eventual buying? Why not just slow down and everybody drives 55mph for a day? I went from filling up every 4 days to filling up every 5 days.
Sorry, dont’ want to rain on your gas free day :P
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp
Hi Craig, unfortunately that will only work on extended trips. Now, if you’re planning on taking long road trips this summer then yes, thats my point, start considering conserving gas via tips like that: slow down. Here’s a good article on gas saving myths. I’m not putting off an eventual purchase though. I’m resolving to change my habits entirely…
Darryl, try re-reading my post. You may have saved yourself some embarassment. I’ll highlight some points: “I
I wouldn’t say i’m embarrased at all. I clicked through on the logo and inferred that in some part you were supporting the idea behind the button. From the linked site:
“We want eveyone to try to use as little or no gas as possible on May 22nd to let the gas companies know how we feel. So what can you do?”
So perhaps I was reacting on the wrong blog….
Everyone knows people only read the first and last paragraph :P
Sorry for the confusion. I agree with the concept… kinda. In any case, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. ;-)
N.P. i’m a long time subscriber :-)
Haha, so this isn’t the first dumb post you’ve had to endure…
Er….
No comment?
:P
The only method that will truly work would be if everyone boycotted a specific gas company for a month. For example for the month of June Speedway gets the boycott and no one buys gas at any Speedway location, July BP Amoco gets the boycott, August, Shell gets the boycott, Sept. Marathon, Oct. Citgo and so on…..
I really believe if we put this boycott together correctly and got media attention gas price will plummet. This no gas day will just force more people to the pump the day prior and the day after. You have to start hurting “big oil” like they are hurting us, in the wallet and one at a time. Mark my words it will work!!!!!!
Roger D. Lis
Culinary Arts
Thornridge High School
Lis.roger @district205.net
LISTEN UP AMERICA, BP IS THE MAIN CULPRIT OF RIPPING THE AMERICANS. IT IS CALLED BRITISH PATROLIUM. IT WAS ALL WELL TILL THEY BOUGHT AMOCO AND STARTED BUILDING BIGGER AND BIGGER GAS STATIONS. THEY BOUGHT OUT LOTS OF CLARK STATIONS AND CLOSED THEM TO REDUSE COMPETITION. BP SAID THAT GAS IS TO CHEAP AT 99 CENTS/GALLON IN AMERICA, IT SHOULD BE THREE DOLLARS. LAST YEAR IT TOPPED $3.00. THIS YEAR GOAL IS TO TOP $4.00 PER GALLON. IT WAS BP’S IDEA AND ALL GAS COMPANIES ARE LOOTING THE AMERICANS. WATCH IN YOUR TOWN BP WILL ALWAYS BE THE FIRST ONE TO RAISE PRICE. MEDIA AND POLITICIANS ARE NOT DOING ANY THING TO HELP THE PUBLIC. IS THERE A REAL SHORTAGE TO JUSTIFY OVER 70% INCREASE IN THREE MONTHS. IT IS PURE GREED. FOR LAST THREE YEARS COMPANIES PROFITS HAVE GONE UP BY BILLION AND BILLIONS, OIL COMPANY’S CEO’S BONUSES HAVE GONE UP BY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. HOW MUCH THESE THUGS NEED TO LIVE ON, DON’T THEY KNOW THEY CAN NOT A PENNY WITH THEM WHEN THEY DIE. IT IS ALL GOING TO BE LEFT HERE.
TWO YEARS IN A ROW SENATE HELD HEARINGS ABOUT THE OIL COMPANY’S PROFITS. WHAT DID THE POLITICIANS DO, THEY BELIEVE THE OIL COMPANY’S CEO THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO REDUSE DEMAND BY JACKING UP THE PRICE. WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT BUT SOME HOW THEY MAKE EVERY ONE BELIEVE THAT STUPID LOGIC. THEY SAY THERE IS SHORTAGE. WHERE IS THE SHORTAGE, YOU DO NOT SEE ANY STATION CLOSE AT 4.00 PM FOR LACK OF GASOLINE. OVER 80% ARE OPEN 24/7. THEY ARE ROBBING THE PUBLIC. IT WILL NOT STOP TILL THE PUBLIC REVOLTS. JUST BEFORE THE NO GAS DAY MAY 15, PRICE OF GAS WENT UP 26 CENTS. AMERICANS NEED TO SHOW THE OIL CEO’S THAT THEY ARE NOT STUPID. AND ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THE GAS STATION OWNERS WHEN THEY SAY THAT THEY ONLY MAKING A NICKLE/GALLON. WITH NICKLE PER GALLON THEY COULD NOT EVEN PAY ELECTRIC BILL. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
1. DO NOT BUY ANY GAS FROM BP
2. DO NOT BUY GAS ON WENESDAYS.
3. ONLY BUY GAS FROM THE GAS STATION, NOTHING ELSE, NO POP, NO COFFEE, NO DONUTS, NO PAPER.