In view of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Yingluck government should launch a nationwide campaign for energy conservation.
Iran's decision to stop selling oil to the United States and the United Kingdom has pushed up global oil prices. As a net oil importer, Thailand will bear the brunt of this new crisis. We cannot afford to be extravagant. We must employ every possible means to reduce oil consumption in the country.
The government must lead the way. But so far we have not seen any government campaign to cut oil consumption in the country. Several oil substitution programmes have already been launched in the past several years. Now is the time to promote them, along with a concerted effort to lower oil consumption.
It is the government's duty to raise public awareness of the need to reduce oil consumption. Oil and energy operators, as well as private think-tanks, must lend a hand. The energy conservation campaign must continue indefinitely, even when there are no oil shortages, for long-term gain.
People must be made to realise that energy sources _ oil, gas and coal _ do not last forever. We must use them wisely, economising for the country's sake. Since oil and gas prices have an impact on production and transportation, they contribute to the cost of living. Thus, if we do not try to conserve energy, we might one day have a food price crisis.