<As I've written earlier, Europeans have learned the oil crisis the hard way; there's the North Sea offshore oil platforms, an extensive wind power stations program is starting in Belgium, plus nuclear energy still there, energy conservation. In short: diversity.

And about 1€ per liter of gasoline in the car... (One gallon is 3.8 liters, I believe and 1$ is 0.87€). Definitely not a good idea to waste a lot of gasoline.



Europe has developed differently in some ways due to high energy prices. For many years, the price of gasoline was held artificially low in the U.S. This may be one reason alternatives like trains did not develop to the extent they did in Europe. The fact that the U.S. is much larger than Europe is another factor.

Of course, I have many times applauded France for its healthy and realistic attitude about nuclear power.

Keep an eye on Russia. Their oil industry is going to be a major factor in the next decade.