With supply and demand for oil on a knife-edge it doesn't take much to send prices higher.

Europe, the US and UK are all suffering from soaring energy prices which is driving inflation higher.

Oil-producing nations could pump more – they have the rest of the world over a barrel – literally.

There is no question that if OPEC (the oil producing nations) made the right noises the price of a barrel would come down and the price of petrol and diesel would fall dramatically.

But will they? Like hell they will. They, like this government, are benefiting considerably through the high price of oil.

So, we see the cost of fuel, and in turn, electricity and gas prices, climb ever higher and we're all going to have a pretty bleak time paying to keep our homes warm this coming winter.

It's all doing a better job than ever Bin Laden did with the Twin Towers. It all smacks of big time economic terrorism.

You had better save that extra £120 in tax relief the government has so kindly awarded us – you will need it to keep warm in the winter.

On the subject of the £120 tax "gift" thanks to this government's appalling fiasco over the 10p tax, it's being given at the worst possible time when the country can least afford it.

People can expect a £60 lump sum in September pay packets, followed by a £10 monthly increase until the end of the year.

The rich won't get it because the level at which 40p tax is paid will rise by £600 to £35,400, so the most well-off would not gain more.

It will push 150,000 people into the higher 40p tax rate. What a shame!

It's about time the government looked at this higher rate of tax and introduced another 50p band for incomes over £100,000.

And what will that extra £120 do? Not much when it's calculated that families are already £600 worse off through food, fuel and car running costs going through the roof.

Motorists give bus drivers a hard time

I've been doing my bit for the environment (and my wallet) by using my over-60s bus pass. A lift into work by my wife and a trip home on the bus saves at least £1 a day in diesel.

It's been quite an education travelling on the bus at the rush hour and my heart goes out to bus drivers trying to cope with motorists doing everything they can to get in front of the bus.

I am the first to admit my guilt as a motorist, but seeing it from the bus driver's perspective is a real education.

I would suggest every motorist takes an occasional trip on a bus in the rush hour and see what bus drivers have to put up with.

With petrol and diesel now well over £5 a gallon, I would have expected fewer vehicles on the road by now.

I wonder by how much fuel has to go up at the pumps before a substantial number of people leave their cars at home?

Mind you, I'm all right with my bus pass, but paying full fare on the buses is still more expensive than the car, particularly when you factor in the sky-high price of car parking.

Talking about car parking, bright spark Socialists in one city council are planning to tax businesses who have more than 10 staff car parking spaces. That's all businesses need.

Burmese crimes against humanity

The heartbreaking news coming out of Burma daily in the aftermath of the cyclone is beyond belief.

The dreadful military government should be rounded up and put before the International Court at for crimes against humanity.

It's disgusting that any tin pot government should have the right to deny international help when thousands of its people are dying.

At the time of writing there's a ship filled with aid 50 miles off the coast, denied access by the junta.

There are too many pathetic, selfish governments around the world, and this world will never become a better place until there is an international force powerful and determined enough to deal effectively with them.

The cyclone in Burma, earthquake in China and tornados in the US, killing hundreds of thousands of people, demonstrate how dangerous a world we live in.

The last thing we need in addition is corrupt governments of any persuasion looking after their own interests, creating the most unimaginable suffering.

I have seen the appalling pictures coming out of China. This is the most earthquake-prone area in the world, yet they build high-rise blocks.

I hope they will learn a lesson and re-build only single storeys.