Let more oil be discovered. Let alternatives take shape. Let this happen and that. But what are we doing. We always wait for some noble soul's sacrifice. We talk about ills of subsidies all the time but there are other ideas as well. Here are some thoughts that are lodged within my grey cells.
1) Carpools: Let US figure out if we can form car pools for travelling to work and back. Imagine the benefits: Money saved, opportunity to engage with others which will help take the boredom out of the otherwise mundane activity.
2) Work out of home: Do we really need to burn that oil every day. Does it make such a big difference by being there. Are we using technology to get smart. What do we do in the office? Most of us hold meetings. Can't we alternately link through a conference call instead. And since we can access our mail box from anywhere literally ( thanks to Blackberry) do we need to burn fuel for sending it from the office? I am convinced that quality of work will improve if people save the daily monotony.
3) Build better roads and cut the red tape: If only the government had a heart for the future generations and expedite infrastructure projects, oil inflation would hurt us a lot less. Good infrastructure not only saves fuel but also time and stress and truly enriches life. Why do people in Delhi who are otherwise infamous for being rowdy are so protective about the metro. Good infrastructure disciplines, brings joy, saves money and time. If there was quality public transportation I am convinced people would prefer it over private cars.
It is in our hands to bring down the demand and ease inflationary forces. If each one of us takes one small step the aggregation of all steps with generate enough power to make a difference for one and all. Hope this piece will move you to move less.
