$100 Oil Sparks Global Unrest as Iran War Continues
The global energy crisis has sparked widespread protests and unrest as oil prices surge above $100 per barrel. The ongoing conflict in Iran, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and escalating fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have all contributed to the strain on global energy supplies.
Protests have erupted in countries across Asia, including Indonesia, where residents are facing shortages of gasoline and cooking gas alongside rolling blackouts. Taxi drivers in Makassar protested against fuel rationing, while a student demonstration against rising prices in Yogyakarta was broken up.
In the Philippines, transport workers launched protests demanding fuel subsidies and lower taxes. Fishermen around Manila Bay have found that soaring diesel and gasoline costs make returning to sea unaffordable.
Europe is also feeling the squeeze, with fishermen blocking oil terminals and fuel depots in southern France to protest soaring diesel costs and deteriorating working conditions. The French government has responded by extending targeted fuel assistance through the end of the year and raising aid available to fishermen.
Latin America is not immune either, with truckers, trade groups, and other demonstrators blocking roads over fuel prices in Guatemala. The President has accused criminal groups and political rivals of exploiting legitimate public dissatisfaction to provoke violence and destabilize his government.