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Japanese fishermen to go on strike over fuel costs
Tokyo (AFP) June 25, 2008 Japan's national federation of some 200,000 fishermen on Wednesday called for a one-day strike next month to urge the government to take action against soaring fuel costs. The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (Zengyoren) said that the work stoppage was scheduled for July 15 to "address the plight of fishermen and seek effective government measures." "The global price spiral of crude oil has caused the prices of fuel for fishing boats to soar to about three times the level of five years ago," the organisation said in a statement. It said fuel now accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the fishermen's operational costs. "If we continue operating in this situation, it will leave us in a growing deficit and eventually force us to suspend and discontinue operations," the statement said. The federation groups about 1,000 fishery cooperatives and almost all of the 200,000 fishermen in Japan, which has one of the world's largest fishing industries but virtually no natural energy resources. Japanese squid fisherman already went on a two-day strike last week. More than 3,000 of the about 4,500 squid fishing boats in Japan were being kept idle at port, the federation said earlier. Parts of Asia including India and Indonesia have seen large street protests against hikes in fuel prices. Crude oil prices have soared to almost 140 dollars a barrel this month before dropping back slightly amid concerns about supply in the Middle East and rising demand in emerging economies. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology
Florida megadeal aims to restore fabled wetlands, close US Sugar
Washington (AFP) June 25, 2008Florida has reached a tentative 1.75-billion-dollar deal to buy the largest US sugar producer and turn its vast swaths of farmland into reservoirs to protect the fabled Everglades wetlands, US media reported Wednesday. |
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