In the PEAK OIL NEWS, mid week update, edited by Tom Whipple, we find this bit of information. And you were wondering why Russia is interested in Georgia?
 
Georgia and the BTC pipeline

Shipments from Georgia’s Black Sea ports have stopped as Russian troops are blocking the railways and British Petroleum and the Azerbaijan oil company have halted shipments through the pipeline from Azerbaijan to Supsa on the Black Sea until the situation stabilizes. Russian troops are still storming around Georgia either blowing up or hauling back to Russia every last scrap of Georgian military hardware they can find. Despite a stream of protests from the US and the EU, the Russians are taking their time getting out of the country. BP says that the million b/d BTC pipeline that caught on fire August 5th is undergoing testing and will be back in service by early next week. The Turks are still officially denying that the fire was the result of a bombing by Kurdish separatists. If all goes well with the pipeline repairs and the Russians pull out of Georgia over the weekend, then exports of Azeri crude could return to normal in the next week or so. While Russia clearly has demonstrated the power to interrupt the flow of oil across Georgia at any time, it is doubtful that they will do so much longer. The million b/d coming from Azerbaijan is too important to the EU’s economy. Were the Russians to keep the export lines closed much longer, they would risk economic retaliation from outraged European governments.

Department of Public Works                         
Town of GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
Town Hall, 14 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301

Phone:  413-772-1528  Fax:  413-773-9593

To:        Mayor Forgey
From:    Sandra Shields
Date:     August 4, 2008  Updated 8/11/08
Re:        Annual Energy Report

Please find below actions taken by the Town and DPW to accomplish the Town’s energy reduction goals and promote a “greener” Greenfield.  My intent is to make this an annual report in order to track work accomplished and progress made toward that goal.  This report is divided into two sections:

A. Concrete steps the DPW has taken to reduce energy usage and costs in its buildings.
B. Steps the Town and DPW have taken to reduce emission, greenhouse gases and its carbon footprint. 

Complaint Calls for Examination into Wal-Mart's Intimidation of Workers 

(Washington, August 14) - - Today, the AFL-CIO, joined by other worker rights groups, filed a formal complaint with the FEC demanding they look into Wal-Mart's intimidation of workers. The complaint stems from a Wall Street Journal article that detailed the specific steps Wal-Mart took to encourage employees to vote against Sen. Obama because of his support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

RNs SAY: REMOVE THE TAKEAWAYS AND SETTLE AN EQUITABLE CONTRACT AT FMC 

CANTON, MA -- The Registered Nurses of the Baystate Franklin Medical Center picketed the hospital today in an attempt to inform the public about the negative effect management’s takeaways would have on the delivery of quality health care at the facility. The 230 RNs, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, have been in negotiations with Baystate management since last October.