Axis of Evil

map found at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwealth/azerbaijan_pol_2004.jpg

While Azerbaijan's main export is oil (approximately 90% of all exports), 49% of the population remains below the poverty line. This is not due to lack of work, unemployment is lower than that in the US, in 2006 the average rate was 1.2%. The problem in this energy rich country is the age old have's verses the have not's issue. A small percent of the population owns the majority of the resources.

One would hope that the government would put measures in place to raise the standard of living for all of the civilians. But when your government is run by the very same people who control the resources, the voice of the underdog is very small. Freedom of press is limited, and dangers to the journalists who speak out against policies, created to increase the wealth of the already staggeringly wealthy, often include death threats.

Is oil the root of all evil in the world today? It certainly incites greed, as corrupt owners of this valuable resource lust after power and wealth. It incites wars and corruption. It brings death to those who fight for it, as well as the environment in many ways. The Caspian sea is polluted from oil spills, rendering it practically unusable. Animals of all sorts who come in contact with the material have little chance of survival. Air pollution is thick with smog, although it does offer more beautiful sunsets. Vehicle emissions worldwide are adding to the looming problem of global warming.

All these points to consider lead me to wonder if our world would not be better off without this natural resource.

Information taken from:
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/2/45522DAB-9C03-41A2-974B-A4D2B26292F0.html

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/aj.html

Limited Supplies

Map of Tajikistan taken from http://www.tjus.org/

It seems rather ironic that a country amidst a wealth of fuel would find it necessary to limit energy use for the general population. According to the CIA factbook Tajikistan has one of the lowest GDP rates of the fifteen former Soviet countries. In 2006 unemployment rates hit 12% and 64% of the population lives below poverty.

Among it's many natural resources, natural gas supplies are limited. In 2004 Tajikistan produced 39 million cubic meters of gas, but consumed 1.389 billion cubic meters. With energy prices soaring as they have, you can imagine the costs to import gas for daily operations. https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ti.html

Because Tajikistan's primary gas distributor, Tajikgaz, gets its gas from Uzbekistan--who has apparently doubled the price of gas. Because they owe Uzbekistan approximately $3 million, and Tajikgaz has only received payment for 40% of the gas they have supplied to the state (both industrial and residential), they have decided to limit the hours of the day in which gas will be available. Tajikgaz Director, Shakvat Shoimav, will be limiting gas availability, for households, to only SIX hours per day until a solution to the debt is found. http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/depeches.php?idp=1497

These measures may seem extremely harsh, but at the same time--at least they have not entirely shut off the gas to the consumers who have been unable to pay. while the hours of the day in which people are able to use gas is limited, they are still able to cook, do laundry, use heat and take warm showers (assuming people in Tajikistan take hot showers).

Introduction

Image taken from link (on right) labeled Pipe Line Politics

This is my first post for this blog. My intention is to post something that I have learned every day--we'll see how good my discipline is. I am taking a history seminar on Central Asia and the Caucasus, with an AMAZING professor, that is part history and part political science. My focus is on the Oil and Gas situation.

So where do I start. LOL. No where and everywhere at once. As you can see I have added many links to news and information sites on this region. These were all recommended by my professor.

Please feel free to comment, while I'd like to think I interpret my research correctly... I am open and interested in the feedback and knowledge that you may offer. Happy reading!