At the same time, with the civilians...
At the same time, the governments of all countries asked their citizens to contribute against the rarity of resources by not wasting oil, metal, wood, and other essential resources for war. Rationing tickets were distributed to everybody in the United States that allowed, for example, a ration of 2 gallons (about 7.6 litres) a week per car for everyone. 2 gallons a week! Because of that, we again started to encourage the train, public transports and... walking.
The propaganda of war, pushed forward by Canadian and American governments, also contributed, and resulted in this:
"If you're riding alone, you're riding with Hitler"
"If you're riding alone, you're riding with Hitler". That was one of the shock phrases that the ministry of propaganda of the American government had came up with in order to make citizens understand that wasting was wrong and that riding alone in a car was irresponsible and non-patriotic. Of course, we can't say that they were very subtle for that point in time, but it nonetheless clearly illustrated the need to preserve resources. Moreover, we could also see everywhere in the cities, from gas stations to train stations, as well as bus terminals, signs that could read: "Is this trip really necessary?"
The second crisis: The creation of the OPEC (1973)
Just like the Second World War, it's the events on the international scene that caused the rarity and increase in oil prices. This time, it's the creation of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) that was a gathering of certain countries that produce oil in the Middle East, in Africa and in South America that wanted to reclaim control of the resource in order to increase their benefits.
At that moment, it was the first time since World War II that we saw line-ups to get gasoline... in America!
The second crisis measures
One of the measures that the Nixon government took was to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph in order to reduce the consumption of gasoline.
In addition, the American automobile manufacturers had to gradually decrease the fuel consumption of their automotive vehicles, which made their fleets' consumption rise from 18 miles per gallon to 27 in ten years. All automotive vehicles? Yes, all, except those used for farm vehicles... which will have serious consequences, twenty years later.
Finally, the new environmental preoccupation brought the authorities to force those same manufacturers to gradually reduce the polluting emissions from their vehicles, following several studies that were done in the fifties and sixties that clearly demonstrated a direct link between atmospheric pollution and the automobile. Who can forget the photos and films of Tokyo children wearing surgical masks to go to school to protect their lungs from the pollution? That's what was waiting for us.
In short, it took a crisis for the authorities to make a move and convince people to be more conscious.
At the same time, the governments of all countries asked their citizens to contribute against the rarity of resources by not wasting oil, metal, wood, and other essential resources for war. Rationing tickets were distributed to everybody in the United States that allowed, for example, a ration of 2 gallons (about 7.6 litres) a week per car for everyone. 2 gallons a week! Because of that, we again started to encourage the train, public transports and... walking.
The propaganda of war, pushed forward by Canadian and American governments, also contributed, and resulted in this:
"If you're riding alone, you're riding with Hitler"
"If you're riding alone, you're riding with Hitler". That was one of the shock phrases that the ministry of propaganda of the American government had came up with in order to make citizens understand that wasting was wrong and that riding alone in a car was irresponsible and non-patriotic. Of course, we can't say that they were very subtle for that point in time, but it nonetheless clearly illustrated the need to preserve resources. Moreover, we could also see everywhere in the cities, from gas stations to train stations, as well as bus terminals, signs that could read: "Is this trip really necessary?"
The second crisis: The creation of the OPEC (1973)
Just like the Second World War, it's the events on the international scene that caused the rarity and increase in oil prices. This time, it's the creation of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) that was a gathering of certain countries that produce oil in the Middle East, in Africa and in South America that wanted to reclaim control of the resource in order to increase their benefits.
At that moment, it was the first time since World War II that we saw line-ups to get gasoline... in America!
The second crisis measures
One of the measures that the Nixon government took was to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph in order to reduce the consumption of gasoline.
In addition, the American automobile manufacturers had to gradually decrease the fuel consumption of their automotive vehicles, which made their fleets' consumption rise from 18 miles per gallon to 27 in ten years. All automotive vehicles? Yes, all, except those used for farm vehicles... which will have serious consequences, twenty years later.
Finally, the new environmental preoccupation brought the authorities to force those same manufacturers to gradually reduce the polluting emissions from their vehicles, following several studies that were done in the fifties and sixties that clearly demonstrated a direct link between atmospheric pollution and the automobile. Who can forget the photos and films of Tokyo children wearing surgical masks to go to school to protect their lungs from the pollution? That's what was waiting for us.
In short, it took a crisis for the authorities to make a move and convince people to be more conscious.