According to this message from Lars Oloffson in Sweden,
http://yahoogroups.com/group/RunningOnEmpty2/message/15113

the government of Sweden is aware of "peak oil" and is getting ready.

The Swedish Government is a coalition between the Social
Democrats and the "Left Party" (ex-communists I believe).
The Swedish Green Party has several MPs but they are not in the
government coalition.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario

************************************************
-- In RunningOnEmpty2@yahoogroups.com, Lars Olofsson <larso@o...>
wrote:

In the Swedish Consumer Agency ("Konsumentverket") monthly magazine,
"Råd och Rön", there is a four page "peak oil" article. The totally
advertisement-free magazine has 125 000 subscribers, and is read by
520,000 swedes (out of 9 million) every month, most highly aware
consumers.

The Consumer Agency is a government agency...

Kjell Aleklett of ASPO is interviewed, Matthew Simmons is mentioned,
Ghawar is discussed etc. And naturally some official of Norwegian
Statoil says something about the economy magically producing more oil
if prices go higher...

>>>
Also of note is some quotes in the article from an official at the
Swedish Energy Agency, where (in brief) it is discussed what the
government will do once the shortages start. (not if, but once...)

1. A massive informational campaign. This is expected to initally lead
to stockpiling and thus higher prices, but will eventually have some
effect.
2. Private driving will be forbidden on sundays
3. Even heavier taxation on gasoline
4. Rationing

Rationing is considered the last step, although not being allowed to
drive on sundays could probably be considered rationing.

Still, interesting that there is some plan at least.

I suspect that the 4-pager is a step along a government campaign,
easying things quietly to the public. I know that members of
parliament has had "peak oil"-lectures by the Swedish Energy Agency.
I guess that the government are trying to things without upsetting too
many citizens at once.

Lars Olofsson, Härryda
http://www.keyserver.net

--- End forwarded message ---