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How The 1970s Energy Crisis Affected Great Britain
War and fuel shortages — is history repeating itself?
Yesterday I was watching an episode from the second season of Are You Being Served? This is a British sitcom that takes place in a department store. For those who have never watched it, the appeal might seem strange, but I find it hilarious. The actors are perfect for their roles — from the popinjay Captain Peacock to the feisty Mrs. Slocum and the delightful Mr. Humphries.
This particular episode dealt with oil shortages in the U.K.
The department store decided not to turn on the heat due to the rise in fuel prices. Of course, in the half-hour from the beginning to the end of the episode, a solution is found, but the storyline reminded me that history often repeats itself.
In January of 1968, Arab members of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) formed OAPEC, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.
This followed the Six-Day War of 1967, from which Israel emerged stunningly victorious. Egypt lost the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip while Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Syria lost the Golan Heights.
When Anwar el-Sadat became President of Egypt in 1970, he wanted to improve his nation’s economy…
