arab civilization ?

[Churchill]

So is probably fair enough comment. If your country has a major natural resource what is the point of developing loads of other industries? Not as if they have any aesthetic value.

As it happens I live in the one are of the English mainland that does have comercial oil reserves. If I dig my own well in the garden do I own it or does the sodding government claim it?

If your country has a major national resource that is finite (oil) then of course you diversify!

[Mailman]

This is Britain, Xogg, what do you think?

My title deeds tell me that they can knock my house down to extract gravel if they so wish... any coal belongs to the NCB or whatever it's called these days and any oil belongs to whoever has bought the concession I'd guess, which counts me out.

Well if you were in NZ then you would own everything between the top of your property and the centre of the earth...unless of course there was a minerals caveat on your property, in which case everything belongs to the government.

This being England Id assume everything automagically belongs to Fat Tony and his stooges.

Mailman

[xoggoth]

Indeed Churchill but not until necessary and I suppose they have a few decades yet. By the time the Saudis have not enough oil left to support their population, it's hard to see how there will be any world economy left for them to sell goods or services to anyway. We are all doomed!