New APEAMembers

fire engines everywhere - I didn't know what was going on. "It's just so terrible what has happened to the poor lad. It's unbelievable."

UK, Killspills rally 2006

The biggest ever KillSpills diesel protest rally is predicted by organisers on September 9, 2006 to highlight the danger of diesel to motorcyclists. In 2005, the event attracted over 2500 concerned riders, starting at the Ace cafe in London, and ending at the Houses of Parliament.

The British Motorcycle Federation sponsors the ride, and Metropolitan Police riders will escort procession. A delegation will call at 10 Downing Street to present Prime Minister Tony Blair with an action plan and third-year anniversary card signed by thousands of motorcyclists. The BMF, supported by Bennett’s insurance, will present a KillSpills achievement award to the company who has done most to reduce the risk of diesel spills from their vehicles. The KillSpills 8-point action plan:

• Warning signs should be displayed at service stations informing diesel users of the danger of overfilling diesel tanks or not refitting the filler cap correctly.

• The Highway Code should highlight the dangers of spilt diesel and publicise the penalties of spilling diesel on the public highway.

•The THINK! campaign should be used to get the diesel spill message across: "Thinks! -Diesel Spills Can

Kill"

•Lobby for European wide resolution to ensure that future generations of commercial vehicles have anti-spill devices fitted as standard.

• Government Departments and Local

Authorities to lead by example, ensuring that their drivers are fully briefed about the dangers of overfilling a diesel tank or not refilling the filler cap correctly.

• Introduce a general Road Safety

Hotline that the public can use to report diesel spills and other road safety issues. • Publish statistics on the reasons • Diesel spills are recognised as a hazard in the Department for

Transport network management Duty

Guide but there are no home office guidelines to the emergency services relating to treatment of diesel spillage. This should be corrected as part of joined-up Government.

The protect ride also coincides with the 12th Ace Cafe Reunion Weekend. The ride assembles at 11:00am at the Ace Cafe on Saturday September 9, 2006, to start at 1pm. For more information visit www.killspills.org.uk.

UK, Scotland, Renfrewshire. Lucky to be alive after petrol pump explosion attempt

June 15 2006 - Aterrified worker was spooked when he saw a man remove a petrol pump nozzle and try to ignite it with a cigarette lighter. Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Mark McDonald’s actions could have had disastrous consequences. Luckily no fumes were ignited to erupt in a fireball. But McDonald's solicitor conceded his client was fortunate that the outcome had not been much more serious. “He could have blown himself up and caused considerable damage,” said defence agent Jonathan Manson, as he struggled to explain his client’s “bizarre conduct.”

In court, McDonald, who has never been in trouble before, admitted he had been suffering from depression at the time and drinking to excess. His solicitor said he had now realised something had to be done and he was hopeful for a reconciliation with his partner, whom he had also put through a terrifying experience around the same time. McDonald pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner in a house at Unsted Avenue, Paisley, on January 5 and he also admitted culpably and recklessly attempting to set fire to a petrol pump and contents at the Benston Service Station in Beith Road, Johnstone, the following day, exposing others to danger.

The court was told that a second incident a short time later caused an employee at the filling station to press the panic button when she saw what McDonald was trying to do after she spoke to him around 12.20am on January 6. “She was working at a serving hatch when the accused approached and asked her to contact police,” said the fiscal. McDonald then asked if the CCTV cameras were working before going over to a petrol pump, removing a nozzle from its holster and attempting to set it on fire. “He was holding his cigarette lighter beside the nozzle,” she said, “and when the employee saw the flame, she immediately activated the panic alarm. “When the pump did not ignite, he replaced the nozzle.” His lawyer said he could give no real explanation for his client’s bizarre behaviour other than to say that the relationship was under strain at the time and he had been depressed and drinking heavily. “He could have blown himself up and caused considerable damage.”

The lawyer said that the accused was now appalled by his actions, had cooperated with police and was in full-time employment. After confirming that the accused was a first offender who seemed to have got his life back on the rails, Sheriff Alastair Thornton said he agreed that the episode could well be described at “bizarre” in character. He told McDonald he would benefit from a one-year probation period where alcohol consumption issues could be examined, and ordered him to carry out 175 hours of community service.

UK, Brierley. Petrol pumps fuel peacocks sex drive

June 17 2006 - Apeacock is ruffling some feathers with its repeated attempts to mate with petrol pumps it has mistaken for a peahen.

Mr P, an eight-year-old peacock, spends his waking hours displaying, strutting and calling to four petrol pumps at a service station in Brierley in the Forest of Dean and has become something of a local celebrity, with motorists stopping off to take photographs. His owner Shirley Horsman, 54, said the noise made each time the petrol pumps are used has caused the bird's bizarre behaviour because it sounds like an amorous peahen in breeding season.

Service Station manager Julie Milner said: "He's dicing with death a bit because he likes to strut down the centre of the road, which is unfortunate

as it's normally really busy."

Mr P's erratic behaviour started last year after the peahens he lived with were eaten by a fox. Since then he has spent the last two breeding seasons courting the petrol pumps. I know a few PO’s who spend a lot of time with petrol pumps!

UK, Ireland, Dublin. Sale of Statoil retail network to Topaz Energy Group

June 22 2006 - Statoil announces that it has reached agreement on the terms of the sale of Statoil Ireland, its Irish downstream Retail and Commercial & Industrial business, to Topaz, a financial consortium lead by Ion Equity. The two businesses are complementary with a strong strategic fit which will enhance service and value for customers.

Statoil will retain a presence on the island of Ireland through Statoil Exploration Limited. In addition, Statoil will retain its 50% interest in LSS Limited, its joint venture in Derry, Northern Ireland and expects to continue to supply fuel to Statoil Ireland through Dublin and Derry. Topaz is an established national forecourt retailer headquartered in Dublin, having acquired the Shell Ireland service station network in 2005. Topaz operates a network of over 150 service stations under the Shell brand and has a logistics business covering the whole of Ireland, including six oil importation terminals. Ion Equity is a leading Irish private equity and corporate finance firm.

Completion of the sale is conditional upon approval by the Irish Competition Authority and is expected in Q3 2006. Jacob Schram, senior vice president of Statoil Retail Europe said: "Our retail operations in Ireland have been very successful since 1992.

We are delighted to have reached agreement on attractive terms with Topaz. Given our strategic commitment to other markets, we believe Topaz is better placed to fulfil the potential of Statoil Ireland under new ownership. We are grateful for all the loyalty shown by Statoil Ireland’s employees during our ownership and wish them well for the future.” Danny Murray, CEO of Topaz said: “We are delighted to have reached agreement with Statoil on this transaction. We believe Statoil Ireland has a bright future and believe there is significant scope for combining the skills and best practices of each of Statoil Ireland and Topaz. We are committed to growing the combined business and to offering exciting opportunities for employees as we work together to take Statoil Ireland to the next stage of its development and enhance its market leading position.”

Europe, Cyprus. Petrol stations deny diluting fuel

The Association of petrol station owners vehemently denied suggestions that water was being added to petrol, after a mechanic claimed he had seen over 30 cars damaged by adulterated fuel.

Association chairman Pambinos Charalambous said “There is absolutely no truth in this whatsoever. Where is the proof?” He also said that the government randomly checked petrol products using a special liquid which changes colour if water is present, “with anybody caught of deliberately adding water in big trouble.” Akis Lefkaritis, Director of Petrolina, one of the island’s biggest petrol companies, said: “There is no way anybody would add water”, attributing the discovery of trace amounts of water in petrol to “corrosion and humidity”. He added that diluting petrol was illegal. Car mechanic and agent for Syneco Oils, Andreas Constantinou, said that damage can amount to as much as £2,000, with the whole fuel system affected, as well as the catalytic converter and the fuel filters.

“Sometimes the engine will cut out and the car will not start again, but it depends on the specific case,” he said, adding that it was impossible to tell on the forecourt whether water was present in petrol. Fellow mechanic Spyros Nicolaides, who runs a garage in Strovolos, explained that the problem sometimes arises through wear and tear.

“Corrosion affects older pumps meaning water can get in and seep into the petrol,” he said. “Every six or seven years, older petrol stations should replace their pumps in order to stop this from happening.” However, he did admit to hearing of rumours that some petrol stations deliberately added water to their petrol mixture for financial gain. He advised people to keep their petrol receipts safe to use as proof just in case a problem developed which damaged their car. Eleni Savvides said she noticed something was wrong after filling up with petrol. “After pulling out of my driveway the following day, I noticed the car started jerking upon acceleration and had lost all its power. A minute later the engine cut out. I managed to restart it, but it kept cutting out and I had to take it to my mechanic, who confirmed that the problem had been caused by petrol with too much water in it. “The same thing happened to my daughter’s car six months ago.”

USA, Minn, St Paul. Washing machines and gasoline don't mix well

AMinnesota man who says he used gasoline over the years to clean grease from clothing, has decided to stop that practice after a close call.

Glenn Johnson says he added a couple cups of gasoline and detergent to the washer on Saturday June 7 because his clothing was grease stained. The St. Paul Fire Department believes gas vapours found an ignition source.

Glenn Johnson: "I seen a ball of fire come up from the sink. You know I made it towards the door. It blew me out of the laundry room and onto the steps."

The fire department says Johnson suffered second degree burns on his legs. Beyond the laundry room, none of the apartments in the building were damaged.

Firefighters say Johnson is very lucky. Using gasoline in a clothes washer could have been deadly.

USA- Oklahoma, Glenpool. Lightning strikes fire at tank farm - gasoline in flames near Glenpool

On June 14 flames and smoke rise above a storage tank containing unleaded gasoline in Glenpool after a lightning strike ignited it. Eleven hours after the huge fire ignited, emergency officials deemed it to be under control.

Lightning struck a petroleum tank containing thousands of gallons of unleaded gasoline sending massive