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So much for the brave new world of the e-economy. Across Europe, protesters
blockading oil refineries and distribution depots have dramatically demonstrated
that we are still well and truly dependent on petroleum, that stalwart of the ‘old’ economy. In
Britain, a few days of blockades led to filling stations running dry, resulting
in job lay-offs, food rationing by supermarkets and cancelled hospital
operations. What’s the betting that some enterprising e-hype merchant is busy
planning www.panicbuying.com?

One protester boasted on BBC radio that mobile phones had been key to
coordinating action across Britain. But the Web also played a part. The…

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