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A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

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Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#21

Post by parliament32 »

mcguire wrote: post #8

This is what happens when you take a story, in this case gangs and cartels stealing gasoline from pipelines, and add a human interest element that has nothing to do with the story. In this case, that is a group of locals taking gas spewing from a broken pipeline and being killed or injured by the explosion.

I don't think a broken pipeline is the case -- unlike our pipelines, these ones are buried several feet underground. Pipelines don't just unearth themselves: someone deliberately dug out and punctured it, in an attempt to steal gas.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#23

Post by catacombs »

lifeeeeee wrote: post #2

There was an article recently about how the drug cartels in Mexico pivoted into stealing gas. Much easier and less risky than drug trafficking. This is why ending the war on drugs in US will not improve the Mexico violence problem much.

Like a Hydra: Once you caught off one head from the beast, three more appear.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#24

Post by jjeaff »

TotempaaltJ wrote: post #9
mcguire wrote: post #8

This is what happens when you take a story, in this case gangs and cartels stealing gasoline from pipelines, and add a human interest element that has nothing to do with the story. In this case, that is a group of locals taking gas spewing from a broken pipeline and being killed or injured by the explosion.

I'm pretty sure the story here is how 137 people died in a gas explosion in Mexico (plus probably hundreds injured for life), including some backstory as to why that explosion happened. > The Mendoza sisters, however, say seeking out a guilty party is a low priority for them, at least for now. They’re trying to survive the consequences of the fire and get used to the idea of being alone in Hidalgo.

Fortunately, that is the story. But the headline makes it sound like the accident in particular was due to a heist. This implying an organized effort to steal gas. But as the precious poster mentioned, this was a broken line that locals just started showing up to in order to take advantage of the free money.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#25

Post by privateSFacct »

forthwall wrote: post #16
gnusty_gnurc wrote: post #13

Worth remembering Mexico nationalized gas, leading to gas shortages, rationing - and higher prices.

That seems like a un-nuanced generalization of Mexico and it's politics. Saudi Arabia has nationalized gas and has no shortage and low prices.

Saudi Arabia's subsidy of gas prices likely results in either unsustainable economic performance without oil revenue and/or a total lack of value for fuel efficiency = environment impact.

They are having some actual success reforming in this area - http://www.arabnews.com/node/1353116

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#26

Post by Johnny555 »

gwbas1c wrote: post #22

Reminds me of the Zoolander gasoline fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrxEQnPtAg

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read:

“People were fighting, others laughing, and most were drunk on the fumes. They were throwing gas at each other.”

It's amazing (and tragic) that people would do this in real life.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#27

Post by Causality1 »

jjeaff wrote: post #24
TotempaaltJ wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure the story here is how 137 people died in a gas explosion in Mexico (plus probably hundreds injured for life), including some backstory as to why that explosion happened. > The Mendoza sisters, however, say seeking out a guilty party is a low priority for them, at least for now. They’re trying to survive the consequences of the fire and get used to the idea of being alone in Hidalgo.

Fortunately, that is the story. But the headline makes it sound like the accident in particular was due to a heist. This implying an organized effort to steal gas. But as the precious poster mentioned, this was a broken line that locals just started showing up to in order to take advantage of the free money.

It wasn't a broken line, it was a botched tap job. I don't see a lot of moral difference between an organized heist and an impromptu opportunistic criminal mob, except that the former has the decency to not get children involved.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#28

Post by wil421 »

lifeeeeee wrote: post #2

There was an article recently about how the drug cartels in Mexico pivoted into stealing gas. Much easier and less risky than drug trafficking. This is why ending the war on drugs in US will not improve the Mexico violence problem much.

The gas theft is just a way to reduce the risk of drug trafficking. The drugs make far more money than theft or kidnapping.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#29

Post by stickfigure »

lifeeeeee wrote: post #2

There was an article recently about how the drug cartels in Mexico pivoted into stealing gas. Much easier and less risky than drug trafficking. This is why ending the war on drugs in US will not improve the Mexico violence problem much.

Nonsense. It's orders of magnitude easier to protect a pipeline than to stop millions of people from engaging in secret commerce. You could secure that infrastructure with a mere tiny sliver of the tens of billions of dollars spent annually to fight the drug war.

Re: A Gas Heist Gone Wrong

#30

Post by aaron695 »

LiveLeak has the footage of it exploding and before and after.

It's worth watching if your up to it but the footage of people escaping on fire is hard to handle.

But like all such things it is both informative and might help you handle similar situations such as a small gas fire.

https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=sLpTO_1547875958

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