Three Things for April 4
1. Biden orders release of oil from Strategic Oil Reserves
On Thursday, March 31, President Joe Biden ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from Strategic Oil Reserves for six months.
While it is not known how much current gas prices will be affected, Biden said it could be “anything from 10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.”
The average gas price across the country is currently at $4.23 a gallon, while it was just $2.87 a year ago.
“The bottom line is if we want lower gas prices, we need to have more oil supply right now. This is a moment of consequence and peril for the world, and pain at the pump for American families,” said Biden.
In an explainer article, AP News breaks down what this move means.
“Whether Biden’s latest move works will depend on several factors. One factor to keep in mind: Even though 1 million barrels a day is a huge amount of oil, the U.S. consumed nearly 20 million barrels a day last year, and worldwide consumption topped 97 million barrels a day,” reports AP News.
2. Italian village moves to become an independent nation
Seborga, a small Italian village near the border with France, is working to become an independent nation.
According to CNN, the Principality of Seborga already has its own flag, national anthem, passports, stamps, currency and monarch. However, none of this is legally binding as long as Seborga remains part of Italy.
The town covers about five square miles of land and has 300 residents.
Elections take place every seven years in Seborga, where the monarchy is not hereditary. Her Serene Highness Princess Nina Döbler Menegatto, the current monarch, is the first woman to hold the post.
“Seborga was donated to Benedictine monks in the year 954, until they sold it in 1729 to the Kingdom of Sardinia, which would later become part of the Kingdom of Italy,” reports CNN.
According to Giorgio Carbone, who ruled as Seborga's first prince until his death in 2009, there is no historical record of the sale, which is basis for the claim Seborga was never legitimately part of Italy.
For more information, read the full article from CNN.
3. Amazon workers in New York City vote to unionize
Amazon workers from Staten Island voted to unionize Friday, April 1.
According to AP News, this is the first successful U.S. organizing effort in Amazon’s history.
“Warehouse workers cast 2,654 votes — or about 55% — in favor of a union, giving the fledgling Amazon Labor Union enough support to pull off a victory,” reports AP News.
According to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process, 2,131 workers — or 45% — rejected the union bid.
Federal labor supporters say these numbers will not be verified until they process any objections.
For more information, read the full AP News article.
