Gas prices have jumped about 23 cents since the beginning of October. Energy traders are pointing a finger at rising violence in Nigeria's oil region, where militants have warned oil companies about more bombings and attacks on their production and exporting facilities. Since Shell began oil production in Nigeria, an estimated 1.5 million tons of oil has spilled in the Niger Delta ecosystem — an amount equal to one "Exxon Valdez" spill every year.

The fighting demonstrates how seemingly far removed struggles over natural resources can have dramatic impacts on Americans as they fill up at the pump. Luckily, America also has an export that can help: freedom of information. The track record is that when local people learn what corporations are paying for these natural resources, they are more likely to exercise their democratic rights to get their fair share and less likely to attack the supply chain with violence and vandalism.

Gene Ulmer

Salt Lake City