With all the talk about the Society now printing paperback Bibles, cutting the Awake! issue from 2 to 1 per month, it raises the question:
Are high oil prices affecting the Watchtower?
Consider that oil is not just used to move WT trucks, vehicles and planes.
Oil is used in the production of paper (to keep machine parts moving in their MAN presses), in the use of plastics and other supplies that WT Maintenance need.
People are already starting to cut back on the costs of gas using creative means.
What does this mean for the Society? If oil were to top $70 per barrel, there would be some pain felt.
If oil went up to $80 per barrel, the Society may be forced to use alternative fuel methods.
Bethel, like everywhere else in North East America where the winter is worst, needs to be kept warm for the workers. Heating oil is projected to increase by 25% this year from last year for residential and business customers.
With the ever decreasing contributions coming from the rank and file, it is likely that there will be further "simplifying" in the future, with production cutbacks, etc.
Individual Kingdom halls will probably not be affected too much, but the Society is a global printing machine.
Another question - Can anyone find out if the Watchtower uses hedging when purchasing oil?