"The materials will be distributed to consumers throughout the state of Washington," said Lea Wilson, executive director of WOMA.  "They will shine a light on the markets used by speculators to drive up the price of energy in pursuit of record profits while pushing our economy to the brink of disaster. 

"We think that the more consumers know about what is going on in the energy markets, the more outraged they will become," Wilson said.

Consumer education materials include brochures, counter cards, and pump-top signs that will be distributed to gas stations and other energy retail outlets throughout Washington.

For example, the counter card display reads: "Hedge funds and investment bankers are gaming the system, using loopholes to drive up the cost of energy and reap record profits.  Learn how you can fight back." 

The materials urge consumers to visit www.stopoilspeculators.com to send a message to Congress and the White House to urge reform.

"The data conclusively show that the dramatic escalation in oil prices has more to do with speculators than physical supply and demand issues," said Gerry Ramm, a senior executive of Inland Oil Co. in Ephrata, Wash., and 2008 Treasurer of PMAA who testified before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the United States Senate on June 3. 

 
"We are providing consumers with information about rising oil prices and suggesting that they contact their congressional representatives to fight back against oil speculators and control runaway oil prices," Ramm said.