Protest outside Dáil as Gas Giveaway continues

by Maura Harrington - Pers cap Mon Dec 12, 2011 13:19

Hello Patch,

Bogwatcher didn't quite answer your post with a bit about 'off-colour humour' per american definition. Shell's Begging Bowl, while having an element of that, means a lot more than that in Erris.

Its genesis, as already posted, was by way of comment on those in Erris who either took the $hell shilling or were playing footsie with $hell as quislings anywhere are wont to do. Therefore it very much 'hits the spot' here - The Chief enjoys its presence anywhere EIFA (Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association) 'fishermen' gather in the same company as their onetime paymasters; it was used to good effect at some meetings of the Funny Forum in Belmullet (the daft attempt by Eamons O Cuiv and Ryan to manufacture a 'democratic' delivery of Shell to Sea behind closed doors - didn't happen, Funny Forum now defunct; Shell to Sea still here).

As well as the local element discussed above, the bowl also comments on the FF/PD/Green and now FG/Lab mindset which continues to give away control and management of our natural resources to $hell etc without the guts or gumption to play hardball with them which is the only thing Big Oil understands. It reduces the state to the status of beggardom both in terms of mentality and fiscal (mis)management/negligence.

The Begging Bowl  may not be a thing of beauty but it is fair comment on its subject. Its place within Shell to Sea is one element of the campaign as a whole - it's carted about and set up by some people within Shell to Sea and, because we are non-hierarchical and not likely to play the 'politics of condemnation' or be prescriptive about peoples' actions these people are welcome to continue to do what they do as long as it remains effective - and it is effective!

Hope this helps.

by Bogwatcher Sun Dec 11, 2011 23:18

"The term off-color humor (also known as vulgar humor or crude humor) is an Americanism used to describe jokes, prose, poems, black comedy, blue comedy, insult comedy, cringe comedy and skits that deal with topics that are considered to be in poor taste or overly vulgar by the prevailing morality of a culture. Most commonly labeled as "off-color" are acts concerned with sex, a particular ethnic group, or gender. Other off-color topics include violence, particularly domestic abuse; excessive swearing or profanity; "toilet humour"; national superiority or inferiority, dead baby jokes, pedophilic content, and any other topics generally considered impolite or indecent."

by Patch Sun Dec 11, 2011 17:35

Whats that toilet all about then??

by Bogwatcher Thu Dec 08, 2011 16:13

"There is a lack of political integrity and weak political influence in this country and I am unsure if we will ever get around that. Unfortunately, our political classes have been too close to big business and to development. When politicians see development as a reason for being, difficulties relating to undue influence on projects will always arise."

by Anne Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:27

The pro Shell lobby seem to be trying a new tactic on indy this time around - instead of posting comments on this thread they tried to bump up a thread from 2008 with a 'Shell is great' biteen of manufactured news.

I believe the reason for that is that any pro Sheller cannot bear to look at the Begging Bowl - it really gets to them!

The truth of the matter is that no matter what the apologists say, the only way Shell operates in Erris is through appealing to peoples greed . It's said that those who can be bought come cheap and Shell proves that here by throwing a few euro to whoever puts the hand out and then using them to try to prove that Shell is welcome in the community and is doing good in the place.

The begging bowl puts that in perspective and that's why it's hated!

by Concerned Local - None Mon Dec 05, 2011 19:46

It's good that this has been put on Indymedia.ie. I think it's important that people know that the Pobal Cill Chomain have not held a meeting in public since about last February or March,

They have a lot to say about community consultation when they're away in Dublin and other far away places but they don't practice what they preach at home.

You never hear or see them where it counts down here. They seem to have given up and they're only going through the motions to keep their names in the papers and their faces on the television.

by Nora Murphy Sun Dec 04, 2011 16:42

Now that self-appointed, self-aggrandizing outfits such as  Mayo Pro Gas Council for the West, Pobail le Cheile, Pobal Chill Chomain and what you are doing the cul-de-sac "submissions" thing, all the more reason to support Naoise, Maura, Shell to Sea and the Rossport Solidarity Camp where the resistance is authentic and strong.?