Ógra SF Occupy Station

by Chris Sat Jul 02, 2005 19:18

Statoil filling stations are run by small business people, the only people being hurt by these actions are local business people. Why cant they target Shell’s HQ?

by GH Sat Jul 02, 2005 19:51 kimka47 at hotmail dot com

Please do not post in all capital letters. Also, making the same point on multiple threads is also against our Editorial Guidelines - 1 of IMC Editorial

It's disgusting the way Sinn Fein seem to hijack a good cause and sully it in the process. I agree with a boycott on petrol stations but not on owner operated businesses. The stations that are operated by the oil companies should be targeted. I know of 1 Shell station owner who is right behind the Rossport men, but what can he do? It's his livelihood and job and is probably paying the banks back thousands of euros in leasing payments. You cannot just close up shop you know.

I think pressure can be put on the oil rich companies by being a little cleverer than whats going on at the moment. I just hope Sinn Feins involvement does not alienated the excellent support this case is getting from ordinary people whom do have a definite affinity with the men. Sinn Fein are just using this for votes and nothing else.

by R. Isible Sat Jul 02, 2005 20:39

Immediate economic impact is felt by the Statoil franchisees. If they don't like it then _they_ should be applying pressure to Statoil/Shell to stop the imprisonment of the Rossport people. Ogra SF are doing something effective, immediate and pertinent. (B.t.w. wasn't Captain Boycott from up around Mayo way?)

by GH Sat Jul 02, 2005 20:53

Fair play to you, I think you are the only one whom spotted the subtle irony. The people in jail would have seen the Captain Boycott and The Land League connection. It still has a resonance in the West of Ireland and thats why it wont go away that easy for Shell. The men have huge support from ordinary people here in Dublin, although some people still have not heard about it.
The men have the moral high ground in this (excuse the pun) and thats where their strength is.
People would like to show solidarity but are put off attendiing and joining in rallies when they see organisations involved with a poor record respecting human life.

by R. Isible Sat Jul 02, 2005 20:57

And realise that you were saying something else. However I still don't see how you can mount an effective boycott against Shell/Statoil without shutting down any/all of the stations that sell their products.

What is an "owner operated" petrol station? Isn't it someone franchising from Shell and putting money back into their coffers so they can screw over the people in Rossport?

How many petrol stations are directly run by Shell and how many are franchise operations?

The point of boycotts isn't to hurt the shopkeepers or whoever the middlemen are, that'd be simple revenge -- it's to make it economically impractical to continue piss off the customers.

Owner-operations should be suing Shell/Statoil for diminishing their business by acting in this way.

by GH Sat Jul 02, 2005 21:21

I wish it were that easy. A franchisee would be in exactly the position very quickly as the 5 men if they threatened Shell. Remember the despicable comment the judge made in court , "Do you own a house, car etc

Franchisee's and some of the smaller operators have no real power, in fact they are usually put in a very weak position financially because of the borrowings they have to make.
I know because I have been a victim of Financial Institions over the years and generally my regard for them and big business like Shell is more of contempt than admiration. Big business is a ruthless entity and anyone whom takes them on must have deep conviction and even deeper pockets.

I still have some faith left in the system although it is fading fast, especially when I see what Shell is getting away with and doing it with the protection of the courts.

However I would not look to Sinn Fein as a vehicle for my grieviences. Their agenda is to increase their Dail seats and cannot be trusted.
I hope everbody can keep this issue as high in the publics consciousness as possible.

The danger is if something else hits the headlines in the next week, this could be all forgotten The only good thing Sinn Fein are doing is keeping this in the news with their blinkered antics at forecourts.

I hope they dont shoot themselves in the foot.
(Sorry could not resist that!)

by Statin the obvious Sun Jul 03, 2005 00:25

Sinn Fein embracing nonviolent direct action looks like a good development. Beats the co-option of electoral politics and sitting on your ass cynicism of the post above.

We all come from somewhere, it's where we're going that's the issue.

Do what you can. Take it easy, but take it.

by What is the altrnative Sun Jul 03, 2005 02:55

If some people are caught up in the dispute thats unfortunate. We have no argument with the franchisees who run the stations of Shell. But the fact is that they are part of the Shell brand and thats a fact. They earn money from this Corporation and are therefore part of it. They cannot have their cake and eat it.

5 innocent people are rotting in jail because of Shell and Statoil. What do you suggest these people do ? Would you like them to lie down and die?

Shell are using their vast wealth and resources to browbeat these people into acquisition.

Look at what they did in so many countries, including arming and financing death squads to kill the people who , just like the Rossport people are fighting for justice.

Look at the open thieving that the deal made by Burke represents, think about the number of people who will suffer from poverty because the wealth of the Corrib Gas Field was handed to them for whatever could fit into that thick brown envelope we all know he got.

Fianna Fail gave away the wealth that people in this country own and let Shell rob us blind,
Not only will we not earn a penny from the revenue of our OWN resources, workers will pay countless millions in infrastructure to support this business with roads and other services.

Now they are exposed in their thievery.
Just like the landlords stole Irish land and then used their magistrates as their enforcers so also do the current ruling elite use their "Justices". Its really the same story all over again, except the details are different.

The people who use the Shell franchise profit from shell and buy into that thievery. For them maybe this is not planned, but either we struggle against these multinationals or we give in. Remember these people are nameless faceless . They hide away.

But like the G8 leaders they must be challenged and the best way to do this is to strike with a peacefull and effective way, the strike, the boycott , the picket.

Mayo people should look to and learn from Micheal Davitt and the land league who pioneered in their day to use similiar tactics in their fight for justice.

Also, fair play to Ogra Sinn Fein for what they did . We should all stand by them as they say regardless of our differences.

Keep up the good work !!

by GH Sun Jul 03, 2005 23:23

to head stuck up his ass cerebrally challenged

Non violent Sinn Fein, a contradiction in terms. Obviously you are right and all other opinions are cynical. Keep your opinions if they cant be civil.

by Campaign Supporter Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:25

There have been a couple of thoughtful points here about the powers of francisees, but lets look at this from the point of view of the campaign.

The Rossport Five and the Campaign have called for a boycott of Shell and Statoil. Logically, this leads to pickets and protests to prevent the petrol being sold.

And yes, individual francisees have little power, but which are Statoil going to listen to? You or me ringing their headquarters, or their francisees ringing their HQ? If enough of them do it it could have an appreciable effect.

As GH admits the protests also keep the issue in the public eye.

As for Sinn Féin doing it, I'm cynical about them doing this as well and would prefer other parties to be doing it, and people of no party, as well but in the abscence of anyone else doing it, fair play to them.

by Sherlock Holmes Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:47

You are an absolute disgrace. You are still continuing your secterian rant. What have you done so far? This campaign is a mass campaign and needs the support of as many people as possible, you have come on this website and have attempted to drive a wedge between campaigners, you offer nothing to this campaign, what exactly are you doing? What action are you taking?

by Damien Daly - Ogra shinn fein Mon Jul 04, 2005 14:20 starinagh_one at hotmail dot com

to all of the people who put in comments attacking us for our actions only because it was us who carried them out get up off your own ass and do something about it they critize if you wish. I am the one who has organised these protests and i am going to continue to until the men are released and an indepentemt review is carried out of the pipeline its self

by Inaki Irigoien Mon Jul 04, 2005 14:31

{ photos by Inaki Irigoien } ©

by curious Mon Jul 04, 2005 14:45

In the absence of SF, and other left parties, anarchists, Catholic workers etc, who do you think should be organising the campaign - Fianna Fail, Fine gael, Labour ???? Are you totally naive my dear man?????

by X53 Mon Jul 04, 2005 14:45

Good on the lads!

by Anon Mon Jul 04, 2005 16:48

Whilst not a supporter of Sinn Fein, I whole heartily welcome this protest.

Now if the rest of us would just get off our arses and do the same, then we could really change the situation.

by Barry Mon Jul 04, 2005 17:07

Ive no time for Sinn Fein either but the youngsters are on the ball with this one I have to say . This is a positive step all Irish people can take . Remember not only are people being jailed fro defending their own property and families welfare , Irish peoples resources are being STOLEN, on a massive scale by thieves.

The rights to our resources were sold to them in private , behind closed doors by the notorious fraudster thief and criminal Ray Burke. Just look at Bolivia and Venezuela , people have coups and revolutions over this kind of thing . Ill be encouraging people to get up off their arses and do something like this.

32CSM, RSF, IRSP and basically anyone with a national, environmental or socialist conscience should be out there on this one as well . This is a national issue and a disgrace .

Very embarassed that the shinners are in the lead on this one but credit were credits due . Fair play to them .