Shell to Sea Picket Update

mayo | environment | news report

Monday September 25, 2006 17:15

by Text: Ruth & Terry Photos: Terry & Niall - Rossport Solidarity Camp

At 15.40pm three cops, one plain-clothes, two uniform, D reg car, were at the Shell to Sea picket H.Q. trailer filming. These police are now (16.05pm) at gate 2 of the Ballinaboy site. They are filming Shell to Sea activist Maura Harrington on the public road, when questioned why they said it was routine, the cop filming does not have identification numbers on his uniform.
We got word today at 12 mid-day that the media have been informed by Shell that Shell intend to attempt access to the Ballinaboy former refinery construction site tomorrow.
There is an increased police presence in Erris as of last Friday. The following is a report and photos from the picket today – photos from the 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. period.

Early morning birds, but where are the worms?

Despite this being week three of continual dawn vigils and an extra early 4 a.m. start today the determination of the people of Erris remains undaunted and resolute at the picket line. If Shell had anticipated a lessening or erosion of peoples’ determination to prevent this toxic wasteland from being dumped on their doorsteps, they as ever, have misjudged the level of opposition to their plans.

By the time dawn was breaking, a count of over 100 people were amassed in readiness to prevent Shell from gaining even the smallest foothold in commencing any work at the proposed refinery site. Crowds stood in solidarity, not thwarted by midge attacks or sudden soaking showers; the mood of the picket line was awesome in its upbeat and resolute spirit. People cheerfully mingled from group to group with familiarity born of old friends, family and links forged with newfound comrades.

As Shell have announced September as the month they intend to access the refinery site, and to date have not appeared, this no show has served only to strengthen and unify this community of struggle. At each turn of Shell’s propaganda, they have been clearly exposed as lying, as people evidencing the truth have dismantled their Greenwash. Claims of a ‘majority of people in Erris welcoming the project’ and ‘disruption occurring via a minority of people resisting progress’ are being exposed by a door-to-door petitioning. This petition is on-going and to date 98% of people have signed to say they were not consulted by Shell and do not give their consent to the Corrib gas project.

The message that could not be ringing out any clearer to Shell is that this project has no local consent, and simply cannot succeed. The levels of information accessed by people about Shell’s global track record of environmental genocide serves to strengthen the campaign. The historic polluting nightmares that Shell visit on every part of the globe they corrupt is too loud a warning to be ignored. The environmental holocaust in Nigeria, to name but one, is a future vision which people here are determined to prevent at all costs. This is people power at the cutting edge of resistance. This campaign is not a group of disparate strangers with a common aim, but a close-knit community of families and friends, bound by history and kinship. The solidarity and strength of these bonds cannot be overestimated. People are fighting to preserve their heritage and homes from this massive threat to their safety, health and future.

The Message.

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Comments (16 of 16)

2 protests in Dublin

by krossie - dublin shell to sea

Tue Sep 26, 2006 16:11

*Shell to Sea protests in Dublin to show show solidarity with Rossport
pickets*

There will be two protests in Dublin this evening Tuesday 26th September
2006, to show solidarity with the people of north Mayo who are picketing at
the site where Shell want to build a giant gas refinery.

Protesters will gather at the Shell garage in Donnybrook, and the Statoil
garage on the quays opposite the Four Courts, at 6PM.

Activists from political groups and parties will be joined by concerned
members of the public for a show of support and solidarity with the
beleagured community in Mayo. Shell and Statoil (with Marathon) are the
companies who will benefit if the refinery is built and connected to the se
a
bed by the experimental pipeline scheme. The Irish people will get nothing
from the exploitation of the gas.

When:*This Evening Tuesday 26th September 2006* from* 6PM*

Where: *Shell, Donnybrook, near Donny brook bus garage 6PM - call Tadhg
0876181620 for details. *
**
* Statoil, Ushers Quay 6PM - call Paul 0861252739 for more info.
*
* *
More protests in Dublin are planned.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Shell to Sea group said "Shell and the
Government have spoken about consulting the people, and making up for
mistakes made last year; but all the while they are trying to push ahead
with constructing a giant gas refinery without local consent. The Departmen
t
of Marine had to give permission for Shell to attempt to bring its
contractors on the site at Ballinaboy this morning. It shows that Minister
Dempsey and the scheme's operators have no interest in the consultation
process."

Solidarity!

by Brit

Tue Sep 26, 2006 15:31

From England-keep it up!!

Recent Demo over here

Solidarity to the Blockaders!

by Starstruck

Tue Sep 26, 2006 15:26

Never mind some of the peanut brained comments above-your struggle3 is just and righteous-not to mention brave-taking on one of the worlds biggest and most feared multinationals-one responsible for countless deaths and natural destruction-
Solidarity from Dublin!

by mayo - .

Tue Sep 26, 2006 14:58

Shame on you , stopping men going to work.

mayo

by mayo

Tue Sep 26, 2006 13:55

keep trying shell you will get back in there and get back to work and i look forward to seeing it happen

RTE Report Tuesday Morning

by Shell to Sea'r

Tue Sep 26, 2006 13:05

Successful blockade this morning-solidarity!

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0926/corrib.html

More relevant books

by Paul O'Donnell

Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:31

I may bring along my well fingered copy of Das Capital or even The Great Oil & Gas Robbery.

Shell are disappointed

by supp

Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:03

Shell have taken ever reasonable step to resolved issue and it determined to return to work. - Ocean FM

Way To Go!

by pat c

Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:44

I heard them on the radio this am chanting the rosary at cops and shell workers! i am selecting some verses from the koran to chant at upcoming demos.

protest tonight!

Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:33

As of now 10.45 - still no move by Shell

- protests continued all night!

IF you want to show some solidarity Dublin Shell to Sea is organising a demo at Donnybrook Shell Station (it's on the 46a bus route) tonight (Tuesday) 6 pm

wish we could be there

by mary

Mon Sep 25, 2006 22:51

keep up the hard work, we wish we were able to stand with you all,please send shell to sea and leave your beautiful safe country as it is.

Some Links and Directions

by Terry - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Mon Sep 25, 2006 21:19

Previous Recent Articles on Ballinaboy Picket:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78427
(this article has a map of the area)
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78574

The camp website has a how to get there, and that is here:
http://www.struggle.ws/rsc/gettingthere.html

directions

by sligo

Mon Sep 25, 2006 20:09

Can we have directions to the site again, thanx

Missing gas file recovered by council

Mon Sep 25, 2006 19:24

http://www.con-telegraph.ie/article-detail.asp?article_...=3535 huh?
Garda probe into missing gas file
http://www.con-telegraph.ie/article-detail.asp?article_...=3520

60% of Mayo people back the campaign

by Justin Moran - Sinn Féin

Mon Sep 25, 2006 18:57

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0925/mayopoll.html

"An opinion poll carried out for Nuacht TG4 shows that six out of ten people in Mayo think that the Corrib Gas Terminal should be located offshore at sea. Less that a quarter think that it should be built at the planned Bellanaboy site in the north west of the county.

"The Poll also shows that that two thirds of the people questioned supported the stand taken by the five Rossport men, who were jailed last year, following their defiance of a court order in relation to the pipeline. One in five did not give the men their support, according to the poll.

"Almost four out of five of those polled believe that the whole pipeline development was handled badly by Shell E&P Ireland, while fewer that one in ten believed the company handled the issue well."

Specific breakdown of the poll here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/features/election2007/polls/nuac...t.pdf

More photos...

Mon Sep 25, 2006 17:24

And that is the way it will stay