ShellToSea 13th October - news and updates from the campaign

by xtic - Shell to Sea Fri Oct 13, 2006 09:54

Just before 8 o'clock this morning (Friday) the gardaí with great force moved against the front line of protesters between the Shell Road to Bangor and the site of the proposed terminal at Bellinaboy.

Maura Harrington was seen to collapse in the scuffle and an ambulance was called. This took over half an hour to arrive (having to negotiate lines of police) and she was removed to hospital in Castlebar. More details of her condition will follow.

Protesters are still present at Bellinaboy and are again in the process of being removed from the road.

by Eugene Mc Cartan - Communist Party of Ireland Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:21

Dublin City Council Fuel Agreement with Shell
Dublin City Council has a fuel agreement with Shell thereby making it impossible for employees to use other petrol stations. An issue for Councilors to take up and for us to lobby.
Last night while on a solidarity picket on the Shell Station on the Finglas Road, Glasniven, two Dublin City Council vehicles crossed the line. One of the drivers informed us that Dublin City Council have an agreement with Shell in relation to fuel so the drivers can only get fuel from a Shell Garage he was very apologetic and supported the campaign. The drivers of two other commercial vehicles apologised but they also could only but at Shell because their company also had agreements with Shell.

This raises a number of points:

1. We need to get Dublin City Councillors to raise this question at Council level to see if we can get the contract suspended.
2. Activists around the country should contact their local Councils and Corporations to see if the have similar deals.
3. We should attempt to see what companies have similar deals with Shell and approach them in relation to cancelling (Difficult but not impossible). If not then we should put their names on the website asking people not to do business with them. One of the vehicles last night was a well-known Dublin cleaning company.

Anyone interested in getting involved in picketing this station please give me a call 087- 9733414.

Eugene Mc Cartan

by pockets23 Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:05

If you're in Cork: below is the addresses of all the councillors. Just copy and paste into the "TO" field of your email. I don't know of the likelyhood of any contracts with Shell being terminated but it would be a good way to raise awareness here that what Shell is doing IS an issue!

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

by Con Carroll Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:31

come on guys
Maura Harrington has been taken to hospital this morning
is there any pprotests planned in Dublin to-day or later on

by Davy via Joe - WSM - personal capacity Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:36

This is an edited SMS from a WSM member in the Rossport Solidarity Camp received 11.20 Fri 13 Oct. Bits in [] are explanations / comment added by Joe

"Several punches were thrown by Gardai yesterday. Gardai have assaulted a local school teacher [presumably Maura Harrington, RTE were 'reporting' that she 'fell over' while marching!] this morning. She's in hospital. Four people were arrested - all released without charge. There is extreme provocation from the Gardai going on but people are holding up well, remaining peaceful. Moral is high.

There were Gardai road blocks yesterday on both side of the Rossport Solidarity Camp and Glenamoy. Gardai have also been following local people"

by Terry Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:44

RTE Pat Kenny Show is currently sneering at Ballinaboy protesters, someone believed to be Terry Prone (or possibly Alison O'Conner)
talking about people falling over, hitting their heads and becoming heros, after this Kenny says now turning to matters serious when moving discussion to another topic. Earlier Kenny spoke about how he would have no problem with the pipe going through his backgarden.

by Dalyer Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:50

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

by pockets23 Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:51

The news on radio one is now adding that protesters next to her "claim" she was pushed to the ground by Gardaí. Pat Kenny also says he wouldn't mind a gas pipeline next to his house! All available from htttp://www.rte.ie

by Mary Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:56

Pat Kenny should be ignored - he told us before on radio that he has a shell card for his petrol - so there is no doubt whose side he is on!

by Con Carroll Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:57

what does one expect from RTE
the responsibily for Maura Harrington been attacked lies with Noel Dempsey shell to sea
and Paul Williams, Sunday World. demonising people on peaceful protest
we should be protesting in Dublin
targetting Dempsey

by supp Fri Oct 13, 2006 13:04

Last year he spent the whole time comparing a unprocessed gas pipeline to danger of the luas

by Joe Fri Oct 13, 2006 13:31

Earlier Kenny spoke about how he would have no problem with the pipe going through his backgarden.

Now that gives me an idea ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI3lhF0eXpA

by Con Carroll Fri Oct 13, 2006 13:38

[email protected]

by An Gobán Saor Fri Oct 13, 2006 13:39

I'm fairly sure that Cork City council also uses Shell petrol. They've got a depot at Anglesea Terrace which can be entered from either Anglesea Street or Old Station Road (directly opposite the garda car park - I wonder who supplies them?).

by Dublin South East Sinn Fein Fri Oct 13, 2006 14:57

Sinn Féin’s Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has called on the Dublin City Manager to explain the alleged fuel deal that Dublin City Council has with Shell Oil .

Speaking today from City Hall today , Cllr. Doolan said:

" If true, it is unacceptable that any such deal exists. Last year Dublin City Council passed a motion expressing their support for the Rossport Five and against Shell’s actions in Mayo. In light of this motion and the increasingly distressing scene’s of Shells bully boy tactics in Mayo, I find it disturbing that allegations of a fuel deal between the Council and Shell have emerged. The situation must be clarified immediately. Dublin City Council is the largest local authority on the island and any such deal will unfortunately be seen as an endorsement of Shells shameful behaviour in Ireland.’’

Cllr. Doolan continued

‘The City Manager must now clearly outline what the Council's relationship is with Shell Oil. If there is a deal in place I want it cancelled immediately until the demands of the Shell to Sea Campaign have been met. I further call on the City Manager to have any future contracts with Shell Oil scrutinised by City Councillors."

Cllr. Doolan concluded by demanding, "the City Manager to address the issue as a matter of urgency ”

For further information call Cllr. Daithí Doolan 086-8534666.

Cllr. Daithi Doolan
City Hall, Dublin 2
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.dublinsoutheast.com

by RadioKevin Fri Oct 13, 2006 15:37

Maura Harrington's performance on Joe Duffy radio programme does nothing to advance the cause of Shell to Sea.....

by Admin Fri Oct 13, 2006 16:39

Audio update from this morning

http://www.corribsos.com/uploads/oct13.wav

by Stunned Fri Oct 13, 2006 17:03

I have to agree with RadioKevein. I was listening to Joe Duffy's interview with her while in the car with my Da, who's fairly uninterested in the issue. It was cringing stuff and my Da thought she came across in a way that would put people off.

I'm sure she's a brilliang activist and she's clearly an extremely brave woman, but not everyone has the ability to go on a show run by someone like Joe Duffy and present an alternative case. I wouldn't have the guts to even try, so fair play to Maura for doing so. But maybe it's in other areas her real strength as an activist lies.

by Joe Fri Oct 13, 2006 17:12

Haven't heard the interview but its worth remembering that many of those Joe Duffy has on are paid commentators trained by PR outfits - the spontanety of the show is fake (I've been on on it - most calls are arranged in advance). The people of Rossport don't have access to the spin that Shell and Fianna Fail have so if you think this is gonna be won through superior spin you'll always be disappointed. Good on Maura for having a go I'd say - I suspect a lot of listeners are aware of just how unbalanced the forces are in this struggle and will take that into account when forming any judgement.

by Henscastle - The Tara Foundation Fri Oct 13, 2006 17:12 henscastle at yahoo dot co dot uk

On the contrary, Maura was hugely effective in putting her point across and refused to be bullied by the host and the increasingly desperate line-up of media and political hacks that were put on air to try and shout her down. She gamely took the opportunity to make some very apposite points about the state handover of resources. Joe tried to turn the interview down a number of blind alleys, the ambulance issue, Jerry Crowley etc. but she brushed aside these distraction techniques as "Roman circus". It amply showed up the tactics of the government; the final stooge resorted to calling the protesters "Neanderthals". However, the resounding voice of Luke Kelly singing Joe Hill only succeeded in trumpeting Maura's triumph.
She is truly a woman to be reckoned with and an inspiration.

by Mark C Fri Oct 13, 2006 18:53

http://www.eircomtribunal.com/counterstrike_address-tds....html

If anyone knows of a site where you can just type a message and hit send for it to go to all TDs that would be handier.

Mark.

by Mark C Fri Oct 13, 2006 19:04

Brian Cowen: [email protected]
Olwyn Enright: [email protected]
Sean Fleming: [email protected]
John Moloney: [email protected]
Tom Parlon: [email protected]

or copy and paste this into your "To:" box:
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Mark.

by CB SP Fri Oct 13, 2006 22:39

I heard the Joe Duffy show this afternoon and it was an absolute disgrace. Duffy sneered at Maura the whole way through and spent about five minutes asking her would she claim her pay from the department of education as she hadn't been in work today, she was in hospital after being assaulted by a garda btw.

It was really disgusting and a pretty poor performance on rtes behalf.

Keep up the good work in Mayo!

The west's awake!

by JM Fri Oct 13, 2006 23:04 Rossport

I've commented on RTE elsewhere on indymedia but I'll just add this.

Having to face hundreds of aggressive Gardaí on the frontline in Bellanaboy (it's turning more fractious every day) it is easy to miss the reporting fed to the public. From the sound of it, it may be time to consider a major protest at Montrose...

by its a resource but...... Sat Oct 14, 2006 00:30

if you feel that it was a unbalanced account,(which i do) !
then go to http://www.bcc.ie/download_complaint_form/index.html
and complain, there is no point contacting rte , iv been trying that line all week .
The bcc is the only body with authority to uphold complaints, so if you pay a licence fee these people are the only means to ensure your money is well spent. Better yet don't but the licence ; )

by Montrose Mick Sat Oct 14, 2006 00:50

It's not Radio Telifis Eireann, it's Refuse to Tell Electorate...

by Emigrant Sat Oct 14, 2006 01:06

I agree with an earlier contributor that Maura should have put her health first and got into the private ambulance. But she stands by her principles (lying down on this occasion) for which I admire her tremendously.
Maura is a force to be reckoned with, as Shell are too well aware. Glad to hear the injury inflicted on her by the Guardians of the State and Shell, was not serious. She was brave to speak on the radio so soon after her injury.

by Get Real Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:55

Get real everybody!!
You act like this is a surprise that Dublin City Council has a deal with Shell to supply fuel to their vehicles. This happens everywhere in business, almost every business has an arrangement with a fuel company to supply fuel and they issue their employees with a fuel card to allow for ease of payment and to keep down costs.

People calling for companies not to deal with other companies that have such deals are really showing their ignorance on how the 'real' world works.

Get a life and stop posting such nonsence!

by indeed Wed Oct 18, 2006 13:03

the person is a councillor, they have nothing better to do and they gotta look like they are doing something other than taking backhanders all the time ffs

by Get Real Wed Oct 18, 2006 17:18

What has that got to do with Shell fuel deals?? and no i'm not a councilor...but well deducted. and a very well thought out answer, like most of the reasoned debate on this site....

FACT: Most business/local authorities use one supplier or another to supply fuel to their vehicles.

by Getting Real Wed Oct 18, 2006 17:27

And that means that the councils can decide to change suppliers and that is what is being asked here.

by Get Real Wed Oct 18, 2006 17:52

Why would they change?

Is Shell any different than any other oil company?