Shell to Sea National Rally, Saturday 24th February

by S2S Tue Jan 23, 2007 15:06

poster

by Dubliner Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:51

Whoever designed the poster missed an opportunity to include details of the day of support at Bellanaboy on Friday February 16th. http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80541

There is a bus leaving Dublin to travel to Mayo on Thursday evening- 30 euro waged/ 25 euro unwaged, return, price includes basic accommodation and a free trip in a garda van if you want.

by S2S Graff Wed Feb 07, 2007 22:55

Nice one, Eirigi.

Shell to Hell!

by Dublin_activist Thu Feb 08, 2007 08:34

Shell to Sea will be holding a national rally in Dublin on Saturday 24th March.
The march will assemble at the Garden of Rememberance, Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed down O'Connell St, around D'Olier St and back to the GPO where the it will be addressed by speakers from the Trade Union movement, the Rossport community and the Rossport solidarity camp. The event will be chaired by a representative of Dublin Shell to Sea.
All supporters, members and affiliates of the campaign are asked to attend and lend their support.
For further information contact [email protected]
Shell to Sea will be holding a national rally in Dublin on Saturday 24th March.
The march will assemble at the Garden of Rememberance, Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed down O'Connell St, around D'Olier St and back to the GPO where the it will be addressed by speakers from the Trade Union movement, the Rossport community and the Rossport solidarity camp. The event will be chaired by a representative of Dublin Shell to Sea.
All supporters, members and affiliates of the campaign are asked to attend and lend their support.
For further information contact [email protected]

by Dublin_activist Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:17

The detaisl for the march on the 24th are as below

Shell to Sea will be holding a national rally in Dublin on Saturday 24th March.
The march will assemble at the Garden of Rememberance, Parnell Square at 2pm and proceed down O'Connell St, around D'Olier St and back to the GPO where the it will be addressed by speakers from the Trade Union movement, the Rossport community and the Rossport solidarity camp. The event will be chaired by a representative of Dublin Shell to Sea.
All supporters, members and affiliates of the campaign are asked to attend and lend their support.
For further information contact [email protected]

by S2S supporter Thu Feb 08, 2007 13:02

Who decides where these marches go? Why not combine the speeches and marching around in circles with a bit of stopping a petrol station, e.g. have the speeches in front of the Statoil on Ushers Quay? Result: Their business is disrupted, people can listen to what is being said, and the ordinary people waiting for buses on O'Connell Street dont get pissed off with having the whole bus route closed off (it doesnt matter if we get pushed off the street and into the forecourt of the petrol station down on the quays - the petrol station will be closed down)

I just think its a bit pointless calling for direct action down in Mayo to stop the pipeline, when at the same time having a simple march on a Saturday in Dublin. Would people be happy just travelling down to Mayo for a march around the perimeter of the Bellanaboy site? No, so why are we taking the option of a march here? The companies that own the pipeline are operating here too, if we are serious about hitting them in their pocket locally for their actions in Erris, then doing the usual activist Saturday Garden of Remembrance hop skip & jump to the GPO isnt going to cause them much trouble.

by Pollytix Thu Feb 08, 2007 13:37

There is an extensive list of contacts at the address below if you have specific questions for the Shell to Sea Campaign.

http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=4&type=page

by belmullet pat Fri Feb 09, 2007 13:52

next friday is the day of support at bellinaboy,(it should be saturday).
Come down and march then, we expect to see thousands of supporters, dont dissapoint!

by neutral Fri Feb 09, 2007 15:40

... you only get about 200?

Is the campaign dead?

I'm not a troll - I'm genuinely serious about what people think a proper level (i.e. number of people) is needed to keep this campaign alive, else it may fall apart like Shannon did.

by Anti-War Irelander Fri Feb 09, 2007 15:59

I'm not against a realistic assessment of where the S2S campaign is at, but, before the purveyors of demoralisation get to work, you should try to see this as a long-haul campaign. Long-haul campaigns experience peaks and troughs. The demilitarise Shannon airport campaign is a good example. Between 250 and 300 people attended the AWI demonstration held there in October - this is what was expected, but was a small number relative to the 'big high' of early 2003. Moverover, that AWI demo was the only march organised at Shannon in 2006. Numbers involved in the anti-war movement are generally down with many local groups now gone. However, AWI is taking a long-term perspective on this and is intent on rebuilding branch by branch, group by group, even if it means small numbers initially. We know that anti-war sentiment still dominates this country and the anti-war movement will eventually re-emerge in strength, perhaps in reaction to particular events in the Middle East.

The same holds true for Shell to Sea. The support is out there. If thousands don't mobilise in Dublin, it shouldn't be a cause of demoralisation. Build locally and search out ways to pull people from sentiment to activism. Not easy, but sometimes long-haul campaigns take patience, an ability to withstand short-term disappointment and/or minor setbacks, and, most importantly of all, optimism of the will.

We will get there eventually. Tiocfaidh ar la.

by belmullet S to S Fri Feb 09, 2007 16:49

We need at least a thousand, or we really are finished.

by J K Fri Feb 09, 2007 16:54

We need good posters of gas explosions and the HIGH Pressure reality of whats being planned for Mayo. Urgent SEE TimRileylaw.com J K

by Max Fri Feb 09, 2007 17:00

There isn't time to build up slowly in this. If the peat is removed from the site then the whole scenario changes. To stop this we must mobilise support in Mayo, at the site.

Marches and fun days, writing to the papers, running for election, posting on indymedia... none of this will have any effect.

At this stage, you'd begin to wonder about the motives of people who are so desperately pushing a march in Dublin over the demonstration at the site. The anti-war movement is a good example. In 2003 the focus was on Shannon, and the movement was doing well. Once people were given the option of marching in Dublin, they went for it, and once they had marched, and nothing was achieved, the movement was effectively neutralised.

Those who want to make a difference should demonstrate shoulder to shoulder with the locals, at the refinery site either on the 16th, or on another day that Shell are working. It's not numbers that count there, but commitment, and willingness to stand up to bullying.

Those who want to play politics with this issue should go to Dublin to listen to politicians make noises. Have another day at the GPO listening to non-entities make comments while Shell make progress on their plan to destroy the environment.

But those who want their protest to mean something should learn the lessons of the anti-war movement. Don't be distracted by those who want to corral the protest into the sheep pen in front of the Spire.

Come to Mayo. Make a difference.

by Absolutely Fri Feb 09, 2007 17:45

Thats exactly the way I feel about the current position of the campaign also.
A march in Dublin is all well and good but its in Mayo where the bastards are working and its in mayo where they can be stopped.
If the focus changes to marches and tokenistic back-patting ,this campaign is over---
A good turnout and action on the 16th,and the march will be good.The opposite is also true.
All hands on deck to Rossport on the 16th!

by Anti-War Irelander Fri Feb 09, 2007 18:13

Hi Max, I agree with you about keeping the focus in Mayo - and the example you give is exactly right. Shannon should have remained, and must, remain the focus of the anti-war movement because that's the point of complicity. By focusing on Shannon, you make it very clear what Irish involvement in the war actually means. Marches in Dublin shouldn't be written off though; a big once-off mobilisation in Dublin would be good for S2S. this, of course, shouldn't mean an end to mobilisations in Mayo - in fact I would suggest that the focus of the Dublin march should be entirely on directing people to the next demo in the west. Sign 'em up for buses there and then. Hand out leaflets giving bus and train times westwards, etc. etc. Argue openly for direct action as a tactic.

However, if you've agreed to do a Dublin march, it seems sensible to make it as successful as possible. There's no reason why it should be seen as a counterpoint to mobilisations at the coalface, and it won't as long as it's made clear on the day that the organisers are primarily interested in bussing people westwards for the next solidarity demo there!

by worried Fri Feb 09, 2007 18:37

direct action has been counter productive, we lost a lot of support through out the country on the 10/10/06 because of the confrontation by the garda.
If we are going to use direct action it should be against shell, not the garda.
we must get local people out on the 16th it is them we are protecting .it is there presence that will give credability to this action.

by Historian Fri Feb 09, 2007 18:50

Shell to Sea did not lose any support in the aftermath of November 10th. Support rose to stratospheric levels.

All the violence that day was from the police, and this was quite clearly evident to the public.

At the Saro Wiwa conference in Cork that weekend, even the Green party supporters who showed up were, probably for the first time in their lives, questioning the authority of the Gardai. Everyone could see that the campaign had right on its side, since the state, instead of arguing, was resorting to such extreme force.

Anyone who tells that the campaign lost support after 10/11 is lying. You would wonder at their motives.

by worried Fri Feb 09, 2007 20:31

Historian, if you are sure that Shell to Sea did not lose any support in the aftermath of November 10th.
Then I will concede I may be niave, I was just refering to comments I heard from friends/neigbours and family after the protest on the 10th.
This may have just been a local recation here in erris, maybe in the rest of the country, the public could see things clearer.
I apoligse for my mis-informed oponion, and will leave any further comment to people with greater insight into this campaing.

by cross pollinator Fri Feb 09, 2007 20:47

I think it would be extremely unlikely that a thousand people would gather in Mayo for a demonstration at dawn on a working day. It is unreasonable to ask people to take days off work and travel great distances, particularly since the last day of action was cancelled.

Many people are wary of committing to this campaign because it is seen to be uncertain of its aims and strategy. Lots of activists have said that they will sit out Feb 16th and go to next one (and they don't mean the march in Dublin, which is widely seen as irrelevant).

A couple of hundred people is all that is needed on the 16th to show that Shell to Sea is back in business.

by worried Fri Feb 09, 2007 21:13

I agree the protest should be on saturday/sunday, (although if you cant sacrafice one days wages?)
you say (Lots of activists have said that they will sit out Feb 16th and go to next one) if we dont get a large turnout on the 16th, the next protest will be futile.

A couple of hundred people attended the last protest, it was useless!
It sickens me to see someone post "It is unreasonable to ask people to take days off work and travel great distances"
This isnt a picnic your invited to, if it is a day out at the weekend your looking for go to the zoo.

by david - shell to sea Fri Feb 09, 2007 23:01

as a shell to sea activist, i would be only glad if people seen us in the same light as the irish anti war movement. the anti war movement is the largerst and strongest political movement outside of the political establihment.dublin shell to sea as a body, as always lacked the will to create a mass movement within dublin just like the irish anti war movement as done.

dublin is the capital of course thats where the focus should be. whats the point in going to rossport on the 16th, when you can march in dublin on the 24th in the thousaunds in front of the eyes of the media and 2 million people within dublin.

Brid Smith of shell to sea should be commended fo all her hard work in organising this march.

see you all on the 24th.

by s2s Fri Feb 09, 2007 23:23

David, your "don't be negative" line would be more credible if you didn't go on to rubbish the idea of going to Mayo on the 16th. If marching in Dublin is your objective, go do it, nobody's gonna stop you. But don't start pissing all over the efforts of people going down to Rossport and don't try to undermine them.

by awi supporter Fri Feb 09, 2007 23:56

David: "the anti war movement is the largest and strongest political movement outside of the political establihment"

This is delusional stuff! Honestly. The last march in Dublin had hardly 500 people on it. The number of people who oppose the US war policy is huge in this country, but the anti-war movement is tiny. The IAWM hardly exists, AWI has just a few branches, Cosantoiri Siochana is a couple of people. I could probably name every antiwar activist in Ireland. None of this means that it does have great potential but its a long way from the heady days of early 2003.

I'm guessing, by your praise for Brid Smith, that you're an SWPer. No surprise there cos the SWP took this "it's huge" line regardless of the obvious slump in the antiwar movement. It's betrays an inability to face reality and deal with things as they actually are.

If you're looking for the largest political movement outside the establishment, you'd be better off looking at what's coming out of the health service debacle.

by david - shell to sea Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:20

firstly the anti war movement is the largest movement outside the political establishment, can u think of a bigger. shell to sea is not if the anti war issue only gets 500 on a march, shell to sea will only get 100 or 200.

although clearly the march you were talking about was only a rally, if the anti war movement was to hold a march it would get thousands.

and no i not a memeber of the swp, i am member of shell to sea and people before profits like brid smith the organiser of the dublin national march.

the 16th thats really something for rossport and the people of mayo, we should be looking towards the 24th and putting pressure on the poliical establishment and recruiting more memebers into the shell to sea movement in the capital.

by scoot Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:38

I partilly agree with david the 16th should be a day for local people to show their support (or lack of).
The pro shell lobby are loving the fact that most of the protesters at these solidarity days are not local.
It seems to most that it is the same couple of dozen local people that is involved with their ranks been swelled by nonlocals and non nationals.
I think S toS should organise a day of protest at a weekend for local people only.that way people can get a true picture of the opposition to this project in mayo and erris.

by Dublin Shell to Sea'er Sun Feb 11, 2007 13:23

It seems pretty obvious from the posts from "David" above, that the SWP line is to downplay the demonstrations in Mayo, while talking up the march in Dublin. I expect to see more sock puppets on here calling for a big turn oout and diiscouraging people from travelling to Mayo.

It's not surprising really, they have been calling for a Dublin march since November. When not a single other activist from outside the SWP/People before Profits group agreed with them, they started going to Glenamoy and telling the folks there that Dublin people were crying out for a march. Then they came to the Dublin meetings to tell us that the people of Mayo were demanding a march in the capital.

When that didn't work they wrote us a nasty letter explaining how everything was wrong with Dublin Shell to Sea and they were having nothing more to do with us.

Next thing we know there is a march organised, with not a mention of the 16th on the thousands of posters they've got printed (paid for by the ATGWU). Presumably a few hundred people will show up and be treated to speeches on the evils of world capitalism, the media will ignore it or deride it, and Shell will continue building the refinery. If Bertie wasn't swayed by the anti-war march in 2003 he's hardly likely to be influenced by a Shell to Sea march now.

It's hard to see what even the SWP will get out of it.

I guess they really want to sell those papers...

by mediajunkie Sun Feb 11, 2007 14:38

"When that didn't work they wrote us a nasty letter explaining how everything was wrong with Dublin Shell to Sea and they were having nothing more to do with us."

Any chance you could scan this letter in or reproduce the text? For the public record.

by awi supporter Sun Feb 11, 2007 16:57

David: "can u think of a bigger. shell to sea is not if the anti war issue only gets 500 on a march, shell to sea will only get 100 or 200."

100,000 people marched under trade union banners some time back against what was happening in Irish Ferries. Meanwhile all over the country thousands (many thousands in some instances) of concerned citizens have turned out for local and regional marches focused on the health service debacle. In fact, though below the radar of some sect members and their hangers-on, the health crisis is probably the biggest political mobiliser in Ireland at present.

The anti-war movement is at a low ebb at the moment (which doesn't mean that it won't expand rapidly in the right circumstances - it almost certainly will). 250 to 300 at the AWI demo in Shannon was not a surprise for those who are clued in; ditto the 500 at the IAWM demo in Dublin, though, going by the logic of the "Dublin is a better venue for demos than Mayo" brigade, you would have expected several thousand to turn out in the capital.

It's hard to know how many will turn out for the Shell to Sea demo in Dublin. I'm sure you're more zoned in on this than I am. I doubt, however, if it will hugely exceed what could be mobilised in Mayo - it won't be tens of thousands anyway. Anyhow, dissing the Mayo protests as a way of 'building' the Dublin demo is a pretty poor strategy.

by awi supporter Sun Feb 11, 2007 17:07

David: "although clearly the march you were talking about was only a rally, if the anti war movement was to hold a march it would get thousands"

Nope, it was a full blown 'national demonstration' called by the IAWM. A march through the city centre and a rally. 500 people. I said you were delusional about the strength of the anti-war movement; this proves it. I hope you're more sussed on the S2S issue.

by Terry Sun Feb 11, 2007 20:28

To worried and scoot, firstly the majority of people at the November the 10th protest were residents, secondly there was a Mayo wide or ’local’ mobilisation in late January.
There was no direct action against the Garda.
The only way Shell to Sea is gonna get a positive reception in the media, is, in the case of the Independent group newspapers, cease and desist, and in the case of some of the softer parts like the Irish Times, either accept the provision of gas to towns in Mayo plus the apparent rerouting of the pipeline as a start on a decent compromise and go into talks with Shell plus make submissions at EPA oral hearings aimed at reforming the operations of the proposed refinery at Ballinaboy. They have said as much in editorials.
A few journos are outside this consensus.
The popular reaction to November the 10th was indifference to the issue or outrage at the state. You can see this by looking for instance at call in radio shows in Dublin outside of Leinster, or by simply talking to folk.
The reaction in Erris may have been different, bearing in mind that this is one of the most conservative parts of the country, and therefore people are more likely to heed what the Garda and/or papers are saying, that some elements in Erris have a vested interest in the project, and that people may be grasping at any straw as an excuse not to do anything about what is happening.
If the attitudes of the uncommitted in Erris should be the determinant of what actions to take then the campaign against Shell’s development should have never begun, much as with the attitudes of the papers.

by Dublin Shell to Sea'er Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:13

I deleted the letter, but from memory it was all about how the campaign in Dublin isn't connecting with people, and when the SWP, who have been really supportive of the campaign, come to the Dublin meetings, they are not listened to, and their ideas are not accepted by the group.

Since the only idea they had ever put forward was for a big march in Dublin, this is to some extent true.

It went on to say that that the thing to do was organise a big march in Dublin in February, and since the people in Dublin couldn't bring themselves to do that, the SWP would do it themselves. Brid Smith said she had travelled to Mayo to persuade the people there that a march was the way to go, and the stick-in-the-muds in Dublin were holdiing everyone back.

I remember thinking that it was odd, because the letter came from Brid Smith, and although I haven't been to every shell to sea meeting in Dublin, as far as I knew she hadn't been to any. Not one.

Of course, it's possible that I'm mis-remembering, but the letter was sent by email to the Dublin Shell to Sea discussion group, and so I'm sure someone must still have it.

by JK Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:55

Sorry but are the swp not entitled to go off on their own and help organise a demo?

Its obvious from previous post that dublin shell weren't in agreement with them or listened to them. So the swp are a seperate group from Shell to Sea they should have every right to organise a demo.
They can also go speak to people in Mayo if they want? No? Or should I if I wanted to go talk to people in Mayo and make an argument for something, should I first pass it by someone, perhaps dublin shell to sea?

You can't have it both ways. You don't want them in meetings with you- you obviously ignore them and when they go do something on their own you give out. You don't agree with a dublin demo then you give out that when the atgwu sponser posters that your preferred demo is not advertised on it.
The truth is if the atgwu put it on their poster alongside the dublin demo, you'd be on here saying that the atgwu is a tool of the swm'ers and that its a front for the swp and that the atgwu hijacked by swp is hijacking shell to sea dublin.

It just seems like you are more obsessed with the swp and their antics than the issue here.

by Dublin S2S supporter Mon Feb 12, 2007 13:45

This march is being organised by Dublin S2S not the SWP. The SWP had very little involvement in Dublin S2S and just because they weren't happy with the democratic decisions taken by the group they left. The SWP lied through their teeth. Brid Smith an SWP member and general election candidate went down to rossport and then proceed to make up stuff. She accused Dublin S2S of being a provo front and said that a National meeting took place without the people of Rossport when it was clearly explained to everybody that this was not the case at the start of that meeting. Answers were sought from the SWP on this and they refused to give the answers.

As for the march on the 24th. Many people felt that this date was not suitable and that March was a better date. Dublin S2S alo said that the march must be close to the date of a day of action. The national decision taken was to go ahead with the march in February but to have a day of action on the 16th in Mayo. Again this was a democratic decision taken and nobody left because of this. The march is now going ahead. The ATGWU paid for the posters which were designed by the SWP with no input from Dublin S2S. The posters are terrible and will not do much good in bringing people out on the 24th. However the day of action on the 16th will.

The March is being organised by Dublin S2S and not the SWP. There will be no SWP speaker or a speaker from any of their fronts. There will be no politicians speaking either. The march is going to the GPO which the SWP oppose but as I said they aren't organising. The SWP have been a negative influence on this campaign which is always the case with them. People have seen there tactics before and will see them again, they never learn.

We need to build for a big show of people on the 16th this will encourage people to come out on the 24th. One thing I hope not to see is if people actually believe that the 24th is an SWP march that they will not bother going to it. It is most certainly not an SWP march, you will not be hearing a speech from them and the only engagement you will have with them is when they are handing out recruitment leaflets and selling their papers at the march.

by Dublin shell to Sea'er Mon Feb 12, 2007 14:36

Reply to JK

Let me put on the record, I'm perfectly happy for the SWP to organise demonstrations on any subject they like, and to speak to any one they like. I do object to them telling lies, and I am concerned that they rarely advertise their presence at events openly, preferring to say that they are journalists, academics, union members etc, or developing front groups. I'm happy to see that this is changing, but recently one of them even rang Joe Duffy recently to talk about whether people should bother voting in the upcoming general election, and she didn't mention that she was a candidate in that election!

For all that though, the SWP contains good activists, with genuine concerns about many issues. I have a number of friends who are current or former members of the SWP, and generally I would rate them as individuals. The leadership of the party however has a nasty tendency to put collecting new members before any other goal, and their secrecy and lack of transparent democracy also bothers me. I have to say though, I don't lie awake worrying about them, and compared to organisations like Shell, they are paragons of virtue.

I do worry, however, that that the march on Feb 24th will be a distraction from the campaign. Ideally, the march on 24/2 should have been announced on the evening of the 16th, when Shell to Sea will be all over the media anyway.

Most people on this side of the Shannon when faced with a choice between a siix and half hour trip to Mayo to be corralled around like animals by brutal, out of control guards; or a nice march down through the city centre to hear Michael D or someone say what a shame it is that the gas is being away, will choose the latter.

Announcing the march before the 16th seemed guaranteed to diminish the chances of large numbers going to Mayo for the demonstration. Leaving it off the poster made the tactic obvious, in my opinion.

by supp Tue Feb 13, 2007 15:14

I see the article in Times mentioning this national invite for a day of support and then the last line says local campaigners want the day to be be peaceful... I can see the headline already.

Outsiders assault garda batons with their heads.

by supp Thu Feb 15, 2007 02:03

Irish Independent: March over gas pipeline may become latest flashpoint

A PROTEST march to the controversial Corrib Gas refinery in north Mayo - billed as ‘peaceful and non-confrontational’ - is already shaping up as the latest angry flashpoint between protestors and gardai. Despite being flagged as a carnival-style ‘Solidarity Day’ by the Shell to Sea campaign, this Friday’s event would appear to have all the ingredients for further volatile exchanges over the controversial pipeline and terminal.

But yesterday Shell to Sea spokesperson Mary Corduff confirmed the event had been timed for 7.30am - coinciding directly with the daily convoy of workers’ vehicles travelling to the refinery. She refused to rule out the possibility of those taking part deliberately walking in front of the workers’ vehicles - a tactic which has repeatedly led to physical confrontation between protestors and gardai. Gardai have warned they will not tolerate any disturbances during the protest and will deal firmly with protesters who overstep the mark.

by dub Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:47

It makes sense if the march goes down to the statoil staion on the quay.
if the march acieves anything it will be a lose of profits for petrol stations.Marching outside the GPO is a waste of time as it is monotonous and carried out by everygroup that wants to march. Action is what gets headlines, it just needs to be a peaceful protest outside a petrol station.

by adam Wed Feb 21, 2007 02:40

I must agree with what a lot of people are saying here as regards the planned march in Dublin. True, it would not be as valuable as protesting at the site itself but it is still important that it continues because it would re-inject a much needed sense of life into the whole thing- if enough people are present. In short it will have little effect on the activities in Mayo (except maybe comforting people with a welcome display of solidarity) but it should show everybody in this part of the country that the movement is not dead. I will be there hail, rain or shine and I hope to see you all there too.

by Tony Wed Feb 21, 2007 09:52

It would be a mistake to use the attendance at the march on Saturday as a guide to the health of the Shell to Sea campaign. Many people are reluctant to go to the march, but still support the demands of Shell to Sea. The are different reasons for this, some of them would be:

The march is being mainly organised by the SWP, who are, as usual, refusing to co operate with the other groups and individuals involved. It's widely seen as an exercise for them to profile their candidates and trawl the crowd for new members.

Marches around the city centre are boring and don't achieve anything. Listening to speeches by politicians who haven't done very much for Rossport is not very enticing.

Town will be full of drunken English rugby supporters, and god knows what else. Many folks are genuinely concerned about what might happen with the cops and the Celtic supporters.

People are getting a bit bored with Shell/Mayo/Rossport etc. You can see it on this site. The campaign is treading water, and folks aren't that fixated on it, the way they were when the community was actively resisting the convoy of workers every day.

There is big march in Belfast on Saturday, demanding equal rights for Irish speakers. It will attract many folks who might otherwise turn out for Shell to Sea. This march is seen as a more serious affair, since it might actually achieve something.

All of this means that it would be ill-advised to judge the health of the Shell to Sea campaign by counting heads on Saturday.

by Starstruck Wed Feb 21, 2007 17:30

If you want to be involved in deciding the route of the march,come along to the organising meetings.
Otherwise,just come on the march and get a group of people to do an autonomou action or blockade or something.
Aside tform that,your comment is pointless.

by Mick Butler Wed Feb 21, 2007 20:01

I think the Mayo people should not be too surprised if there is not a great turnout from Dublin for the 24th. There is a handful of posters around the city. I do not know why that is. Me and another put some up but it is far from enough. A Big Shame, I have no truck with SWP and their antics but our friends in Mayo deserve better.