Ballinaboy account

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday January 30, 2007 17:51

by cold reporter

Long before most people living on this island have woken up and put on the kettle for their morning cup of tea, residents in northwest County Mayo are already standing along the cold tar road outside shell’s Corrib gas terminal at Ballinaboy. They face a line of gardai.

yet another morning vigil

The sky is still dark but there is a spotlight coming from the construction site facing the line of residents. This light illuminates the residents’ breaths in the cold morning air, and also makes it easier for the garda with his video camera to document precisely who is taking part in this picket. As dawn breaks the headlights of the convoy of construction vehicles and the busses carrying construction workers approaches in the distance.

The gardai look promptly nervous and attentive, sizing up the residents and their supporters. Over the past few months many people have put their bodies in front of the huge trucks to try and delay the work that is happening behind the metal fence.

There is a call for the gates of the site to be opened and the gardai step forward into the middle of the road in line formation, protecting the huge rumbling vehicles that are here to construct one of the most controversial gas refineries being built anywhere in the world. The residents vocalize their dissent against those driving the vehicles and also against those in uniform protecting this building.

There are 2 convoys, and there is a gentle attempt by a few supporters of the residents to move in front of each of them. Each attempt is quickly and roughly cleared away by the a few of the gardai. If you have been reading indymedia.ie over the past few months you will know that this is a fairly regular occurrence and one is tempted to wonder just how many people it would take to blockade the road and halt construction on this site even for a day.

But symbolic gestures and short term stoppages are not what these residents want. Unless you have been in a coma for the past year you will be well aware that the residents and their supporters here in Mayo are calling for this project to be stopped, reworked and definitely for it to be moved to a safer location.
From questioning a few people I can see this is not a ‘nimby’ (not in my back yard) ‘locals only’ struggle. Aside from the health and safety issues that will come with a gas refinery emitting toxins into the air close to a residential community and near to the local water supply (of which there are many); to-date the paltry negotiation procedure and community-consultation-charade the residents have had to endure makes one realize that if this project goes ahead it will set a convenient but devastating blueprint for bully-tactics and anti-democratic diktats to be replicated across the country. This is a struggle that affects each of us living here.

shielding the personnel carrier

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Comments (8 of 8)

Demonstration of Support Planned For February 16th

by on the buses

Tue Jan 30, 2007 18:34

Those who want to show their support and stop Shell in Mayo should be aware that there is a call for people to travel from around the country to Erris for a demonstration on February 16th.

Buses will be leaving Dublin, Belfast, Cork , Galway and other centres. Contact your local Shell to Sea group for more info.

Day of Support for the people of Ballinaboy

Feb 16th

by krossie - wsm personal capacity

Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:33

Great report O cold one - really nicely written

I can feel the anger growing - lets make February 16th a BIG ONE

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80541

example

by skeptic

Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:52

I agree with krossie lets make the 16th a example of support,let it be known the country are waiting and watching to see a large turnout on that day!

Absolutely

by S2S'r

Wed Jan 31, 2007 18:37

I feel personally that the 16th could be a real make-or-break day for the campaign ..first big action call-out of 2007,we need to set a precedent to keep people involved/get more people involved.
Thus Id urge anyone who is/was/will be involved at any level in the campaign to try and amke it over and to spread the word far and wide about it.
The demo in Dublin on the 24th is hugely dependent in my view on what happens on the 16th ,so lets make it a biggie!

Re: 16th

by wondering?

Thu Feb 01, 2007 00:24

Are there any requests of things to bring?
Noise makers/instruments/whistles/ Fancy dress costumes?
are there any proposed guidelines and/or advice
from the more experienced shell to sea'ers for people
who haven't come up to mayo before in light of
the heavy handedness of some of the gardai?

well done to all of those people who are daily making
a stand. you have more support than you may think!
:)

Contact your Local

by For the wondering

Thu Feb 01, 2007 03:16

If you are planning to come along on the 16th, contact your local Shell to Sea group for more info. Their contact emails and phone numbers are on the Shelltosea.com site under CONTACTS.

Some areas are planning info sessions before the big day. Dublin for instance, are orgainising talks in four colleges next week with local residents giving just such info.

As regards plans/ tactics for the day- I think our friends in London have shown us what attracts attention and support for the campaign.

ballinaboy

by huge supporter

Thu Feb 01, 2007 13:35

I hope the 16th Feb is a massive day in Ballinaboy. However If you are here inLondon on the 17th Feb remember to come and picket the new Ferrari/Shell tv ad being filmed in the City of London Streets. Everyone can do their bit!
Take to the streets!

proud to support

by s2s

Thu Feb 01, 2007 13:44

Good luck to all on the 16th.
Well done to the Rossport Solidarity Camp for excellent work at the Irish embassy. How can those of us here in London join you? You do us Mayo people proud.

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Comments (8 of 8)