Bristol and Bath Rising Tide disrupt Shell

mayo | environment | news report Friday April 02, 2010 22:55 by Rising Tide bristol at risingtide dot org

Fossil Fools Day Action in Bristol

Activists from Bristol and Bath Rising Tide visited the Shell garage in Muller Road, Eastville at 8.30am on Thursday 1st April to highlight the repression experienced by communities in County Mayo, Ireland who are trying to stop Shell building an onshore high pressure pipeline and gas refinery.

The community in Erris, County Mayo has seen continued harassment and intimidation by Gardai and Shell security, as well as the unlawful arrest and targeted jailing of key campaigners. In February fisherman Pat O'Donnell was sentenced to 7 months in jail for convictions of “breach of the peace” and of "obstructing a Garda". The community has been fighting this project for over a decade. Construction of the gas refinery has resulted in the pollution of the local drinking water. Untreated waste chemicals from the refinery, including lead, mercury, arsenic and radon would be pumped into Broadhaven Bay despite it being a designated Special Area of Conservation.

Today’s action is part of Fossil Fools Day, a global day of creative action against corporations who contribute to and profit from climate change.

Rachel Keevil from Rising Tide, chasing another activist with a large section of pipe, said “Shell are climate criminals. The gas pipeline in County Mayo will damage the environment and threaten the health and livelihoods of local people; all for the profit of Shell. It’s a pipeline to disaster.”