Five people locked themselves together in front of the Sramore peat deposit site, used by Shell to deposit the peat from the Bellanaboy refinery site near Rossport. The Gardai arrived at 7.18. As of 7.20, they didn't know how to respond. The banner that the protestors hung across the road says: “Stop before it’s too late”. The five hour blockade of the gates of the shell plant in mayo this morning ended peacefully, with trucks prevented from entering or leaving until approximately midday.

The group of people used layered pipes and concrete to lock arms this morning. The fire brigade was called in to remove the protest. Five people are now being held in Belmullet garda station , as of yet no one has been charged and supporters have made their way to Belmullet to show solidarity with those being detained. There are no reports of any injuries, although a medic supporting the protestors is reported to have been dragged by the hair.

At 7.34 a second Garda van arrived.

At 7. 37, Garda MY 23 gave a warning, that this was private property and to get off the road. Garda MY 165 is filming.

At 7.38, a third Garda Car arrived, meaning there are currently 15 Gardai here, with MY 161 taking photos and Superintendant Gannon in charge.

7.41 Gannon has removed the banner. All the lower ranking cops are calm, he seems irate – they have been informed of the risks of attempting to unlock people. Media contact and for confirmation: Caoimhe – 087 7564750..DETAILED UPDATE: Inspector Gannon: "Peaceful my arse you cunt" UPDATE 14 JUN 2007: The court date of the five has been adjourned to 11 JUL 2007

"Today, a dozen activists conducted a direct action to highlight the European Union’s support for 40 years of Israeli occupation of Palestine. We tried to peacefully occupy the EU Commission’s office for 40 minutes, one minute for every year of occupation. "

In a report filed to the Neswire today, DavidL from the IPSC stated:

"The EU supports the occupier and punishes the occupied Specifically, we were protesting against EU policy of enforcing sanctions on the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories, while offering major trade privileges to Israel, the occupying power. The Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement offers trade and other privileges to Israel, which helps it sustain its economy and maintain its occupation of Palestine. This is despite the fact that Israel is in clear breach of the human rights clause of this agreement."

Related Links: June 9th Demo at Central Bank |

EU use gardai to end occupation (if only they were so enthusiastic about ending the occupation of Palestine) 0.21 Mb The protest continues 0.29 Mb Stop EU support of Israeli occupation 0.29 Mb

As the dust recedes from the ballot box and the parties alternately lick their wounds and rest on their laurels it’s worth having a think about its consequences for the left in general and the radical left in particular...Sinking a lot of work into achieving an especially high soapbox isn’t that much use when people aren’t listening. If we want our arguments to be heard we need to make them from the furnace where our politics have been forged, the heart of the struggles of the people.

The small parties generally got a drubbing this time around, and of course, the left wing parties are all very much on the small side. The only winners are the centre right civil war parties of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, if one is to judge political mood by elections then the left wing is in a sorry state all around. Despite anarchists talking up electoral non-participation this was one of the biggest turn outs in years, people turned up and turned right.

Related Links: Drop in Green First Preferences | Post Election '07 Eirig and Dublin PSF | Indymedia Election Blog | Adams Takes A Dive To The Right | Remember the vote to give away our gas? | Captain Moonlight Discusses Voting Irish Anarchists Launch Campaign To Encourage Democracy | Has Bertie's Begging Bowl Exposed The Emptiness Of The Opposition?

'Voices of Republicanism' is a documentary on the current state of the Republican movement. Through discourse with activists from a wide range of political backgrounds and of varying ages we attempt to provide a small insight into the movement. This is a documentary through the words of people who were there and have seen it, those who still carry the torch of Republicanism and those who have made a break with the movement entirely.

We interviewed members of Republican Sinn Fein, The Workers Party, Workers Solidarity Movement and Eirigi about their past involvement in Republicanism and opinions on where the movement is headed. Dan Keating's interview (courtesy of Carmel Whelan) is worth listening to alone considering his life as a republican spans almost a century (Dan is 105) and he fought in the war of independence, was interned many times in the Curragh and was involved in the 1940's mainland bombing campaign.

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Shell to Sea Campaign moves to Dublin and the Hague

The Shell to Sea campaign has been streching beyond Rossport, with two successfull blockades of Shell corporate headquarters in Dublin on 18th May and 27th April and a presence at the Shell AGM in the Hague. The second blockade in Dublin saw a more measured Garda response - doubtless nervous of the publicity that could be generated during the election season. On this day only four Shell employees were pushed through as all three entrances were blockaded.

50 shares in Shell were donated to the Shell to Sea campaign giving the campaigners the right to attend the AGM in the Hague. John Monaghan delivered a statement to Shell:

We call on Shell to stop the current development... it will never be accepted by the indigenous people, because of project mis-management on every level. It is a risk to the area's primary drinking-water supply, lying in the catchment of Carrowmore Lake, which is also a Special Area of Conservation. It is to discharge waste products into our air, and through Sruth Fada Conn, an estuary of historical importance in Irish legend and a Special Protected Area; and proceed through Broadhaven Bay, another Special Area of Conservation, a breeding ground for whales and dolphins and waters of vital importance to the local fishing and recreation industries.

Alternative development options have never been fully explored, and this fact has been well documented. Meaningful community consultation has never existed. Community concern has never been addressed. The proposed expanding in-land refinery complex will never be acceptable.

Milieu Defensie preparing for their Shell action in Amsterdam 0.11 Mb The AGM venue, aptly named Circus Theatre 0.1 Mb MD's banner highlighting Nigerian flaring 0.13 Mb Shareholders hurry into the venue 0.16 Mb