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

As the wank of the Primetime party leader's debate recedes behind us and the main parties continue to slit each others throats each and every day in a pantomime scramble to the centre, these days it seems, finding even a morsel of inspiration in mainstream Irish politics is as hopeless as expecting coherence from Trevor Sergeant. Thankfully there is one man desperate to avoid the Primetime approach to politics. Ladies and gentlemen, enter Kilkenny's Captain Moonlight...

In this interview the Captain discusses voting, musical influences, Shannon, Shell to Sea and the relationship of Hurling to the anti-capitalist movement. He's also responding to comments and discussing the article.

MP3 download 'Keep to the left there lads...'

Related Links: Previous story on the Captain. | Alec Empire Feature | Captain Moonlight events on Indymedia | Indymedia Election Stories |

Experts had warned for years that the M3 should never have been routed through the Gabhra (Tara-Skreen) Valley.
What we refer to today as a “henge” are two related architectural forms that come from the late Neolithic and the early Bronze age. They date from about 2500 to 1800BC and may consist of banks, earth enclosures and also timber circles and that is what we have in this case. Rath Medb at is an example of the earthen enclosure. The best known henge is of course Stonehenge.

Related Links: Tara Watch submits DVD on Tara to Government. | Roestown national monument at Tara removed | Press statement from Campaign to Save Tara | Tara; The Inconvenient Truth by Martin Hogan, NUI Senate Candidate | Tara; The Inconvenient Truth by Martin Hogan, NUI Senate Candidate | Corruption Watch at Tara - Lets do some digging of our own

Lismullin site with Rath Lugh in the background 0.06 Mb Closer view of the area 0.05 Mb Details of the henge site 0.02 Mb Geophysical detail in context 0.03 Mb Lismullin on the map 0.03 Mb

Choice Ireland commends Tuesday's verdict in favour of “Miss D”s right to travel for an abortion. Nevertheless we are appalled by the treatment “Miss D” has received at the hands of our state. It is unacceptable that yet another woman has been dragged through the courts in order to vindicate her rights and her choice. It is also unacceptable that “Miss D” will now be forced overseas in order to exercise her choice to have an abortion.

Today is not a joyful day for Miss D. While she has finally gained the right to exercise her choice, she had to go through a lot to get to this point. She now has to face into the reality of an abortion. She must do this overseas away from the support of family and friends. She must then return to this country which, because it ignores the problem, has no proper free post-abortion care or counselling available. This is the situation for thousands of Irish women. |

Related Links: Images and Audio From Previous Rally | Alliance for Choice Calls "D" Case A Tragedy | Teenager Seeking Abortion Challenges HSE | Report of Rally In Support of Miss D | Doctors For Choice Advocate Choice | Founding Documents of Choice Ireland | Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminsit Group Hold Meeting On Choice and Class | A UCD Student Reports On Her Experience with Rogue Clinics | European Court Of Human Rights Turns To Restrictive Irish Abortion Law | Report From Rally At Rogue Information Clinic | Choice Ireland

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission opens for business

Today was the official opening of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The idea is to provide a civilian oversight of the Gardaí and provide a way for people to make complaints about the police without going through the Guards themselves. Unfortunately, only invited members of the corporate media were allowed into the opening, so this indymedia report is confined to the outside of the building.

Amazingly, the Gardaí tried to stop me taking pictures on the pavement outside, and even tried to block the camera. Eventually after trying to interrogate me they stopped and sulked from a distance. I think they realised that they couldn't arrest me outside the GSOC offices on their opening day, but they were certainly considering it for a while...

Related Links: Shell to Sea Complaints to Garda Ombudsman. | Your Rights & How to Deal with the Gardaí. | McDowell: Ireland's Next Top Model | Large Crowds Demand Justice For Terence Wheelock | Garda Ombudsman Site | Mickey McDowell Announces Ombudsman | Reclaiming the Streets: The Garda Review on Ballinaboy