'He summed it up succintly with these vicious words:
It's your pay cheque or your planet, the loggers or the birds!'

Listening to the lyrics of great songs by revolutionary U.S. singer/songwriter and poet David Rovics help one understand the brutal conflicts bred by capitalist powerhouses against those concerned about environmental degradation throughout the world. On November 18th I happened to learn what these lyrics meant in a bit more depth when it came to Polish environmental campaigners 15 year struggle to save the Rospudy river valley. Rovic's words encapsulate in part the scene I recently witnessed in a small town of 30,000, close to the Belarussian border where the Baltic Highway promises to leave a concrete-laden, vehicle-polluting hell in it's wake, destroying the beautiful natural habitat in the nearby Augustow forest.

One eco-system, many colours
The following article will be a little bit light on analysis as a) it is the first time I have been to this area and to find out about the issues involved b) there will be others who can do more justice to the ins and outs of the current political context in Poland that is facilitating this infrastructural development c) my Polish is still at pre-intermediate level. Nevertheless, I hope it can help the international English speaking community to keep in mind and provide solidarity with those in Poland who are attempting to prevent another instance of humanity's blind habit of killing that which it proclaims to love – the environment, upon which our very existence depends. In the area we visited today, another micro eco-system may very well be facing an early headstone due to our obsession with cars and concrete, speed, capitalist convenience, and our inability to think about future generations' needs. An injury to one is an injury to all.

On the 24th of April 2001 Uachtaráin na hÉireann Mary McAleese officially opened the Crèche in The Coombe Woman’s Hospital with much applause ribbons and publicity. However on the 24th of October 2006 the children, their parents and the employees of this Crèche were informed it is now to close with much disappointment, upset and disruption, on New Years Eve.

We the parents have been advised the closure is to facilitate the Hospital’s Expansion Programme, which we note will not include any further childcare facilities on its publicly funded and owned campus. The unacceptable and untimely short notice period of two months We, the parents have been advised is a result of a failure of the crèche operators Tots & Co to fully inform us of the expiry of their operating lease and their communications with the Hospital Administration on the matter. We, the parents formally request your support to help us secure an additional 4 months notice period; We are not against the improvement or the development of the Coombe Women’s Hospital; We are not in dispute with the owners and operators of this Crèche Tots & Co; We are just endeavouring to secure safe and secure childcare for our children with as little disruption and tears as possible.

Friday, November 10th was the 11th anniversary of the state murder of Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni activists in Nigeria, at the behest of Shell. The day was chosen by the Shell to Sea campaign as a suitable day of action against Shell's unprecedented attempt to build a high-pressure pipeline across bog-land to a terminal that is sited in a completely unsuitable spot.

The protestors witnessed a quantam leap in Gardai violence against legitimate protest in Rossport. The gardai were caught on camera baton-charging the protestors and throwing one protestor over a fence into a deep ditch. Several injuries were reported and several people were hospitalised. One man was followed into a field by three gardai, pulled to the ground and savagely beaten in front of a dozen witnesses. The state and Shell have embarked on a course of thuggery and intimidation and are clearly set on smashing the protests.

More: More reports from Bellinaboy | Indymedia's coverage of Shell To Sea Campaign | One arrested at solidarity protest in Newcastle | Rossport 5 High Court Case Re-opens | Latest (Excellent) Report from Shell to Sea

Activists from Dublin Shell to Sea disrupted the "Exploring Atlantic Ireland" conference in the Burlington Hotel this morning as Minister for the giveaway of Natural Resources Noel Dempsey was on stage giving his speech.

Titled "Exploring Atlantic Ireland 2006", the two-day conference is highlighting the "exciting development opportunities" in Ireland's offshore gas. The minister was addressing 130 people from the oil and gas exploration industry, many from overseas. Despite a heavy presence of 30-40 Gardai as well as private security, the activists managed to gain access, with two getting into the main conference hall - and delivering a clear message that any development of Irish natural resources could only take place with the benefits of the project going to the Irish people, and with their consent.

Indymedia readers will be well aware that the terms of gas exploration licences mean that multinationals own all the gas they extract from Irish waters, paying no royalties and paying only a low rate of tax on whatever profits they declare many years after they sell the gas. However, defenders of Ireland's extraordinarily generous set-up argue that the exploration that results from such positive terms give Ireland "security of supply".

The next step in the Shell to Sea Campaign is a International Day of Action against Shell on Friday November 10th

The visit of Ibrahim Mussawi of Hezbullah (Lebanon) to Ireland over the past week as a guest of the Irish Anti War Movement has raised some eyebrows among anti-war activists and regular contributors to Indymedia Ireland. MichaelY from the IAWM began by outlining his organisation's position: "Perhaps the most crucial political point of them all. The IAWM is NOT a "Peace organisation" - there are, at least, 10-12 Peace organisations in this country, some of them anti-war/some of them not. The IAWM, as stated in its constitution, is an anti-imperialist organisation whose main objective is to stop the use of Shannon and other Irish facilities by the forces of the Empire, while simultaneously extending support and solidarity with those who are invaded, and those who fight against that invasion and occupation by any means at their disposal.

"It is in this context that we invited Ibrahim Mussawi and it is this context that many of us, especially the older members of the IAWM, supported the Vitenamese NLF and the Catholic inspired armed national liberation movements in Latin America. It is in this context many of us served time for being supporters of the ANC in South Africa , Frelimo in Mozambique or closer at home, the armed Irish movements. We don't see as our role to pick and choose...who is secular and who is not, who is anarchist and who is not, who is armed or not/peaceful, who is for NVDA and who for elections. Who is Gandhian and who Gramscian. Who is a Trotskyist and who Marxist Leninist. Who is a nationalist and who a republican. We support all of them...those who fight, those who resist, those who dream of a better world, those who block and protest while singing the Rosary. All of them."