Shell To Sea Campaign Goes on the Offensive

mayo | anti-capitalism | feature

Monday February 20, 2006 16:13

by William

Blockades and protests from Ennis to Dublin, from Cork to Nottingham

Shell Dubin HQ Blockaded

After a relatively quiet Winter, spent on speaking tours and accumulating resources to re-open the Rossport Solidarity Camp in the Spring, the Shell To Sea Campaign swang dramatically back into action with blockades and protests and a promise that this was only a taster of the direct action to come in Mayo if Shell and their cronies in Dail Eireann continue to trample on local people and force through their on-shore refinement plant.

The Action:
London Shell Station Blockaded
Galway Shell to Sea Action
Nottingham Actions 2
Cork Statoil Protest
(See The Rest Of This Feature For Account Of Dublin Action)

Background From Indymedia Ireland Archives

Shell HQ Blockaded in Dublin

70 people blocked both entrances – on Leeson St and Adelaide Road – for about an hour using a D-Lock and about 20 bicycles. The action, which was advertised as a rally outside the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources on the other side of Adelaide Road, was organised to draw attention to the opening of the Rossport Solidarity Camp next week.

The main door of Corrib House was locked by Shell to Sea members and then other supporters chained their bicycles in a line across the entrance. No staff were seen to leave or arrive during the blockade.

In the Rossport area in Co Mayo, continuous blockades by locals since last summer have prevented work on the Corrib Gas pipeline and refinery from taking place. Today simultaneous actions took place in Cork, Amsterdam and Sweden.

There was virtually no Garda presence at the action in Dublin, but there was a heavy media presence.

(More photos to follow later)

Protestors stand behind a barrier of their own bicycles