Rossport Solidarity Camp Returns to Glengad with a Fresh Call Out for Action.
mayo |
environment |
feature
Tuesday August 26, 2008 21:38
by Starstruck & Niall Harnett - Shell to Sea / Rossport Solidarity Camp.
rossportsolidaritycamp at gmail dot com
085 1141170
… And the Shell to Sea ‘Week of Action’ (announced last week) is extended indefinitely until Solitaire pipeline work is stopped.
The Camp Welcomes You Back.
The Rossport Solidarity Camp was originally set up on ‘Rossport 5’ Philip McGrath’s land in 2005. In the Spring of 2006 the camp was set up again close to the beach at Glengad near the ‘landfall’ for Shell’s proposed pipeline. Following a mendacious but successful application by Mayo County Council for an order of eviction against the camp in September of 2007, the camp agreed to leave the dunes by January 1st 2008. Since then the 'camp' has organised from the Rossport Solidarity House in Pollathomas.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 the camp was set up afresh for the purposes of reorganising Shell to Sea resistance to Shell's latest plans to construct its offshore section of the pipeline from Glengad out to the Corrib Gas Field. A number of actions against that work have already taken place and local, national and international supporters are returning to the area to continue the fight.
As one supporter put it, "If there was ever a time to come to Mayo, this is it".
Related Links: Shell to Sea Coverage on Indymedia.ie | Glengad, Mayo - July 29th | Shell & Gardaí Force Community from Glengad Beach | Shell halted as Shell to Sea '8' are illegally detained | Audio Interview with S2S activists after weekend trip down
Shell to Sea are reorganising in light of Shell's current plans to develop their offshore pipeline. The Solitaire pipe-laying ship has been expected for a number of weeks now, but has delayed in coming for reasons which include weather conditions and, in the author's opinion, the stiffening of resistance to its arrival.
The new camp which was set up on Saturday 16th, with the permission of a local landowner, near the Shell compound at Glengad beach, drew swift attention from Shell security and Gardaí who joined forces on Friday 22nd and formed a line unlawfully, but only temporarily, to close off the public beach there. Because of confusion over the sole ownership of the land where the camp was based, Garda Supt. John Gilligan decided to enforce a complaint of trespass against the camp from another member of the family who lives abroad but who appears to have a substantial claim on the land. Supt. Gilligan arrived to the camp on the Friday evening to give the camp 48 hours to leave or else face threat of removal by Gardaí under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, as amended by Section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002.
After some communications over the course of the weekend with Supt. Gilligan, who said he had seen land documents supporting his position but wouldn't show them, the camp decided, to cut a long story short, to leave that field and not to call his bluff by offering any resistance. We requested more time to leave which he agreed to, and on Monday afternoon the marquee and all camping equipment was moved by a tractor from that field, up to the road, and down into another field further along the shore, where we have secured permission from the sole landowner, without dispute.
Going back to an outrageous incident during the occupation of the beach by Gardaí and Shell security on Friday 22nd, a Garda bearing the number GW198, who refused to identify himself after kicking a young boy on the beach has been accused of assault by his mother who witnessed the whole incident. See more on this in the Mayo News here .
Meanwhile 'the Chief' Pat O'Donnell has been defending his 800 lobster and crab pots further out to sea in Broadhaven Bay from theft by a Shell's 'Highland Navigator' ship which has been sending an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), a submarine, below water to rip Pat's gear from their spot at sea where the Chief is licensed to fish. Pat's calls to the Gardaí and the ministers for justice and marine, looking for protection, have been disgracefully unheeded, and Pat and his family and friends have been on the water night and day defending their rights and their gear from Shell, who want to simply steal them and remove them from the path of the Solitaire pipe-laying ship. As I understand it, the Highland Navigator backed away from it's assault on the O'Donnells' boats after a radio call from the Chief to the H.N. skipper to stop endangering the life of his son Jonathan with his manoeuvres; an appeal which was heard by this author on VHF radio.
The Solitaire, according to this updated Marine Notice is due to arrive today or tomorrow. However, an article in today’s Irish Times by Lorna Siggins suggests that the only way to resolve this particular dispute at this stage will be to seek the ruling of a judge in the courts. For more on this see also a report by Áine Ryan in today's Mayo News here .
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Shell to Sea Action Call Out.
Friends and supporters,
Update.
At present, the arrival of the giant pipe-laying ship, the Solitaire is imminent.
As the actions last Thursday ( Shell halted as Shell to Sea '8' are illegally detained ) proved, there are many ways to disrupt this latest chapter of Shell and the State’s skulduggery in North West Mayo.
Last week’s callout was very successful with large numbers responding and performing a multiplicity of roles in the resistance, both on land and at sea.
Activists from all over Ireland and further afield have congregated and numbers have swelled, which when taken with the ever-defiant local community, has given Shell and its partners in crime a lot to think about.
Sunday afternoon saw a show of strength at the Solidarity Camp as the police-imposed eviction deadline of 3pm came and went.
Rather than give the boys in blue the satisfaction of having distracted our focus from the Solitaire's arrival (and our intention to scupper its delicate pipe-laying operation), a meeting of locals and activists came to the consensus that moving the camp (two fields across!) was the correct option.
The new and improved camp is located within a stone's throw of Glengad beach where Shell intend in the next week to landfall their pipe with the aid of a giant winch which will drag it to shore.
The camp is complimented by an office and a house one mile away where activists who prefer a more solid roof can stay as long as they please.
We will not be distracted or delayed by obtuse linguistic legal wrangling, our focus is on the Solitaire and the butchery it intends to inflict on this most beautiful of landscapes and its people.
We will never accept this project in its current form and we are committed to the original Shell to Sea aims which are as follows:
1) The refining of the gas on an offshore platform, negating the need for any raw gas high pressure pipeline, as recommended in 2002 by Mr. Kevin Moore, Senior Inspector with An Bord Pleanala who said simply that this was the 'wrong project in the wrong place' for many reasons.
2) The reclamation of the natural resources from the oil and gas companies and the reviewing of the current but outdated licensing and fiscal terms which amount to the 'Great Gas Giveaway', which means that the people of Ireland benefit nothing from the exploitation of Irish Natural Resources.
3) The restoration of civil liberties to citizens and supporters, and the defence & vindication of the rights of those engaged in the legitimate protest and opposition to the Shell Corrib Gas Project.
Shell to Sea is alive and well and fighting tooth and nail for the safety of this community and the natural resources of our country’s people.
Your help is needed!
Actions are ongoing and will intensify with the arrival of the Solitaire. There is a role for everyone, regardless of age, experience, availability and skill. The areas you can help with are endless and particularly in the fields of camp support, water based skills, legal, cooking, medical, media and of course direct action.
The atmosphere is resurgent in the area, with a fresh burst of confidence evident among both locals, national and international Shell to Sea activists. This is a golden opportunity to reinvigorate the fight against this project in a meaningful and effective way.
Shell can only hold onto the rented Solitaire for a limited period of time and all efforts to hinder its progress will seriously damage Shell's plans.
The choppy waters of Broadhaven Bay will hopefully aid us in our actions but we need you too!
Come to Erris!
Financial assistance to the Rossport Solidarity Camp is very much appreciated and needed to sustain this ongoing voluntary effort.
Donations can be made to:
ACCOUNT: The Rossport Solidarity Camp Account
BANK: Bank of Ireland, Belmullet, Co Mayo.
SORT CODE: 90-52-99
A/C NUMBER: 24306733
BANK ID: BOFIE2D
Thank you.
Contact: email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com & phone 0851141170
Goldman Environmental Award Winner Willie Corduff lends a hand.
Come my brothers and sisters, dance away your fears and your tears. Saro-Wiwa lives in you and me.
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Comments (33 of 33)
Jump To Comment: 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1yeah the video has been emoved by youtube - it's not the fist time they have emoved Shell to Sea videos, so it's always worth looking at other similar sites.
The user who posted the comedy intifada video has a page here: http://www.youtube.com/user/theclericjohnfranc
but no new videos yet.
Is there another copy of the youtube video up above?
I clicked on the embedded link and a message came up telling me that 'this video is no longer available'
yer man that owns Sky owns youtube too, doesn't he?
it's typical....
Well done to all ye strong brave people up in Erris - my thoughts and heart are with ye, though i can't be there physically
The article quoted above is a response to a story in the previos edition which explains the nature of the protest, comments on the arrests and inclides substantial quotes from Pat O'Donnell's legal representative.
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=2&storyid=12814
Quoting it without mentioning the previous article, which is clearly linked to on the page, gives a false impression.
It's also possible to comment on stories on energycurrent.com, just like on indymedia.ie, except without a 30 minute delay.
Got this link and story from a well-sussed ex-camper - this is the 'industry' take on why the Solitaire is delayed. The Offshore Oil & Gas News reporter is citing the weather as the primary reason for the delay, and then mentioning Pat O'Donnell's (et al) refusal to be bought off and continuation of exercising his/their right to fish in seas worked by his family (and many other Erris families too) is mentioned in a 'by-the-way-this-floating-peasant-is-annoying' manner. The sole quote from ex-journalist corporate whore John Egan (Shell spokesman & astroturf) just puts the tin hat on things. No mention at all at all of badly corroded pipe sections, the RSC resistance or the still-solid local resistance to this unpopular and thieving project. Big Oil is incapable of seeing the world around them in any terms other than their own, and their industry press must have strong unconscious self-censorship. They'll learn someday soon, though.
'Shell weathers Corrib storm still facing crab corridor'
'DONEGAL, IRELAND: The laying of the Corrib gas pipeline in Broadhaven Bay, Co. Mayo, Ireland, has been postponed by rough weather, said a spokesperson from Shell. The new difficulty adds to a plethora of problems surrounding the pipeline installation.
'The proposed pipeline has been surrounded by controversy since a group of fishermen refused to sign a compensatory agreement for the loss of fishing ground access during the three months needed to lay the pipe.
'The pipeline, servicing the first gas producing plant in Ireland, has also received some local heckles up over discharges from the terminal. Shell asserted that produced water output from the plant would be treated to the highest EU standards and would enter the sea two miles (3.2 km) offshore further benefitting from huge tidal dilution.
'Shell claimed a three-year study has shown that there would be zero impact on the marine environment due to the treated water spill. However, a small group of fishermen who persisted in their claim that the output would have an effect on their environment, managed to secure a goodwill gesture from Shell, which promised to find an alternative way to dispose of the produced water.
'The McDonnell fishermen, who claim to have around 800 crab pots within the pipeline laying corridor, are refusing to move their wares in order for the work to begin. Allseas deepwater pipe-lay vessel Solitaire is sitting in wait off the coast of Donegal for operations to begin.
'Shell E&P Communications Manager John Egan said, "We have all the necessary permit and consents in place to carry out the proposed pipelaying work. We've reached an agreement with 95 percent of the fishermen. No individual fisherman has an exclusive right to fish in any particular corridor.
'"We've issued marine notices asking people not to have pots in the pipeline route. The corridor is two percent of the intensive fishing grounds that these fishermen would use."'
Pat O'Donnell, his family, supporters and legal team would seriously beg to differ with that nice Mr. Egan's take on matters of fishing rights and many other things!
....I know there have been protests at Shell stations, wouldn't it be very effective if a serious countrywide boycott campaign was organised...hit them where it hurts....passive resistance to the point of what...being pushed up against a wall?
OK
Rossport ain't my organsing priority.
I'm still focused on the U.S. wars on Iraq & Afghanistan and Irish complicity in them.
....but if Dublin based Rossport solidarity activists want to do some solidarity public demo/vigil/manifestation
(regular or one off) while our people are taking risks up at Rossport, I'll do my best to get my ass to such events in Dublin.
At this time of nonviolent confrontation it shouldn't be a situation of get your ass to Rossport or sit on your ass.
In my experience, the more solidarity there is the easier the resistance will be and more likely it will be sustained!
When your up there in those of geographically isolated places and in the middle of such intense confrontation with the state (whether that be at Faslane, Roxby, Jabiluka, Tara, Shannon, Rossport, RNC/St.Paul/USA or on trial et. al) you're pretty isolated aginst the powers of the state (cops, Navy, Army) unless there's lot of visibile solidairty going down in other places (Shell garages, embassies, Dublin etc) this canlead to feelins of isolation and on to cynicism. It doesn't have to be this way.......you can feel accomopanied in custody, bobbing about in kayak
or facing off your parents when you get home...if there is a visible movement etc etc You can come out of custody (or whatever) empowered and emboldened, the way the State doesn't want you to come out.
...this is all very fine, BUT......how much more 'passive resistance' is bearable before the penny drops? If this campaign is going to have even a sniff of winning, there has got to be a big rethink on tactics.
Ps. Why are the reports/links only going back to a few weeks ago?
Excellent video, well done to all concerned.
The video is a great lift! It will stand for years to come when the words of Nabi Maurayam are shown to be true. Victory to the Mayo resistance!
From the Times:
GARDAÍ POLICING the protest about Shell's Corrib gas project have enlisted the help of Interpol following an influx of eco-protesters into Mayo from the UK and continental Europe.
Interpol, the international police intelligence co-operation agency, is helping to identify some of the foreign national eco-protesters, whose number has significantly increased in recent weeks, according to Garda sources.
Do the security worker's pictured have the new security licence's, if not there company can be reported to ISIA. Huge cost to company if they are not properly licenced worker's. Check it out and report them.
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The Ogoni Nine Memorial
It's been claimed that the ordinary security workers on the Shell sites at Glengad and Ballainaboy are not being treated very well and there is friction with the new security staff.
Some of the older staff, from Eastern Europe, have been told they are to be let go at the end of September.
This could be a good time for staff members who are unhappy with Shell to undo some of the damage the project is doing.
They may even be reading this article. If you want to help, There is no point in contacting indymedia.
Contact the solidarity camp at the email address at the top of this article: rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
or call the phone number.
szczęście
Well done theclericjohnfranc for producing this side-splitting propaganda spoof! We at the Rossport Solidarity Camp really enjoyed watching and sharing this well-made original video. It has helped to introduce some humour into what remains a tense situation here, and it has added to our good spirits here as we face down Shell and their state allies.
I half-expect the Independent News & Media rags to latch on to this spoof (and deliberately miss the point) in their hysterical pursuit of cartoon enemies that their hacks can hiss at and use to libel the struggle for safety and resources for Erris' and Ireland's people. I can see the Sindo headline now - 'Islamofascist IRA-style Thugs Call for Corrib Gas Holy War'.
Well it beats the 'English hippies' shite that's being peddled about by INM and their establishment backers!
someone has decided to respond by making a video for youtube- couldn't see the face behind the mask, but may be Cllr Keith Martin? Good for a laugh anyway. (If only the solidarity camp was really like this)
Caption: Video Id: mAbZoN0sNiQ Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video
Please support this valuable action in any way you can - as Ciaron & Stevo say, you can stay near yr home & do a lot, you can throw some euros in the pot, you can spread the word at yr college/school/union/church/social space, etc.,
Best wishes to Shell to Sea & the Erris people - the West's Awake! The people there & their supporters are dedicated to saving the land from environmental disaster, & it's a great symbol of courage, & resistance to State corruption & greed. Come to Glengad if ye can, for inspiration, learning & good company, or support us from afar.
The two protesters arrested have,as mentioned above ,been released.
The Garda presence in the area is still heavy.
Several protesters were injured this morning,including one local woman who received a blow to the mouth from a Garda.
Other injuries are minor,including sprains and cuts.
There were about 60-70 participants in todays blockades,numbers are gradually increasing,there is fresh energy in the air.
The Navy gunboat looms on the horizon,its canon pointed at the people it is supposed to protect.
The State and Shell have escalated their brutality in response to the escalation in peaceful protest,more solidarity is needed!
Come to Erris,there is a role for everyone to play,one that will suit all capabilities,skills and limits.
The window is slowly closing on Shell in terms of the length of time they have the Solitaire and the weather remaining reasonable,it is possible to delay this project significantly (several years wait to rent the Solitaire) by stopping their attempts at laying this section of pipe.
We can do it - for the beauty and safety of the area and for our people's natural resources!
Just read the comment about actions in the rest of the country for those who can't get to Mayo.
I'm wondering what public reaction to the newspaper stories from last week were. Mainly because I think they may be getting the story without its context. (would hope that it was obvious that the bucket being emptied above Owen was inherently negative, but the Garda comments about how dangerous the protests were becoming & that they should stop forthwith sticks in my mind. Why is it dangerous? Oh yeah must be the protestors).
Point I'm getting to is that it would indeed be a great idea that awareness raising actions be done across the country. Something to show those not in the know the truth about National Natural Resources. This has already been presented in the press on several occasions in ways counter the campaign, that we're blocking the usage of resources that will increase revenue to the country instead of attempting to highlight the opposite.
Not sure what the best way to do this would be. Needs immediate impact on the consciousness of an apathetic public without creating any negative connotations to the campaign. I have thought that since Erris is so isolated the general public are only receiving the 'information' about localised Days of Action up there through a media that is far from on our side. Those that are remotely in the know are probably readers of this site already & something needs to be done to bridge the gulf to those who aren't.
I'm sure suggestions of possible effective (non-violent) actions will be welcomed by the various ShellToSea groups across the country.
I think that for this campaign to be truly effective we need public support from people who are aware or made aware of what is actually happening & what the results of that will be. Otherwise it would be a case of simply delaying a prescribed outcome. Just hope it can be delayed long enough for the nation to wake up to it.
I Agree with Ciarian of CW's group, that something should be done in the capital city and elsewhere for those who can not get to Mayo.
This morning about 50 - 60 Shell to Sea protesters gathered at the gates of the shore based compound from 6.30am and halted all entrance and exit to the compound until 8.45.
A force of about 30 Gardai assembled slowly and eventually issued an order to unblock the entrance or there would be forceful removal and potential arrests.
The initial order was ignored by the protesters and the Gardai retreated about 10 metres to brainstorm for half an hour.
They then,with increased numbers , issued a second order to vacate and moved in.
Rather than entertain the confrontation the Shell to Sea protesters moved away from the gate and went en masse to the camp for a cup of tea.
There are much tougher and more important battles ahead in the near future with the imminent arrival of the Solitaire and the thought was that there was no real need to risk losing numbers at this action to arrest and/or injury.
The resistance continues!!
Full report with photos to follow.
Fair play to you all, good decisions and great effort! I can't wait to get back up there to you which I will certainly do next monday. row yer boat!
Glad to see the camp got sorted out ok. Just hope the beach access is as good. I'll see about getting back up pretty soon and hope I can be of help. Unless I'm more useful in Galway.
I'm trying to spread the word wherever I can.
Was very interesting to hear Ferghal's interview and I hope it does create more widespread amounts of bodies getting up there.
If you haven't been up yet you really should get up and see what the area looks like now before its permanently spoilt. At the moment there is just an eyesore fence screwing up a beautiful beach. In 6 months time if this goes ahead that damage will be far more widespread. & they've yet to extend that fence right through Rossport as some fear.
strikes me that 20,000 Eur is not enough of a golden handshake if you're never going to be able to fish the area again too. Don't think it'd exactly last that long.
Anything else I need to say beyond good luck.? Fighting downright evil tends to be pretty tiring. So added numbers means the longterm hardcore get some relief occasionally. Thanks for your dedication those of you that applies to.
Oh yeah 1 thing that has struck me recently was the Topaz (Shell/Statoil front co.) Work In Progress posters for the turn over from previous owners cos I don't think it could be more apt for our campaign
all too true, now get lost
Financial assistance to the Rossport Solidarity Camp is very much appreciated and needed to sustain this ongoing voluntary effort.
Donations can be made to:
ACCOUNT: The Rossport Solidarity Camp Account
BANK: Bank of Ireland, Belmullet, Co Mayo.
SORT CODE: 90-52-99
A/C NUMBER: 24306733
BANK ID: BOFIE2D
Thank you.
Let no one think that local support is limited for Shell to Sea and Pobal Cill Coman - there are many like myself that knows what shell is doing is wrong and supports this group but cowardly lets them do all the work in stopping shell- you are all heroes and I thank you and you will win out the end I have no doubt. I would go so far as to say that nearly all of ERRIS is behind you.
Solidarity with y'all up there..
Wish I could make it on the road but doesn't look likely this week.
Would y'all consider making a callout forsimultaneous solidarity actions at Shell garages, Shell HQ, Irish embassies at one specific time or day.
If you make it for next week t maygive time to spread word of mouth over the weekend (Electric Picnis and other gatherings), if you think
a more immediate response is needed make it for this week or make it two call outs (eg. Thurs or Friday this week and Mon or Tues next.)
From NVDA experience at isolated intense contexts (Roxby '84, Daintree '86, Jabiluka '98 and several trials here and there) - when you're in the middle of the face off there is a tendency to narrow the calls for responses folks can make geographiclly. Those, who for whatever reason, can't make it to Mayo shouldn't think that they can't do anything at this important time of nonviolent confrontation. The cities hold the the sites of the suits making the decisions, or passively collaborating to go along to get along.
These gatherings of public solidarity in the cities can be important paces for face to face info sharing and even fundraising to support the NVDA on the ground up there.
Maybe the movement needs to return to the rhythym of simultaneous public solidarity so effectively sustained during the jailings of the Rossport 5!
Just a thuought. Many thanx to the localsand people who have travelled up there at this time for this face off.
More power to everyone involved in the action in north Mayo. You are an inspiration to the rest of Ireland ( and further afield) that ordinary people can successfully take on the multinational corporations.
The Irish government's continued role in facilitating the Bellanaboy refinery project, in the full knowledge that the entire planning process is flawed, that breaches of environmental law are taking place on almost a daily basis, and that the social fabric of the Kilcommon community will most likely be irreparably damaged, whilst fully aware THAT ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS EXIST is nothing short of criminal.
This battle is about more than bringing the gas ashore in a fair, equitable and environmentally responsible way, it is about justice.
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Sea shepherds take note if ye around!
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From one field ...
... to another!
Cheers Val.
1, 2, 3, LIFT!
Despite being told by local landowners that they'd given permission to the camp to be on their land, Supt. Gilligan favours the complaints of another family member to invoke 'public order' legislation against the camp and gives the camp till 3pm Sunday to leave.
Locals arrive at the camp on Sunday 24th to support campers should they wish to resist an eviction. A meeting on camp between campers and locals arrives at a consensus to accept the offer of another field from a neighbour, in order to avoid a distracting confrontation.
Campers inform Supt. Gilligan that they'll be gone by Monday nightfall. Supt. Gilligan agrees.
Gardaí come to the camp to deliver an ultimatum.
Supt. John Gilligan (right) with Sgt. Martha Lohan & Inspector Martin Byrne (left).
Local support at the camp on 3pm Sunday ...
... and at the gate ...
... and along the road
Shell creatures go back to their cage.
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Gardaí look on as protesters assert their rights to access the water.
Garda Inspector Martin Byrne, in charge of Shell 'beach occupations / operations'.
Friday 22nd August.
Gardaí & Shell Security attempt unsuccessfully to blockade the beach. They are challenged by protesters, boaters and swimmers who refuse to be blockaded from the water.
Jim Farrell is head of security for Shell security firm 'Integrated Risk Management Services'. He has NO AUTHORITY to deploy his security personnel on the beach.
Shell Security stopping the public from entering the water on the public beach.
Dublin Shell to Sea are meeting TONIGHT Tuesday 26th Aug, at 7pm at Connolly Books, Temple Bar.