New licences are about to be issued for the Oil and Gas fields off Donegal without resolving the terrible situation in Rossport. Demand a freeze on the Corrib Gas refinery project until the people of Ireland are consulted about whether we want to continue giving our gas and oil away to Shell.
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Massacre of Indigineous Amazonians in Peru - 25 dead and counting
The Pirates of Broadhaven Defeat Shell’s Armada
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Shell in Mayo from the Indymedia.ie Archives
Related Links outside of Indymedia.ie
The website of Shell-to-Sea - CorribSOS.com
Keep the pressure up: Contact ALL TDs, Senators, and MEPs in Ireland and let them know how you feel about Shell in Rossport - Contact.ie
Event Notice: 'Power Struggle' -the Niger Delta and Corrib Gas Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Galway, Town Hall Theatre, Thursday 9th July, 2:00 PM
Message to an Bord Snip Nua
Resolve the Recession.
Tax Shell!
This might seem like a simplistic solution to our present economic woes, but consider the following:
1) Of all the countries whose mineral resources are exploited by multinationals Ireland has negotiated one of the worst deals in the world with Shell for the Corrib gas field. Nearly every other country has demanded a much bigger share of the profits from the exploitation of their natural resources than we have. Those countries who started off with unfavourable contracts renegotiated much better deals later. Ireland could do the same. There is no visible reason why not. Yet our politicians try to tell us this is impossible. Why?
2) In Rossport, Co Mayo, families living near the gas pipeline will have 30 seconds to escape incineration if there is an explosion. i.e. they will have no chance at all of surviving an accident. Yet the government insists this is “safe”. Were they to admit the truth of the situation - that they are putting their own people's lives in serious danger in order to benefit Shell - the Minister of Energy could intervene in the present (disastrous) situation in Mayo without breeching the contract or incurring any kind of penalty. So why won’t he?
3) There are no independent observers to check the quantities of gas coming out of the Corrib gas field. We only have Shell's word for it. Every other country in the world has observers to ensure against theft by petrol companies. Ireland doesn’t. Why not?
4) According to our Petroleums Affairs Division (PAD) there are gas reserves worth between 350 billion to 900 billion in the gas fields off the west of Ireland. Again according to the PAD (February 2009) there is “no state participation or royalties; no signature or production bonuses; 25% corporation tax; 0-15% Resource Rent Tax for the more profitable fields; and generous write-off provisions’. In addition, companies can offset their costs against the tax rate meaning that they will have to pay little or no tax.. This means the Corrib gas field will probably be half depleted before any tax is paid at all. Why does the Government refuse to change this?
5) Security of Supply? Are we guaranteed a supply of cheap gas from the gas reserves off our own coasts? Under current terms, no security of supply is guaranteed. Companies will sell gas back to the national grid. We will pay the full market price for our own gas. Anyone who says anything else is lying. Why?