Solidarity at Shell AGM london

mayo | environment | news report

Friday July 01, 2005 14:30

by londonirish - we are everywhere

Protestors in solidarity with the people's struggle of Rossport, Co. Mayo against Shell joined with protestors from comunities from Durban, South Africa, the Phippines, Sakhalin Island, Russia and the US at the Shell AGM held at the Excel Centre, London last Tuesday.

We went to the Shell AGM on Tuesday, to protest in support of farmers in Errris, Co. Mayo, on the northwest coast of Ireland, and once there we joined with representatives of fenceline communities from the Philippines,
Russia, Africa, USA, Brazil and Nigeria. The venue was the forecourt of the Excel Centre in London. Activist from these affected commmunities had come to attend Shell's AGM and raise awareness of the suffering of their people caused by Shell's environmental and human rights abuses. They made their voices heard at the Shell meeting, but where ejected from the AGM by Excel security staff. A large number of police where also in
attendence and carried out stop and search on activists. Outside we regrouped and everybody took up the chant 'STOP SHELL HELL'.
Songs about the state murdered Ogoni leader, Ken Sara-Wiwa were sang accompanied by drummers from Rhythms of Resistance in front of a (colourful) red and yellow banner which read 'STOP SHELL HELL IN NW IRELAND NOW!'

Many local people in Rossport, Erris, Co. Mayo are currently facing jail sentences after breaking the injunctions served on them for trying to prevent Shell workers from entering their lands and blockading trucks carrying pipes to the Shell compound.

Five farmers from Rossport appeared in the High Court, Dublin on wednesday and were jailed indefinitely for breaking the injunctions
served on them for trying to prevent Shell workers from entering their lands and for blockading trucks carrying pipes to the Shell compound.
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70508&condense_comments=false#comment112569In

Check out this link for updates and background on this unfolding struggle:
http://www.indymedia.ie/index.php?region=mayo

A letter to Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister and Joseph Finnegan, President of the High Court, requesting that they protect the freedom of the farmers in Co Mayo, Ireland for their righteous refusal to allow entry of Shell and its agents onto their lands, has been written and was signed by the visiting representatives of the frontline communities in support and solidarity.

The call out:

LOCAL PEOPLE CALL FOR HELP IN FIGHT TO STOP SHELL!
Residents in Co Mayo, Ireland are blockading roads and have stopped transit of pipes to Shell compound.
www.indymedia.ie/newswire,php?story_id=70411
An injunction by the High Court in Dublin was
fast tracked and served on named individuals plus anyone acting in concert with them. Residents are now asking for as many people as possible to come to Rossport on the Mayo coast to join the struggle.
All welcome. If you can get there to help the local community email:
info@shelltosea.com or room101ucg@yahoo.co.uk

There is a house for use as a base, but people should bring tents and sleeping bags etc as beds limited. Cooking and showering available in the house.
For those who can't go to Rossport solidarity actions and raising awareness welcome in other areas.

Shell are also entering the lands of small farmers harrassing them and putting them under extreme pressure. Minister for the Marine, Noel Dempsey granted Shell a Compulsory Acquisition Order for the lands, the first such order in Ireland to be granted to a private company. Email or fax him and
tell him what you think of him: info@noeldempsey.ie Fax: 00353 (0)46 9436643

From Nigeria to Ireland: Isolated small farmers are in struggle to prevent
Shell consortium from entering their lands and destroying the area. For updates: www.indymedia.ie. People needed in Mayo from now on. To join the struggle contact info@shelltosea.com Solidarity actions/publicity in other areas welcome.