People Power Confronts Shell

mayo | environment | press release

Thursday July 21, 2005 14:33

by Anti-Shell demon - WSM

The jailing of 5 Rossport men for refusing to allow Shell to install a potentially lethal pipeline has suddenly focussed attention on the whole project. But it has done more than highlight safety issues. It has highlighted the cosy relationship between business and the Irish State. Shell received a lucrative deal from the government in the late 1990s,minimum tax and no royalties to the state. Given that few jobs will be created in Mayo, it's hard to see what benefit there is for local people.

It has demonstrated the inherent bias the courts -the courts will throw an ordinary working person in prison without a second thought, while the likes of Ben Dunne and Charlie Haughey can bribe and lie to their hearts' content and still sleep in their millionaire beds.

And it has made crystal clear that the only thing that can oppose the strength of the State and the corporations is people power. Ever since the jailing, pickets of the Shell site in Co. Mayo have meant that they are unable to do any meaningful work there. This delay will cost them hundreds of thousands of euro. Moreover, pickets of Shell and Statoil stations have sprung up around country, greatly impacting on the companies' profits..

The demands of the Rossport residents and the Shell to Sea Campaign are simple: the men should be freed and Shell must move their dangerous operations offshore. It's a realisable demand, especially if the massive mobilisations we've seen in Mayo continue to escalate.

The more pickets and disruption caused, the less profit there is for Shell and so the more willing they will be to see sense. It won't be easy, especially as Shell have the forces of the State on their side, but people power has won before. It can do it again.

First published online on indymedia.ie

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Comments (8 of 8)

Statoil blockade

by krossie

Thu Jul 21, 2005 15:05

Different partys and groups
(including Sinn Fein, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party, Irish Socialist Network, Workers Solidarity Movement and the Labour Party and many independent individuals and groups) have now covered almost all the Statoils in Dublin for Friday .

WELL DONE

A few more left to go

see

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71000&condense_comments=false#comment115452

Also don't forget the rally tomorrow (see main story at the top of the news wire)

leaves 2 pm Garden OF Remebrance, Saturday

Krossie

Good news on Norwegian media - see above!

Thu Jul 21, 2005 16:06

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71041

Thats great news!

meantime here's the official press release from Dublin Shell to Sea

I'd only add that I think its about 26 Statiols now get down to one between 5 and 7 pm Friday if possible!!

Krossie

PRESS RELEASE

21/7/2005

Jailed "Rossport 5" call for picket of Statoil stations for Friday 22nd
July.

-- At least 20 statoil stations in Dublin to be picketed --

The "Rossport 5" have called for a day of action against Statoil for
tomorrow Friday 22nd July. Statoil owns a 35% stake in the Corrib gas
field. Statoil itself is in turn 70% owned by the Norwegian state which
leaves that approxomately 25% of the Corrib gas field is owned by the
Norwegian government. The Irish govenrnment has no stake in the field.

The aim of the day of action is to put pressure on Statoil to adhere to
the same Health & Safety and environmental standards in Mayo that they
would have to abide by in Norway. All of Norway's Oil & Gas from the
North
Sea is processed on offshore platforms. The "Rossport 5" and their
support
group the "Shelltosea" campaign have called for the refining of the gas
from the Corrib gas field to take place offshore in shallow water. This
would solve the ongoing impasse with regard to the proposed unsafe,
unsound onshore gas pipeline and the hazerdous onshore refinery.

At least three quarters of Statoil stations around Dublin will be
picketed
in support of the call to action. On Wednesday 13th July last a letter
was handed in to the Norwegian embassy calling on the Norwegian
government to
ensure that the refining of the gas took place offshore.

More information:

http://www.shelltosea.com

DIARY DATES:
July 22nd - Day of action against Statoil
July 23rd - National Demonstration in support of Rossport 5. 2pm Garden
of
Rememberence.

Contact in Dublin:

Eoin Ó Broin at 086 3840040.

Contact in Mayo:

Maura Harrington at 087 9591474

Second contact in Dublin:

Sister Majella McCarron at 087 6283835

For more information about the economic aspects of the development
contact:

Padraig Campbell at 087 2453376

Or visit: www.shelltosea.com www.indymedia.ie/mayo

==============================================================================

Letter to Norwegian ambassador

Shell to Sea Campaign,
Rossport,
Co. Mayo.

PH: 087 9591474

13/7/2005

H.E. Mr. Truls Hanevold,
Ambassador of Norway to Ireland.
The Royal Norwegian Embassy,
34 Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2.

Re: Statoil.s involvement in onshore gas refinery & pipeline in Mayo.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you on behalf of the ShelltoSea campaign concerning
Statoil.s involvement in the proposed onshore gas refinery & pipeline
in
Mayo. As a campaigning organisation we would expect that you will
communicate our concerns to the relevant government authorities in
Norway.

At the outset I think it would be fair to say that most Irish people
familiar with Statoil and Norway.s development would admire the way in
which the standard of living of the people of Norway has become the
highest in the World from the benefits of oil & gas discoveries and a
social model based on even distribution of wealth. The main factor here
has obviously been the Norwegians governments ability to retain
significant control and royalties from the Oil & Gas finds. In addition
to
this no development could have taken place without nationally
acceptable
health & safety and environmental standards.

This success story contrasts with the potential for the project Statoil
is
now involved with in the west of Ireland. The Irish government has
retained no stake in the gas discoveries here. Not a drop of this gas
will
necessarily stay in Ireland. If it does, it will be sold to Bórd Gáis
at
the full market rate. Furthermore the people of North West Mayo are
being
used as guinea pigs for an untried onshore refining process which is
certainly environmentally polluting not to mention the litany of health
&
safety concerns raised.

To compound these developments the approach of the main site developer
Shell Oil has been one of arrogance and intimidation reminiscent of
their
now infamous exploits in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Does
Statoil,
and by extension the Government and people of Norway, really want to be
associated with the illegal actions of Shell, and their intimidation of
local people defending their rights and their environment?

Norway has been independent from Sweden for about as long as Ireland
has
been independent from Britain. In this time Norway has managed to
develop
their economy without compromising on health & safety & environmental
issues not to mention the dignity of their people. As such we urge you
to
apply the same standards in your overseas concerns and adhere to the
high
standards you have already set!

There is one simple way to do this. Refine the gas at Sea.

Yours sincerely,

___________

Eoin Ó Broin,

http://www.shelltosea.com

Re Norwegian News

by eeekkkk

Thu Jul 21, 2005 16:10

It is now a talking point throughout Norwegian Media. Will be bigger there tomorrow. They might even send journalists. They are using this site and shelltosea.com as primary information sources.

Here is a link to a news search of norwehgian online media. Spreading like wildfire.

http://www.start.no/sok/?q=statoil+irland&t=nyhet&u=norske

excellent

Thu Jul 21, 2005 17:15

By the way is there a Norwegian indymedia??

Krossie

tut tut krossie

by DV8

Thu Jul 21, 2005 17:25

Look at the bottom of this page

excellent!

Thu Jul 21, 2005 17:31

Just to lazy to look it up me self

Krossie

3 posts from Indymedia Norway

by Eoin - Shelltosea

Thu Jul 21, 2005 17:50

... though the site does not seem to be as busy as Indymedia Ireland.

http://www.indymedia.no/newswire/display/18758/index.php

http://www.indymedia.no/newswire/display/18784/index.php

http://www.indymedia.no/media/all/display/4774/index.php?limit_start=72

Broaden communication of issue - did you know about the mistreatment in Nigeria before IRL issue?

by Kevin Sally - none

Sun Aug 07, 2005 13:31

vinsal at yahoo dot com

It's unfortunate that you're biggest supporters don't even know about this issue.
Recommend you find a way to get this into the "major" American media. Should multiply "the people's" support by drawing more attention.
-- Cleveland, OH is the home of MANY former Mayo natives. Newspaper: Cleveland Plain Dealer.
-- Large number of Americans vacation to Ireland. New York Times is widely read; Recent "bestselling" book by it's columnist, The World is Flat is a good backdrop for this issue. Contact him at the New York Times. A large number of Americans read the New York Times -- especially online version. (Author is Thomas Friedman)
He should agree that if globalization is inevitable, it cannot succeed without large Capitalistic Corporations "playing by the rules." Shell oil should be embarrassed by the examples that you site (Nigeria, etc...)
Too bad the American media doesn't expose this "rape of the underpriveleged."
Help them by getting this into the large Media who are dying for topics like this !!

Amercan major network exposure vehicles:
60 Minutes (#1 News program which highlights significant issues like these)
Any of the major news network's evening news (usually broadcast at about 6:30 or 7 pm for 30 minutes - ABC, NBC, CBS
(most american families watch this after a long day at work/school)

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People Power Confronts Shell

Comments (8 of 8)