Rossport Five : Galway University students give powerful support !.

by Tommy Donnellan - Shell to Sea Wed Sep 21, 2005 20:00

more !.

Bart Gormley who travelled from Tuam by bus to join us yesterday.

Eco Soc Jack guiding the way to last Monday's Shell to Sea public meeting in the Sacre Coeur Hotel, Salthill - some 350 attended.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Thu Sep 22, 2005 22:02

Hello

A quote: Gandhi
'Live as if you are going to die tomorrow and learm as if you are going to learn fhe rest of your life'

This wisdom I found in my forties and it has been an excellent facilitator to me and living life since.

Does anyone read the Phoenix magazine? I highly recommend a snippet on Page 19 8th 05 - titled Tonys' Boys New Pal.

You may say; this is out-of-date but then I am a person with Acquired Brain Injury with no sense of time, in fact, I can't remember yesterday. But don't let this fool you. The Mind never ceases to amaze in its creativity and Galway Students, I say embrace creativity; always question; be keen to listen and discern and rank experience highly.

Based on this; I suggest you consider the following.

Think seriously about the Oil Industry; think about development of property and land deals; think of men like the late Mr. Gogarty who in his eighties said he had enough of developers, Government members; corruption and I am going to make the change that saw Tribunals of Inquiry introduced in the late 1980's. (Again Gandhi 'You have to be the change you want to see).

Think of Ireland surrounded by sea. This is the same as land under the sea but containing petroleum resources and other minerals. Then ask the motives to attract people like Shell to the Island of Ireland instead of most of the countries on the African Continent, South America, Norway etc.

Reeling In the Years (RTE programme) in the 1980's gives a 'tingling' of what Ireland was like at that point. It was an Ireland of Economic Dreams in the midst of unemployment, suffering and anguish. The Financial Services Centre, the Docklands was what some could say a 'hair brained' idea but then there existed a proto-types in the US, Canada and Canary Wharf.

There was a high price to be paid. Maybe some of you had parents who had to travel in search of work. My husband and I had to but then there were 20% unemployed. Some academics say that the emigration of the 1980's was more harrowing than the 1950's (let us not forget the many homeless in England who remitted wages home in the 1950's who exist today, struggling on meagre homes and not able to return to Ireland).

Never underestimate the impact of the forced emigration in the 1980's which broke the trend and included professionals and particularly those related to the Construction Industry.

In 1993 in Zimbabwe I was thrown from a horse and sustained considerable neuroligal damage, further complicated by anxiety and bipolar illness.

I have been testing the creative ever since. I have a little equation that appears to work. I use the computer and link something of interest today with pre age 32 experience.

I worked as a Secretary for a quite exceptional Chief Executve, who set in place a solid foundation for life skills and woes.

The oil industry then was a growth, risk-taking Industry with many challenges. The element of Trust allowed me to trade currencies; to purchase shares; to deal with treasury issues; to deal with suppliers etc.
It is only now over 10 years into disability that I can read something and then dip back and get sense.

Okay the article.
Now Sir Anthony O'Rielly but in the 1980's of my memory a flamboyant man; former Rugby player who intrigued people of the business circle. It was a small circle and prospecting always ignites the gambler instinct in people.

People needed hope. A public company of which Tony O'Reilly was a major shareholder was drilling off the South East coast for oil. The company was Atlantic Oil company; the endeavour was gigantuum and oil was seen as the chance to remove the reality of Recession/Depression and hardship. This made entreprenneurs and creationists/visionaries a very valuable possession. There was a competitive market, we were competing with Norway and other countries.

Given this backdrop, I would ask people to consider why Ray Burke and others sought ways to attract people like Shell with tax concessions, royalties etc. They were looking at a different Donegal then; and a different Corrib. I am not Mr. Gogarty but I would suggest an element of corruption similar to what is investigated by the Tribunals lurk in murky waters. Here is a source of experience to give a broad view to the present.

Experience and Atlantic Oil company. I vividly recall the rumour mill. There were the boats that serviced the Rig and mismatched messages; there were reported rumours relating to the chauffeur!!! The facts are there and the share prices became a daily discussion topic. People borrowed money on the back of their homes; people lost all; people who never bought shares took the chance. I recall shares exceeding IRP6.00 euros. Then adrenalin was fuelled; the prosperity of Ireland lay in the sea bed. (The Eircom public flotation is not dissimilar!!)

What happened? The shares hit the floor; there was no oil. I took a chance and bought IR500. The dream was there and then it disappeared and there were economic casualties - it was the scenario of having worth today and then nothing but Paper reminders of a disasterous economic endeavour from the shareholders perspective.

That was the 1980's and being a paper hoarder all I know is that Atlantic changed names several times and the shares became less and less and off nominal value.

The Article refers to a 'master stroke by Tony O'Reilly). Arcon has now been sold to the Swedish Oil company baron Adolph Lundin. Apparently 3 years ago, Arcon was supposedly insolvent. The interesting point, particularly, for students Mr.O'Reilly is supposed to have persuaded Ulster Bank to write off Euros 67 m. owed by Arcon. (Suffice to say that the increase in the price of Zinc may see Arcon produce euros50 m. profit and Sir Tony O'Reilly is looking at get out!!! Others got 'caught'

Who is Mr. Lundin from Sweden, he is a self-made billionaire thanks to oil and gas deals in Qatar and Russia.

However, he also has a company called Island Oil and Gas. (He is known to Tony O'Reilly apparently). Here I recommend the connection suggested in the Phoenix). The deal fell through and now the connection is with a Norwegian company DNO group

Guess what!!! DNO was taken over by Lundin Petroleum and Lundin also acquired a major stake in Island Oil and Gas.

Then there are further connections (time obscures greatly), Tony O'Reilly's Providence has five drillable targets offshore Ireland and Island has three prospects........

I have my theories and invite you to submit your theories.

I ask our Taoiseach Mr. Albert Ahern to seriously consider the case of the Rossport 5 (lambs to the slaughter) at the hands of Corporate entities above reproach. These men are in prison over 2 months now. This is a disgrace while the question of corruption is rife in Ireland and at every level

My grandfather, whom I never met, was a Judge, Vice Chairman of the Senate, and owned phosphate mines in Co. Clare employing 500.

One of the gems of interest handed down to me is as follows:

'Beware of the vested interest'.

Having experienced vulnerability personally, this is a gem of wisdom to imprint in ones mind.

Michelle Clarke

by frank Fri Sep 23, 2005 21:11

heard on galway bay fm that some members of the rossport 5 supporters were abusing people at the statoil filling station in newcastle in galway yesterday - that will not win any support for a campaign and the sooner those people are weeded out of the campaign the better as people will turn their backs on supporting the jailed with that short of shit going on - some of these people just want a platform and to have their voices heard and realy dont give a shit what the dog fight id for once its they can feel important -i feel sorry for the guenine supporters and families

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethicss Fri Sep 23, 2005 23:15

Frank

Thanks for your informative comment. It is most important that supporters of the Rossport 5 don't resort to intimidation or violence.

Let us remember that at the end of the day, it is in the interests of Corporates like Shell, our Government that 'Justice is seen to be done'.

These men are now in jail over 3 months, we need to be calm and assuage those with the power to ensure the release of the Rossport 5 in line with Natural Justice and justice not hindered by corruption or greed.

Could the radio station give some support from this angle perhaps!!


Enjoy the weekend.


Michelle

Quotation from Bright Spirits (Amnesty) book
Feast and Famine (Petra Kelly (1947-1992) German Green Politician (Just think of Galvistan; New Orleans today....)

'We cannot have a feast on global resources while the the world's poor struggle to survive on inhospitable lands.

It is as simple as that!

It is the rich who are making the world poorer.

Environment and poverty are one crisis. Not Two'.

M

by df Sun Sep 25, 2005 20:54

Good to see all the left parties agreeing on something!We need to build bridges between each other,great to see Sinn Féin/Socialist co run rallies around the country,and even other parties to their credit doing their bit.Keep the pressure on the Gov.

Dean baghcat ar Shell!

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics - Please Sun Sep 25, 2005 21:23

and yes it is good point you made about the Sinn Fein alliance with Socialism.

This is of great significance on the day that Tyrone won the Sam Maguire Cup in Dublin

and on a day that will be marked in history ..... a day that released the timing of a meeting of 'Heads' with deChastelain, Monday 26th September 2005 at 2.00 p.m.

Let's work heads and get the Rossport 5 out of prison.......they do not deserve to be there.

Let us question corruption in Ireland and as Ireland becomes a United Ireland, let us embrace the principles of Justice, Ethics, Courage, Equity, and most important Equality.

Michelle Clarke

Quotation
Never give up
'Once there was great forest fire, and all the birds and animals rushed to escape.

Humming Bird went to the river and collected a drop of water. The other birds laughed.
'What are you doing?' they asked.

She replied 'I'm doing what I can'

(A North Indian Story but full of wisdom....)

by Kara Daly Sat Oct 01, 2005 14:46

I find it so comical that no one seems to place blame on themselves for driving the demand for oil in the first place! The pipeline is coming so that you can drive all your new SUVs and support the way of life of which you are accustomed. Quit quoting Ghandi and get on your bike!