Building Rossport Solidarity Camp: A Photo Story

mayo | environment | news report

Tuesday May 23, 2006 15:03

by Terry - Rossport Solidarity Camp

rossportsolidaritycamp at gmail dot com

Last weekend a new marquee was hoisted in Rossport Solidarity Camp in preparation for the June Bank Holiday Gathering. Details of the gathering are here: http://indymedia.ie/article/75293

At the moment we are preparing for a gathering on the June Bank holiday weekend, which will mark the camp’s first birthday. Although work on the Corrib gas project has been largely shut down for the last year –with empty compounds silent but for security guards in Ballinaboy, Rossport and Glengad, we are continuing to mobilise opposition to the development as doubtless Shell are awaiting an opportunity of weakness. Part of the work of continuing to mobilise includes raising the many issues around this project which have not received national attention. While the words ‘Rossport’ and ‘pipeline’ may have scorched themselves into the public consciousness last year knowledge of the environmental impact of the proposed refinery at Ballinaboy, or the details of the privatisation of natural resources, is far from widespread. Much of the discussion at recent Mayo Shell to Sea meetings focused on drawing more attention to the refinery and to the privatisation of natural resources.
The gathering will have a particular focus on privatisation, with speakers from the Bolivian Solidarity Campaign, as where the revenues go from gas exploitation has been a major issue in that country’s recent intense social struggles.
Leaflets exposing the pollution that the refinery will cause should it be built have recently been printed up. We have to prepare for Shell attempting to re-start work, it makes a lot more sense to do the groundwork for that eventuality now, than to run around in an unprepared frenzy when it happens. There is a lot people outside the immediate area can do to help, for instance we still have thousands of Rossport Solidarity Camp flyers available for distribution, contact us at rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com to get some.