Shell to Sea Protest at Norwegian Embassy

by Marlboro man Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:34

Only the Irish Government is allowed renege on commitments it makes to its people right?

Simply putting up and shutting up is not the answer here. I would not urge anyone to roll over and play Fido because the government is messing up our taxes.

We should tear up this contract. Resource the drilling and refining ourselves and utilise an indigenous industry and enrich ourselves. We are already paying for it through tax rebates. Why nor get as much out of it as we can?

by Jumpo Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:15

Shell can write all their costs off against tax so the more the project is delayed the more the costs go up..... and the less tax the country will get from this project. Ireland is not Russia and we should be glad of that - the country cannot, should not and will not renege on past committments. The deal has been done and the only people this campaign is now hurting are the ordinary people who will gain less the longer this goes on. The protest is costing the Irish state millions in both policing costs and in lost tax revenue. Time to move on guys

by Josef Visaryonich Tue Feb 06, 2007 15:18

I don't know about Norway- surely it's the IRISH GOVERNMENT who are the weak link in the chain, since they , specially Fianna Fail, need hundreds of thousands of ordinary Irish people to vote for them next May, or they won't have the power they crave to survive.

Once their supporters realise that the "Republican Party" is giving away billions of euros of our money while the sick wait on trollies, and ordinary working families can't afford to buy a house and raise their kids without commuting three or fours a day, maybe they'll figure out that the people in Rossport have a point?

by Agit Proper Tue Feb 06, 2007 14:49

Well-
Shell have thoughtfully set up a free phone number for us to ring. Now we can call them whenever we like and it doesn't cost a penny.
The number is 1800 201 525.

You can have a chat with them about the weather, or ask to speak to John Egan or Andy Pyle, or ask them questions about the Corrib Gas scheme, or Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, or tell them about upcoming events (they might like to know about the fundraiser in Karma http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80828 ) or just leave the phone to one side while the receptionist talks into space... all the while you'll be costing Shell money, and tying up their phone lines.

If you don't want them to see the number you are calling from, add these codes to the number:

From a landline dial: 141 1800 201 525

from a mobile dial: #31# 1800 201 525

by Andy Tue Feb 06, 2007 13:21 futurenergy at eircom dot net

Deals can always be renegotiated or ripped up. In recent years Russia, Venezuela and Bolivia have all demanded ( and received) better deals from the transnational companies exploiting/developing their national fossil fuel deposits. The transnationals may not have liked it, but even when subjected to a 83% tax ( in Bolivia) they queued up to sign the new deal with the Bolivian Govt. In Russia, Shell were obliged to hand over a controlling interest to the Russia State company Gazprom.
These are models which Ireland can adopt when dealing with Shell, Statoil and Marathon Oil.

Regarding protests and demos , the weak link here is surely Statoil. Being partly publicly owned, they are much more subject to public opinion in their 'home' country. Perhaps all Dublin protests should be concentrated on blockading the Norwegian embassy?