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British Royals not welcome in Ireland

category national | miscellaneous | press release author Tuesday February 06, 2007 20:15author by Seán Ó Murchú - Sinn Féin Poblachtach - Cork Report this post to the editors

Statement by Des Dalton Vice President of (Republican) Sinn Féin Poblachtach

The visit to Dublin on February 5 of a member of the British royal family, Andrew Windsor, can only be viewed as part of the normalisation of British rule in Ireland. Staged events such as this are used to support the pretence that British rule in Ireland is now accepted by the Irish people.

British rule in Ireland can never be either acceptable or normal; history teaches us that it will always be opposed by a section of the Irish people. Republican Sinn Fiin will actively oppose all attempts to normalise Britain's illegal occupation of Ireland, including the forthcoming England rugby match in Croke Park or any proposed visit by the Queen of England.

Representatives of the British State will never be welcome in any part of Ireland whilst the British government maintains its occupation forces in our country.

Related Link: http://www.rsfcork.com
author by patrique - neutralpublication date Wed Feb 07, 2007 17:55author address author phone Report this post to the editors

so there are still a few loopers about. Has Des Dalton ever been in the North? Picking on the England Rugby team, the only team to travel to Dublin back in 1972, clearly displays just how hard up these people are for targets.

author by Caobhinpublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:06author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Still a loopy few west brits about . The english rugby team played here in 1972 when any decent government would have boycotted them while their army was working overtime murdering and torturing Irish people.

And btw the USSR and France both travelled to Dublin back in 1972.

author by Stuartpublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 14:24author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I believe that royalty is an anachronism that is best quietly forgotten, and is doing a damn fine job of consigning itself to history and out of the gene pool without my assistance.

I believe that the choice of a member of the British royal family as a trade ambassador to the Republic is an exhibition of extremely poor judgement.

I believe that all people should have pride in their identity and respect for the indentities of others.

But there is a confluence of republicanism, socialism and nationalism that has nothing to do with equality, nothing to do with justice and nothing to do with pride in indentity. It is evident in the blind bigotry of the article above.

author by patrique - nonepublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 19:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I too am against the monarchy, I always said that Cromwell was the true father of Irish republicanism.

And Caobhin, never mind West Brits, thanks to the likes of you selling us out in 1921 I am a full Brit, from Andytown, West Belfast. You may still suffer from a guilt complex from 1921, we do not. So if you feel the need to declare your Irish patriotism by attacking the English rugby team, well fair play to you. Up here we have real targets to aim at.
As for the USSR and France in 1972, well their record on colonialism and human rights was perhaps worse that Britains, so perhaps we should have barred them. Carry this to its logical conclusion, and there will be no international sport, what with Germany's Nazi past, the USA killing half the world, and Irishmen blowing up drinkers in Guildford and Birmingham.

Now I would join you if you were to protest about Bertie Ahern and the forty thieves being in Croke.

author by patrique - nonepublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 19:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

And while we are at it. I seem to remember the first "Irish" government torturing and murdering people, Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellowes et al, and subsequent governments led by Eamon De Valera doing the same. Perhaps we shouldn't let Ireland play at Croker, and if we do, instead of anthems just play "take it down from the mast".

author by Dubpublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 20:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What have RSF got against England playing a sports game? It's only a sport. Not a sport I'm a bit fan of to be honest. I won't be going there because of that. I've no problem with English people playing a sporting game against Irish people anywhere. Have you got some sick racialist anti-English view? or do you jerk-off over the GAA being some kinda nationalist organisation?

RSF: The working class people of England bear no responsibility whatsoever for the Imperialism of their Ruling class! English workers have also been f**ked over by British imperialists.

After a united Ireland will you welcome the British Royal Family?

author by Jacqueline Fallonpublication date Tue Feb 13, 2007 21:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The fact that the British so-called 'Royal' family have to sneak over to this fair isle for a quick free dinner and pint (at the Irish tax payers' expense) and then have to scurry back to England for fear of retribution, speaks volumes about how unpopular they are still to those Irish people who have profound understanding of Irish history.

When England decides to return the outstanding six counties they stole from us, then the British 'Royal' family can visit this country like every other tourist.

With regard to rugby being played in Croke Park, I think it is a disgrace that in the year 2007, Ireland with all its talented sports people down through the ages still does not have a National Sports Stadium, so sports like rugby and soccer and other games etc., can be played there. The reality is we have reached this sorry state of affairs due to the incompetence of those playing at 'governing' the 26 counties. I don’t know anything about rugby, but I hope that Ireland beats the shite out of England and live in hope that the English National Anthem will not be played out of respect for the dead of the first Bloody Sunday and instead a moment’s silence could be observed for the dead murdered by the British army when they fired on GAA players and supporters from the pitch on 21st November 1920. That said, I'm utterly sickened at the thought of the English anthem and the English flag being displayed there.

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael was founded in 1884 solely to promote Gaelic games and pastimes and should only have been used for that purpose. I wish the Gaelic Athletic Association would use their grounds exclusively for Gaelic athletic games and other Gaelic pastimes and not rock concerts and other non-Gaelic events, but greed in this instance has compelled them to take their eye off the ‘ball’ (the metaphorical ball being the promotion of Gaelic games and pastimes - wake up rugby is not a Gaelic game!). I mean what is next, will we have R ‘n’ B and rock music and ‘dancing around the Maypole’ in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann! Mo Dhia! Tá mo chroí briste!

Best of luck to those who will be protesting.

Slán anois.

author by Paraic - GAApublication date Tue Feb 13, 2007 22:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I'm not against any game between Anybody and Anyone Anywhere, but why the insistence on the singing of "God Save the Queen" in an Irish National Shrine ? I think that many Irish people who do not want to hear that anthem in and from Croke Park have a right not to hear it, particularly in a stadium paid for by the Irish taxpayer, and voluntary contributions by GAA members like me. I don't think the time is right yet, nor will it be until we have a United Ireland. Then, yes, the Brit Army will be welcome, and the Royals too, though they have no role in a democracy like Ireland. Their whole aristocratic basis is rotten.

author by Sean - Irelandpublication date Wed Feb 21, 2007 00:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Reading these posts makes me realise how much further we have to grow before we'll all be able to throw off the shackles of perpetually preserving our history by keeping it stagnating in our present.

Let's try to look at this in simplistic terms without having to invent more symbolism than it merits.

Firstly, it's just a rugby game. At Lansdowne Road the national anthems of each and every visiting side were played without rancour. Why now decide it's different with Croke Park ? Because it's our national Irish shrine ? Sounds like religion is being brought to bear in that phrase. Croke Park is the HQ stadium of an organisation that at some level sets out to be embracing of everyone, albeit with an intent to preserve and promote our supposedly indigenous sports (which were fostered to a great extent by our old English masters). So if there's an issue, it should be about it being rugby that the stadium is hosting, not about the nationality of the visitors. If that was the case, then the France game was the time to kick-off, not now.

Secondly, it's us that have got fixated about Bloody Sunday. The english rugby team and fans are not coming over to rub our noses in anything - it's clear that they have little awareness of the significance of where they are playing. And why should they. These people have no connection with the actions of the auxiliaries of nearly a century ago. A rugby match is not the appropriate occasion to commemorate that event, or to force our visitors to drop their normal expectation of having their anthem and flag shown respect. And if we wanted the visiting english fans to appreciate what 'they' were responsible for, could the GAA not see fit to add a plaque 'as béarla' at Croke Park.

Lastly, can we not just grow up. I know I'm supposed to avoid such cliches, but I mean that phrase in the sense of reaching a maturity. A maturity in our independence (admittedly a 26-county one), where we can stomach a dirge of a song without going into anaphalactic shock at the mere thought of it.

Not having a ticket, I hope to be photographing the sights and colour of the day. But I fear the worst, and that shame will be brought upon ourselves by a small (and it IS an incredibly small) minority of people who keep themselves shielded from having to deal with reality by blaming the english of today for yesterday's ills. Unlike the puerile protests of O'Connell Street, unfortunately this time the world's media will be on hand to scratch their heads and wonder to themselves, "Methinks they protest too much".

author by Caobhinpublication date Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:24author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You are only a "full Brit" when you believe it hard enough Patrique - and what "real targets" have you been shooting at lately? Thanks for the junior cert history lesson I look forward to the publication of your ground-breaking, myth busting "I always said that Cromwell was the true father of Irish republicanism".

author by Stuartpublication date Wed Feb 21, 2007 16:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

How should British or English sports fans conduct themselves in the world or in Ireland? Is there any point at which a resolution will be achieved in which we can attend a sporting event like any other nation's fans?

author by Paraicpublication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 16:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

When the English realise that they are a tenth rate power in the world today, when they realise that peaceful democratic nations like Ireland, Scotland and Wales, their neighbours, are entitled to and will eventually gain full national freedom and sovereignty. That's when English and Irish sports fans will come together.

But for armed resistance by our fellow Irish people, the unionists in the Six Counties, we would have driven the Brits out of Ireland long ago by force of arms.

Most of the English people themselves agree with a United Ireland - it's the same rotten aristocracy at the top that keeps them down as keeps down the Scots, the Welsh and the Northern Irish - and that rotten aristocracy is centred around their monarch for their own survival.

And rugby is the game of their spoilt brats of kids on the playing fields of Eton.

And their anthem is "God Save the Queen".

And that's why it should never be played at our Irish sacred Gaelic Shrine of Croke Park.

"Until Ireland takes its place among the Nations of the World, then, not till then, let my epitaph be written. "

That Epitaph is still not written, and until the glorious day dawns when at last it can be written, then keep GSTQ out of Croke Park !

(Soccer is an English working-class game, so I have no problems with it . What sickens me is the Irish nouveau rich still aping their "English Masters" on their own little Etons such as Clongowes, Blackrock etc etc)

author by Fred Johnstonpublication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 17:40author email sylfredcar at iolfree dot ieauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Just when we thought it was safe to go out into the 21st century . . . . Ireland unenlightened will never be at peace; Ireland undelivered from looking backwards into the dubious 'glories' of history will simply trip over herself moving forward. In an age when thousands, millions, die of starvation in the world, we argue over whether rugby can be played at Croke Park! Get up, ya boy-yah! "Masturbaaayshun once agaaaayin! " As Brendan Behan sang.

author by Paraicpublication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 18:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

And who is most responsible for world starvation, who, what country, who else but British colonialists ! Our Irish consciences are clear on that one, Friend ! Our ancestors well knew what starvation was about in the Great Famine under Trevellyan and the Brits who moved the food out of Ireland.

Brendan Behan would open fire on that match on Saturday with his own glorious record as an Irish Volunteer.

Please don't try to deny him his loyalty and honour to the Republic and his dedication as an Oglach na h-Eireann to a United Ireland by physical force - this is a right attempt at revisionism by you, Friend !

"The Fools, the fools, they have left us our Fenian Dead !" - Commandant-General Paraic MacPiarais in his Oration at the graveside of O'Donovan Rossa, 1915.

And as for Commandant-General James Connolly, he would lead the Irish Citizen Army from Liberty Hall on Saturday up the road to Croke Park to join in the protest .

Adams and McGuinness should come to their senses and lead Sinn Fein to Croke Park to protest too. Or Sinn Fein will be there without them!

Afraid of losing Dublin middle-class votes, Mary Lou McDonald ?

As a member of Sinn Fein (and the GAA) I'll be there with my comrades - and we will all the better be able to protest without Adams, McGuinness and Mary Lou !!

author by Meehawlpublication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 19:44author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I believe that the protest at Croke Park on Saturday will be huge, well stewarded, marshalled - and peaceful.

The more peaceful and dignified the protest is, the more the protesters will make their point !

Verdict: Peaceful, with no more trouble afterwards than the usual match, and the Gardai will be well able to cope with "the usual suspects" and lager louts.

(And we have all been allowed to let off a little steam here, thanks to the wisdom of Indymedia)

author by Etain - Shell to Seapublication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 20:29author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I am calling on all shell to sea protestors to join in the protest march on croke park after our own protest has finished.
We are still fighting the english down here in mayo at the moment and we admire your stance .
Our country has never been free from england , they come over here and walk over the top of us , this has to stop.
I have rounded up some 50 of my fellow protestors to join your march , may be some of the rugby protestors could help us out for an hour or so .

author by sofia - (an anagram for iosaf which is the greek word for wisdom) publication date Thu Feb 22, 2007 23:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

[a comment from Meehal]
you'd be amazed how wise indymedia can be - everywhere in all its cities and nations, countires and states. it really can be. but indymedia is the people who do it- write it - publish on it - upload to it - shape their campaigns on it - archive a movement's history on it - (((get involved! http://www.indymedia.ie/HowToJoin )))

you "Love Croker" people (my usual jokey name). fair play to yiz !
It's your opinion, your speech, your rights to assemble. We [the people who use this space and make this service] don't all have to concur or agree on anything other than how the service works- but even when I or others don't agree with people- i know one thing - they're welcome to "let off steam"
- and lots of the time people refine their arguments - widen their sources - prepare their campaigns by dealing with criticism & having to confront wider mainstream misinformation here. If they do it constructively it's not nor can be trolling. I think too much of the time alternative or marginalised political groups or opinions are voiced to the converted or merely hide in the shell at criticism.

It was and is a
Lovely comment. gurb maith agatsa.
as for the "usual suspects" I'm not really sure who they are in Dublin - I'm not there - all I know is I've got loads of lists of "usual suspects" for that type of trouble in all the places I read indymedia stuff in and contribute to- in Ireland or in the UK so far there is no background noise of far-right heads going over to spoil the match or spoil "Love Croker". That said - maybe the far-right lot keep off chatrooms since "love Ulster". But it seems "meehal's forecast might be true".
At the end of the day I hope the people who are into rugby enjoy the match for what it is as well.
& afterwards I hope we / ye all think a bit about the anthem. Any debate about it in the past has been led from rightwing circles invariably with the "oik" Kevin Myers on the circumference.

There will be loads to do this weekend - buy books - read material you never thought you'd read - make friends. & voice as well as walk your opinions ;-) & isn't it interesting to see how each group who in the past never got media space because they were dismissed as micro-groups moves a bit beyond just shouting their slogans or spouting their jargon in our "shared space". Just as this goes for Shell to Sea, or the future of Croke it can & must go for international solidarity groups too.

Indeed .:.our collective wisdom far exceeds our individual folly :-) next to you I feel a wee bit smarter (?) or thicker (?)....

author by Stuartpublication date Fri Feb 23, 2007 09:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I am sickened by some of the attitudes expressed over the English team playing at Croke Park. I would favour a ban on offensive lyrics in national anthems. I would accept a ban on English or British teams until some specified political outcome has been achieved.

But a lot of what I have read is immature bigotry targeted indiscriminately at people and companies that might possibly be English or British, some ridiculously incorrect.

author by Dubpublication date Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

RSF have no reason to protest. It is a sports game. When did the English RFU colonise or subject Ireland to imperialism? Never! When did the English working class ever do any harm to Ireland? Never! English working class people have also been subject to the adverse affects of British Imperialism. So why are you trying to make English people supporting their Rugby team fell unwelcome? I am particularly appauled at "Etain" allegedly from Shell2Sea (although prob a cop/agent provoceteur). This person should know that Shell are not "the English". They are Dutch Imperialists. Statoil are Norwegian Imperialists. But even if they were an English firm, that is no reflection whatsoever on English people. It is the same logic that will happy to see a united Ireland with capitalism, inequality, discrimination, multinational profit making corporations. RSF would be happy to have a united Ireland that is capitalist and having good relations with other capitalist regimes. You idiots are simple minded immature nationalists that should grow up and realised that Nationalism is a failed ideology. You have no support from genuine Left-wingers.

author by Duinepublication date Fri Feb 23, 2007 18:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Lucht ríoga Shasana?

Lig dóibh teacht. Is iomaí duine in Éirinn atá i muinín na turasóireachta.

author by Stuartpublication date Fri Feb 23, 2007 21:28author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The loss of goodwill amongst British / English people who are individually well-disposed towards Ireland and Irish people could be greater than the economic loss. I hope that the visitors will leave with an understanding of and disposition towards Ireland that is at least as deep and as friendly as that they arrive with.

author by Meehawlpublication date Sat Feb 24, 2007 00:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I have no Objection to the Royals visiting Ireland. We could put them up in the National Museum !

author by IrishDubpublication date Sat Feb 24, 2007 23:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As a born and bred Dubliner, I'm flabbergasted at some of the comments I've read here on this thread. I went to a Gaelscoil, am still a regular Irish speaker, played GAA in school and in my spare time, and would regard myself as a republican. At the same time, I have lots of friends who played rugby and while I have never really understood the game, I have always enjoyed watching it. I can't believe that there are still Irish people, north or south, who feel so threatened by a game of rugby with England or the singing of God Save the Queen in Croke Park that they want to protest. Wake up!!!! You are living in another century!!! Ireland has matured and her relations with her British neighbours have matured. Keep your ridiculous protests for political visits, not sporting occasions. I'm glad to see that the English team was treated with great respect this evening and that Republican Sinn Fein extremists (for that is what they are) and their fellow travellers were nowhere to be seen or heard i bPairc an Chrocaigh. And while I'm at it, what the f.... has the Shell to Sea campaign got to do with this issue? I agree with a previous poster who took issue with Etain. As already pointed out, Shell is a Dutch company, not British. And even if it were British, it hardly has anything to do with the Black and Tans in Croke Park or British rule in Ireland. It's laughable. Sometimes I despaire for the Irish left. Are there no intelligent people left?

author by Fred Johnstonpublication date Sat Feb 24, 2007 23:54author email sylfredcar at iolfree dot ieauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Dear Paraic - You haven't read much Brendan Behan; he was fifteen when he got nicked in England and ended up in Borstal and later, foolishly, discharged a weapon near Glasnevin Cemetery. His own writings are very mixed indeed on Republicans, his mockery of Dan Breen's book, which he called 'A Gorilla Dazed in Ireland' , should tell you something. Let's not forget that Irishmen made profitable careers for themselves for decades in the British Colonial Service, coining it in India and elsewhere and forgetting where The Ould Sod was, in time. The British Empire was run by civil servants very many of whom were Irish and happy to be doing what they did, so enough of this craw-thumping anti-Brit rubbish. There wasn't a lot of anti-English feeling among Irishmen who could only find work in England, at a time when Ireland was too poor to provide work for them. As my old Dublin-born aunt used to say, "God bless her Majesty! She fed us when we couldn't feed ourselves." And she lived round the corner from Brendan Behan. Let's get real.

author by GHpublication date Mon Feb 26, 2007 16:44author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A bizarre thing to say. She didn't feed us. millions died or where made refugees during the great hunger.

author by Fred Johnstonpublication date Tue Feb 27, 2007 03:40author email sylfredcar at iolfree dot ieauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

'She' is not a generic term. My aunt was referring to the present Queen Elizabeth ll. Not Victoria - under whose "oppression" so many Irishmen grew rich loading the backs of Indian peasants to the glory of the Jewel in The Crown. We were always - how shall I put this? - adaptable. Let's not forget the gombeen rent-collectors, Irish to a man, doffing the cap to the Big House and fleecing fellow Irishmen on its behalf. They're still at it. We never needed any occupier to stab us in the back, screw us out of what was ours, or oppress us - we are too well seasoned in these black arts ourselves. Look at the Irish patients lying on trolleys in the crowded corridors of our hospitals - did the British put them there? When swathes of Irish land change hands at grossly over-inflated prices, winks and nods all round, is this the fault of the British? When no one is prosecuted for breaking planning regulations - or, indeed, for committing perjury - is that because of British connivance?

author by Caobhinpublication date Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ireland, like any other subjugated colony has never had (nor has) a shortage of those willing to collaborate with a foreign occupier. The difference is you still refer to those who sold their souls as "Irish" to presumably try denigrate Irish republicans by an association that does not exist. The incompatibility of nationalism and progressive struggle has been known for centuries so spare us your puerile illustrations - if you want to lecture children get a job as a primary teacher.

author by M Cottonpublication date Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

We never needed any occupier to stab us in the back, screw us out of what was ours, or oppress us - we are too well seasoned in these black arts ourselves. Look at the Irish patients lying on trolleys in the crowded corridors of our hospitals - did the British put them there? When swathes of Irish land change hands at grossly over-inflated prices, winks and nods all round, is this the fault of the British? When no one is prosecuted for breaking planning regulations - or, indeed, for committing perjury - is that because of British connivance?

The Irish people have been economically and socially raped by their own governments since independence. Without wishing to justify colonial aggression or exploitation, it is at the very least arguable that under continued British rule we would have enjoyed greater social and economic equality than we ever have under the governments we have had to endure since partition. Post WW2 British politics and the building of the welfare state in the UK would almost certainly have had knock on benefits for those in the republic and may well have lanced the putrid psychology of the boil that is the unionist mindset as well. Whatever about the likelihood of that, Fianna Fail is a party devoid of intelligence, conscience, competence or ability of any kind. It mismanages everything it touches and this crass mismanagement has soared to petrifying levels during its partnership with the vile PDs - the latter being the runt of a particularly scraggy litter of political parties. FF represents the scheisters and the conmen - the virulently chauvinistic gobshites who have a stranglehold on every aspect of Irish life. The auctioneers and the property developers are the core of their support base. We should start a story thread here aimed at exposing all of the crooked planning approvals and development schemes that are destroying our countryside. On the one hand we have a situation where only an elite can now afford to buy their own homes while on the other, the same elite are destroying our towns and rural landscapes by purchasing third, fourth, and fifth homes - many of which stay unoccupied and whose only purpose is to create opportunities for storing wealth on advantageous tax terms. 15% of our housing stock is empty. There is no need for more houses to be built. Do we stand by and let these greedy people destroy our environment? As Joe Higgins has said, looking at Fianna Fail's primary support base is pretty much the same as attending a property developers convention.

author by Fred Johnstonpublication date Wed Feb 28, 2007 03:39author email sylfredcar at iolfree dot ieauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

Absolutely correct! If we spent more time investigating corruption and allegations of corruption, demanding explanations from our politicians when they refuse to give us any, learning how to find our voice in letters to newspapers and broadcast media to highlight every suspect planning operation we come across, instead of regressing into infantile contemplation of our past, we might have a better country. The notion that our politics is corrupt is now so ingrained in our souls that we no longer feel we have any ability to root it out. God help us, we feel a perverse pride to say that corruption here isn't 'as bad' as in some other countries! Christ, what a boast! A boast only a beaten people could make. A beaten people who turn for solace, at least in some cases, to dreams and aislings of a 'glorious' past, much as a drug-addict seeks to hide from reality in a chemical fog. So the British Royals are the problem - not corrupt Irish politicians! How many generations will it take before Ireland can stand up to itself? Everything, from politics to culture in this country, has been tainted by the gombeen wink-and-nod philosophy. Yet we remain mute. Like a beaten people.

author by W. Finnerty.publication date Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:29author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Then there is also the matter of the major and important parts of Irish history which are being very deliberately suppressed by those with influence who are determined to put them in the "dustbin of history", and throw them out with the rubbish: another form of very serious corruption (as I see things).

I wonder why those concerned feel such a need to act in this highly deceptive and grossly dishonest manner?

What is it I wonder that they appear to be so afraid of?

For one of several examples I could provide (of this form of corruption) please see:
http://www.kingollamhfodhla.com

Related Link: http://www.europeancourtofhumanrightswilliamfinnerty.com
author by Terrypublication date Wed Feb 28, 2007 19:43author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Most of Shell's board is either British or Dutch. It is quoted on several stock exchanges around the world so its ownership is multi-national. Terms for oil and gas production are almost as neo-liberal in Britain, but much less neo-liberal in the rest of the world, including Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, etc..
The Police are Irish, the state is Irish. Irish based companies, most notably Providence Resources, are also involved in oil and gas exploration.
A significant ammount of support to the campaign against Shell has came from England.

On the match isn't it the British national anthem, and therefore the national anthem, of the same people RSF et al want to have a unitary state with, ie the British population of the North. Likewise the English flag is the Cross of Saint George, while the nearest thing England has to an anthem is Jerusalem.

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