Eamon Ryan bottles out of debate in UCD when chalenged by Shell 2 Sea protesters

national | anti-capitalism | news report Tuesday October 30, 2007 23:39 by E - UCD Shell 2 Sea ucdshelltosea at gmail dot com

On yer bike Eamon

A successful protested took place this evening in UCD where Shell to Sea activists took on both the government and the Shell Corporation in the space of one evening.

The protest was called by UCD Shell to Sea when it was revealed that the Shell Corporation was giving a careers lecture this evening at 6pm in UCD Student Centre. Around 40 protesters gathered at 6pm outside the Astra Hall where the lecture was held. Banners and posters highlighting the crimes of Shell and the Garda in Erris Co. Mayo were on display. Several members of UCD security services and two gardai were present to protect Shell. Some of the activists engaged with students entering the talk by pointing out what Shell are doing to the people of Erris. When hearing this some students decided not to cross the picket line while about 10 students entered the talk.

At 6.45 the protesters felt their point was well made to Shell and decided that the next port of call would be a Law Society debate sceduled for 7pm. The debate entitled ‘This house believes the wrong government was elected’ was due to hear speeches from both Brian Cowan and Eamon Ryan. Biffo was a no show obviously believing that bailing out his old chum Michael Woods was more important that blowing hot air with the Law soc kids. The Shell to Sea activists congregated outside Theatre M in the Arts block, where they awaited the arrival of Eamon Ryan. When the Green Party Minister appeared circled by the special branch and UCD security. The Shell to Sea activists began to chant ‘Shame!’ and ‘Shell to Sea!’. Ryan who no doubt was embarrassed by his lack of action on the issue bottled it and ran for the nearest exit deciding that tonight was not the night to deal with concerned students and citizens over the theft of our natural resources, garda brutality and environmental destruction in Rossport. No doubt rattled by the fact that before the election he would have been standing with us against Shell, while now with the Greens in government he is defending their actions in Mayo.

After Ryan left a Shell to Sea meeting took place upstairs in the Arts block. All and all it was a successful protest which managed to get the issues of Shell to Sea raised directly with both Shell and the Government in one night.

Fair play to all involved, see you on Novermber 9th in Rossport where the struggle will continue.