Community halts Shell
mayo |
environment |
news report 
Tuesday February 12, 2008 16:18
by matilda
Survey work stopped, more trucks blocked...community continues to protect the land
Survey work was halted
This morning survey work stopped when members of the community questioned Ollie Murray (Shell Community Liason Officer) on whether he had the necessary permission. He is a man of few words and our questions were met with his mantra of ‘I don’t know, contact RPS’. ‘’Do you have the RPS number? No. ‘’. It was a beautiful day and whilst we were waiting for the RPS engineer to ring back with details (at 22.00pm he still hasn’t), the surveyor admired the view of the pristine bay in Glengad. No survey work was undertaken. The bore hoels illegally constructed 5 months ago are still there, despite Minister John Gormley ordering their removal asp.
Blockading of trucks
Of course the community are still attempting to slow down construction on the Shell refinery site. Blockades happen as much as possible; last week workers were once again blockaded and today lorries were blocked from entering. When the authorities fail to protect the community and the Special Protected Area, the community have no choice but to actively do it ourselves. For reasons of health, safety and environmental protection, we cannot let this refinery be built at Ballinaboy.
’People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens. Development today must not undermine the development and environmental needs of present and future generations.’ Local Agenda 21
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7I wish I have similar preserverance and bravery as the communities and NGOs opposing Shell. That's the resistance spirit towards any injustice I've always love of some Irish population. It's just beyond belief that a foreign corporation who just announced billion of dollars worth of profit , could just overtake completely the whole Irish precious national resources. Besides trampling upon the communities' human rights whilst destroying the beautiful rural and natural environment including million of years old bogland and coastline together with million of years old wildlife just for profit. That's what Capitalism's about - endless greed! Can it not be possible to take this corporation for the breach of European Convention on Human Rights and European Convention on Sustainable Development of which both are binding legally?
Absolutely, Nora! Just come & see the marvellous wildlife & landscape, & meet the people of Erris. This place is too precious to be trashed & polluted - just on the beach near the picture, ringed plovers, sand-martins, & wheatears breed, the tide-pools are full of life, & otters & seals swim in the estuary.
Hi Chrissie, I've been there and to many great nature of Ireland. Just wonderful; beyond words can ever describe. Please keep on preserving them. To Shell and those greedy capitalist-elite class, leave Irish nature alone!
I am just a little perplexed about the hooha regarding the surveying by RPS. Am I correct in assuming that the area I saw fenced off with what looked like pallets is one of the boreholes? Maybe I have got it all wrong, but If what I saw is correct, then I cannot understand what the fuss is about. It is little holes dug in the ground! What about all the litter and dumping in ditches? I find it the grossest kind of hypocrisy to pretend to care about the environment just to score points against Shell. Stick to the point! Protest against the terminal, for all the legitimate reasons you have stated previously. If you genuinely believe in them, then surely there is no need to make petty arguments against such minor issues. You are diluting the argument so much, there is little substance left.
The protection of an SAC (special area of conservation - a rare machair system) is not a minor issue. I didn't see this type of attitude exhibited when the S2S camp was injuncted from existing on the SAC.
So to sum up:
i. First, those who were protecting the SAC (the campers) were removed from it, after Shell's minions, including the County Council brought a court action, citing damage to the Machair system as a reason for bringing the case.
ii. Now Shell are surveying it (ahh sure what's a little hole!? Worry about the rubbish in the ditches (huh?))
What's the purpose of the 'little' holes Shell are drilling? Surely it's a prelude to the total and utter destruction of the SAC. Gormley might be either asleep or cowering and shivering in a corner somewhere - this shouldn't be taken to mean that anyone else is.
Little hole - me arse!
...looked into other gas pipeline work that has gone through SACs and had no negative impact on the SAC?
I'm sure I'll be shouted down but as an independent and interested onlooker, I decided to look at what is being proposed and if there is any precedent and there appears to be without apocalyptic consequence.
In relation to 'Sean's' comment (leaving aside the 'interested and independent' bit and the unintelligble stuff at the end) the following is relevant:
with specific reference to this SAC it is a matter of public record that Mayo Co. Council (MCC) were succesful in obtaining an injunction against Rossport Solidarity Camp on the basis that the Camp had caused damage - which would take up to 15 YEARS to repair - to grasses on or near the SAC; this action by MCC was prompted and upheld by the statutory body NPWS (the entity formerly known as Dúchas) one of whose functionaries swore an affidavit to that effect
the question posed by Sean therefore should be academic but, since Shell imposed itself on the non-consenting community, we have learned that all is not as one would be given to believe ...
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