Shell to Sea Press Release - Sun. 31st August 2008

mayo | environment | press release

Sunday August 31, 2008 18:29

by Niall Harnett - Shell to Sea - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Navy Warship LÉ ORLA must fly the Shell flag

Text of press release issued this afternoon by Shell to Sea regarding the presence of the Irish Naval Service's warship the LÉ ORLA in Broadhaven Bay, Co. Mayo, as an auxiliary to the Gardaí and Shell Security. Please read main body text for details.

Shell to Sea Press Release - Sun. 31st August 2008

Navy Warship LÉ ORLA must fly the Shell flag

Late last week the Irish Navy Warship, the LÉ ORLA arrived in Broadhaven Bay to support Gardaí and Shell Security who persist in pushing the Corrib Gas Project on by force.

According to Irish Defence Force and Military information the LÉ ORLA is a high speed vessel, designed to move rapidly about the patrol area and to bring her considerable firepower to bear where necessary.

At approximately 5pm on Saturday 30th August a squadron of Shell to Sea kayaks put to sea in order to deliver a message to the Captain of the LÉ ORLA.

The Shell to Sea ‘Shamrock Squadron’ paddled to within a respectful distance of the warship and the ‘James Connolly’ attempted to establish contact with the navy vessel on channels 14 and 16 of the VHF radio, in order to determine the intentions of the Captain and his crew.

The Captain failed to respond to radio communication and consequently the Shamrock Squadron paddled closer to establish visual and verbal communication – to be seen and heard.

A request to speak to the Captain was denied.

Concerns about the presence of the warship were expressed to the Officers on the deck of the LÉ ORLA and they were asked to declare their intentions. Although the officers listened, they did not respond and would not communicate in any way.

Shamrock Squadron invoked their constitutional rights to act in the defence of the natural resources of the State which have been given to Shell and the Corrib Gas consortium. The Irish navy crew were asked whether they intended to assist in the protection of those natural resources or act in collusion with Shell and participate in the ‘Great Gas Giveaway’.

“Without any clear intention from you we assume that you are acting for Shell”, said one of the Shell to Sea crew. “It’s confusing for us that you are flying the Irish flag from the mast of your ship on behalf of Shell, as we fly the flag on behalf of the Irish people. We maintain the right to fly the flag and we say that you are no longer entitled to fly the Irish flag”.

The navy officers were offered a Shell flag to fly from their mast which they would not accept.

An invitation to the Captain to come to dinner at the Rossport Solidarity Camp was declined.

The Shamrock Squadron thanked the navy crew for their attention and paddled back to shore.

Shell to Sea marine activists are experienced in dealing with the Spanish, German, Dutch, Royal and US Navies. This fresh threat from the Irish Navy, which comes in addition to the overwhelming numbers of Gardaí and Shell security in the area, is totally disproportionate to the legitimate protest which will continue against the Shell Corrib Gas Project in spite of this unprecedented development.

ENDS.

For verification or comment contact Niall Harnett at 086 8444966.

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Comments (6 of 6)

: same crap from a different hole

by Exile

Sun Aug 31, 2008 18:47

Do you ever wonder what the War of Independence was about at all?
Our country is sold to foreign exploiters
Gunships are sent against Ireland's people
They pollute the water
Nothing is done for it
The cops and Navy fight for the ruiners of the land
Those who disagree are detained, beaten, vilified
The yellow press says 'Keep your heads down in the trough,
Money will make us happy
The rat race will bring all the goods we ever need
If we mess up this Earth, sure we'll buy another'

Do what you can to help and do it now - time is running out.

Words!

by Jobber

Mon Sep 01, 2008 22:44

The only quote from above press-release used by the Irish Times was;

"Shell to Sea marine activists are experienced in dealing with the Spanish, German, Dutch, Royal and US Navies"

What does the writer mean by "dealing with"? This phrase is vague and open to interpretation and in my opinion has come across negatively.

Don’t give them the ammunition to drive public opinion against you.

Fair play to all of you in Mayo I wish I could be there.

Hah! Media

by Chrissie

Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:45

Whatever Shell to Sea do will be spun by the main media - we could do nothing of course, & still be portrayed as idle spongers...the Shell to Sea activists are hard-working, peaceful, committed, & enduring a lot of hardship & danger (at the very least, lack of comfort) to protect the environment & people of Mayo. Most of the media have vested interests in projects like the Great Gas Robbery & will always oppose any popular dissent.
It's not so hard to understand: those who own the papers also own the land.

Protecting the people of Mayo?

by len

Thu Sep 04, 2008 16:41

C, the notion that S2S are protecting the people of mayo is the most patronising statement so far in this forum. I think C you should look behind you at the gates and see how many of the people of mayo are supporting you, tell you what have a look at the ballot box counts from rossport from the last general election none of the TD's sitting supporting you lot at the time got re-elected! Now i doubt you need a rocket construction kit in your back garden to figure this out.

The people of Mayo dont need your or nialls help, like we said to you in the general election go home, you dont represent anyone, if your aim is to represent anybody in Mayo i suggest you stand for election in the rossport area and prove me wrong. If you dont have the balls to do that go home.

What Mayo Needs??

by Mayo Man

Thu Sep 04, 2008 18:37

What Mayo needs is proper investment to stem the increasing unemployment, emigration and stagnation that the end of the mishandled Celtic Tiger has brought with a vengeance. The people were sold a pack of lies by the politicians back in May 07' about the economy and were this country was heading, aided and abbeted by the state broadcaster(including the now infamous late late show benefit for Bertie) and the O'Reilly press etc. The treasonous giveaway of our vast oil and gas resources has now come back to bite the country more severely and sooner than anyone including myself ever would have thought what with rocketing energy prices(another massive price hike on the way via bord gais) and a massive and growing deficent in the coffers of this state which could have been filled with revenues from the wise exploitation of these resources . This fact is still being hidden from the bulk of the irish people by the same elements who dominate and control our media for the benefit of the powerfull monied vested interests who control politicians like puppets. Until this situation changes the future is indeed bleak for this country.

spin goes on

by brennan

Thu Sep 04, 2008 22:48

Len, you keep going on about the 2007 election, but you know well that John Carty, who supported Shell and acted as host to a delegation of the company's management to Leinster House just after the Rosspot Five were released, lost this seat.

You seem to attach no significance to the fact that a Fianna Fail cheerleader for Shell was sent packing, but think it enormously telling that Jerry Cowley wasn't re-elected.

Apart from the obvious and clear fact that the general election was not fought on the Corrib issue- why do you ignore John Carty's loss as if it did not happen?

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Shell to Sea Press Release - Sun. 31st August 2008

Comments (6 of 6)