Urgent Call Out! Escalation in Erris as Solitaire arrives - solidarity needed

by Mayo Man Tue Sep 09, 2008 21:30

Its begining to become clear that there is more to this then meets the eye!!
Recent local media reports have mentioned British government pressure to get this gas to market - this would suggest that the interconnector between ireland and the UK is for the transport of Corrib gas out of the country to bigger markets outside of ireland. I wouldn't be suprised if MI5 are involved in some of what is now going on in Erris.

PS - No mention of this evenings events on the 9pm RTE news of course - What a suprise!!

by Chrissie Tue Sep 09, 2008 21:35

Time to turn the Solitaire around out of Erris. Save Maura; don't let her health suffer.

by lily Tue Sep 09, 2008 21:43

the courage, dignity and commitment shown by the Erris community is so inspiring. fair play to everyone taking a stand against Shell and the corrupt government and Gardai.
in solidarity xx

by slepwy - Shell to Sea Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:04

The situation in Glengad has definitely gone from amber to red, as they say in enemy parlance. Everyone who can should get up there in the next 24 or 48 hours. Anyone who can should get up there and support these impossibly brave people as they stand before Shell's bloody path over a resisting community. Solidarity!

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:36

Below is the link to the RTE coverage on their website of the current story. No mention of Maura's hunger strike, curious enough, nor the extra cops nor the weird cops neither. RTE radio as of 9pm had only the Solitaire story.

Recent stuff from local contacts: the Chief and Jonathan were arrested under Section 8 of the Public Order Act (as per usual), and some people up there have seen other weirdly-dressed cops on the beach in Glengad at the same time. The account I heard described a female Garda in uniform with something like a nylon stocking or a mosquito net over her head! This smacks of psychological warfare! Also the Aisling is deployed for Shell, so that makes three Shell gunboats now!

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0909/corrib.html

by S2S - S2S Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:40

For Immediate Release : 9th September 2008 - 10:00pm

Shell to Sea campaigner begins Hunger Strike

This evening Shell to Sea campaigner Maura Harrington has begun a Hunger Strike to coincide with the arrival of the Solitaire, pipe-laying vessel in Broadhaven Bay. In a letter that was handed into the Solitaire in Killybegs yesterday, after being previously sent to Allseas Ltd (owner of the Solitaire), Ms Harrington stated that she placed her life in the hands of the Master of the Solitaire, Mr Simon van der Plicht. In her letter, she stated that her hunger strike will end in one of two ways, either that the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters or her death. A constant vigil has started at the gates of the Shell compound at Glengad in support of Maura Harrington and her opposition to the Corrib Gas Project.

Meanwhile also this evening, the Garda Water Unit boarded 3 fishing boats and arrested the 3 fishermen who were attempting to safeguard their fishing gear which was in Broadhaven Bay. Previously the Department of Agriculture has stated that this was a civil matter between both parties and should be resolved in the courts however with both a heavy Gardaí presence and both the LE Orla and Aoife in Broadhaven Bay, it seems obvious that the State wishes to push this project through by force alone.
For more Information on the fishermens dispute see: http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1901

For verification phone: Maura Harrington - ********* or Terence Conway - **************

Notes: Below are the two letters handed to the Solitaire yesterday.

*************************************************************************************

Please be advised that, if and when your vessel, the Solitaire should approach Broadhaven Bay, Co. Mayo - a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds - it is my intention to begin a Hunger Strike to the death. I am aged 54 years 11 months and weigh 6 stone 9lbs. Given my age, weight, medical history (calcified TB since 1980) my death will take place relatively quickly but not painlessly. The toll extracted by eight years of activism to the Shell dictated, State facilitated Corrib Project is a not insignificant factor in hastening my death.

I place my Life or Death in the hands of the master of the Solitaire, Mr Simon van der Plicht. Be under no illusion that this is an idle threat. I will begin my Hunger Strike, as stated if and when The Solitaire approaches Broadhaven Bay - it will end in one of two ways.

1. On written confirmation by Mr van der Plicht that the Solitaire is outside Irish territorial waters
2. My Death.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
Sunday 10th August 2008

**************************************************************************************

Doohoma,
Ballina,
Co. Mayo,
Ireland

FAO: The Master of the Solitaire, Simon van der Plicht

My name is Maura Harrington. I am Principal of Inver Primary School, situated beside Broadhaven Bay. I am a native of Erris and have spent all my life here.
My sense of personal outrage is driven by the primacy of Place - people come and go in nano seconds; Place endures.
As I write, my husband, who is a professional Public Registered Auditor, is entering his second month of continuous medical attention as a result of injuries sustained while in police custody (of dubious legality) in a matter related to your vessel's presence in Irish waters.
In early July I alerted your company's HQ legal division by phone, fax, email and registered post to the fact that your current contractor, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc) may have been somewhat economical with the truth when engaging the vessel of which you are master to carry out a pipe-lay operation as proposed/contracted.
I requested that my last communication per email to the legal department of Allseas would be brought to your attention. In the absence of any acknowledgement by the legal department of receipt of such I now attach a copy for your attention.

As stated therein, be under no illusion that I am anything other that deadly serious in my intent.

Maura Harrington,
Shell to Sea,
4th Sept, 2008

Maura in her car outside the Glengad Compound gates

by Setanta Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:46

The country needs to start getting their priorities right. Whats happening in Mayo is an absolute disgrace, this will no doubt escallate until the point where the average person will eventually fell the need to care. There is a corrupt capitalist elite in this country who, just like the nigerian government, will stop at nothing as long as their pockets are being filled!

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:52

Slow, terse to the point of almost no information and only the Garda side of the story. They're staying shtumm....smell serious news management by Shell and the Govt here, and all about. It's always been around us but now the fog of official misinformation and disinformation is thickening alarming fast. The truth about Ireland today is not endless guff about e-flow or GAA matches but about how we're all being robbed and how a community is being broken on the rack of Capital in its Big Oil guise, with the ever-willing violence of the State at Shell's beck and call. Support the Mayo resistance! Solidarity!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0909/...6.htm

by Black hawk down! - Shell 2 sea Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:53

All right thinking people get to Mayo ASAP!! Help stop the economic imperialists from destroying our community and robbing our gas, SHELL 2 HELL AND THEIR FREINDS ASWELL!

by Eoghan - S2SGalway Tue Sep 09, 2008 22:58

Solidarity to all in Erris. Ill try my best to get up as soon as I can

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Tue Sep 09, 2008 23:00

...as of posting on Examiner or Irish Independent. Indo has yesterday's story of Shell to Sea Fleet going to Killybegs. Poor show so far from these two.

by maggie Tue Sep 09, 2008 23:30

Be brave ,dear ones and you have always been brave history will record you have always stood for what is right and good,believe in your own strength,your non-violent stand against this evil tyranny inflicted upon you must be recognised,and now when injunctions are issued against SHELL for transgressions(lands and sea ),against MAYO County Council (unlawful blocking of roads),a period of "CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE "should follow.In a just society no one should be criminalised for protecting their Health and safety,their human rights and civil liberties.SHAME on this rotten government.

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Wed Sep 10, 2008 00:02

This is from this week's Mayo Echo.

You may well say 'what the fuck?' indeed. Seems this intrepid little free paper has gone and done some proper journalism, a thing that the paid-for print media both locally and nationally seem loath to do, especially about us and our struggle. The story looks to have some provenance, since (in corroboration) some Irish ex-sailor friends of mine have told me that the corvettes of the Irish fleet are very capable of detecting the presence of subs, nuclear or otherwise. You won't find details about the Irish Naval Service's flotilla sonar capabilities anywhere on www.military.ie

Save yerselves a copy before it possibly disappears.

http://www.mayoecho.com/this%20weeks%20edition/pdfs/MAY...4.pdf

http://www.mayoecho.com/login.htm

try out this link too!

http://military.searchimprove.com/search.aspx?pc=&pckid...sonar

by Rudiger - S2S Wed Sep 10, 2008 00:10

Just on the midnight news on RTE Radio1 the arrest of the 3 fishermen was first item on the news. Jim Fahy was giving an account of the arrest of the fishermen for about 2 minutes then he began to state that prominent campaigner was ..... When all of a sudden Vivaldi's Four Season's cut in and the news finished.

Presumably RTE will claim a technical difficulty but to cut in during the first item on the news is the most obvious suppression of this whole campaign that I have seen or heard.

by M Wed Sep 10, 2008 00:24

RTE updates their earlier story to include the news that 50 people are protesting the fishermen's arrests at Belmullet Garda Station. http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0909/corrib.html

by Disgusted Wed Sep 10, 2008 00:53

What a sad state of affairs the Irish Government has led the people into here. That this woman, Maura Harrington, would have to resort to starvation in order to stop this madness is indicative of the level of avarice and greed which has overcome the Island. If I can travel there, I will, to add whatever support to the campaign that I am able to.

by TFY&QA Wed Sep 10, 2008 02:36

"Just on the midnight news on RTE Radio1 the arrest of the 3 fishermen was first item on the news. Jim Fahy was giving an account of the arrest of the fishermen for about 2 minutes then he began to state that prominent campaigner was ..... When all of a sudden Vivaldi's Four Season's cut in and the news finished.
Presumably RTE will claim a technical difficulty but to cut in during the first item on the news is the most obvious suppression of this whole campaign that I have seen or heard."

Following on from this, RTE radio 1 news at 1am talked of the release without charge of the fishermen and we had a one liner about Maura's strike. Then the presenter apologised for the cut out the previous hour citing circumstances beyond their control, ha ha.
At 2 am, again the story of the fishermen's release was mentioned, yet they failed to mention the hunger strike this time, instead launching straight into a story concerning rising gas prices. Yes, rising gas prices, this has to be taking the piss.

Just to record the coercive techniques of the 'state broadcaster'..........

by S2Ser - S2S Wed Sep 10, 2008 08:48

Clearly, everyone should try to get up to Rossport as soon as possible.

Dublin Shell to Sea met last night and are proposing that the Day of Action planned for Sat 20th would be brought forward to Sat 13th and that we literally try to get anyone possible to travel up and stop Shell. A press release and news story will follow. But if you can't make it up during the week, make sure you leave Saturday free.

by Biker Wed Sep 10, 2008 09:37

This is an appalling attack on the Erris community - shame on our government! Solidarity events need to be organised around the country and around the world for those who aren't in a position to go to Mayo. Maura Harrington we salute you!

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Wed Sep 10, 2008 09:56

Five Rossport Solidarity campers have locked on to a bridge about 100m from the gates of the Shell compound in Glengad. The campers have been locked on since 4:30am - 5am. Gardaí have refused to call the fire brigade, but have put a makeshift wee tent over the protestors, and have cut a drain in the side of the road to allow lodging rain on the road to drain off.

Two fishing boat skippers (plus crews) have been arrested after Gardaí boarded the vessels as they approached the Solitaire at anchor in Broadhaven Bay. Local on-the-scene reports say that Pat 'the Chief' O'Donnell and his son Jonathan are among those arrested. Gardaí are alleging public order offences (I expect to hear they'll all be released without charges soon). Gardaí are preventing access now to the compound gates, where Maura Harrington remains in her car and on hunger strike. Gardaí are using the lock-on action as a pretext for stopping public movement along that stretch of road.There is only one protestor keeping watch on Maura with a camera, but supporters can get close to both of them through the fields nearby. Internet connection has returned to the Camp office, since about an hour before this posting.

Welcome to Ireland 2008 - Shell's little police state!

Get up to Mayo now and confront their violent thieving plans!

by m.m.mccarron Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:21

A perfect opportunity to go to Erris and call for a review of the Corrib issue with equal voice to all stakeholders - the fishermen and the residents along the road. They have had no say - all a badly designed project.
This is the time for every member of
Labour, the Greens , Sinn Fein, SP, WSP , Independents... Eirigi and other political movements to come together and demand a review. Every political party who has visited and spoken in Rossport must be seen there again otherwise their words are empty sounds and their presence hypocritical. TDs of every shade in the Dail are responsible for letting such a design go through by underpinning its every project split with a new law, often retrogressive.
An Bord Pleanala are calling for submissions to be responded to by Shell long after the Solitaire goes floating by.

by Shell to Sea proxy - Cork Shell to Sea Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:30

The story headline refers only to the two men arrested last night. You have to read the article to get the news that Maura Harrington has started a hunger strike. The 'churnalists' are over 12 hours behind everybody else. Are these useless saps following this story from the international agency wires? Well that's what it looks like.
They mention the lock-on action though.
The Examiner is just as slow - it's far more than their heart not being in it, or objective news values either. Their copy is identical to the Indo's. These rags are choosing to turn their faces away from the most important story in western Europe.

Oooooh 'Sir Anthony'!!

Irish 'Independent': http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/t....html

Irish 'Examiner': http://www.examiner.ie/breaking/ireland/mhqlgbsnidsn/

by Eamonn O'Coilea'in - Republic of IRELAND ? Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:56

Well it's truely shocking that a respected worldly Women, who my Family and I love and respect has to go to such lengths to protest her rights that every knows is a dangerous situation; in 21 first century, that this should be happening; The Fishing men have been again arrested and their boat towed away from their fishing rights. I am truely shocked by what is happening just down the road where we live.
Oil and Gas prices are bring in record profits. 65 Billion from one country, but the difference is that it is state owned, where this state gave away the mineral rights. It's just NOT right or Legal for this to happen. People whos rights are put aside so that shell can ship the gas, up to 80% is the number that they will sell to England, so that is why a English submarine is off the west cost inside irish waters!
I would join in the hunger strike, but does taking medication count as I'm still crippled with pain. Come on the PEOPLE OF IRELAND STAND UP FOR YOU RIGHTS!

by lily Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:06

*www.allseas.com/uk/20/equipment/solitaire.html

Length overall excluding stinger
300 m (984 ft)
*
Transit speed
13 knots
*
Accommodation
420 men
*
Dynamic Positioning system
NMD Class 3 / LR DP (AAA), type Simrad Kongsberg 2x ADP702 & 1 X ADP701
*
Cranes
Two pipe transfer cranes x 35 t (77 kips) at 33 m (108 ft), whip hoist 18 t (44 kips) at 42 m (139 ft); special purpose crane, main hoist 300 t (661 kips) at 17 m (56 ft), whip hoist 40 t (88 kips) at 57 m (187 ft)
*
Working stations
Two double-jointing plants, five welding stations for double joints, one NDT station, four coating stations
*
Tensioner capacity
3 x 350 t (772 kips) at 30 m/min (100 ft/min)
*
Pipe diameters
From 2" to 60" O.D.

by Starstruck Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:08

The lock-on and hunger-strike continue.
Pat O'Donnell and his son Jonathan were AGAIN arrested this morning as they were attempting to to exercise their legal right to be a sea.
The lock-on continues to block the road from the Belmullet side and the police have set up a road-block form the other side of the compund (Pollathomais side)
The 2-3 mile area in between is a pen where the police are preventing people from walking (although people are accessing the road,and Maura,through the fields.
The Police are attempting to begin the cutting of the pipes that are being used in the lock-on,this could take quite some time as they are extremely thick.
The lock-on participants are lying in puddles of water at this stage as the rain continues to lash down in Erris.
A constant vigil was kept at Mauras side all ngith with at least 5 people there at all times to ensure the cops didnt try anything.
The Solitaire is stationery at its anchor location and there is no activity on the compound at Glengad.
It must be underlined that the arrests of Pat O'Donnell and his comrades are TOTALLY spurious ,a bullshit application of Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994 to keep the Chief and his fishermen colleagues off the waters.
An injunction is being sought to prevent further spurious arrests.

Solidarity needed,here and where you are!

by TD - RSC Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:20

Photos

by linker Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:45

.

by TD - RSC Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:46

Sightings of a third naval service vessel in the bay are being reported.

As of a few moments ago, the lock-on is holding strong with none of the participants cut free.

The Solitaire shortly after she entered Broadhaven Bay

LE Aoife guarding her charge

Martin Harrington, brother of Maura reading her letter stating her intention to conditionally fast to the death

by linker Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:00

From morning Ireland
- Jim Fahy, Western Editor, reports on developments in the Shell to Sea campaign, including Maura Harrington's hunger strike
- Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea campaigner, says she is prepared to die to highlight her cause

by draoi Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:09

The following information release is up on the Shell website

"Solitaire Damage Assessment Under Way.
10/09/2008

This morning during weather sensitive preparatory works, the end section of the Solitaire's pipe delivery equipment was damaged.

At this stage it is too early to comment on how this technical problem arose. The offshore pipelay programme in Broadhaven Bay has been suspended until a full assessment of the damaged equipment has been conducted.

The Solitaire will return to Killybegs or another harbour for assessment and repair within the next 48 hours..

A further update will be given in the coming days. "

by dunk Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:27 fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

what the f*** is going on with that sub, scary stuff, if indeed true as it has been portrayed in local mayo media
http://www.mayoecho.com/this%20weeks%20edition/pdfs/MAY...4.pdf

heres Revolt Pauls recent vid of direct action in the sea some weeks back, when we visited the camp. Sorry we didnt have enough time to assist further, we will do what we can here to assist as best we can. My friends from Galicia and Peru who visited the camp were blown away by the place, the struggle, the people.
http://www.politube.org/show/883

We will screen "those who dance" soon to highlight what is going on and do what we can, any suggestions

Muigh Eo abú

slán agus bear bua

Dunk

What the F*** is going on in Mayo: UK SUB in Irish waters?

by Solidarity to Maura Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:30

These pictures are heartbreaking but mostly we are proud that people know that there is no government
in ireland. There has not been for many years, just a bunch of guys who twist language to accomodate
their crony buddies.

The government represents the people, it does not screw them out of their heritage for profit.

Having seen hunger-strikes , I hope that two things are accomplished:

1. That Maura's intentions and wishes are made very clear , including the issue of medical intervention.
2.That Maura is respected by both the autorities and the protestors, that means people would
act with sensitivity with regard to publication and of course attempting medical intervention
without permissions.

This means that it is necessary that there are independent observors ensuring that Maura is ok.
I suggest red-cross or similarily trained personnel. indeed , I am surprised that there has not been
a red-cross or amnesty contingent down there, supporting the community.

Best wishes.

by TD - RSC Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:32

After hearing the Solitaire was heading back to Killybegs for repair after sustaining ""technical difficulties, the lock-on was voluntarily suspended by the participants; unbowed, unbloodied but thoroughly soaked through after their marathon lock-on in ferociously bad weather.

The third naval service ship is the LE Aishling - the fourth spoke of the wheel intent on breaking the butterfly of resistance is the British submarine "which naval sources allege is sitting 11 miles off the coast of Mayo, watching the activities at the Shell compound." (Mayo Echo) .

by Shells blushing lies - shell to the atom breaker Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:49

Its painfully obvious that shell or the captain of the Solitare are trying to diffuse the escallating attention of the past 24 hours. Either the Captain and Crew do not want to be responsible for the loss of life of Maura Harrington. Or shell know this would only add another smear to their international reputation. This to me stinks of ringing in with a stomach bug when you have a pounding hangover. LIES LIES LIES!!!

by Margaret O'Regan - SWP Wed Sep 10, 2008 13:07

I trust Maura Harrington implicitly. As she said on Morning Ireland, she did not take this decision lightly. She is full of integrity and honesty, and is a very brave woman. I salute her.

I salute also the five activists involved in the lock-in.

Shell have just announced that the Solitaire is leaving Glengad (RTE Radio 1) - a wonderful result.

by Shell to Sea proxy - Shell to Sea Wed Sep 10, 2008 13:14

The Solitaire has said it is returning to Killybegs for 'repairs'. Killybegs is still in Ireland, so Maura must continue her conditional fast to the death. Cynically, Shell and the state are taking one pretended step back, but they're not going back on their intention to force this project works through against the will of a resisting community and over the heads of an electorate who never (repeat never! What manifesto contains the promise to rob us blind and poison us?) gave any mandate for any of this. We're not going to flinch this time; there is no middle ground of compromise. The Greena Fáil government and the rest of this utterly corrupt establishment intend to rob us for Shell etc. either slowly and piecemeal with their pretended compromises, or they'll begin the Robbery with one big violent repressive push.

The 'receiving community' up in Rossport, Pollatomish, Bellanaboy, Erris in general have been at the receiving end of low abuse, intimidation, physical harassment, arbitrary arrest, punitive law enforcement and far worse from the blue-suited thugs miscalled in Béarla 'the Guardians of the Peace'. It's long past time that supporters of Shell to Sea paid back to Gardaí at the very least the psychological side of the hurt they've been dishing out on a defenceless community and on those who stand in solidarity with them.

For my part, I have been vocally challenging cops in the street today for what their 'colleagues' are doing for Shell up in Mayo. Slogans like 'You're pigs for what you're doing up in Mayo!', or more polite or forthright, whatever your style. Do it loud, and in public - show your dislike of them and their willing help for Shell. Refuse them services, boycott them where and when you can! Not one Garda has either resigned or publicly spoken out against what they're being ordered to do up in Mayo - all are therefore complicit under Shell-democracy rules of 'silence = assent'.

Many in the community up there are afraid of the fact that the Guards and their willingness to terrorise Erris are the main reason that this all has come so far. The law has been flouted every step of the way by Shell and the cops too, and their violence is the only reason Shell can proceed with construction works. Outside of the self-interested 'business community', ex-Gardaí who have a mysterious desire to write spurious pro-Shell letters to whatever rag what'll print 'em, and local notables and well-connected who're happy to be 'facilitated', there is no consent, only a brave few standing above a silence born of physical fear.

(Even the local RNLI lifeboat has taken €25,000 or more of Shell's money very recently; the head of the local lifeboat committee Eddie Divers is also the Erris Inshore Fishermens' Assoc. head who took Shell's €20,000 for getting out of Solitaire's way!)

We're back to Shell's Peelers using the Cat-And-Mouse act on ordinary Irish people. Only the accents of the peelers have changed.

I am not advocating violence against the pigs: that's what they do and they can keep their fists boots and truncheons quiet! I'm advocating a measured public show of opposition and anger against what cops are doing up there.

Get out there and show your displeasure with these thugs, show your righteous anger, and make a shot at shaming them back into civilised behaviour.

It's a simple peaceful solidarity act, and can be done anywhere in the 26 counties.

Don't be afraid of them!

Déan Baghcat ar na Gadaí Síochana!

Send the cops to Coventry!

by Solidarity from County Armagh Wed Sep 10, 2008 13:33

While clearly the news that the Solitaire seems to be pulling out, even on a temporary basis, is welcome I think that the opportunity now exists for an very organised mobilisation of people to Mayo in solidarity with local people.
Could I suggest that Shell2Sea look at Saturday/ Sunday week being the date. Yes, I know its ten days away, but this gives ample time to contact elected reps from all parties, trade unions, community organisations, etc, in every county around the country to send delegations to Mayo. It also gives many people like me an opportunity to go, as because of other commitments, going at short notice is not an option.

by cable - Shell to Sea Cambridge Wed Sep 10, 2008 14:11

Solidarity to Maura, Pat, & all of the protestors against $Hell's insane raw gas scheme - your courage inspires people across the world. All we are is asking is that Shell refine the gas at sea; Shell's intransigence & lack of responsibility for Health & Safety concerns have brought about this situation.

by anechoic hull plating Wed Sep 10, 2008 14:24

Dunk's wondering what the fk is up with a RN submarine alledgedly offcoast. I'm sure he's not alone. The Mayo article managed to squeeze into its page around the standard photo (so good it's reproduced here twice) the tantalising bit of information that such vessels can monitor mobile phone conversations. Gosh. Fancy that. Without your "bye" or "leave". In a comment written on Sep 2 when LE Aoife arrived to escalate the "gunboat diplomacy" I half-jokingly wrote "I wager the semen and seawomen of our navy would be happy with a wee submarine & not playing garda." So rather than lobby for their own submarine they've gone for the Outsourcing thing.

6 of the 7 vessels of the Trafalgar class which the Mayo Echo would have you believe an example lies off coast with cruise missiles & powered by a pressurized water cooled nuclear reactor have had serious problems with their reactors. The good folk of Gibraltar and environs have long seen them coming & they go to the beaches waving their skirts and giving obscene gestures as soon as they do. They've really got quite good and organised at that the subsequent working out where the anechoic sonar proof lurkers are (in between accidents).

Don't waste your time looking for the sneaky fecker on Google Earth or phoning the admiralty. Just ask the Eire state for a clarification of 89/618/EURATOM law on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency since there's a 6 in 7 chance that a dodgey submarine is within metldown of the BVM shrine of Knock.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31989L0618:EN:HTML

& the irony for me which Dunkie will appreciate (noting the role of lobster pots and the lobster food industry in stopping Solitaire) is that this week is the 149th anniversary of Narciso Monturiol's maiden voyage in the submarine of his design "Ictineo" (in Barcelona) which he intended to assist the shellfish gatherers of Europe, saving their lives, making their industry more profitable & allowing them send their kids to school. Great idealist was he. The appropriate lobbies stopped him, dished his insanity till the Nazi's and Russians modernised his designs & then the RN too.

Give the Gov a call.

"(89/618/Euratom) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 31 thereof....."

& then ask them where the Russian submarine which monitors Trident Polaris and the Rockall area is. It's even harder to spot than a Trafalgar.......

......."anechoic hull plating technology"

make them & do a demo in Dublin.

by redeye Wed Sep 10, 2008 14:47

"When the law is unjust, the only rightful place for every just person is outside of that law!" We must continue this campaign with civil disobedience, we're obviously not being listened to by the moneymad government/media elite in this country. We live in an ever increasing neo-liberal/capitalist jungle, whereby the rich and powerful show complete disregard for life and wellbeing of citizens, to persue their aims of theft and greed. Where the oil flows blackest, the streets run red!

by Shell to Sea Switzerland Wed Sep 10, 2008 15:02

... to Maura, Pat and all the protestors against $hell.

by dunk Wed Sep 10, 2008 15:24

.

by Observer2.5 Wed Sep 10, 2008 15:35

How unusual would it be for a British Sub to be in the North Atlantic anyway?
We have the word of the local press on the exact distance offshore of a submarine? C'mon. It might be 50 miles offshore for all we know, and the Editor 'sexed it up' a little. For all we know it's heading around the Northern Coast en route back to Faslane RN submarine base in Scotland.

Is this not just the local press being sensationalist?
Let's not get distracted. Keep clear heads. Boats, the Chief, Maura, gas, and never mind the feckin sub.
The cops will be happy to let the lock ons continue on a cold wet road, seeing as the Solitaire won't be on the road, and they will try to break the will of the Chief and Maura by trickery, and false news fed to the rest of us.

by TD - RSC Wed Sep 10, 2008 16:33

The Solitaire has just upped anchor and is making her way out of Broadhaven Bay, presumably, to Killybegs, hopefully, to the breakers yard.?

by Shell to Sea proxy - Shell to Sea Wed Sep 10, 2008 16:51

Recent reports indicate the cops have admitted defeat on disassembling the lock-on and have withdrawn. Haven't heard properly if the lock-on participants have disengaged (ie if that is readily possible?).

Still loadsa cops around Glengad, esp. at the compound gates and near Maura. Her spirit is still up, despite the situation. The weather there is easily as wet and windy as elsewhere round the country.

The Chief and Jonathan have been 'Cat-And-Moused' a third time for 'alleged offences under the Public Order Act', according to what I've been able to pick up from under a haze of 'bad mobile connections' and dropped calls.

In the vicinity of Glengad, a multi-purpose telecommunications and air traffic control infrastructure facility (at least a relay station - it bristles with dishes!) is sited on Dooncarton mountain. Go figure.

The locals and the campers call it 'the Nato Tower' (dual use old boy...)

Get to Mayo and help stop the Great Gas Robbery!

by Sevinch Karaca - WSM Wed Sep 10, 2008 17:50

Supporters of the campaign in Europe, great to hear it is getting far and out. Please organise protests at Irish Embassies and Shell Country Headquarters, National Fuel and Gas Distribution Centres as soon as you can.

by anechoic predator Wed Sep 10, 2008 21:29

If you're just into the local scene & Irish politic thing then best skip this comment. If you're up for a bit of far far away reflection on what we can do - try reading.
_____________________________________

Of course the Mayo Echo sexed up its story "Big guns are out for the arrival of Solitaire". Superintendent Gilligan has put the story on viagra for so long it must be bursting his colleagues blood vessels in envy or exasperation. & are not we a tad guilty of sexing up the story too? Despite no serious coverage in nationwide media for years we've all had to explain the importance of Rossport at local and international level. All the people in Ireland, who went to Ireland & those who haven't "on our side" have told the truth but needed to sex it up a bit in the process.

that's called spin.

Now if you bear with me and read this comment for another few lines I will not only share classified information with you but also, (perhaps exasperatingly) suggest yet again doing my best to obfuscate as little as possible & avoid what may be misconstrued as a cryptic tendency to indulgence the best way you can all turn it around till it spins . Shell is one of the "seven sisters" of global oil & gas exploitation - they have existed as long as our popular brand of civilisation on wheels with electric lighting. Years ago when my interest & many of yours too came to this story, Willy Carduff walked out on his breakfast and wife to begin an epic battle which is not unique because of the bravery, consistency, example but because for one of those rare times in the history of vehicles on pneumatic tyres and street lighting - one of the seven sisters could be attacked globally on sensitive territory for the shareholders and closer to the bone of the capitalist way - in a situation whose long term industry implications far outweigh the financial benefit of the exercise.

attempting to get to the pith -
It might seem ridiculous to write it - but that gas is not worth the effort in developing it unless the process of dealing with protest without the usual completely well founded and justified accusations of mercenary involvement reaps long term social management benefits compatible with democratic models of open societies.

In short - the Rossport protest is a lab situation whose history since farmer Carduff left his breakfast, through the Rossport 5 in prison, through elections, through "environment nobel prizes" right up to now - is extremely valuable not only to "us" but the capitalists.

I promised you classified information as a sweetie piece of practicably inapplicable trivia

Naval anechoic and stealth systems were almost exclusively developed within the cold war arms race and as such relied on espionage. As with most stealth techniques camouflage was primarily aimed at making vessels difficult to identify to the enemy by imitating the natural environment. This briefly led to inter-speciesist exploitation of cetaceans such as whales and dolphins for signals, which of course pissed of the whale loving crew, but because of the global deployment brief of strategic submarines they never really got the paint thing together. If you want to find the old-fasioned trafalgar class type of sneaky fucker you follow sharks. Obviously tracking something which moves at 30knots is beyond a shark fishing catamaran so better to snog or otherwise manipulate a member of one the many shark researching universities. Or perhaps you should economise on your sexiness.

= There is no Royal Navy submarine off of Mayo. But there are two such submarines in Irish waters most days.

The Irish seemed to have got much more emotional and indignant about the idea of there being a Royal Navy submarine earwigging Rossport camp mobiles than they cottoned on to the political agenda of the Irish Naval Forces. To reiterate the comments which made it clear http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88929#comment235172
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88929#comment235180
The Irish navy are most under-appreciated and under-valued wing of the Irish defense establishment. "turn it around till it spins". How many other countries and their medias who know about Shell or love Ireland have seen photos of so much of the fleet assembled before? I daresay quite a few of those types would like to see Ireland buy bigger boats and concentrate on the cocaine snuffling traffickers of the fjords and coves who incidently use submarines and know exactly where the sharks are "to an inch". As I wrote before "what Belmullet needs and the campaign needs, & is notably absent in the English speaking international horizontal blogosphere or such websites - is publicity, more attention on gunboats".

So we have a very good idea with this RN submarine HMS Talent S88 off the coast of Mayo. Olé! to whoever thought that up. It's certainly more exciting than looking at the Irish Navy or a plate of congealed bacon which is hardly newsworthy or sexy. Superintendent Gilligan,
* acting commodore of the Irish navy diverting forces from the drug war
* abusing the information databases of Interpol which have long been compromised in their surveillance of human rights issues. TO what end? the needs of a police management in Mayo or the agenda of lab. conditions I've attempted to explain above? Did sending little interplod bots through the contact list of all visitors to Rosport really help him?
* is now in liason with the UK and possibly outsourcing intelligence monitoring to HMG RN thus bypassing existing agreements with GCHQ. hmmmmmmm., has anyone ever had the complaint that Ireland has no accountable and named head of intelligence?

It's also really juicy to realise covert forces were at work and Solitaire's project was sabotaged by corporate rivals......................................imagine that.
What a phantasmagoria of ideas.


never take your eyes off a shark.

by sonofmayo Wed Sep 10, 2008 21:36

Wanted to express our solidarity with S2S.

We'll be down agin the weekend.

by TD - RSC Wed Sep 10, 2008 21:42

Update!

Maura, still on hunger strike, still outside the entrance to Shell's Glengad compound late this evening

Someone to watch over her - Maura's car is directly behind the solidarity vigil

by solidarity with erris Thu Sep 11, 2008 09:17

Please let us know asap how things are with Maura, fishermen, protestors & all. Love & solidarity to all, will be with ye soon.

by The Strangler - mindfreedom Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:04

Well done Maura, keep up the fight , no surrender, we will be with you in thought in your darkest hours.
Well done to Pat as well, hope your neck is ok after those thug Guards.

by Margaret O'Regan - SWP Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:11

Does anyone know - where exactly is the Solitaire now?

by Do something - anything! Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:00

I'm a mum sitting at home listening and reading the various reports.
I want to do my small bit to try and stop/disrupt $hell, so I called their head office in Dublin and the Corrib Project Office. I asked the receptionist in Dublin could she take my message for the relevant person in relation to what's happening in Mayo.
The reply, "you can e-mail your complaint", I told her I had no access to e-mail! So I told her that perhaps she could scribble down my complaint on a notepad and pass it on for me, I also told her that I think she should consider her position working for one of the worlds most disgusting companys with a history of murder and exploitation on their bloodied corporate hands.

I remained on the line (being as polite as possible) for about a minute and a half!

Don't let $hell continue with business as usual, DISRUPT IT!

CALL SHELL NOW

Shell E&P Ireland Ltd.
Corrib House,
52 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2
Tel. 01 669 4100
(+353 1 669 4100 if calling from abroad)

Corrib Project Information Office
4 Údarás na Gaeltachta
Béal an Mhuirthead
Co Mhaigh Eo
Tel +353 (0)97 27100
Fax +353 (0)97 27101

by Friend Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:49

Having come to know Maura somewhat in last few years I am fully confident that she is deadly serious about her hunger strike. Although everyone might not agree with her views and tactics, she is an intelligent, dedicated, passionate and very very serious person. If Shell, Statoil, the Gardai, the Solitaire crew, the press or anyone else reading this doubts her intention please think again. Maura is a very frail person and her life is already starting to slip away as the clock ticks by.

This is not a time for jibes and philosophy. This really is about life and death and before we know it we could very much be looking at the Corrib gas project's first fatality. Perhaps the first of many to come?

If this - very real possibility - happens, then the campaign will no doubt increase and intensify and the responsibility of all - passive and active - in faciltitating this chaos will be highlighted. Heads will roll and consciences will stir.

Folks, this local school teacher and principal could be dead very shortly.

It is time for mass action and awareness.
It is time for the Solitaire to leave without delay.
It is time for courageous media reporting.
It is time for a complete and long overdue pause and re-think on this entire project.

There are alternatives.

by Starstruck Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:03

Not sure how much of this has been said already on other threads but here is the situ as of this morning in occupied Erris

After a truly momentous day in Erris yesterday,things are much calmer this morning.
The Solitaire has been confirmed to be stationery in Killybegs Co Donegal.
Police presence in the area is still very heavy this morning although the general atmosphere (aside from at the compound gates) is slightly less tense.
Maura Harrington continues her courageous hunger strike at the compund gates with round the clock solidarity from both locals and the camp.
It is still not clear how exactly the Solitaire sustained the damage to its "stinger"
The stinger is DEFINITELY slightly damaged in one section however this reporter can confirm that it was not so damaged on Tuesday night when it arrived in Broadhaven Bay and that conditions all throughout Tuesday night were absolutely calm both at land and on sea (remembering that the Solitaire can operate in extremely heavy seas unhindered due to its size)
The cause of the damage is a heavyily speculated upon matter and I will not add to other than the fact that AllSeas Ltd may be contractually relieved from its obligations under a damge clause in the contract.
a
MORE FROM YESTERDAY

LOCK-ON PROTEST

The 5 people who locked on in atrocious conditions for 6 and a half hours from 5.30am to midday and blocked the road were all released without charge from Belmullet Garda Station.
4 were held for 6 and a half hours and 1 was released after 4 hours.
They report that they were treated well in Garda custody and that their needs were attended to correctly.
Up to 15 people were in attendance in solidarity at one point or another during the day,Gardai refused to allow any to stay inside the walls of the (public) station,including a solicitor who is part of the protests.
The lock-on participants are all in good form today and proud of their actions and a good day for the campaign.

PAT O'DONNELL AND SON
Pat O'Donnell and son as has been previously reported were again arrested yesterday morning to prevent them exercising their legal entitlement to fish the waters of Broadhaven Bay.
The pair were again arrested under the "blank cheque" that is Section 8 of the Public Order Act 1994.
This was the second time the pair were arrested in 24 hours and released without charge,a spurious use and flagrant abuse of the law
A possible route to stem this behaviour would be to seek an injunction in the High Court to prevent the Gardai from using the law in this way,this however is a very rare achievement and is unlikely to be heard.

MAURA HARRINGTON AND HUNGERSTRIKE
Maura continued courageously with her refusal to eat until the Solitaire leaves Irish territorial waters.
She has been giving interviews to media at intervals and has been chatting with supporters when the police are at a safe distance.
Gardai were,at 4am on Wednesday morning ,revving their engines extremely loudly right in front of Mauras car in order to disturb her sleep as much as possible.
supporters have maintained a constant presence since the beginning of the action at 5pm Tuesday.
The hunger strike continues

SOLITAIRE
We do not know whether or not the Solitaire will return.
We remain on high alert.

All solidarity in whatever form and wherever is needed and appreciated.

by Buying Hearts and Minds - observer Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:33

The locals have been bought and intimidated into supporting Shell. A bit of longsightedness would have people realizing that these contracts for work are temporary, and conditional. Did these locals honestly believe that their positions were in tact? Have they gone to the employment authourity to issue complaints as to why their contracts were suspended? A full investigation into the terms and conditions of their employment should be ordered. Was this techical malfunction an 'act of god' ? A good employer still pays staff if there is a fire, power cut, flood etc.... I suggest that the people who have been laid off turn their attention to their contracted employer and get a thorough explination of of the terms of their contract suspension. I do suspect Shell have covered themselves with double speak contracts. Shell is doing no one any favours! They have a BOTTOM LINE and that's that. Wake up!

by Michael Gallagher - Photographer Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:38

In my humble opinion, this sell-out scandal to murdering corporate greed by Bertie Ahern, previous and current Irish governments etc and the consequences of their pipeline being laid ashore......affects EVERYONE who lives on this Island.

It never was, never will be and shouldn't be allowed to become 'a local issue'.

Our assets have been given away for a pittance...it's not to late to turn this around....everything should be on the table.

A boycott of ALL Shell/Statoil products and business's, -and not just in Ireland- would soon have an effect.

Remember the Ogoni Nine.

by TFY&QA Thu Sep 11, 2008 14:30

A boycott of all shell products and services is the natural state for any supporter of the Eris cause. Can we countenance the snowball that might result from a more official move in this direction?
Remember Mary Manning and the oranges..........

by anechoic charting Thu Sep 11, 2008 14:41

Something of great irony has occured this morning which has so far escaped attention on the "shipping reports" & might interest people in Ireland & Mayo. As any reader of the Irish Times knows http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0911/....html or fan of RTE might have noticed the Asgard II sank this morning in French waters. http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0911/asgard.html OK - the sail training vessel is not really part of our fjords & coves cocaine trafficker fighting fleet but is owned by the government and responsibility for her routes, caulking, sea-worthiness etc are in a little drawer in Willy O'Dea's office. Needless to say nobody is suggesting the British navy torpedo'ed her but their coastguard at Kinloss were first to pick up her distress signal followed forty minutes later by the French coast guard in d'Etel (Morbihan). The Irish who own her and with great pride applied "ii" to her name were presumedly the last to know she was floundering in high seas. Amidst all the bubbles in the wake of her sinking a look at French media is almost hilarious. This morning's "Le Monde" led with the story that Paris is turning up the pressure on Dublin because of the Lisbon thing...... did Sarko sink our Asgard? http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-36912434@7-37,0.html The Irish department of Defence assure the curious citizens of our noble land made free by the heritage of Asgard I - that she was on a routine trip.

She was in fact on the way to a regatta at Grand Pavois to commemorate General Humbert's landing in Mayo with the French revolutionary army & the ensuing declaration of the Connaught Republic & Wolfe Tone & all that. She wasn't only just turning up there - she was the honoured guest representing the nation & state of Ireland http://www.generalhumbert.com/french/fr_page_grand_pavo....html

= Our flag ship just sank -

or giggle

- the Asgard has gone to Asgard.

Neverthless LE Niamh is on the way "to offer assistance" and as commented above by "Observer" - look good & like on top of the situation - literally because now the Asgard II has been declared a "danger to navigation" which as boatie types know means a special little bouy must be placed above the wreck - & I suppose Willy O'Dea's pride & budget will dictate LE Niamh not only brings that bouy but drops it in place. Childer's must be turning in his grave. Meanwhile the delightful task of changing present tense verbs to past forms continues on Wikipedia.

by Jimbob. Thu Sep 11, 2008 15:39

Solitaire gone

Boatmen assisting Solitaire laid off this morningin Ballyglass. No Solitaire till 2009 at least

I wouldn't attach any credence to this anonymous comment. Most likely disinfo. Whatever 'damage' occured to the Solitaire is likely to be minor if not ficticious. So any reports of leaving and laying off the lackeys is surely to be taken with a bucket of salt.
Beware disinfo designed to split the campaign, speaking of which ...

Has anyone else read the Examiner's scurrilous, one sided editorial today?
http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-q...1.asp

They talk about the protestors having no support, and condemn the "lawless intimidation" of those who do more than "tut, tut" while our natural resources are stolen, and our heritage is despoiled for the benefit of Shell, and corrupt TDs.

let em know what you think at letters@examiner.ie

Jimbob.

As for the Asgard, how ironic that it was commemorating a landing at Mayo. Perhaps it sank out of shame at the actions of the Government!

by ring em Thu Sep 11, 2008 17:37

can I suggest using skype or any other cheap non tracable way of phoning and use that to constantly block shells phoneline? just keep em busy.
The idea of the woman phoning em for a minute and a half should be followed up by all of us indy-fans.
Call and ask em anything, even if it has nothing to do with shell at all, just keep the line occupied. NO line NO business.
btw did you put cast in the pipes connecting the 5 protesters to make it heavier? The gardai clearly do not like you making photo's as they try to demolish your ring of power. a stupid gazebo will not shield the truth.

by Switchbored Thu Sep 11, 2008 19:53

Why ring the receptionist? Do you really think that their customers and the gombeen politicians that they own would be ringing reception?

I wouldn't condone such behaviour, but, if, hypothetically speaking I were to do it, I think I would have found better numbers on their website here's some better ones, more likely to be used by customers. e.g.

Gerry Stone, Aviation Sales Manager, 01 202 8888 or send an email to gerry.stone@shell.com
or his mobile is 086-254-4649

Shell's Marine oil and Lubricants:
01 1850 565757 (RoI)
0800 028 2838 (NI)

Bitumen Manager, Gearóid Lohan on 353 1 2028588
or e-mail gearoid.lohan@shell.com

For Lubricant orders, please call:
1850 454545 (RoI)
0800 9172323 (NI)

For Lubricant Technical enquiries call:

1850 515616 (RoI)
0800 1692726 (NI)


The Shell Chemicals Sales Executive in Ireland is Mr. Mark Dalton who is based in Cork, contact can be made via 1850 200 572, you can ask for him, and/ or discuss queries and orders for our large range of Chemical and Hydrocarbon Solvents can be made by contacting our Customer Service Centre on the same number 1850 200572, calls from anywhere in Ireland are at a local call rate.

Card Unit please phone (01) 2028703/2028886,
fax (01) 2828318 or e-mail our card unit at iecsc1@shell.com.

(of course if you know anyone sympathetic in the industry.... get some even better ones)

That's maybe what I would do if I was so inclined.

And if you're the humorous type, make a Borat type call, or a Monica Looley from Ahascraw or use one of those soundcard devices where they find themselves getting random questions from Darth Vader or the Drill Sgt from Full Metal Jacket (check out YouTube if you don't know what I'm talking about)

by Pauline Thu Sep 11, 2008 21:50

So proud of all of you and how you have devoted a great part of your daily lives to this cause. It's unfortunate that so many others from the area have little if no interest in what's going on around them. How can they look out of your windows every day, witness this and sleep soundly at night? For God's sake they have the good fortune to live in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas in the world. Do they not care about the future? If they don't care about what is going to happen in their lifetime, then they should at least try and care about what they are leaving their children and grandchildren.

When I visited Glenamoy this summer, I visited the Glengad site as often as possible and was proud to do my bit for my community. I did find it so sad and unfortunate that so many people for the surrounding areas were absent. All of those who don't show solidarity with Shell to Sea should be ashamed of themselves as should those who sold out to Shell. It seems that money always talks and that ignorance is definitely not bliss!!

I applaud all of you who show up on a regular basis and show your opposition to this travesty. The behaviour of the Guards I found was deplorable and have honestly have never seen such a so called police force look like such a bunch of fools. They are an embarrasment to the people of Ireland who they are supposed to be protecting.

I find it so unfortunate that Maura Harrington has to resort to a hunger strike to achieve what she believes. How brave she is. Also Pat O' Donnell and his son. What a shame his fellow fishermen don't have the same backbone. I hope the few thousand euro they received from Shell brings great joy to their sad lives and that their children will be proud of them.

Good luck to all of you. You are always in my thoughts

by dublin Fri Sep 12, 2008 21:35

why go to mayo. the majority of the people are here the money is here the news is here the power is here. the people of dublin have to flex there musle on this