Ken Loach amongst those making a public call for Shell to Act Now

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Wednesday September 17, 2008 15:33

by Dublin Shell To Sea - Shell To Sea

Politicians and Campaign supporters call for immediate Shell clarification on Solitiare

Several prominent politicians today called for Shell to immediately make explicit what the intent of the pipe laying ship Solitiare is. Given that Maura Harrington is entering her 10th day of hunger strike, and there are various rumours going around about the sea worthiness of the pipelaying vessel, Tony Gregory TD, Sen. David Norris, Joe Higgins, Patricia McKenna, Andy Storey (Afri) and the filmmaker Ken Loach all signed up to the joint statement calling for the Multinational Shell to give an unequivocal annoucement , rather than playing with the life of local campaigner Ms Harrington

Ken Loach: calling for Shell to end their silence

Several prominent politicians today called for Shell to immediately make explicit what the intent of the pipe laying ship Solitiare is. Given that Maura Harrington is entering her 10th day of hunger strike, and there are various rumours going around about the sea worthiness of the pipelaying vessel, Tony Gregory TD, Sen. David Norris, Joe Higgins, Patricia McKenna, Andy Storey (Afri) and the filmmaker Ken Loach all signed up to the joint statement calling for the Multinational Shell to give an unequivocal annoucement , rather than playing with the life of local campaigner Ms Harrington.

Along with Shell To Sea supporters around the country, they are aware of the blantant disregard that Royal Dutch Shell, parent company of Shell in Ireland, for the lives of whole communities in the many places the extract local natural resources. They are also aware Shell are playing a dangerous cat and mouse game but refusing to make public their intentions and that of the Solitaire, which lies idlying off the coast at Killebegs, Co Donegal.

Below is the joint statement released this afternoon.

"Maura Harrington, a 55 year old school teacher, is now entering her 10th day on hunger strike in Glengad, Co. Mayo. With every passing day, an increased risk to her health and life is posed by Shell's intransigence.

Maura began her hunger strike when the biggest pipe-laying ship in the world, Solitaire, arrived to start laying the pipeline for Shell's controversial Corrib gas project. Since then, according to Shell, the Solitaire was damaged and withdrawn to Killybegs harbour in Donegal. However, Maura remains on hunger strike, calling for Solitaire to leave Irish territorial waters, and is growing physically weaker by the day.

It was previously reported that Shell would not attempt to lay the pipeline until next year, however no statement from Shell has been forthcoming to confirm or deny that. If Shell were to confirm this, we feel that that would hopefully provide sufficient grounds for Maura to end her current protest.

Instead, however, Shell has chosen to maintain a stony silence. In reality, one of the biggest multinationals in the world is playing a game of high stakes poker with Maura's life. We are calling for an immediate end to this "game", and for Shell to reveal its intentions – to clarify whether they will attempt to lay the pipeline before the end of the year.

If they do not clarify their position, and anything happens to Maura, Shell will be responsible."

Tony Gregory: Only too aware of Shell's "game playing"