Shell to Sea Activists board supply ship to Solitaire in Killibegs

national | environment | press release Monday July 06, 2009 14:14 by Shell to Sea - RSC

This afternoon seven Shell to Sea activists in kayaks visited the Toisa Independent, which supplies pipe to the Solitaire, a vessel used by Shell to lay the Corrib gas pipeline. The Solitaire, which left Broadhaven Bay (1) yesterday after laying the first section of pipe for the project, has been the target of several actions recently in the continual campaign against Shell. (2) Despite Shell's increasingly heavy handed response to protests, Shell to Sea activist's have continued their fight. (3)

Niall Harnett, speaking from the protest in Killybegs today said "We demand that this port stops supporting the Corrib gas project which is destroying the lives of the people in Erris. There has been much misinformation about the Corrib gas pipeline in the media, as campaigners continue to protest in order to bring a halt to this unsafe project which threatens the homes and livelihoods of many in the local area". The pipeline would carry unprocessed gas across the region to the refinery at Bellanaboy. (4)

Harnett continued "We are also acting in protest against the theft of Ireland's natural resources. At a time when unemployment levels are set to reach record numbers and the government attacks ordinary people with levies taxes and pay cuts it is obscene that Shell are allowed to steal billions of euro's of our resources." (5)

St.John O Donobhain, also on the protest, said. "Shell's attempts to pretend the Corrib project is a done-deal is misleading. This is project is unjust, illegal, and immoral. It will fail."

ENDS

For stills photographs and more information email mayoshelltosea@gmail.com
Shell to Sea website http://www.corribsos.com/
Rossport Solidarity Camp website http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/

NOTES TO EDITORS
1.Broadhaven Bay is a designated Special Area of Conservation. (SAC).

2.The Solitaire was accompanied in it's work by 300 gardai on land, 2 navy boats, 20 security and gardai boats in the bay and helicopters. Despite this several successful actions have taken place against the ship. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEAwob38WYk.

3.Fisherman Pat O'Donnell was recently held at gunpoint when his boat was boarded by masked men and sunk, see http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&tas...id=38
Last week seven people with no previous convictions were remanded for minor public order offences whilst protesting against Shell.

4.Former United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator in Iraq, Denis Halliday, commenting on the Controversial Corrib Gas dispute last week: “I think the Irish people are not getting the whole story. These people who object are not just trouble-makers, they are not terrorists, they are not dangerous people. They are normal Irish people living in a quiet community who are being threatened; their way of life is being threatened,” said the UN veteran." See http://www.corribsos.com/

5. The Great Gas Giveaway has been detailed in a report by the Centre for Public Inquiry. http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php#ld196. Journalist and Economist Colm Rapple was also written extensively about the the theft of Ireland's natural resources. http://colmrapple.com/?cat=7