Derry Shell Solidarity Action

derry | anti-capitalism | news report

Friday December 11, 2009 22:45

by freederry

Activists in Derry carried out a solidarity action in support of the beleaguered Rossport community in their ongoing battle against the Multinational Oil Corporation Shell.

"Our solidarity action was the placing of an anti-Shell badge on the jacket of the petrol bomber mural in the Bogside. This action came as members of the ‘Shell To Sea’ campaign from across the country protested outside Leinster House (Wednesday, 9th December) against the recent Budget that included trade unions and other concerned community organisations. Shell to Sea, which is a national campaign network in support of the Mayo community who are most affected by the Corrib Gas Project and we extend our solidarity with them.

“The Irish Government has to date given away €420 billion in oil and gas reserves while scrambling to cut €4 billion from public spending which will, without doubt, further crucify ordinary working class people from those of us on low wages or who are forced to ‘get by’ on social welfare payments.

“The value of gas in the Corrib field alone was estimated at up to €8 billion by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan. Thanks to legislative changes made by Ray Burke and Bertie Ahern, this is being handed over to a private consortium led by Shell, with no return, royalties or security of supply to the Irish people.

“Successive Irish Governments who have signed away our countries national resources amidst a backdrop of continuing harassment and intimidation by the Garda and Shell Oil’s own “Security Guards” towards the isolated community in North West Mayo who remain under siege.

“As activists in Derry, we intend to continue this and other similar actions to help raise awareness of communities in struggle both locally and internationally as well as to express solidarity from the people of Derry in actions such as today's.”

For further information go to:

http://www.shelltosea.com/

http://www.indymedia.ie/

Comments (2 of 2)

no molotovs

by Chrissie

Sat Dec 12, 2009 17:25

Solidarity to ye, but the Shell To Sea campaigners haven't lobbed any petrol bombs; the campaign has always espoused non-violent action.

molotovs

by Hugo Gumelton

Sat Dec 12, 2009 19:22

"The bogside rioter" is a mural based on an Iconic photograph taken during the "battle of the bogside" in august 1969. This was when a marginalised and vilified community defended itself against a hostile and violent state using whatever means were available to it. The resonances with the struggle in Mayo today are obvious. The intention of the solidarity activists, I think, was to bring an existing but historic mural up-to-date by making it relevant to a contemporary struggle. The message is not that Shell-to-sea campaigners ought to be using petrol bombs, it is that the bogside rioter today would be supporting the shell-to-sea campaigners in their struggle, in whatever form the community in Erris thinks it should take.