AFri Calls for Suspension of Corrib Gas Project and Launches Petition
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report 
Monday January 18, 2010 19:44
by Michael Gallagher - Photographer
libertypics at yahoo dot ie
At a well attended press launching in Dublin, human rights activists Andy Storey, Dennis Halliday and Benny McCabe outlined some of the history over the last ten years since Shell arrived in Erris, County Mayo, Ireland.
Human rights organisation AFri is calling for a suspension of all work on the Corrib project in Erris County Mayo, pending an independent and comprehensive investigation of it's safety, human rights, economic and environmental dimensions. Afri is asking people to sign a petition to that effect, which will be delivered to the government next month.
Afri chairperson Andy Storey noted that, "local people oppose the project because of the dangers it poses to their health and safety, and the way in which the policing of the project has violated their human rights. People throughout Ireland have also objected to the project on the grounds that Shell and it's associates are reaping the full benefits of this gas find while the Irish people - the true owners of the resource - are left with almost nothing."
Benny McCabe, who has been working as a human rights monitor for AFri in Mayo noted that 75% of complaints against the Gardaí over policing of the project were recently deemed credible by the Garda Ombudsman Commission, but he went on to point out that only one finding has been made against the gardaí and even that has not been acted upon by the Commissioner.
More info on afri document here: http://www.afri.ie/
Some notable names who have already signed: journalist Vincent Browne, Senator David Norris, artists Louis De Paor, Rita Ann Higgins and Lelia Doolin.
For the full press statement and more information contact:
Andy Storey 087 654 3872 - Benny Mc Cabe 087 4162803 - Jim Murray (Afri) 086 3946893
For more about the ShellToSea campaign: http://www.shelltosea.com
Photo essays etc: http://www.myspace.com/libertypix
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4There doesn't appear to have been any mention of this event in the press.
Some media were there, a couple of photographers and I think a radio station. I sent what I had to most of the major papers including the Tribune and Times.
No this has gone the way of heroin addicts deaths, it's all about space and sales figures. The only one that has been consistant is the Village magazine. Vincent Brown might have something in the pipeline. (deliberate pun). If someone dies in Mayo or whereever the vultures will be circling.
Though don't wait on the Sindo or Sunda World to break the mould.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/ireland-has-onl....html
They are putting out shock news that Ireland is on the brink of running out of gas. The claim is that we should have brought Corrib online and we should hurry up and get it sorted, before the evil Russians turn off the gas tap. Expect to hear more of this in the coming weeks.
Suggested response to the claim that "Ireland needs the Corrib gas"
1. Well, they should have done it safely then.
2. The Corrib gas will be no more "Irish" than any gas from Russia or anywhere else. It belongs to Shell, and they get to sell it to the highest bidder.
Since the British gas companies are under legal obligation to guarantee domestic gas supplies to their market in England and Scotland, they will certainly outbid Bord Gáis in nay future crisis. So the gas may be needed in Ireland, but it's going to Britain.
If you want to ensure security of supply in Ireland you need to change the contracts, and there is no sign of Eamon Ryan doing that.
No doubt that this will be run in the media to pressurise An Bord Pleanala to change their November decision.
Campaigners need to get the mainstream media to ventillate this or shame them to do this, because the mass of people have not got a clue what is going on here.
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