Shell to Sea raise awareness at two teachers conferences in Galway

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday April 06, 2010 23:08

by Maura Harrington - Shell to Sea

It is becoming clear to more and more people that this government nationalises the liabilities of their friends yet continues to privatise the natural resources of the state.

Shell to Sea activists from Galway and Mayo have spent a productive two days at both the INTO and ASTI conferences which are taking place in Galway this week.

Radisson Hotel

Delegates to the INTO conference in the Salthill Hotel were treated to a display of Shell to Sea banners on the approach to the hotel. The message of the continued giveaway of our natural resources is being listened to by more and more people as the calamity brought about by the greedy paymasters of Fianna Fáil becomes clear. As Mary Coughlan read her prepared script to a cold reception from INTO delegates today Maura Harrington, who spent 35 years teaching in Kilcommon Parish stood beside her holding up a copy of Shell to Sea's information leaflet 'The Someday Independent' which proclaims 'Ireland strikes it rich: all cuts to be scrapped'.

At lunchtime today the activists continued their information campaign at the ASTI conference in the Radisson Hotel. There was no objection raised to Shell to Sea activists handing out literature within the hotel as delegates made their way to the opening stages of the conference, indeed they were welcomed and discussed in detail.

At both venues it was plain to see that people are not alone angry and disgusted but eager to discuss the scandal of the resources giveaway. The opinion of many teachers who stopped to chat with Shell to Sea is that the government parties have no difficulty in unilaterally breaking contracts with the public service when it is necessary to find the money to save their friends.

It is becoming clear to more and more people that this government nationalises the liabilities of their friends yet continues to privatise the natural resources of the state. At a time of dire current and future economic need the continued giveaway of our oil and gas can only be viewed as negligent and treasonable.