Shell gas terminal blockaded, Bacton, Norfolk, UK 7am April 19th

mayo | environment | news report

Monday April 19, 2010 08:03

by Solidaritywiththechief

Solidary with Pat O'Donnell and against Shell on Earth!

Around 25 activists have set up 2 blockades around the Shell Gas terminal in Bacton, Norfolk, UK in solidarity with Pat O'Donnell & the community in Rossport, Mayo and against the destruction of environment and communities by Shell world-wide.

Protesters have today blockaded the access to Bacton gas terminal (1) on the North Norfolk coast; the road is currently blocked by activists lying in the road attached to steel arm tubes and by a large steel tripod. The action at Bacton has been carried out by Earth First! (2), a countrywide network of activists who use direct action to oppose environmental destruction.

Bacton gas terminal is the largest of its kind in Britain, pumping North Sea gas to Britain and mainland Europe; the terminal is operated by Shell and the protesters say they are taking the action in solidarity with a community in Republic of Ireland, who are opposing the development of a similar facility near Rossport in County Mayo (3). Shell heads the consortium developing the Irish terminal, refinery and pipeline.

A participate commented: “Bacton has been blockaded today in solidarity with the people of Mayo who have been protesting against Shell virtually daily since 2005. Residents there have been subjected to ongoing harassment from Shell and their contractors. Pat O'Donnell, a local fisherman, is currently serving a 7 month jail sentence for his part in the resistance to Shell's development”.

Community resistance in the Rossport area has been fuelled by concerns that the new terminal will ruin the the coastal environment, farmland and wildlife habitats, as well as fishing grounds vital to the local economy. Fears for the local environment include potential disturbance to coastal conservation areas, which support wildlife such as dolphins and porpoises, plus the possibility that local drinking water could become contaminated. Residents also claim that due planning process has not taken place and that construction work started before planning consent was fully approved.

“ We want our action today to send two strong messages; firstly to Shell, that wherever they are in the world, there are those who will oppose their destruction of both the environment and local communities. Secondly, we want to send a message of solidarity to those opposing the Irish terminal, especially to Pat O'Donnell. Their struggles will not be forgotten”.

Ends

Notes
1.Bacton gas terminal is on the B1159, between the villages of Bacton and Mundesley.

2.Earth First! Uses direct action to confront those responsible for the destruction of the Earth and its' inhabitants. EF! Is not a cohesive group of campaign, but a convenient banner for people who share similar philosophies. For further information visit https://earthfirst.org.uk.

3.For further information on the Irish based Shell to Sea campaign, opposing the gas terminal near Rossport in Mayo, visit www.shelltosea.com

4.For press interviews today, please call Julie Briggs on 07766 947852

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Comments (10 of 10)

Good on ye!

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League

Mon Apr 19, 2010 13:15

Great to see such solidarity action with The Chief from his activist friends; it's uplifting for all his supporters and friends and particularly for his family to read this.

Thanks a million to all - we'll keep doing our bit this end!

solidarity

by Chrissie - Shell to Sea Cambridge

Mon Apr 19, 2010 16:34

Great work, & thanks for your inspiring action, all. Free the Chief!

by FSB!

Mon Apr 19, 2010 18:20

Thanks once again to our friends over the water for keeping the spotlight on Shell. If even one extra person gets to hear about what's going on in Co. Mayo then this action was well worth it.
Free the Chief!
Shell get lost!

Great work

by C

Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:54

This is great to see. Fair play to all involved.

Any pictures of it would be cool.

Thank you E F!

by Eamonn O'Coilea'in - Republic Against $hell

Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:45

First shell jailed the 5 farmers, then the Teachers and now the fishermen, But then lets not forget the 9 arrested last summer and held without bail and Baned from co Mayo Ireland , who have had their case dismissed on he grounds that they were held unjustly and unlawfully. OR the many , others who were arrested because of shell and their greed to make billions while destroying the lands and water.
SO Thank You Earth First ! for keeping it Real and showing the world that you will also stand up for peoples Basic Human Rights, the right to peacefully Protest when the Earth is being polluted daily by $hell:: Good luck to all. From the man thrown down the drain !!

Bacton Environmental Campaigners Arrested.

by Observer

Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:07

Protest at Bacton Gas Terminal - by Eastern Daily Press

Environmental campaigners have been arrested after staging a protest at Bacton Gas Terminal blocking the main road out of the village for seven hours.

A group of around a dozen protestors from activist group Earth First UK, gathered on the B1159 road near to Bacton Gas Terminal at 7am this morning , attaching themselves to steel arm tubes and laying across the road.

They also erected a banner across the road reading, 'Shell Stop At Nothing'.

The Bacton Road was closed to traffic until 2pm today when the protestors were removed by police.

The group said they were taking the action against Shell UK Limited, who have a base at the terminal, and were acting in solidarity with a community in the Republic of Ireland, which is opposing the development of a Shell facility near Rossport in County Mayo.

One of the protestors at the scene said: “This is our way of taking direct action in a peaceful way and getting our message across.”

Julie Briggs, a spokesperson for Earth First, added: “Bacton has been blockaded in solidarity with the people of Mayo who have been protesting against Shell virtually daily since 2005. We want to send a message of solidarity to those opposing the Irish terminal, their struggles will not be forgotten”.

A spokesman for Norfolk Police said they had arrested seven people at the scene on suspicion of obstructing the highway, and three people had been summoned to appear in court at a later date.

A spokeswoman for Shell UK Limited said there had been no disruption to on-site activities or security at the terminal.

It is not the first time Earth First has been involved in a protest at the terminal.

Two years ago, in April 2008, ten men and nine women from the group, ranging in age from 21 to 50, were arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway after a protest which closed the coast road through the terminal for nearly five hours.

They had been among 25 activists from the group joining in a Fossil Fools day protest.

The action was among more than 150 protests worldwide being co-ordinated by global environmental action group, Rising Tide.

The Brave and the lonely

by Catherine

Tue Apr 20, 2010 18:18

valgorm at hotmail dot com

Thank you all for your courage and for thinking for yourselves. It's difficult to stand up and be counted, it's only a brave person who can do it.

Great Solidarity particularly today as another campaigner is jailed..

by Starstruck

Wed Apr 21, 2010 18:35

Absolutely amazing,well done to all those involved,brave action
Another campaigner was jailed today, Niall Harnett got 6 months for his part in the resistance
This kind of solidarity is precious
Shell to Sea!

can anyone tell me.....

by Driver

Thu Apr 22, 2010 05:06

can anyone tell me how shell et al can justify current petrol prices in a recession?? It costs more per litre now than it did when oil was over 100 dollars a barrel. Surely this gouging and pushing up transport costs in a recession should be penalised, but there is radio silence on the matter even though fuel costs are very important now.

I pulled in yesterday and had to pay 1.33 per litre (not to a shell or topaz station!!!!! fuck them) . I paid 1.18 when oil was at over 100 dollars a barrel. it's currently in the low 80's per barrel

Shell,s Police.

by Ailis

Fri Apr 23, 2010 08:23

Shell,s police in Garda uniforms will do what ever it takes to jail people of conscience.
Our country needs people of concience more than corrupt politicians/judiciary /Garda bullies
and IRMS mercenaries .
Well done to all concerned.

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Shell gas terminal blockaded, Bacton, Norfolk, UK 7am April 19th

Comments (10 of 10)