Climate chaos has begun to rate as newsworthy for the corporate and state media in Ireland with both Prime Time and The Irish Times recently covering the issue.

These came in the wake of scientific report after scientific report underlining the gravity of the situation. However, the main corporate/state media focus is on reducing individual consumption, with technical fixes coming second. This focus on individual consumption serves to mask the routes of environmental crisis, routes which are inherent in the structures of society, i.e. in the way society is organised. It is no co-incidence that we see EU governments promoting the idea ‘You control climate change’ and that the solution is a personal reduction in individual consumption.

Related Links: Indymedia Feature on Arctic Climate Chaos | Social Change not Climate Change | Ecology and Class: where there’s brass, there’s muck | Green Communism | Eco-Socialist Manifesto | Plane Stupid | Mark Lynas | Rising Tide

A man climbed outside of Irish embassy in London in protest over the Irish government's collusion with Shell's hellish activities in North West Ireland At midday today, while a samba band played below, a man who wished to be known as "G" climbed the Irish embassy. This was in protest over the Irish government’s collusion with Shell's activities in North West Ireland where they are constructing a pipeline and refinery. Many campaigners claim this pipeline and refinery pose as serious environmental risk. While there have been widespread protests in Ireland itself, many claim that the government of Ireland has given Shell suspiciously favourable business terms on the deal.

The event was good natured on both sides and "G", who was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, was released within 2 hours with a caution.

William Hederman talks with the authors: 'The Rossport Five were back in the capital today for the Dublin launch of 'Our Story – the Rossport Five', their account of their time in prison in 2005 and the events that led to their imprisonment....

The five men – Willie Corduff, Vincent and Philip McGrath, Micheál Ó Seighin and Brendan Philbin – travelled to Dublin for the launch and press conference, along with Shell to Sea spokesperson Dr Mark Garavan and family members and supporters. Dr Garavan compiled and edited the book and wrote the introduction. The launch took place at Buswell's Hotel, opposite Leinster House. There was a strong turn-out of print and broadcast journalists and photographers.

'Our Story – the Rossport Five', which had already been launched in Co Mayo before Christmas, records accounts by the five men and their wives of the 94 days they spent in prison in 2005, as well as their roles in the campaign since 2000 against the proposed method of processing Corrib gas.

Philip McGrath and Mark Garavan are due to travel to Norway later this month to speak at a conference on how communities can benefit from natural resources.'

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'He summed it up succintly with these vicious words:
It's your pay cheque or your planet, the loggers or the birds!'

Listening to the lyrics of great songs by revolutionary U.S. singer/songwriter and poet David Rovics help one understand the brutal conflicts bred by capitalist powerhouses against those concerned about environmental degradation throughout the world. On November 18th I happened to learn what these lyrics meant in a bit more depth when it came to Polish environmental campaigners 15 year struggle to save the Rospudy river valley. Rovic's words encapsulate in part the scene I recently witnessed in a small town of 30,000, close to the Belarussian border where the Baltic Highway promises to leave a concrete-laden, vehicle-polluting hell in it's wake, destroying the beautiful natural habitat in the nearby Augustow forest.

One eco-system, many colours
The following article will be a little bit light on analysis as a) it is the first time I have been to this area and to find out about the issues involved b) there will be others who can do more justice to the ins and outs of the current political context in Poland that is facilitating this infrastructural development c) my Polish is still at pre-intermediate level. Nevertheless, I hope it can help the international English speaking community to keep in mind and provide solidarity with those in Poland who are attempting to prevent another instance of humanity's blind habit of killing that which it proclaims to love – the environment, upon which our very existence depends. In the area we visited today, another micro eco-system may very well be facing an early headstone due to our obsession with cars and concrete, speed, capitalist convenience, and our inability to think about future generations' needs. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Activists from Dublin Shell to Sea disrupted the "Exploring Atlantic Ireland" conference in the Burlington Hotel this morning as Minister for the giveaway of Natural Resources Noel Dempsey was on stage giving his speech.

Titled "Exploring Atlantic Ireland 2006", the two-day conference is highlighting the "exciting development opportunities" in Ireland's offshore gas. The minister was addressing 130 people from the oil and gas exploration industry, many from overseas. Despite a heavy presence of 30-40 Gardai as well as private security, the activists managed to gain access, with two getting into the main conference hall - and delivering a clear message that any development of Irish natural resources could only take place with the benefits of the project going to the Irish people, and with their consent.

Indymedia readers will be well aware that the terms of gas exploration licences mean that multinationals own all the gas they extract from Irish waters, paying no royalties and paying only a low rate of tax on whatever profits they declare many years after they sell the gas. However, defenders of Ireland's extraordinarily generous set-up argue that the exploration that results from such positive terms give Ireland "security of supply".

The next step in the Shell to Sea Campaign is a International Day of Action against Shell on Friday November 10th