Community halts Shell

by Nora Tue Feb 12, 2008 17:31 noorazao at hotmail dot com 00-60125394924

I wish I have similar preserverance and bravery as the communities and NGOs opposing Shell. That's the resistance spirit towards any injustice I've always love of some Irish population. It's just beyond belief that a foreign corporation who just announced billion of dollars worth of profit , could just overtake completely the whole Irish precious national resources. Besides trampling upon the communities' human rights whilst destroying the beautiful rural and natural environment including million of years old bogland and coastline together with million of years old wildlife just for profit. That's what Capitalism's about - endless greed! Can it not be possible to take this corporation for the breach of European Convention on Human Rights and European Convention on Sustainable Development of which both are binding legally?

by Chrissie Tue Feb 12, 2008 21:13

Absolutely, Nora! Just come & see the marvellous wildlife & landscape, & meet the people of Erris. This place is too precious to be trashed & polluted - just on the beach near the picture, ringed plovers, sand-martins, & wheatears breed, the tide-pools are full of life, & otters & seals swim in the estuary.

by Nora Wed Feb 13, 2008 17:26 noorazao at hotmail dot com

Hi Chrissie, I've been there and to many great nature of Ireland. Just wonderful; beyond words can ever describe. Please keep on preserving them. To Shell and those greedy capitalist-elite class, leave Irish nature alone!

by katiem - none Fri Feb 15, 2008 00:31

I am just a little perplexed about the hooha regarding the surveying by RPS. Am I correct in assuming that the area I saw fenced off with what looked like pallets is one of the boreholes? Maybe I have got it all wrong, but If what I saw is correct, then I cannot understand what the fuss is about. It is little holes dug in the ground! What about all the litter and dumping in ditches? I find it the grossest kind of hypocrisy to pretend to care about the environment just to score points against Shell. Stick to the point! Protest against the terminal, for all the legitimate reasons you have stated previously. If you genuinely believe in them, then surely there is no need to make petty arguments against such minor issues. You are diluting the argument so much, there is little substance left.

by Seán Ryan Fri Feb 15, 2008 13:11

The protection of an SAC (special area of conservation - a rare machair system) is not a minor issue. I didn't see this type of attitude exhibited when the S2S camp was injuncted from existing on the SAC.

So to sum up:

i. First, those who were protecting the SAC (the campers) were removed from it, after Shell's minions, including the County Council brought a court action, citing damage to the Machair system as a reason for bringing the case.
ii. Now Shell are surveying it (ahh sure what's a little hole!? Worry about the rubbish in the ditches (huh?))

What's the purpose of the 'little' holes Shell are drilling? Surely it's a prelude to the total and utter destruction of the SAC. Gormley might be either asleep or cowering and shivering in a corner somewhere - this shouldn't be taken to mean that anyone else is.

Little hole - me arse!

by Sean Fri Feb 15, 2008 14:37

...looked into other gas pipeline work that has gone through SACs and had no negative impact on the SAC?

I'm sure I'll be shouted down but as an independent and interested onlooker, I decided to look at what is being proposed and if there is any precedent and there appears to be without apocalyptic consequence.

by Maura Harrington - S2S; Davitt League Fri Feb 15, 2008 21:55

In relation to 'Sean's' comment (leaving aside the 'interested and independent' bit and the unintelligble stuff at the end) the following is relevant:

with specific reference to this SAC it is a matter of public record that Mayo Co. Council (MCC) were succesful in obtaining an injunction against Rossport Solidarity Camp on the basis that the Camp had caused damage - which would take up to 15 YEARS to repair - to grasses on or near the SAC; this action by MCC was prompted and upheld by the statutory body NPWS (the entity formerly known as Dúchas) one of whose functionaries swore an affidavit to that effect

the question posed by Sean therefore should be academic but, since Shell imposed itself on the non-consenting community, we have learned that all is not as one would be given to believe ...