In the midst of the controversy over sexist remarks made by Gardai (Irish Police) to female anti-Shell protesters in recent days and the last outstanding consent applications for the Corrib gas project on the west coast of Ireland being granted, actions against Shell's pipeline are continuing and gaining momentum.
Shell attempted to work on the most controversial part of the project before the license was granted.
The foreshore licence allows the construction of the final 8km section of pipeline linking the gas field to the terminal built inland at Ballinaboy, even though legal proceedings are still ongoing about whether or not this section of pipeline should be allowed to go ahead through a special area of conservation. As a result of the National Days of Action on 1st and 2nd April, Shell’s activities in Co. Mayo were completely suspended. Campaigners, supporters and members of the local community entered the Shell site at 10.30am to conduct a walk over the area which Shell had been working on since the start of the week. In anticipation, security remained to guard a small area of the site where machinery had been put away for the day. Shell was effectively blocked from transporting materials being used to build their new tunnelling compound at Aughoose. Campaigners at Rossport Solidarity Camp blocked three tractors drawing large trailers of wooden bog mats needed to create a surface for the excavation of peat. Tractors were stopped by people who stood in the road, and then climbed on top of the tractor cabs preventing them from moving. Three people climbed onto the roof of one tractor directly in front of the compound entrance, forcing transport to stop for four hours. Gardai did not have the equipment to safely remove the campaigners. Two people involved were arrested following the tractor stoppages along another road section nearby. The arrests took place shortly after the protest and while campaigners were following the direction of Gardai and walking peacefully back towards the camp. They were held for one hour at Belmullet Garda station and released without charges. On the second National Day of Action, a group of about 15 activists entered Shell's work area and began overturning bogmats by hand. The bogmat track is designed to prevent work vehicles sinking into bogland. On the eve of judicial review, which took place on 4th April, Rossport Solidarity Camp broke up Shell transport lines. Shell security personnel watched helplessly from their compound as Shell to Sea supporters overturned bog tracks that were laid to enable heavy machinery to build the next stage of the Corrib gas pipeline. Campaigners from all over the country displaced more than 30ft of bog tracks. On the 4th April, people entered Shell's compound early in the morning. Two people attached themselves together using a concrete tube blocking Shells new bog mat road. The blockade lasted 11 hours and the arrest of the two activists was followed by a spontaneousness action where people laid down in the road and prevented Shell from moving any machinery out of the compound, which stopped work for a further hour. Recording themselves unwittingly, Gardai made horrendous comments about raping two women arrested during Thursdays action.The Gardai involved were not, however,a case of a couple of rotten apples. Rather, the tape recording is further evidence of the way all sections of the state have been mobilised in aiding energy corporations plunder the 540 billion Euro worth of oil and gas resources that Ireland has. With such extreme profits to be made is it no surprise that such extreme lengths are being gone to to break the resistance to the great oil and gas giveaway. Now is the best time to stop Shell’s destructive work, please come to Aughoose and support the campaign now and over the coming weeks. Accommodation and food are provided, donations welcome. Email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com or text 0851141170 for details. For more on corporate and state corruption regarding Shell's oil pipeline off the west coast of Ireland, please see: www.shelltosea.com/content/story-state-and-corporate-corruption www.wsm.ie/c/garda-corrib-rape-pipeline www.indymedia.ie/breaking_news www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org
The foreshore licence allows the construction of the final 8km section of pipeline linking the gas field to the terminal built inland at Ballinaboy, even though legal proceedings are still ongoing about whether or not this section of pipeline should be allowed to go ahead through a special area of conservation. As a result of the National Days of Action on 1st and 2nd April, Shell’s activities in Co. Mayo were completely suspended. Campaigners, supporters and members of the local community entered the Shell site at 10.30am to conduct a walk over the area which Shell had been working on since the start of the week. In anticipation, security remained to guard a small area of the site where machinery had been put away for the day. Shell was effectively blocked from transporting materials being used to build their new tunnelling compound at Aughoose. Campaigners at Rossport Solidarity Camp blocked three tractors drawing large trailers of wooden bog mats needed to create a surface for the excavation of peat. Tractors were stopped by people who stood in the road, and then climbed on top of the tractor cabs preventing them from moving. Three people climbed onto the roof of one tractor directly in front of the compound entrance, forcing transport to stop for four hours. Gardai did not have the equipment to safely remove the campaigners. Two people involved were arrested following the tractor stoppages along another road section nearby. The arrests took place shortly after the protest and while campaigners were following the direction of Gardai and walking peacefully back towards the camp. They were held for one hour at Belmullet Garda station and released without charges. On the second National Day of Action, a group of about 15 activists entered Shell's work area and began overturning bogmats by hand. The bogmat track is designed to prevent work vehicles sinking into bogland. On the eve of judicial review, which took place on 4th April, Rossport Solidarity Camp broke up Shell transport lines. Shell security personnel watched helplessly from their compound as Shell to Sea supporters overturned bog tracks that were laid to enable heavy machinery to build the next stage of the Corrib gas pipeline. Campaigners from all over the country displaced more than 30ft of bog tracks. On the 4th April, people entered Shell's compound early in the morning. Two people attached themselves together using a concrete tube blocking Shells new bog mat road. The blockade lasted 11 hours and the arrest of the two activists was followed by a spontaneousness action where people laid down in the road and prevented Shell from moving any machinery out of the compound, which stopped work for a further hour. Recording themselves unwittingly, Gardai made horrendous comments about raping two women arrested during Thursdays action.The Gardai involved were not, however,a case of a couple of rotten apples. Rather, the tape recording is further evidence of the way all sections of the state have been mobilised in aiding energy corporations plunder the 540 billion Euro worth of oil and gas resources that Ireland has. With such extreme profits to be made is it no surprise that such extreme lengths are being gone to to break the resistance to the great oil and gas giveaway. Now is the best time to stop Shell’s destructive work, please come to Aughoose and support the campaign now and over the coming weeks. Accommodation and food are provided, donations welcome. Email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com or text 0851141170 for details. For more on corporate and state corruption regarding Shell's oil pipeline off the west coast of Ireland, please see: www.shelltosea.com/content/story-state-and-corporate-corruption www.wsm.ie/c/garda-corrib-rape-pipeline www.indymedia.ie/breaking_news www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org