In 2005 small west of Ireland community became the focus of
attention of the people in Ireland. Five small farmers in Rossport Co Mayo (one the most remote and isolated places in Northwest Europe) had stood up to a multinational conglomeration of Shell, Statoil and Marathon in fear they would die if Shell built their unprecedented on shore refinery.

The Irish State's reaction to this was to indefinately imprison them  http://www.indymedia.ie/article/70508. This transpired to be 94 days at which point Shell decided it was doing more harm than good by imprisoning as there was a series of direct actions and mass demonstration in their defence http://www.indymedia.ie/article/71388. In the weeks running up to this some activists made contact with community activists and started a national Shell to sea campaign  http://www.indymedia.ie/article/70275. The unbelievable story of what was going on in the west of Ireland was spread through Europe through the meeting of activists at the G8 in Sterling in July 2008.

The story is quite unbelievable. Shell and their partners are attempting to destroy an unspoilt part of the west Ireland, by running a dangerous pipeline through the village of Rossport to an inland refinery that will spew hundreds of thousands of tonnes of methane each year in the local environment. On top of this they are effectively robbing the people in Ireland of €51 billion of
Irish gas through a dodgy deal cut with corrupt politicians that at the time was called "economic treason". http://www.indymedia.ie/openwire?search_text=fin+dwyer&x=0&y=0

But lots of things are wrong and why should people all across the world we focus on this? Well its simple- we can win and if we do the effects will be immense as a precedent will have been set that will not only effect Ireland but Europe and beyond.

So what happened since 2005 and where are we now?

Traditional sectarianism was put aside and activists of different backgrounds
worked together forming what the media would later bill "the looney
alliance of anarchists and republicans". Throughout the summer of 2005
and until the late summer of 2006 things worked very well as constant
pickets shut down Shell's operation in Mayo and pressure mounted on
Shell and the Irish State.

Then at the end of September 2006 the State and Shell made their move.
Over 200 gardai (Irish police) were billeted to Mayo. The top cop said he would have the protests
finished in 48hours. The community and national campaigns response was
immense. Picketing went on through the night incase the Gardai tried
to cordon activists away from the site. On the night of the second of October the cops
eventually turned out in force. In an effort to maintain the year and half long picket
cars were parked blocking the refinery and behind them the community
sat in front of the gates. In area with lowest crime rate in Ireland
200 Gardai pulled and dragged community residents from the gates
hospitalising two.

This lead to a surge in activity with much campaign activity around
the country and internationally, focused on days of action in
Rossport. The Garda reaction to these days of Action was violent
culminating in a baton charge on November the tenth  http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79603. The campaign then
in the face of what seemed like more violence cancelled a proposed
day of action on the 24th of November 2006. Many saw this as decisive
moment for the campaign as momentum passed out of our hands
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79775. Everyone realised the folly of
it, but as with a lot of things in Shell to Sea it is a learning
process. Now it seems it was not as decisive as it seemed as things
build again.

This summer the campaign burst back to life by victoriously opposing
shell's attempt to install cabins for works in the bay
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82983 .This was followed with a very
intense week which saw three fishermen including Pat "the chief" O
Donnell and his son and a friend imprisoned
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83395 , the site was shut down for a
day  http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83416. On the fishermen's release
an invasion of the construction site took place. Over September there
have been three site invasions and two days with numerous people
blockading traffic attempting to access the site.
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83955

All this occurred in the run up to the day of action on September 14th
unique in that it had a pre-announced plan. The plan was simple - go
there and sit on the road and no vehicles get on site. The run-up to
the day was nervous. The big question was- could Shell to Sea with its
national support in town (or countryside rather) reassert the right
of ordinary people over multinationals in Erris and really push
forward the already building momentum behind the campaign. The
conditions were certainly right- Shell were and still are running into
enormous problems as building has virtually come to a standstill due
to poor quality concrete, constant protest and the lack of a pipeline
route. On Friday the 14th about 150 - 200 people turned from around
the country and this was matched by a sizeable mayo turnout.


The total protestor turnout was matched by a sizeable Garda presence.
As the protestors shut down the main entrance to the site with the sit
down the Gardai thought they would be clever and direct traffic around
the sit down and bore us to tears. After this long you would imagine
the cops would realise Shell to Sea is a little more on the ball than
this. In the lack of the any trucks to meet protestors we decided to
go and take a look and shut the site down. So it was up, over, under
and through the gate as the protest made little a secondary gate
as well (especially constructed for the day).
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84378. The Gardai responded with their
usual heavy handed tactics. Regardless of Shell's rubbish spin, RTE's
(Irelands state broadcaster) desperate attempts to placate Shell and
and the gardai's official line
 http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0914/mayo.html it was plain to see who
had won the day and that the train is firmly back on the tracks.

It's undoubted that Shell to Sea is not yet at the dizzying heights it
was at 12 or 24 months ago. However things are moving in a similar
direction at the moment. We have learned the mistakes of placing too
much faith in politicians to pull a deal out the hat. With this
knowledge it could just be third time lucky for Shell to Sea.

Throughout this period the impact on solidarity from the England Scotland and Wales has had an enormous effect. It has been instrumental in keeping the solidarity camp continuing through people coming staying a week or a year, fundraising and donations have also allowed the camp to expand. Hospitality to campaign speakers was always second to none. Above all the impact that people coming has had a profound impact on the moral of people in Rossport. They launched their opposition in 1999 and it took six years to get National attention and then immediately people in the UK, once they heard, took up the challenge. There is still more people from the UK have to offer this struggle.

Another day of Action has been called for October the 12th as the
situation is heating up as the pressure mounts up on Shell and
political pressure on the greens. These days of Action will not work
on there own - if you cant travel we all need to be active in our
communities organising meetings, postering and raising the issue where
possible. These days are however crucial to pile on the pressure -
showing in a visible robust way the level of opposition to this
project and highlighting the brutality of what is an everyday
occurrence in Rossport.

At this stage many of us are scratching our
heads as to why mayo people can't do this at the height of summer but
then again what else would you be doing on windy Friday morning in
October? Ok fair enough we all do but it will certainly be worth it to
force this to its logical conclusion after 8 years. For us it's a few
days of a trip to Rossport for others it's the highlight and morale
booster in a 8 year struggle that must and will end soon When people
arrive its intensely appreciated as it shows they are not struggling
on their won and people care. What are you doing on October the 12th? Organise a picket at the Irish embassy or a Shell filling Station or their headquarters. Or if possible travel to Rossport. Travel to Dublin for Thursday at six and book a ticket on the Dublin buses. Book early though. Come you need a holiday!
(for tickets phone or text 0851609850 in Dublin) Cork -
 corkshelltosea@gmail.com or call 0851141170 for general info.

www.rossportsolidaritycamp.com, www.shelltosea.com www.indymedia.ie/mayo