Shell to Sea activists board supply ship to Solitaire in Killibegs
underclassrising.net | 06.07.2009 14:23
This afternoon seven Shell to Sea activists in kayaks visited the Toisa
Independent, which supplies pipe to the Solitaire, a vessel used by Shell to
lay the Corrib gas pipeline. The Solitaire, which left Broadhaven Bay (1)
yesterday after laying the first section of pipe for the project, has been
the target of several actions recently in the continual campaign against
Shell. (2) Despite Shell's increasingly heavy handed response to protests,
Shell to Sea activist's have continued their fight. (3)
Independent, which supplies pipe to the Solitaire, a vessel used by Shell to
lay the Corrib gas pipeline. The Solitaire, which left Broadhaven Bay (1)
yesterday after laying the first section of pipe for the project, has been
the target of several actions recently in the continual campaign against
Shell. (2) Despite Shell's increasingly heavy handed response to protests,
Shell to Sea activist's have continued their fight. (3)
Niall Harnett, speaking from the protest in Killybegs today said "We demand
that this port stops supporting the Corrib gas project which is destroying
the lives of the people in Erris. There has been much misinformation about
the Corrib gas pipeline in the media, as campaigners continue to protest in
order to bring a halt to this unsafe project which threatens the homes and
livelihoods of many in the local area". The pipeline would carry unprocessed
gas across the region to the refinery at Bellanaboy. (4)
Harnett continued "We are also acting in protest against the theft of
Ireland's natural resources. At a time when unemployment levels are set to
reach record numbers and the government attacks ordinary people with levies
taxes and pay cuts it is obscene that Shell are allowed to steal billions of
euro's of our resources." (5)
St.John O Donobhain, also on the protest, said. "Shell's attempts to pretend
the Corrib project is a done-deal is misleading. This is project is unjust,
illegal, and immoral. It will fail."
ENDS
Spokepeople on the protest call
Niall Harnett 086 - 8444966
St.John O Donobhain 085 - 7693251
For stills photographs and more information email
mayoshelltosea@gmail.com Shell to Sea website
http://www.corribsos.com/ Rossport Solidarity Camp website
http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/ NOTES TO EDITORS
1.Broadhaven Bay is a designated Special Area of Conservation. (SAC).
2.The Solitaire was accompanied in it's work by 300 gardai on land, 2 navy
boats, 20 security and gardai boats in the bay and helicopters. Despite this
several successful actions have taken place against the ship. See
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEAwob38WYk. 3.Fisherman Pat O'Donnell was recently held at gunpoint when his boat was
boarded by masked men and sunk,
see
http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7016&Itemid=38 Last week seven people with no previous convictions were remanded for minor
public order offences whilst protesting against Shell.
4.Former United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator in Iraq, Denis
Halliday, commenting on the Controversial Corrib Gas dispute last week: “I
think the Irish people are not getting the whole story. These people who
object are not just trouble-makers, they are not terrorists, they are not
dangerous people. They are normal Irish people living in a quiet community
who are being threatened; their way of life is being threatened,” said the
UN veteran." See
http://www.corribsos.com/ 5. The Great Gas Giveaway has been detailed in a report by the Centre for
Public Inquiry.
http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php#ld196. Journalist and Economist Colm Rapple was also written extensively about the the theft
of Ireland's natural resources.
http://colmrapple.com/?cat=7
underclassrising.net