Four members of the Rossport Solidarity camp will be speaking in Glasgow on Friday 3rd February at the Saorsa Social Centre.
Rossport Solidarity Camp was born in June 2005. It is the first protest camp around an ecological theme to take place in Ireland for several years. The camp began after local opponents of Shell's plan to build an unprecedented high pressure gas pipeline through the hamlet of Rossport invited us there to back up their struggle. A large marquee was erected with a kitchen for cooking and eating, sleeping and meeting, notice boards and info point. Compost toilets and compost heaps were built to deal with organic waste and the rest was recycled. A tipi and a large bender provided more space when needed, as well as smaller tents too. Water in barrels was carried in daily from Vincent Mc Grath's house and locals offered showers and laundry. A wind turbine system was set up to harness wind energy giving electricity to power lights, mobile phones and computers.
The camps role as part of the campaign was:
To block and protect the land in Rossport from any encroachment by Shell.
To guard, picket and blockade the Shell compound in Rossport, as do the local people at the proposed refinery site 10km inland at Bellanaboy.
To be a focus, an info point and a venue for visitors who come to find out more about what's going on and/or to stay.
To support the families of The Rossport Five.
From June 18th onwards there have been no deliveries of construction materials to the compound at Rossport. From June 30th pickets closed the Rossport compound and the refinery construction site at Ballinaboy. In August Shell was forced to cancel the arrival of the Solitaire, one of the world's largest pipelaying ships, due to a planned blockade by fishermen. On September 30th the Rossport Five were released, because of popular pressure.
In March, Rossport Solidarity Camp will be re-launched for the 2006 "construction season" - late Spring, Summer, early Autumn. From March onwards we are looking for more people to come to the camp, be it for 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months.
The meeting in Glasgow at the Saorsa Social Centre will be an informal meeting to discuss how we can help the campaign.
All welcome.
Friday 3rd February
7.30pm
Saorsa Social Centre
674 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G41 2QE
0141 42 9055
The camps role as part of the campaign was:
To block and protect the land in Rossport from any encroachment by Shell.
To guard, picket and blockade the Shell compound in Rossport, as do the local people at the proposed refinery site 10km inland at Bellanaboy.
To be a focus, an info point and a venue for visitors who come to find out more about what's going on and/or to stay.
To support the families of The Rossport Five.
From June 18th onwards there have been no deliveries of construction materials to the compound at Rossport. From June 30th pickets closed the Rossport compound and the refinery construction site at Ballinaboy. In August Shell was forced to cancel the arrival of the Solitaire, one of the world's largest pipelaying ships, due to a planned blockade by fishermen. On September 30th the Rossport Five were released, because of popular pressure.
In March, Rossport Solidarity Camp will be re-launched for the 2006 "construction season" - late Spring, Summer, early Autumn. From March onwards we are looking for more people to come to the camp, be it for 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months.
The meeting in Glasgow at the Saorsa Social Centre will be an informal meeting to discuss how we can help the campaign.
All welcome.
Friday 3rd February
7.30pm
Saorsa Social Centre
674 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G41 2QE
0141 42 9055
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