In June 2006 it will be one year since the Rossport Solidarity Camp opened. We set this camp up to offer practical support and solidarity to the people of Erris, Co. Mayo, Ireland in their struggle against the oil multinationals and the state. As many of you are aware Shell, Statoil and Marathon propose to build a dangerous high pressure raw gas pipeline through unstable bog land and farm land and to build a huge inland refinery that would seriously pollute the local area. For 5 years now they have been stopped.
Serious resistance began last summer with the jailing of the Rossport 5, the setting up of a solidarity camp and the emergence of a national campaign. Constant pickets prevented construction work and local fishermen threatened to blockade the worlds largest pipe laying ship if it attempted to lay the off shore section of the pipeline.
Solidarity actions and rallies took place all over the world.
To celebrate our 1-year anniversary and to get more people to Co. Mayo and involved with the campaign, we are hosting a June bank holiday weekend gathering on the camp.
The gathering will take place from the 2nd to the 5th of June. There will be movies, workshops, a forum on privatisation, practical demonstrations, a tour of the area, speeches and workshops by local residents, music etc.
Food and camping accommodation will be provided on the camp. We are also encouraging people with time to spare to come earlier in the week to help with set up.
Exact details of workshops and the weekend programme will follow soon.
For more information contact rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
00 353 (0) 97 20944
00 353 (0) 87 6543425 (Tracey)
00 353 (0) 86 3588890 (Michael)