A busy time up in co. Mayo

mayo | miscellaneous | news report Saturday January 28, 2012 14:37 by Frank - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Update from co. Mayo on two weeks of actions against Shell

We meant to have this report out a while back, but you know, things just keep happening. It seems we've been pounding the roads of Aghoos and surrounding areas quite a lot at the moment and trying to keep warm by hugging trucks – our, not so new, favourite sport. And there are a lot of trucks to be stopped. They are coming up to every five minutes, so we don't even have to get up that early.

Of course, we still like to get up early. After the last national of solidarity on Friday 13th (see http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101211) we went back to Srahmore peat deposition site on Monday for an early morning cross country dash. Cue, several hours of playing in the bog with IRMS security as we tried to make it to the central compound where the diggers and other machinery were hiding. They tried to make out that they'd no work on, but there was an awful lot of Roadbridge contractors hanging around doing nothing very much. Took IMRS until midday to get everyone out, several people keeping going back in.

By this stage the Gardai were looking pretty bored so we decided they needed a bit of fun as well. Shortly afterwards six Shell trucks were stopped outside Srahmore and reinforcements had to be brought down to clear us, which of course took a while given the determined resistance that we were putting up.

In the meantime, there have been very regular road occupations, with between four or five people heading down Aghoos Road to stop trucks going into the compound. These have been very successful actions, lasting between 30 and 90 minutes. Very empowering they show just how easy it is to stick a spanner in the works here. Even two people standing in front of the main compound gates have been enough to stop the movements.

There was only one arrest, and quite a few rather silly moments from the Gardai, including one person being asked which ditch they would like to be thrown in when being cleared off the road. All in all its been a lot of fun. Gardai have finally realised that they need extra numbers to deal with the road-blockages, but do not seem to be able to muster much of a will to draft them in, and then we throw a spanner in the works by coming out with more than they can handle. We anticipate a lot more of the same.

There are also the regular Tuesday morning demonstrations at the refinery, and last weekend there was a wind-turbine workshop. Camp remains strong, and as every, all welcome to come and take part.