Bellanaboy Day 113.

mayo | environment | news report

Wednesday January 24, 2007 12:51

by Eve - S2S/RSC

The struggle continues.

Campaigners were out in full force from 6am this morning outside Shell’s proposed refinery site at Bellanaboy. As the convoy of jeeps buses and trucks pulled into the site at half seven the dawn had not yet broken over the bogs of Erris. Protesters stood holding placards and shouting slogans at the vehicles flanked by Gardaí drove in the site’s shiny metal gates.

Cathy tells it like it is.

The earlier than usual start was prompted by the fact that Shell’s morning convoy has been making its way to work earlier than usual in the last week. Yesterday morning campaigners met at the appointed time to find the convoy had already gone past in an effort to avoid them.

The metal wall surrounding the site has recently been extended several meters onto the road as part of the gradual annexation of verge by Shell. The wall is supported by piles of blocks propped up against the its inside. Campaigners have monitored work going on inside the site by standing on chairs and looking over the sheet metal, much to the ire of the cops. Some Gardaí take the wall very seriously steadfastly guarding gaps in the sheeting where protesters are wont to peek through.

Shell to Sea has recently embarked on a Mayo publicity drive to raise awareness about the campaign and to build for the national rally in Dublin on the 24th of February and the national day of support on the 16th of February at Bellanaboy.

Shell’s open days (blatant exercises in Greenwash) in Castlebar and Ballina were flyered, although we found of the small numbers in attendance most were either campaign supporters intent on giving it to John Egan and making the young pretty Shell PR girls cry or hard-line Shell followers whose half though out notions of progress were bolstered by the shiny displays and lip service to community development.

The next few weeks will see two excellent fundraising gigs out west. On the 27th of January Ronan O Snodaigh from Kila and Liam O Maonlai will headline a gig in the Welcome Inn in Castlebar, which also features local Mayo artists. The gig starts at 8pm. On the 11th of February the Hawkswell in Sligo is the venue for a traditional music concert, with dozens of well known traditional artists.

We don't think the cops got the reference.