04.04.07 Sees Yet More Aggression by Shell Cops

by tnc corcaí - tnc corcaí Wed Apr 04, 2007 17:57

the sooner fianna failed and the rest of the f**kwits are gone and shell are asking permission from the irish people to exploit OUR gas the better - see ye next week in mayo to lend our support!

by chrissie Wed Apr 04, 2007 19:41

But seriously folks, nationality & 'race' are irrelevant in the face of the Government wasters of all nations who sell out their people to global capitalism, which totally disrespects human & animal life & environments. Come to Mayo & support life & landscape!

by tnc corcaí - tnc corcaí Wed Apr 04, 2007 20:07

can't argue with ya there chrissie - just can't believe we are the same species as some of those god forsaken yolks in dáil éireann - david attenborough should do a special on 'em - although the BBC value their ratings! see ya in mayo!

by Terence Conway Wed Apr 04, 2007 20:44 Inver, Barnatra, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Crosses of the Ogoni Nine at Bellanaboy have on several occasions disappeared with Garda assistance or at least with Garda blessing. Also two flagpoles with the Irish Tricolour have been removed, a time-consuming exercise due to them being securely anchored for Easter Week. These actions were carried out while Gardaí were on duty at Bellanaboy twenty-four-hours a day.

Gardaí recently used a moving Garda van as a weapon on a senior citizen standing at the side of the road, injuring her with the opening door. Gardaí regularly target women, young lads and elderly people for abuse, both physical and verbal.

Some Gardaí are obviously totally disgusted with this behaviour, but far too many are willing to take part in this type of activity to incite trouble. Incidents such as these, and hundreds more like it at Bellanaboy, completely ignored by politicians and large sections of the media etc., sow the seeds for human rights abuses anywhere in Ireland.

Terence Conway
Inver
Barnatra
Ballina
Co. Mayo
Ireland

Crosses and signs vandalised

by chrissie Thu Apr 05, 2007 16:03

If I'd not been there I wouldna believed how despicably Shell & their cops behave! Yer right Terence, this is a new low, but they've no respect for the dead, the living, or the generations to come. More power to S2S & their allies.

by LOCAL Thu Apr 05, 2007 18:59

The fact that over 99% of the local people of erris, are not protesting, should tell S2S that they are not supported, and are not repersenting the vast majority of us,
Now to the outsiders that are thinking of coming to erris to"protest" I say please stay away!
We dont want or need you here.

by Jack Doyle - mindfreedom Fri Apr 06, 2007 08:31 jackdoyle64 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Shells cops will stop at nothing to to break your spirit. I have no doubt Terry is right about the Garda involvment in taking the sign and the cross. I am sure my friend DA 51 the so called human rights expert ,might have something to say about it. A local source told me that he seems to have a big interest in the S2S H.Q. trailer. Don't worry about your lack of support locally, this is a global issue and lots of people all over the world support you.

by CL Fri Apr 06, 2007 14:56

The fact is that it is now probably too late for S2S (including the few locals) to save anything.
In my opinion, their legacy will include "a lost opportunity for erris to have facilities to rival anything on the planet, strife among families, Bullying of neighbors ,workmen, and businessmen and many other negative impacts on Erris/mayo and possibly Ireland.
The fact that their "spokesman" Mark garavin resigned, and Dr Cowley is now trying to proclaim "he is only interested in resolving the issue through political means" should make it clear to the few people who are continuing to protest, that their fight is lost (it never was winnable).
Dr cowley WILL suffer the consequences of his support for the campaign, that is a certainty, garavin may get elected, but that is irrelevant, as the yuppies that have a say in that, have nothing to do with the feelings of the vast majority in Erris!

by JM Fri Apr 06, 2007 19:16 Rossport

The level of violence towards protestors willing to be employed by Shell and the State is not acceptable, can never be forgotten, and will be opposed to the last by every right-minded human being.

Might is not right and never will be.

by I.S.B Fri Apr 06, 2007 20:26

Below is an extract from a speech JFK gave in Tennessee in 1963.
It is just as relevant today as it was 50yrs ago!
one statement it contains puts the protests in context ..................."He knows that for one man to defy a law or court order he does not like, is to invite others to defy those which they do not like, leading to a breakdown of all justice and all order. ..............................

President John F. Kennedy
Nashville, Tennessee
May 18, 1963
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives...3.htm

"Third, and finally, the educated citizen has an obligation to uphold the law. This is the obligation of every citizen in a free and peaceful society--but the educated citizen has a special responsibility by the virtue of his greater understanding. For whether he has ever studied history or current events, ethics or civics, the rules of a profession or the tools of a trade, he knows that only a respect for the law makes it possible for free men to dwell together in peace and progress.

He knows that law is the adhesive force in the cement of society, creating order out of chaos and coherence in place of anarchy. He knows that for one man to defy a law or court order he does not like, is to invite others to defy those which they do not like, leading to a breakdown of all justice and all order. He knows, too, that every fellowman is entitled to be regarded with decency and treated with dignity. Any educated citizen who seeks to subvert the law, to suppress freedom, or to subject other human beings to acts that are less than human, degrades his heritage, ignores his learning, and betrays his obligation."

Now I am sure some (if not most) of the protesters against the corrib project will say "we are different, right is on our side", but the truth is, as JFK said all those years ago the rule of law must be upheld.

The fact is,whether we like it or not, we live in a democracy, and the law is there for the protection of our democracy.
I for one am happy I have the privilege to live in such a country.

by Jack Fri Apr 06, 2007 20:54

Adolf Hitler did everything within the Law.
Where does the law end and conscience begin?

by Monica Muller Fri Apr 06, 2007 21:44

Whoever posted this:
"Adolf Hitler did everything within the Law." - should take a lesson in German history.
Extract from German history:
Campaigning continued, with the Nazis making use of paramilitary violence, 1933

- certainly NOT within the law.

by Shell to Sea'er Sat Apr 07, 2007 01:00

Presumably those who agree that the law has to be upheld at all costs would have, if they had been around in the late eighteenth century, cheerfully seen George Washington executed for treason.

It's Easter and all around the country people are commemorating the 1916 Rising. An entirely illegal act, if the laws of the country are to be considered rigidly (as they were when the Rising leaders were stood against the wall one by one and shot dead).

Easter is also a time for remembering the beginnings of the Christian religion, when, in Jerusalem, the law of the Roman Empire was used to execute a peaceful campaigner from Nazareth.

Getting back to the current situation. there is enough of a question mark over the behaviour of Ray Burke, Bertie Ahern, and Frank Fahey and the rest of the crew in their relationships with Shell, to make anyone query whether the law of this state has been adhered to at all.

All of the named Fianna Fáil miisters have had questions asked about their behaviour in relation to bribery and corruption, and Shell are hardly a shining example of probity and morals.

There is a saying: "When those who make the law break the law, then there is no law".

by Jock Sat Apr 07, 2007 08:37 oconnorjack at hotmail dot com

Hitler did not believe in democracy . The people of Ireland do believe in democracy. The values of our great democracy are enshrined in the Constitution. We do ,thankfully ,have the right to engage peacful protest . However the worker also has a right to travel freely to work. A peacful protest does not involve taking away the rights of another citizen. The citizens of our country fought hard for democarcy. We are duty bound defend our democracy with the same vigour that we used to win it. We are prepared to do so and will do it. Democracy will by the victor. The comparisson with Nazi Germany is shallow and meaningless. The Bullies of North Mayo will have to respect the law of the land or else will find themselves where they belong , head first in the bogs of bellanaboy.

by I.S.B Sat Apr 07, 2007 09:26

Democracy, is the difference that makes the examples you have outlined irrelevant.
We have a democracy, we get the leaders we vote for (we deserve), now if the majority of the people in a democracy, are willing to adhere to the law of the land, who does the few protesters think they are?
If I was to say I wont pay my road tax because I don't trust mayo Co.Co, would I be correct, and would that be a good reason to break the law,
If I walked up to a drug dealer and shot him in the head, would that be ok,(because he was a bad man)?
Is there any law that I can break, and it would be ok, because I felt I was doing it for "the right reasons"
The law is the law, and if you have a problem with it, then try change it through the proper methods.
Not bullying businessmen/workers and Gardai!
You have a legal team, ask one of them to work on getting the law changed, so as you can use non-peaceful proactive means to protest, (just be careful what you wish for, your wish might come true!).

by Jock - Democratric History Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:12

We had an Easter rising in 1916 to get rid of the English Man from Ireland after 800 years of oppression. Now we see that Shell to Sea are again bringing in the English Man, in the form of disaffected Eco- Warriors to fight their battles. We sent them home before and we will send them home again.
George Washington also fought against the English oppressor because of is belief in democracy; he got the English man out and so should shell to sea.

by tnc corcaí - tnc Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:24

thats the biggest pile of horse dung i've heard in a while - fairplay!

by Jock Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:31

The truth is sometimes hard to accept. I wish you well on your difficult journey.

by Jack Doyle - mindfreedom Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:34 jackdoyle64 at yahoo dot co dot uk

There are no english protesters on the front line. What is Jock talking about ? I am sure ,Terry , the local man ,can confirm this.

by guess who Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:53

jack says "There are no english protesters on the front line".
ok jack you tell me how many locals there are on the "front line"?
there are protesters here from all over the place but not many locals (maybe 20 on a good day).
If jack wants to protest in cork, then off with him but leave us alone.

by Guess Who 2 - . Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:30 Rossport

Jack the TAN with his yahoo.co.uk email address says

There are no english protesters on the front line.

Yup I belive him , they are all 2nd and thrid generation local , whos familys left the area many seasons ago due to the area being an economic backwater and now they have returrned to the area as the local economy is boming.

by Jack Sat Apr 07, 2007 13:55

What is all this local/outsider crap?
Where do you think Shell/Statoil/Marathon are from - Rossport?
This concerns all of the people of Ireland, for generations to come.
Anybody who doesn't concern himself with what is happening in Bellanaboy because he is from outside the area is taking his country and its hard-won democracy very much for granted.
People from abroad can see an injustice in Ireland better than many servile Irish.
Their interest and participation is most welcome.

by Why should I bother trying to "guess who" Sat Apr 07, 2007 14:28

Were you stoned when you started ranting about getting out the English? Of all the wretched arguments deployed by pro-shell types on this site, I think that wins the prize

by guess who Sat Apr 07, 2007 15:17

just one question.
If shell were to go to sea with its refinery, would shelltosea and others desist from protesting?

by Guess why Sat Apr 07, 2007 15:52

Nope, you don't get to ask any questions, once you started raving and ranting and generally acting like someone under the influence of illegal substances, you forfeited the right to take part in the discussion.

by Jack Sat Apr 07, 2007 16:12

Jack is not Jock or the other Jack
try to keep up!

by cool j Sat Apr 07, 2007 17:52

Many people who support ShelltoSea in the area(and they are the majority as many petitions and polls have shown) are like myself living in fear due to the stifling police state atmosphere that has decended on most of Erris with 300 cops throwing there weight around and intimdiating locals 24/7. This means that like myself many locals are now scared to turn out at many of the protests since this means exposing onself and family to the attention of the stazi tactics of Shell's cops. As it is my wife has to go through 3 garda checkpoints on her way to work while they close the main road from Belmullet to Bangor-Erris to facilate Shell's scab workers hauling peat from Bellanaboy. She is shown no respect by the gards who rudness and unprofessional conduct has to be seen to be beleived. She was late for work 3 out of the 4 working days last week thanx to Shells cops. The situation personally is now so stressfull and unpleasent for my family that we intend to move out of the area ASAP.

by Cl Sat Apr 07, 2007 21:23

"The situation personally is now so stressfull and unpleasent for my family that we intend to move out of the area ASAP."
It would be polite to say we will miss you, but that would be lying.
"She was late for work 3 out of the 4 working days last week thanx to Shells cops"
maybe set the alarm-clock a few min earlier? (why are the gardai here?)
"Many people who support ShelltoSea in the area(and they are the majority as many petitions and polls have shown)"
When the general election results burst your bubble, will you believe you have very little support?
And will you phone Mr cowley (ex TD) and apoligise.

Oh and finally, I think its time you made another phonecall, and this time he WILL be expecting it!

by Jack Doyle - mindfreedom Sun Apr 08, 2007 20:25

Sorry for the confusion Jack, but I think we are on the one side. Hopefully we can all have a few pints in Rossport whe this sad affair is all over.

by katiem - private citizen Tue Apr 10, 2007 00:20

I'm sorry, but I can't ignore the statement about the support of the majority of locals crap. Polls and petitions? I've never been asked for my opinion. If these polls were conducted by locals, for locals, why not go through the phone book, or distribute leaflets through doors, for collection or drop off, and then everyone in the local area would know that their opinions had truly been noted. Also, I can not believe the outrageous piece in the News of the World today re rusting pipes. Does the "engineer from Rossport" have no scruples? Does no-one read any of the other comments posted on this site, by experts no less? If I said I had a three headed cat, would it make it any truer, just because the papers printed it? I'm no expert on gas pipelines, but after reading some of the comments on this particular topic, I sure know bull when I read it. But, I suppose this comment will be pulled, just like the four or five other comments I have made, simply because they do not agree with the S2S view. Or else I will be accused of being a cop or Shell employee or plant. So be it, but I, and many of my friends, have no time for this whole S2S shambles

by local Tue Apr 10, 2007 00:57

If the campaign succeeds though, and Shell are forced offshore, how will you be worse off?

I can understand not caring either way, but why actually act against the campaign?

What have you got to gain from seeing Shell build an onshore refinery in your locality? If they don't get away with it how will it effect you?

by CL Tue Apr 10, 2007 09:24

I think "local" the point your missing, is almost everybody would like to see this refinery built at sea or on the shoreline.
That is not the point, the methods S2S employed in attempting to achieve that, is the problem, and the reason they (in my opinion) have failed.
If the refinery was built at sea (shallow water platform) would our children not still be exposed to all those toxic emissions?, causing all those cancers?
and would our marine environment not become so contaminated that our poor fishermen would starve (like those in Norway,uk,Scotland)
If shell were to go to sea would the S2S campaign disband? I doubt it, we have to remember Tara,bin tax,water charges,labor youth,Declan bree,Gerry Murray,Cowley,garavin.
what would happen all those nice people without the S2S campaign.

by Jock Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:18

Well said CL. Shell to Sea were finished off the day that the cops battoned them. Gannons boys are in charge now. Shell to Sea may as well head for the Ceide cliffs.

by local Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:39

You seem to have no problem with the aims of the campaign, and are instead taking issue with the methods of the campaigners.

If you wanted to, you could get involved in the campaign and change the methods, plenty of others have. Why don't you?

Or better yet, set up your own campaign on your own terms. You should be confident of widespread support if what you say is true.

Or, if that doesn't appeal, you could stay typing away here anonymously, adding snide comments to other people's articles.

by MJ - / Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:39 Rossport

The fact of the matter is that the campaigners have got too big for their boots, in 2005 they had a valid and worth while cause which caputured the hearts and minds of the nation, they well and truly had the govt and the corrib partners on the backfoot.
Following this their strategy which could be desribed as kinder garden antics, has failed miserably , their refusal to enter in to talks , their allignmnet to other radical and rag bag groupings with grudges against goverment or authotrity and their general nuisance making antics which has only served to make themselves look bad.
Ok i hear you cry that the media has done you injusticies,no you have done that to your selfs , you have been used by certain people to further their own profile , and where are these people now ?.
is it any wonder that people are starting to snide at your farcical campaign.

by belmullet supporter Tue Apr 10, 2007 15:44

I have supported s2s since 2001even before it became know as that .
I was pressurised back then for having my beliefs to the extent that my job was under threat. I still cannot be open about my beliefs although the last years have been easier as more and more locals are seeing shell for what they are.

The bottom line is Shell has an endless supply of money to buy people while they need them but when the bought locals have served their purpose they will be dropped in a flash. At present Shell has its agents out trying to employ as many locals as possible to be security workers in an effort to divide and conquer. It is only because of s2s that benefits are coming to the area. More sponsorship upped (if groups want it), bonuses for employees since the occupation of the Gardai last October, guards been fed, entertained and accomodated courtesy of the taxpayer paying to protect the foreign company. I have no problem with local businesses benefitting but be certain it is only because of the stand of s2s and not shells sudden pangs of generousity.
I remember a local voluntary group from the parish in early 2003 which benefitted from Shell's benevolence -they got a computer which came with no software so all it could do was turn on and off. This to me is what Shell is about all image but no real substance empty like their promises. Time will bear this out. Check out their records in other countries.

by troll slayer Tue Apr 10, 2007 16:15

"is it any wonder that people are starting to snide at your farcical campaign"

Apart from anonymous trolls on an open publishing newswire, where is this animosity you speak of? I've never come across it in my dealings with people in the real world. You trolls have been making this claim - that the general public is turning on the campaign - since late 2005, and yet the campaign continues unabated, with regular actions and a large national demo a few of weeks ago.

Nobody's buying your rubbish

by troll slayer Tue Apr 10, 2007 16:54

Ah, I see, so you represent the general public Ted? You've been sent to tell us that we make them all yawn?

The real world I mentioned is just that - my coworkers, fellow students and people I talk to while leafletting in Dublin. But they obviously haven't been to the mass popular assemblies where you get your information.

Oh and here's a free English lesson: animosity does not mean apathy.

by onfused local Tue Apr 10, 2007 19:03

To "local", Impossible, this refinery will not be stopped (unless it can through a legal challenge) protesting will not achieve it.
Its back to that same fundamental fact, precedence!
Why S2S cant see that is beyond me.

To "belmullet supporter" your claim that "more and more locals are seeing shell for what they are." is your opinion, and maybe your right, but if that is the fact, why then in the red C poll for the western people does twice as many local people blame the protesters 30% than shell16%?
One thing I do agree with you on is that the protests are the reason shell are trying very hard to look good with funding all sorts of projects ect.
My opinion (for what it is worth) is the vast majority of locals, are tired of all the strife, and rightly or wrongly they are blaming the protesters.
the results of the red C poll should have spelt that out to you,

to "troll slayer" your real world "The real world I mentioned is just that - my coworkers, fellow students and people I talk to while leafletting in Dublin"
Please think about what you have posted, we live here in Erris, we will live here long after you find some other cause to support.
I suspect your gripe with this issue is "natural resources?".
well I can assure you 99% of Erris people only care about their own resources, the only reason any of that 99% protest is to support their neighbor and friends.
And if it was about pollution, have a look at belmullet town.
it releases raw sewage into the canal/inner broad haven bay.
the sewage would be bad enough, but when you consider the cocktail of chemicals that accompanies it into inner broad haven bay, it really is a cause for concern.
chemicals which have been proven to cause all sorts of adverse affects on marine life!
And where are/were the protesters? I will tell you, they are approx 50 meters from the sewer discharge, training to blockade the pipe laying ship!
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81513
Now tell me, is that not a little ironic?

by troll slayer Tue Apr 10, 2007 19:25

1) My comments were aimed at people who are claiming the general public oppose S2S; that doesn't have anything to do with locals/nonlocals.

2) There's been enough of this "locals vs. outsiders" rubbish on this thread. I, and many others, went up to Rossport and helped build the first 2 camps in 2005 after having been asked to by Rossport locals. While up in Rossport, I have never come across hostility from anyone in the area. I have left but lots of others have stayed on to support those locals, at great sacrifice to themselves. Trolls like you are trying to portray a division between the two which doesn't exist.

3) Aside from that, I live in Ireland. I have to deal with the education, health, welfare etc systems in this country. I have as much of a right as anyone to object to the giveaway of natural resources. It's something that affects all of us, not just a local issue for local people.

by Troll Slayer - . Tue Apr 10, 2007 20:33 Rossport

Where does it say that one represents the general public ?
And where can one see the word "animosity " in the original post ?
Read the post and take in the facts ,, but then again that’s something that S2S refuse to do .

by JM Wed Apr 11, 2007 02:00 Rossport

The original article here was pointing to the over-the-top attitude by An Garda Siochana, and it appears that aggression is perpetuating itself here, in words designed to demean and humiliate and scorn.

The problem is the project, plain and simple. Life was peaceful before it, and will be again when it's gone.

by Marty Mcfly - hello Wed Apr 11, 2007 13:16

John the PR Master of shell to sea spinn munaghen ( Disc Jockey) said "The problem is the project, plain and simple. Life was peaceful before it, and will be again when it's gone"

Some people say life was peaceful before the car,electricity,telephones,and television does this mean john that you would be quite happy to drag mayo back to the good olde days????