September 14th - call for support for Shell to Sea protest

Monday September 03, 2007 15:17

by Shell to Sea

Call for support for large scale peaceful protest

There is a protest at the entrance of the site of the proposed Shell refinery in Erris every morning. On the morning of Friday, September 14th, local people have asked for supporters to join them for a peaceful demonstration against the controversial government-backed scheme to install a high-pressure pipeline and gas refinery against the wishe s of the community.

The following is a statement from Shell to Sea on the subject of this demonstration.

On Sept 14 Shell to Sea will be holding a sit-down protest outside the gates of Ballinaboy from early morning onwards. The purpose of this demonstration is to highlight the following issues:

1. The Natural Resources of Ireland have been given away to Shell, Statoil and others in a deal that means we pay the market rate to the multinationals for what should be ours. The potential loss to the future prosperity of this country is incalculable, but Minister Dempsey, in his previous role, put it as high as €1 Trillion. We want it back.

2. The currently proposed refinery is only the tip of the iceberg for Erris, as has been admitted recently by the Petroleum Affairs Division. It is intended to use Ballinaboy as the conduit for all future finds in the Corrib Basin, meaning that all 450 acres of land granted to the multinatonals by Frank Fahey will eventually be used as the complex is expanded, with all the human and environmental problems that will inevitably ensue.

3. The refinery is being built in the catchment area of Carrowmore Lake, the water source for 10,000 Erris people, an almost unbelievable proposal which is being vehemently opposed by ourselves and An Taisce.

4. The project currently has no route for the inland section of pipeline which will be carrying untreated, unodorised natural gas at at least twice the pressure of treated gas, the type carried in normal in Bord Gais pipelines. Eight potential routes are currently being proposed, with a modified route taking in some of Rossport being seen as one of the favourites. Once again there is great concern in the community as to where the pipeline might go, how near to houses, etc.

5. Shell are currently awaiting a decision on an Integrated Pollution Control Licence, granted provisionally by the E.P.A and challenged brilliantly by the local community, An Taisce and many other groups in a 3-week oral hearing in April. We fear that, even in the face of compelling presentations in opposition to the granting of the licence, political pressure on the E.P.A will be enormous. The granting of this licence would immediately bring An Taisce into play, with a challenge in Europe, based amongst other issues on the siting of the complex in a drinking water catchment area.

Shell to Sea are calling for support to highlight these and many other issues surrounding the Corrib project , which go to the very heart of the type of country Ireland is becoming in terms of human, civil and land rights, the right to peaceful protest and the very essence of democracy itself. We are calling for a well-attended, peaceful protest. Past events have shown us that violence can arise at these demonstrations. We are asking, therefore, that everybody acts in a totally peaceful manner, so that if incidents do occur, the perpetrators will be easily identified.

Statement ends.

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Comments (6 of 6)

by Septic - su

Tue Sep 04, 2007 21:44

To observer
Who you calling an idiot bud ?
If it were not for Dublin S2S Crew the people of Mayo would be all deed by now.

Septic

by Observer

Tue Sep 04, 2007 19:44

I'm wondering if you're a registered idiot of some kind?

Or, if somebody is paying you to write your sick rubbish maybe, so as to distract attention from issues that badly need to be looked at?

Things to look out for

by Sceptic

Tue Sep 04, 2007 19:27

Most normal people work on Fridays so there might be an over representation of the unwaged on the bus thus affecting the revenue. Also presumably someone will check to make sure the bus does not get its fuel or lubricating oil from a Shell supplier. Ditto Statoil. And put pickets on Statoil garages too since there is a grievance with them as well as Shell.

Plan properly / plan nationwide

by Gan ainm

Tue Sep 04, 2007 16:32

Certainly get big numbers down to the refinery itself. However it is a trek and a half and not everyone will be able to make it. Lots more people will be willing and able to get other shell stations around the country picketed at the same time (morning rush hour). This way we can show shell and the world that this is not just about an on shore refinery in the west but the theft of national resources.
If the guards get heavy move the protests on to their stations.

Dublin Bus to Day of Action

by Dublin Shell to Sea

Mon Sep 03, 2007 22:30

dublins2s at gmail dot com

0851609850

Dublin Shell to Sea will have a bus leaving on Thursday 13th at 18:30 from Parnell Square North for anyone who wants to go to Erris for Sept 14th Day of Action.

Tickets cost €30 waged/€25 unwaged. Tickets should be bought in advance from Connolly Books, East Essex Street, Temple Bar.

For more information please see the events list or contact: 085-1609850.

Bringing to Europe?

by Jim

Mon Sep 03, 2007 20:14

Surely the siting of the refinery was down to planning permission?? Why did An Taisce not bring this to the attention of the EU back then??

As far as I know the EPA are the authority charged with implementing the IPPC directive? which relates to the pollution prevention and control of certain activities and not with the siting of a facility??

Placing hopes in An Taisce who dont seem to even understand the remit of the EPA in an IPPC licence is very wishful...

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September 14th - call for support for Shell to Sea protest

Comments (6 of 6)