Solitaire flees from S2S, Hunger Strike enters Second Week, Shell Plan Expansion at Ballinaboy

by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp - Shell to Sea Tue Sep 16, 2008 22:37

Planning notice in this week's Western People confirms Shell to Sea's long-time suspicions
For a long time the Shell to Sea campaign has maintained that the planned developments in the Erris area associated with the now-infamous Corrib Gas project were only the first phase of a massive complex of refineries, pipelines and ancillary works that would be the 'processing hub' for a large number of the known gasfields off the west coast of Ireland. All these fields would be connected from their subsea wellheads to subsea manifolds and then on to the on-shore Bellanaboy refinery complex via the pipeline that the Solitaire failed to get laid this autumn so far. This was known within the campaign as 'the Foot in the Door' hypothesis.

Now, in the wake of the débacle of the Solitaire leaving Broadhaven Bay in abject failure in spite of massive Garda/Navy/private security efforts to extort 'community consent' for the pipe-laying operation, Shell E & P Ireland have now exposed another piece of the sinister puzzle that is the Great Gas Robbery through their application published in this week's Western People. By so doing, Shell E & P Ireland have confirmed Shell to Sea's long-term suspicions regarding their plans in Erris.

Back in 2005 I remember Padraic Campbell talking at public meetings about the likelihood of the then-proposed Bellanaboy 'terminal' being upgraded piecemeal from a facility that could process the gas from one offshore gas field to a massive complex that would be capable of processing the gas from a significant number of the fields off Ireland's west coast. Mr. Campbell was speaking from a position of some knowledge, having worked for a long time in the oil and gas industry on exploration and production rigs in Ireland and around the world, and also having been a trade union official in Siptu's offshore oil and gas section for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. Furthermore, he had campaigned within Ireland since the 1970s with the Resources Protection Campaign, and he and others had flagged concerns about the giveaway deals to the oil and gas companies that were being enacted by various politicians/governments through the '80s and early '90s. His apprehension about Shell's long-term plans in Erris were shared by many of the local campaigners, and eventually by many Shell to Sea activists about the country.

Now, after the Solitaire has left Broadhaven Bay trailing its broken 'stinger' behind it, Shell E & P Ireland have published notice of an application to modify the planning permission for the Bellanaboy refinery that would considerably expand it. This notice was printed in this week's edition of the Western People and some other Mayo regional newspapers. The notice is not very detailed - it leaves out explicit details about the total surface area of the works intended, but it can be inferred that a considerable expansion of the refinery site is planned from some of the details (e.g. the twenty-fold increase in the capacity of the emergency surface water holding tank). Should permission be granted (and given Mayo Co. Council's record regarding Shell's wants this is very likely), this will mean many truck movements on the Shell haul route from the refinery site to the peat dumping ground in Srahmore, just outside Bangor, and many truckloads of stone will again be brought from local quarries into the refinery. This shows an alarming confidence on Shell's part that they will get their way even though their will was thwarted on the shores and waves of Broadhaven Bay only last week.

Even though many people in the Shell to Sea campaign expected this in the fullness of time, the speed with which they have moved to apply for this expansion has made some campaigners wonder, including this one. Did Shell think that this application would slip by the Shell to Sea campaign un-noticed while people were preoccupied with expressing solidarity with Maura Harrington as she is on hunger strike? Did they think their bomb smear would cover their conniving tracks and help them get this planning application through without being spotted? Are they really that confident, or are they under increasing pressure from those who aim to follow in Shell's bloody wake, like 'Sir Anthony' O'Reilly and his Providence Resources?

Questions, questions aplenty, but you'll need to spend €20 to get answers from our bought-and-paid-for local government!

'The Foot in the Door' - confirmed!

by Chrissie Wed Sep 17, 2008 08:29

Well done, activists; we need to keep pressure on the Solitaire, & Allseas, its owner. Contact your friends & anyone with an interest in justice, & ask them also to act now to lobby Solitaire's captain, Simon van der Plicht, Allseas, & Government ministers, especially the Greens who were once so vociferous against Shell's Corrib plans. Do all you can to keep Maura alive; she's too good to lose!

by lulu Wed Sep 17, 2008 08:34

Sure, with faster boats and a Shell to Sea flag you could chase em back to the Netherland.

by JimBo Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:14

The change was as a result of a determination made by the EPA in the IPPC licence ,no more, no less.

by soundmigration - WSM per cap Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:08

The Indo last week carried a story linked below that help put this planning application in context. Now whilst the Indo aint no fan of Shell to Sea, given the paper's owner's much commented upon involvement in profiteering from our natural resources, he does have to balance that with providing reassurance to those investing in his companies

Find it here
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/shell-still-ti...2.htm

Its clearly suggesting that Shell new gas find off Donegal will be piped and taken onland for refining. As this was orginally hidden from those considering the application for Bellanaboy. It crazy to suggest that Shell suddenly decided at the last minute, after finding another pot of irish gold at the end of a rainbow lubricated by those in government, that it refine gas from other finds at sea at the sight.
It was always there intention to do. Whhat such article's do is frame the debate as an attempt to 'normalise' the expansion of the site at Bellanaboy

From the above linked article

"The neighbouring East- Dooish-1 well was also classified as a tight-hole when drilling there was completed last year.

However, the company subsequently confirmed that it had discovered an accumulation of gas and gas condensate at site.

This new find was relatively small and Shell was hoping the West Dooish prospect would bring in the additional reserves needed to justify a development of the field, he said. Gas from the find could be processed at the new Corrib facilities.

The plant there is being built with enough capacity to handle gas from other sources"

by Dunk Wed Sep 17, 2008 13:24 fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

Im not sure if many of you heard the last week's very good news in which six Greenpeace activists were cleared of criminal damage for painting part of "Gordon Bin It" on the Kingsnorth power station in Kent, where the recent climate camp UK happened. "Lawful excuse" was the legal tool they used in court to justify their actions, and with their success many people are asking will that now open the floodgates for more direct action for eco and justice reasons...

We saw, eventually and very thankfully, similar legal argument of "lawful excuse" being used by the Ploughshares to defend their actions in Shannon against the Irish states participation in the ongoing illegal war in Iraq...

Given the circumstances; Mauras life in danger, dodgy legal and planning circumstances, already destruction of protected habitat, already possibly critical levels of toxins including aluminium being released in local water systems, future possible loss of life if pipe is layed for which the Rossport 5 went to prison....

With all these circumstances, might further non violent actions be justified?

Recently we saw how Greenpeace have some fancy boats, which might be well able to catch up with the Solitaire. They demonstrated their courageous hi speed james bond like boat driving skills at the G8 at Heiligendam last year. Maybe they migth be able to put further pressure on Shell, Irish state, Solitaire crew etc... And given their clout, they could well spread word, quickly. Have they been contacted or have they visited Rossport previously?

So from here to where?

Cleared: Jury decides that threat of global warming justifies breaking the law
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change....html

Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage.

Jurors accepted defence arguments that the six had a "lawful excuse" to damage property at Kingsnorth power station in Kent to prevent even greater damage caused by climate change. The defence of "lawful excuse" under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 allows damage to be caused to property to prevent even greater damage – such as breaking down the door of a burning house to tackle a fire.

Not Guilty. The Pitstop Ploughshares All Acquitted on All Charges
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77460

Greenpeace boat CHase @ Heiligendam G8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gin68TIr2Rg

Gordon Bin It- "Lawful excuse" succeeds in UK court....perhaps opening the floodgates for more direct action, might we soon see a Greenpeace boat in Ireland?

Caption: Video Id: Gin68TIr2Rg Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by Sevinch Karaca - Personal Capacity Anarchist Wed Sep 17, 2008 13:40

Dear Maura, Comrades and Friends in Mayo and Ireland,

I thought long and hard about Maura's decision to go on Hunger Strike through days of confusion, saddness and anger as many of you may have been experiencing as well. Instead of sitting around and waiting for her to get worse or die, I contacted some friends in Turkey who were actively involved in treating active and former hunger strikers and death fasters. With our experience in Turkey throughout 1980s and 1990s with death fasts and loss of hundreds of lives -not always necessarily intentionally but due to lack of information), MAURA IS ON A DEATH FAST and according to the phsycians from Istanbul Doctors' Association's Human Rights Commission, she is at high risk area THAT OF SUDDEN DEATH OR COMA. I ask to her family and comrades; ARE YOU PREPARED TO WATCH MAURA TO DIE AND DO NOTHING AND BEAR THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES? With this information in hand , some vital parts of which I was requested to communicate to her family and the medical team who may treat her and which I inserted below, I decided to invite Maura publicly , personally, to end her strike and give us permission for medical intervention. Recommendations of the Turkish Doctors are not to stop her from her continiuing her action but to prolonge her life with less chance of permanent neurological damage. I reject this notion of neutral medical advise in this situation. I am prepared for all hostile position and I beg indymedia editors to publish this post with full text. Unlike many of you feelthat it is her personal decision to die, I BELIEVE I HAVE A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMRADE OF HER RESISTANCE TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PREVENT HER DEATH OR TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO HER HEALTH HOW SMALL IT MAY BE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO STEP DOWN FROM THE HIGHER MORAL GROUND TO SERVE ANOTHER MORAL GROUND WHICH IS LIFE. OUR ACTION IS TO PROTECT NATURE IN ERRIS AND IT IS HYPOCRITICAL TO OMMIT A PART OF THAT NATURE< MAURA HARRINGTON>FROM EXTINCTION IN THE LITERAL SENSE. I asked her family's permission to intervene and take her to a hospital already and expect individual supporters to take the same position. Political victories won over human life has longer term damages on all involved in it, then many realise. Price of victory against shell for me is saving her life not supporting her death fast. Please communicate below information to the campaigners, Maura, her Family and the Medical Team on the ground as soon as possible.

Notes from email communications (Dated 16-17 September 2008) with Dr.Nazmi Tumerdem, Istanbul (ITO), Dr.Huseyin Yaman (ITO), Dr.Yasemin Oz, Izmir ITO, Dr,Mehmet Akdol(ITO) . Dr.Refik Unal(ITO) and Dr.Huseyin 1 from Samsun Turkey as well as activists who chain emailed overnight for speedy communication.

“Death can occur very fast in the case of lack of regular intake of salt, sugar and water (days are numbered, geographical conditions may may effect variation by 1 or 2 days).

Although it is not possible to tell with certainity and despite of the variations from person to person (including whether the person takes water-salt-sugar) neurological erosions usually start around 30th day.
Some strikers take Vitamin B1 (Tiamin) to prevent these neurological damages from becoming permanent losses alongside salt and sugar.
Primary importance is that the activist should be convinced to take salt and sugar.
Daily intake of 3-5 litres of water depending on the weather conditions
At least one small tea-spoon of salt of apprx 5-7 gr
Tiamin tablet 600mg daily (200mg X 3 times a day)
At least 50-60 gr of sugar daily, if the person agrees it can be gradually increased
It may be easier to take sugar in lemonade.
Sugar can be taken liquidized or in hard form
When/If the strike is ended, it is vital the medical losses of the person are met. Full medical advise for the medical team is available in the pamphlet By .Proffesor Sezai which is attached herewith. (Translation in process)
Above intake programme is the proggramme which was used for average intake dosages by the strikers in Turkey. It would lead to mistakes to tell anything for certain. However some of the activists we medically followed up with this programme of intake had some chance of survival and prolonged their life span with less neurological damage.(Translator's note: Please note that I interpreted this last sentence to the best to my ability and personally do not agree with any suggestion to prolong the strike either)
From Dr.Huseyin Yaman, member of the Istanbul Doctors' Association (ITO)Human Rights Commission
His blue note: The name of the strike where the activist does not take water, salt or sugar is not hunger strike, it is fast death.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“It is very risky to feed the patient liquids which do not contain Tiamin (Vit B1) following the strike, it bears risk of Korsakoff Syndrom.

The biggest unintentional mistake following the strike is to give decstrose to the patient thinking the person is dehydrated and low on Glucose. It is upmost importance that this issue is paid upmost attention.

Preferably Tiamin should be taken 1gr/per day, if possible orally, if not it can be given IV.
Biz Türkiye'de açlık grevcilerini tedevai ederken IV B1 preparatı bulmakta çok zorlanmıştık. We had great difficulty to give IV B1 Preparat during the treatment of the strikers, hope you do not face these difficulties.

Depending on the length of the strike, villose atrophi may develop in the intestines (or colons?). It is vital that foods that are difficult to digest should not be fed to the patient. Initially, easy to digest fiber free baby feed which contains protein, carbonhydrates and fat should be fed to the patient by calculating her age and weight. If patient has difficulty taking the food orally it can be given through a nasogastric tube. If the patient is capable of oral feed, she can be fed foods such as light soups and lassi instead. The gastrointestinal route (entire digestive system) is not capable of effficient digestion in long term strikes due to the villose aptrophy.If this is the case Total IV parentheral nutritions should be implemented. These treatment can be given the patient with cooperation with a gastroentrolog, I advise a program of treatment to be implemented following a check by a gastro expert.
Dr. Hüseyin1
Samsun, Turkey”

by MacE Wed Sep 17, 2008 14:31

Maura is taking water and salt.

by Patricia McCafferty Fri Sep 19, 2008 00:03 pmccdesign at yahoo dot ie Bundoran, Co. Donegal

Shell did not want the publicity of your actions, well done, you got the boat sent back to England.

Corription and our Government selling off ireland and its Coast has to be addressed. Elections are less than a year away and Politians have then head in the sand.

Corruption starts locally as with our Town Council - Certain Council Officials act for the big developers and corrupt politians.

Can this Shell case be brought to the EU as a petition, like the way the North West Save Cancer Services,

Why isnt our European Union MEPs in Mayo stopping SHELL?

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.