Solitaire on the horizon,more arrests - the resistance continues - Solidarity!

by Lofty Christus - Shell To Sea Thu Jun 25, 2009 00:32 galwayshelltosea at riseup dot net

This Friday night in Monroe's, Dominic St (in the BACK ROOM) Galway Shell to Sea take part in some of this campaign's most dubious activities yet....

...an in-house game of that madcap favourite, Shell Telly Bingo!!!

Then, having cleaned the inevitable post-Williams foam from the mouth, our DJ team of The Angelic Orange, DJ Gobstopper and Lofty Christus will try to rejuvenate you!

Admission is €5 and all proceeds go to the Solidarity Camp.

Elsewhere in Galway this week:

On Thursday 25th June 2009 "Reclaim Irish Resources" will be holding a public meeting on the subject "Nationalise Corrib Gas". The speakers include Maura Harrington and Pat O'Donnell from the Rossport area and Maggie Heneghan from Galway. Richardson's (upstairs), Eyre Sq. 8:00pm

On Saturday 27th June there will be a public demonstration in solidarity with the communities of Erris.
Maura Harrington and other members of the Erris community will attend, aswell as local activists and politicians. Oscar Wilde Statue, Shop St. 3:00pm

by FSB! et al - Rossport Solidarity Camp Thu Jun 25, 2009 02:29

The 24th of June began with an oppressive Garda presence in the Glengad area and ended with two swimmers from the camp being arrested in Broadhaven Bay this evening. Shell's contracted pipe-laying ship the Solitaire began its journey to Glengad this afternoon and is expected to be in the bay by morning.

At lunchtime two squadrons of kayakers set out into Broadhaven bay as a practise run for actions when the Solitare arrives. Kayakers were confronted by a heavy Garda and navy presence supported by Shell security in rigid inflatable boats (ribs). Two kayakers were roughly handled, being dragged at speed by Garda ribs while Gardai hung on to their craft. All kayakers managed to return safely to the Solidarity Camp. At the same time the Irish naval vessel the LE Emer entered Broadhaven Bay, circled the bay and dropped anchor near Balyglass pier. This warship remains at anchor tonight in the bay.

In preparation for attaching the pulling cable to the Solitare one of Shell's tug boats drew a smaller cable from the Glengad compound to one of the dredging platforms in the bay at aproximately 5:30pm. Two swimmers set out to investigage what was happening, supported by two kayakers. They were immediately met by Gardai, navy personnel and Shell security in a total of 18 ribs. Even though the swimmers did not enter the exclusion area they were surrounded by ribs and arrested at about 6 pm. The swimmers were put at some danger during the arrests by Gardai because of the lack of propeller guards on the ribs while they surrounded the swimmers. They also denied the swimmers the possibility of swimming back to shore by surrounding them with ribs before they arrested them. They were then taken to the Shell Glengad compound where they were held by Gardai for over 2 hours before being taken to Ballina Garda station for processing. One of the arrestees has since returned to the Solidarity camp but the other person is being detained in a care home in Galway because they are 2 months short of their 18th birthday.

In a further incident later on Garda parking cones were removed by locals and campers after it was discovered that Gardai had no legal basis for putting them there. Soon after, two van loads of Gardai arrived at the road outside the Solidarity Camp, claiming that campers and locals were blocking the road. A stand-off developed which lasted for over a half an hour. During this incident several local people identified a man driving a four wheel drive jeep on the road as the driver of the digger involved in the incindent at Pullathomas pier on the 11th of June, 2007; this was when numerous people were injured after a digger was driven through a crowd of local protestors. This was brought to the attention of the Gardai present but they chose to ignore this complaint, instead claiming that the assembled locals and campers were blocking the road.

There has been a heavy Gardai presence in the area throughout the area, including a public order unit stationed inside the Shell Glengad compound. Gardai have also been stopping trafic on the roads around Glengad checking for insurance, tax, etc. A mysterious white van with Mayo plates has been parked on the roadside during the daytime, adjacent to the Rossport Solidarity camp with the side door open, with someone in there taking photographs or carrying out some other type of espionage activity. The occupants of this van are remarkably camera-shy. Garda numbers in ribs on the bay have also increased markedly in the last 24 hours. All in all, the state is making an extra-special effort on Shell's behalf here in Co. Mayo.

Approaching the winching barge near Ballyglass pier in the morning action

S2S swimmers in the bay at lunchtime - 1

S2S swimmers in the bay at lunchtime - 2

Shell's War Boat Emer in the bay, early afternoon

Mysterious spy van parked up near the Solidarity Camp

by FSB! et al - Rossport Solidarity Camp Thu Jun 25, 2009 02:41

Now before any Shell trolls get up on their high horse about 'minors' etc. it is worth remembering that children have died in Garda custody in the not-too-distant past, and the Garda response to public disquiet (and statutory inquiry) over that event has been lies and cover-up. Staying in Rossport Solidarity Camp is markedly safer than being in Garda custody and any statistical survey can and will bear this out.

Two Gardai hanging about the camp gates all day

S2S swimmers in the evening before they got arrested - 1

S2S swimmers in the evening before they got arrested - 2

Arrested S2S swimmers being taken into Shell's Glengad compound

Shell War Boat Emer at anchor in the bay tonight

by FSB! et al - Rossport Solidarity Camp Thu Jun 25, 2009 02:49

A photo that is indicative of the disparity of resources on both sides. Also, a link to video footage of the evening arrests.

S2S David versus Shell Goliath

Caption: Video Id: ZjjQeAn7PiQ Type: Youtube Video
Shell to Sea swimmers being arrested

by John - Cork s2s Thu Jun 25, 2009 09:58

Just got off the phone to the camp. Sounds hectic. A number of Broadhaven Bay fishermen carrying out their livelihoods fishing crab pots have been hurt and or arrested with boats impounded.
Pat O'Donnell's vessel has been boarded by joint Garda/Navy forces. He has apparently been injured and his boat has been impounded.
Jonathan his son has also been arrested with his vessel towed away
Martin and Tony O'Donnell have so far managed to stay out fishing pots.
The Solitaire is reported to be an hour and a half away. Pipe winching cable has been laid.

Wherever you are folks.
Please do whatever you can to put pressure on Shell/Topaz, The Gards, The Navy, IRMS, Any other facets of this evil web these fuckers are trying to weave us into that you can think of. They are trying so hard because they are desperate and they know they are wrong.
Shell is in the shit all over the world. maybe this is just a big monster with it's head cut off still flailing around doing damage all around it. We have to stand firm, refuse to look away, keep breathing and keep bearing witness and keep holding the Love in our hearts that motivates us to take this stand for ourselves, Life and the Earth.
Blessings companeros, Stay strong

by Niall Thu Jun 25, 2009 21:44

Here's the first pic of the Solitaire this year. Poor quality photo because she's sitting about 12 miles north of Glengad, in ''international waters' it appears, but she intends to come in to Irish waters real soon, according to reports.

The Solitaire, just north of Glengad.

by Seamuseen Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:35

"... maybe this is just a big monster with it's head cut off still flailing around doing damage all around it ..." (from Thu Jun 25, 2009 09:58)

Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I suspect this view may yet come true. (One lives in hope!!)

At the moment however, it looks to me more like the "Shell Oil Monster" has merely been badly wounded: which makes it particularly dangerous just now -- especially when it is at the present time getting so much "military type" support from our Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial).

May God Help Us All -- through this crucially important time in the long and often troubled history of our People, and our soverign Nation (Republic of Ireland).

Shell Oil and US Court Action (June 2009):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Shell+Oil+and+US+C...&aqi=