13 Arrested so Shell can continue illegal work
Tuesday July 22, 2008
In Glengad, today 13 people were arrested when they confronted Shell over digging in a Special Area of Conservation. 13 anti-Shell protesters were arrested at Glengad on Tuesday, while challenging Shell on the permissions they had to do excavation and other works around the site of the proposed landfall area of the pipeline. The arrested people included Goldman Prize winner Willie Corduff as well as Shell to Sea trailer hostess Mary Horan.
In Glengad, today 13 people were arrested when they confronted Shell over digging in a Special Area of Conservation. 13 anti-Shell protesters were arrested at Glengad on Tuesday, while challenging Shell on the permissions they had to do excavation and other works around the site of the proposed landfall area of the pipeline. The arrested people included Goldman Prize winner Willie Corduff as well as Shell to Sea trailer hostess Mary Horan.
Protesters arrested resisting Shell at Glengad beach
Thursday August 21, 2008
Garda patrol boats used to intercept protesters
A number of protesters have been arrested in Mayo resisting Shell contractors who have been trying to install pipeline infrastructure on Glengad beach. Five people were reportedly arrested this morning and another three this afternoon. It is unclear whether all those arrested have been charged under the Public Order Act or have simply been detained.Shell has been working on the beach, which is a Special Area of Conservation, under a foreshore licence granted by Minister Mary Coughlan and permissions from Minister Eamon Ryan, even though they have yet to receive planning permission for the onshore section of their proposed pipeline.
A number of protesters have been arrested in Mayo resisting Shell contractors who have been trying to install pipeline infrastructure on Glengad beach. Five people were reportedly arrested this morning and another three this afternoon. It is unclear whether all those arrested have been charged under the Public Order Act or have simply been detained.Shell has been working on the beach, which is a Special Area of Conservation, under a foreshore licence granted by Minister Mary Coughlan and permissions from Minister Eamon Ryan, even though they have yet to receive planning permission for the onshore section of their proposed pipeline.
Last month, thirteen people were arrested on the beach at Glengad for protesting against this work. The Minister for the Environment has yet to make a statement on the matter. At the weekend , an internal Shell report showed that the company had misled its own advisors in relation to the impact the work would have on protected habitats. Some of those associated with the campaign against Shell have welcomed the fact the gardaí seem to have abandoned a previous policy of not arresting people and simply used brute force to stop protests.
Shell to Sea Pirates begin Week of Action against Shell's Solitaire.
Saturday August 16, 2008
Today (Saturday) at noon a flotilla of sea kayaks reclaimed Glengad beach, Pollathomas, Co Mayo; the landfall site for Shell’s offshore pipeline.Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.The first wave of the Rebel Regatta arrived today following Marine & Public Information Notices which announced the arrival of the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven Bay, any time from today onwards.Captain Ahab of the Rebel Crew states, “It’s unacceptable what Shell are being allowed to get away with here in Mayo. We intend to plunder Shell’s compound at Glengad and board the Solitaire when she arrives in the bay. We take no prisoners. It’s the gang-plank for these boys. This environment needs protection from these marauders of Shell’s.”
Today (Saturday) at noon a flotilla of sea kayaks reclaimed Glengad beach, Pollathomas, Co Mayo; the landfall site for Shell’s offshore pipeline.Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.The first wave of the Rebel Regatta arrived today following Marine & Public Information Notices which announced the arrival of the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven Bay, any time from today onwards.Captain Ahab of the Rebel Crew states, “It’s unacceptable what Shell are being allowed to get away with here in Mayo. We intend to plunder Shell’s compound at Glengad and board the Solitaire when she arrives in the bay. We take no prisoners. It’s the gang-plank for these boys. This environment needs protection from these marauders of Shell’s.”
Shell halted as Shell to Sea '8' are illegally detained.
Friday August 22, 2008Shell Proving They Care About Safety
This morning at 10am, 15 Shell to Sea activists entered the water at Glengad Beach to stop Shell pipeline excavation work. Dinghies, surfers and swimmers surrounded the machine and stopped the work by their presence in the water.3 members of the Garda water unit then began picking people out of the boats and the water and bringing the protestors into the Shell compound where other Gardaí conveyed them then to Belmullet Garda station. Gardaí were questioned by activists, asked to identify themselves, and give reasons why they were pulling people from the water. Gardaí were questioned as to what authority they had to give directions or use force against protesters in the water. They refused to account for themselves. “Public Order Act” shouted one very aggressive Garda.
Related Links: Shell to Sea Coverage on Indymedia.ie Glengad, Mayo - July 29th Shell & Gardaí Force Community from Glengad Beach
Rossport Solidarity Camp Returns to Glengad with a Fresh Call Out for Action.
The Camp Welcomes You Back.The Rossport Solidarity Camp was originally set up on ‘Rossport 5’ Philip McGrath’s land in 2005. In the Spring of 2006 the camp was set up again close to the beach at Glengad near the ‘landfall’ for Shell’s proposed pipeline. Following a mendacious but successful application by Mayo County Council for an order of eviction against the camp in September of 2007, the camp agreed to leave the dunes by January 1st 2008. Since then the 'camp' has organised from the Rossport Solidarity House in Pollathomas.On Saturday 16th August 2008 the camp was set up afresh for the purposes of reorganising Shell to Sea resistance to Shell's latest plans to construct its offshore section of the pipeline from Glengad out to the Corrib Gas Field. A number of actions against that work have already taken place and local, national and international supporters are returning to the area to continue the fight.As one supporter put it, "If there was ever a time to come to Mayo, this is it".
Related Links: Shell to Sea Coverage on Indymedia.ie Glengad, Mayo - July 29th Shell & Gardaí Force Community from Glengad Beach Shell halted as Shell to Sea '8' are illegally detained Audio Interview with S2S activists after weekend trip down
MAOR calls for immediate government action to support the people of Glengad
GARDAÍ yesterday arrested 12 protesters following clashes between Shell workers and locals on a Mayo beach near Glengad. The arrests of 11 men and one woman included that of Goldman Prizewinner, Willie Corduff, one of the five Rossport men who spent 94 days in jail in 2005 after protesting against Shell’s activities. The arrests sparked off a new wave of calls on Government to intervene and, after years of lobbying, to rethink its overall energy policy and its approach to facilitating and supporting the work of multi national companies. In other areas of the county where gas exploration is underway, many groups expressed their solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad.
In Donegal, where gas projects are, as yet, at the exploration stage, questions are being asked as to why the Government continues to doggedly pursue an energy policy which, in economic terms, has only marginal benefit to the people of this country. Gas exploration is currently being carried out off the coast of Donegal and further licenses have been recently announced by the Department of Marine, Communications and Natural Resources. A network of concerned groups have been established throughout the north west by MAOR; with groups in west Donegal, Inishowen, Letterkenny and Derry. In light of the arrests yesterday, MAOR issued a statement of support for those arrested in Glengad :
‘The use of compulsory orders to push a project through without the consent of the people, the lack of support by both local and central government for the rights of local people, the use of An Gardai Siochana to serve the interests of multi national companies; these are issues that effect us all. If the approach taken in Rossport is the template for how our government will facilitate private companies; every community which is subject to gas exploration off its coastline must stand in solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad.’
The arrests occurred as Shell contractors were carrying out works at Glengad. The area is where the controversial Corrib gas pipe-line is planned to come ashore. “Shell have no permission for the work they are carrying out at Glengad, since planning permission has not been granted for the proposed onshore section of their production pipeline,” said a Shell to Sea spokesman. Protestors claim Shell is preparing a landfall for the pipeline and say written queries to gardaí, Shell, the Department of Marine and local wildlife services have been left unanswered.
The situation in Mayo has been one where the state agencies, including local and central government, the Parks and Wildlife Service and the Gardai have continually supported and protected the interests of large, multi national companies with little regard for the rights and concerns of the local community. The arrests in Glengad, County Mayo yesterday are further evidence of the lengths that the state will go to in ensuring that the interests of multi national companies are placed above the rights of local communities.
At the local authority level, Mayo County Council in March 2008, gave the go ahead for a road to be expanded at the request of Shell, Statoil and Marathon specifically for the purpose of improved access to the gates of the proposed refinery at Ballanaboy. With the overall local government approach in Mayo appearing to be one of appeasement and facilitation, local residents have accused the council of being negligent in their duty to local communities. Thirty two submissions were received with respect to the proposed road expansion. According to Mayo County Council’s Director of Services, Peter Hynes, only three were in support of the road expansion. It should be noted that among the submissions was one that was signed by 111 people from the area, which raised questions on the purpose, lack of consultation, safety and environmental impact of the road.
However, MAOR were keen to highlight the fact that there has been a shift at local level in Donegal, where Donegal County Council recently passed a motion calling on the government to renegotiate the terms of the licenses granted to companies exploring for gas off the coast line. Given that this was the first time that any local authority had made a proposal which is a clear departure from the position of Central government, perhaps one of the lessons learned from Mayo is that where the rights and concerns of local people are ignored; finding a solution can become impossible to achieve. Six years after Shell to Sea first articulated their concerns with regard to the health, safety and environmental risks associated with the Corrib Gas Project, a resolution seems further away than ever.
Notes
Background on MAOR
MAOR (Mobilise, Act, Overcome, Reclaim) , is an Irish word meaning 'guardian' or 'steward'. MAOR is a non-party political group based in the North West who have formed in response to the issues surrounding gas and oil exploration off the Donegal coast which commenced in 2008. We are keen to raise awareness of and generatediscussion on ownership and management of Ireland's natural resourcesincluding 'alternative' energy sources such as wind, wave and solar.To date, branches of MAOR have been formed in Letterkenny, Inishowen, Derry and South Donegal. MAOR events continue to engage people in a variety of creative, critical and issue based work including street theatre, public forums and meetings, films, workshops and media events.
In Donegal, where gas projects are, as yet, at the exploration stage, questions are being asked as to why the Government continues to doggedly pursue an energy policy which, in economic terms, has only marginal benefit to the people of this country. Gas exploration is currently being carried out off the coast of Donegal and further licenses have been recently announced by the Department of Marine, Communications and Natural Resources. A network of concerned groups have been established throughout the north west by MAOR; with groups in west Donegal, Inishowen, Letterkenny and Derry. In light of the arrests yesterday, MAOR issued a statement of support for those arrested in Glengad :
‘The use of compulsory orders to push a project through without the consent of the people, the lack of support by both local and central government for the rights of local people, the use of An Gardai Siochana to serve the interests of multi national companies; these are issues that effect us all. If the approach taken in Rossport is the template for how our government will facilitate private companies; every community which is subject to gas exploration off its coastline must stand in solidarity with the people of Rossport and Glengad.’
The arrests occurred as Shell contractors were carrying out works at Glengad. The area is where the controversial Corrib gas pipe-line is planned to come ashore. “Shell have no permission for the work they are carrying out at Glengad, since planning permission has not been granted for the proposed onshore section of their production pipeline,” said a Shell to Sea spokesman. Protestors claim Shell is preparing a landfall for the pipeline and say written queries to gardaí, Shell, the Department of Marine and local wildlife services have been left unanswered.
The situation in Mayo has been one where the state agencies, including local and central government, the Parks and Wildlife Service and the Gardai have continually supported and protected the interests of large, multi national companies with little regard for the rights and concerns of the local community. The arrests in Glengad, County Mayo yesterday are further evidence of the lengths that the state will go to in ensuring that the interests of multi national companies are placed above the rights of local communities.
At the local authority level, Mayo County Council in March 2008, gave the go ahead for a road to be expanded at the request of Shell, Statoil and Marathon specifically for the purpose of improved access to the gates of the proposed refinery at Ballanaboy. With the overall local government approach in Mayo appearing to be one of appeasement and facilitation, local residents have accused the council of being negligent in their duty to local communities. Thirty two submissions were received with respect to the proposed road expansion. According to Mayo County Council’s Director of Services, Peter Hynes, only three were in support of the road expansion. It should be noted that among the submissions was one that was signed by 111 people from the area, which raised questions on the purpose, lack of consultation, safety and environmental impact of the road.
However, MAOR were keen to highlight the fact that there has been a shift at local level in Donegal, where Donegal County Council recently passed a motion calling on the government to renegotiate the terms of the licenses granted to companies exploring for gas off the coast line. Given that this was the first time that any local authority had made a proposal which is a clear departure from the position of Central government, perhaps one of the lessons learned from Mayo is that where the rights and concerns of local people are ignored; finding a solution can become impossible to achieve. Six years after Shell to Sea first articulated their concerns with regard to the health, safety and environmental risks associated with the Corrib Gas Project, a resolution seems further away than ever.
Notes
Background on MAOR
MAOR (Mobilise, Act, Overcome, Reclaim) , is an Irish word meaning 'guardian' or 'steward'. MAOR is a non-party political group based in the North West who have formed in response to the issues surrounding gas and oil exploration off the Donegal coast which commenced in 2008. We are keen to raise awareness of and generatediscussion on ownership and management of Ireland's natural resourcesincluding 'alternative' energy sources such as wind, wave and solar.To date, branches of MAOR have been formed in Letterkenny, Inishowen, Derry and South Donegal. MAOR events continue to engage people in a variety of creative, critical and issue based work including street theatre, public forums and meetings, films, workshops and media events.
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