Ok, a few people have asked about this, so I thought it would be easier to start a thread rather than type this out over and over.
The Shell To Sea oraganisation beagn a few years ago when local residents in Co. Mayo found Shell was going to build the first inland gas refinery in the world just metres away from their farms and homes.
We have now found out the current sitting government (Fianna Fáil) sold off Irelands natural resources at LESS than pennies on the dollar in secret negotiations years ago. Where that money went is now a topic of discussion and a cause of much argument in the government - with FF claiming they don't have to reveal their personal parties private meetings, and everyone else wanting to know how a multi-global corporation purchased the natural resources of a socialist country, where the state owns the natural resources.
Not only were the rights sold off without concent of ANYONE other than a few members of their own party, they also signed contracts with Shell to allow Shell to 'commandeer' any Irsh land needed to get to those resources, as well as offered to help by using the states own money and resources.
All of this and the contract states Ireland will collect NOT ONE PENNY of tax off the resources taken as well.
As the details continue to surface, we see behind closed doors a small group of men for some reason sold out the countries gas reserves without any discussion, for small undisclosed amount, and gave away Irish land, rights, and everything else for reasons they now are trying to keep secret.
Needless to say this is not sitting well with the people - especially the RossPort Five. The Rossport Five as they are known (James Brendan Philbin, brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Willie Corduff and Micheál Ó Seighin) were the first to bring international attention to this matter in 2005. These men who own the land Shell wants to put a pipeline/refinery on refused to sell their land to Shell. Shell then asked the government to send in the gards (Irish police) to arrest these men, who sat in a cell for months until enough people were protesting on a daily basis that Shell asked for them to be released as the international media attention was causing them PR issues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rossport_Five
Although free, these men still are under threat of arrest. To support them the local community along with thousands of activists across Ireland have established the Rossport Solidarity Camp. This camp was built directly in the line of the proposed pipeline and in front of the gates to the land where Shell wishes to build the refinery.
http://www.struggle.ws/rsc/
For the past year hundreds of supporters have visted and lived on the site to keep Shell from being able to bring in equipment and build on the land. Shell claims contracts with the government gives them to right to take any Irish lands they deem nessessary for their development and use them for their own purposes - even if those lands are currently owned by Irish citizens.
Until last week there was a stand-off basically. That was until last Monday when Shell came to the site, accompanies with over 300+ gards and forceable removed and arrested everyone on the site.
Since the arrest, all were freed and charges dropped - bogus charges were filed to arrest the individuals, move them from the site, then dropped once they were at police headquarters.
Over 300+ gards from around Ireland have been called in to work the site - forming a police barrier 24/7 to keep activists out, and instituting a police state controlled area of Mayo.
Local residents the day after the arrests have begun a new campaign. Since they cannot keep Shell of the site, the towne go to gether and had a sit in street protest to show support for the camp. The following day Shell was again blocked as residents across the towne sat in the street to stop all traffic, thereby keeping Shell off site by blocking all roads heading towards the site.
Once again hundreds of gards were called in to remove the men, women, and children who live in the towne next to the Shell site. Once again everyone was arrested, and later charges dropped after they cleared to roads so the trucks could continue to the build site.
So thats where the struggle stands up to the current date I am posting this.
The whole area looks like a police state - Shell has been given control over the Irish police and they have hundreds (note the normal police force in the area would be about 5-10 lads) of police in this small towne helping Shell continue to build its pipeline despite the fact the locals, the people, and supporters all are against this refinery.
Besides the fact that the resources were sold in what soon could be known as an illegal contract without the support of the government, and despite the fact the people who owned the lands were never consulted before Shell came and told them they now own the land these people have owned for generations, the biggest issue is the fact Shell is able to use the government and its resources at their own disposal with no system of checks or balances and no one who claim responsibility for anything that has happened so far.
Also, the refinery is a first. Never before has an inland gas refinery been built. Why? The oil industries studies show pollution could kill large areas of land, and this area is in the middle of prime Irish farm land, right in the middle of 5 farms. Also note that even a small 'accident' at a site of this size could cause an explosion that would kill hundreds of surrounding residents and level whole towns.
Anyway, if you want to follow this, feel free. IndyMedia is the ONLY media that is followiung this - it gets a footnote on the national news, with no pictures, and the tabloid rags, most of which are owned by oil company umbrella groups, all blast the people oppsing the pipeline as left wing nutjobs - even though 100% of the local community has stood up and opposed the actions taken so far.
http://www.indymedia.ie/
Shell To Sea
