29.8.2008
Yesterday, with work in Broadhaven Bay still delayed, a small Shell to Sea marine team paid a visit to the current Shell water nerve-centre based at Ballyglass pier. Currently moored off Ballyglass is a barge containing winching cable, the recently returned Vlaanderen VII which ran aground at Glengad two weeks ago and also the Zenne which is the backhoe dredger that last Friday dropped tonnes of debris within feet of protestors. Also around the area were a number of other smaller Shell boats.
The Shell to Sea paddlers were made up of members of the Shamrock squadron (the J. Connolly, J. Larkin, M. Collins) & Emerald squadron (the Grainne) along with 2 members of the international flotilla (the Guy Fawkes of Yorkshire squadron and the Robin Hood of Nottingham squadron).
The paddlers had made their way about the 1km out to the boats before the Shell safety and security boats reacted.
After about an hour paddling around the area the Shell to Sea team headed into Ballyglass Pier to greet the Garda boat which was just launching from the RNLI slipway. The gardaí politely refused the request of a race from the J. Connolly (Shamrock squadron) after which the team then made their way to the public slipway where they were met by shore support.
Meanwhile marine training continued for the activists preparing for the Solitaire and associated boats.
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Shell to Sea protesters stepped up their campaign against Shell’s offshore pipe-laying operations by mounting a picket at the Shell compound, Glengad, Erris Co Mayo, Ireland.
A daily picket was maintained at the Bellanaboy refinery site from the summer of 2005 till recently. This is the first time since 2005 that a picket has been staged at the Shell ‘Security Zone’ in Glengad. The picket started at 7am and lasted till 9am, during which time Shell security, who were ready to leave after their overnight shift, remained on site for the duration. Shell workers arriving for work at the site remained outside. The picket was stood down voluntarily at 9am and the workers left and entered the compound consequently.
The original Bellanaboy picket was effectively broken by the unlawful and violent behaviour of An Garda Síochána which began on October 3rd, 2006 and continued through 2007. The Bellanaboy picket diminished significantly during that whole period and into 2008, understandably, because of a sustained assault by the State against its own citizens, resulting in much physical, emotional and psychological injury to the community and its supporters.
Today’s picket saw the return of many on the receiving end of that attack and it has to be said that the women of Erris, many of whom have been brutalised by An Garda Síochána in the past, were the first to return to the camp and the refreshed picket.
Meanwhile, a Shell to Sea marine team took to the water from Inver pier to pay a visit to some Shell & Garda boats moored off Ballyglass pier on the opposite side of that stretch of water. Apologies, no pics in this report yet of that little expedition. Maybe later.
No sign of the Solitaire yet, probably due to the following factors:
1) Bad weather.
2) The Chief Pat O’Donnell’s successful defence of his pots from Shell thieves aboard the Highland Navigator. Pat’s gear remains in the path of the Solitaire and perhaps only the ruling of a judge can resolve that dispute, unless the Solitaire steams through regardless.
3) Stiff and growing resistance.
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Urgent Call For Actions Against Shell & Allseas
NOW IS THE TIME- Support Shell to Sea, Ireland. ANY DAY NOW the biggest pipe laying ship in the world, the Solitaire, is due to arrive. The ship is owned by ALLSEAS. Shell are attempting to illegally construct the offshore section of the high pressure raw gas pipeline. Our community are determined to resist Shell here in Mayo, Ireland…but we need your help!
Actions are ongoing and will intensify with the arrival of the Solitaire. There is a role for everyone, regardless of age, experience, availability and skill. The areas you can help with are endless and particularly in the fields of camp support, water based skills, legal, cooking, medical, media and of course direct action.
The atmosphere is resurgent in the area, with a fresh burst of confidence evident among both locals, national and international Shell to Sea activists. This is a golden opportunity to reinvigorate the fight against this project in a meaningful and effective way.
Shell can only hold onto the rented Solitaire for a limited period of time and all efforts to hinder its progress will seriously damage Shell’s plans. ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly.
The choppy waters of Broadhaven Bay will hopefully aid us in our actions but we need you too!
Come to Erris!
Contact: email rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com & phone 0851141170
Or take action at home
http://www.allseas.com/uk
Allseas UK Limited
Address: Knyvett House The Causeway
City: Staines, Middlesex
Postcode: TW18 3BA
Telephone: +44 1784 898038
Fax: +44 1784 898030
Irish Embassy and Shell HQ London
Shell garages across the country.
SMASH SHELL
rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
http://www.indymedia.ie/mayo,
http://www.shelltosea.com
http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp110mb.com