Shell to Sea (in Irish, Shell chun Sáile) is a campaign based in County Mayo, Ireland which successfully opposed the proposed construction of a high-pressure raw gas pipeline through Rossport, and continues to oppose the ongoing construction by Royal Dutch Shell of a refinery miles from the coastline at Bellanaboy intended to refine the untreated gas from the Corrib gas field. ga '''''Garda Síochána na hÉireann''''' (ˈgaːrdə ʃiːˈxaːnə nə ˈheːɾʲən Irish for "Peace Guard of Ireland" often rendered Royal Dutch Shell plc, commonly known simply as Shell, is a multinational oil company of Dutch and British origins June 2007 is the sixth month of that year It began on a Friday and 30 days later ended on a Saturday. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. For the Ontario town see Rossport Ontario Rossport (official name Ros Dumhach) is a Gaeltacht Village Royal Dutch Shell plc, commonly known simply as Shell, is a multinational oil company of Dutch and British origins The Corrib gas project entails exploiting a Natural gas deposit off the northwest coast of Ireland. The stated aim of the campaign is that the gas be refined at sea (hence the name), thereby making it safer to transport, before it is brought ashore and past people's houses. In their own words:
"Shell to Sea is an international non-violent campaign, rooted in the Erris community. Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical Violence. Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland. The main town is Belmullet. We seek to ensure the proposed Corrib gas terminal and pipeline are constructed offshore, as is best practice. A refinery is composed of a group of Chemical engineering unit processes and Unit operations used for Refining certain materials or converting In doing so we seek to highlight the negligent environmental, health, safety, planning and economic consequences of this government-backed plan. The social environment (context, also known as the Milieu, is the identical or similar Social positions and Social roles as a whole that influence the individuals Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity The Government of Ireland (Rialtas na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. We are not the property of any party or movement and we disassociate ourselves from negative campaigning and tactics that many media outlets have attempted to associate us with. We have been campaigning for several years and continue to face intimidation, slander and significant hardship as a result. Intimidation (also called cowing) is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of Injury or Harm. However, we are growing in strength, numbers and confidence. We will remain peaceful, committed and determined in the coming days, weeks months - and years if necessary!" [1]
The most recent poll on the issue taken throughout Mayo ([2], January 2008) found that forty-five per cent supported Shell to Sea’s campaign, 15 per cent supported Shell and the government's plans, and 40 per cent said they had no opinion on the issue or were not really interested. PortalCurrent events International holidays January 1 - New Year's Day January 1 - Independence
Contents |
Background
Opposition to the gas consortium and government's plans among local residents grew during 2000, when many people felt they were not being given adequate answers to questions they had about a refinery and raw gas pipeline intended for their area. The Government of Ireland (Rialtas na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. A Channel Four documentary stated that "huge pressure" had been exerted on Mayo County Council's planning office to grant permission for the inland refinery. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Mayo County Council is the local authority for County Mayo, Ireland. Due to a loophole in Irish law (which still exists), no planning permission was necessary for the pipeline. The council duly granted permission, a decision that was immediately appealed to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) by local people and environmental groups. An Bord Pleanála ( English: The Planning Board) is an independent statutory administrative tribunal that decides on appeals from planning decisions made by local
After holding an unprecedented two hearings, and producing a damning report on the refinery proposition, ABP refused permission in 2002. Setting another precedent, this decision was reversed in 2003 after political pressure from the Fianna Fáil government. Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach shortened to Fianna Fáil ( is currently the largest Political party in the
Local landowners in Rossport were told that the raw gas pipeline would be coming through their lands, and if they didn't agree a settlement with Shell, it would be forced upon them by the use of Compulsory Acqusition Orders (made possible by government legislation not long before). For the Ontario town see Rossport Ontario Rossport (official name Ros Dumhach) is a Gaeltacht Village Some agreed to allow Shell on their lands. Others refused, and Frank Fahey, then Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources signed thirty-four separate Compulsory Acquisition Orders for Shell. Frank Fahey (Proinsias Ó Fathaigh born 6 June 1951 is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician The Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources (Aire Cumarsáide Fuinnimh agus Achmhainní Nádúrtha is the senior minister at the Department of Communications Still some people refused to back down and were threatened with legal action. Out of scores of people who had blocked Shell workers from going on people's property, five men were singled out and brought to court. After refusing to promise to allow Shell put the pipeline through their lands, the men were sentenced to jail indefinitely. They became known as the Rossport Five. The Rossport Five (Cúigear Ros Dumhach are James Brendan Philbin brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath Willie Corduff and Micheál Ó Seighin
Local and national reaction was immediate. 24-hour pickets on the Shell sites at Rossport, Bellanaboy and Glengad began. Rallies in support of the men's stance were held in major towns and cities, and Shell and Statoil filling stations were frequently picketed. The Shell to Sea campaign had begun.
Motivation
The campaign has a diverse support base, including people from many different political backgrounds and those with no strong politics at all. Werner Blau, a physics professor at Trinity College, Dublin, and part-time Rossport resident, told his neighbours that the pipeline intended for Rossport would not even comply with United States standards which were "pretty lax". Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Trinity College Dublin ( TCD; Irish Coláiste na Tríonóide Baile Átha Cliath; Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [3] Many Irish people from outside Erris are concerned about aspects of the proposed project beyond the injustice visited on the Rossport Five and the health and safety fears of Erris residents. Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland. The main town is Belmullet. These include allowing private companies to acquire property without the permission of the owners and what many regard as the amazingly generous terms given to the oil companies by successive Fianna Fáil governments. In its rankings of countries' facilitation of oil and gas companies, the World Bank rates Ireland in its highest, "very favourable" category, along with Pakistan and Argentina. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. By comparison, Nigeria is rated average. Mike Cunningham, a former director of Statoil, said: "No country in the world gives as favourable terms to the oil companies as Ireland. " This is a result of legislation created by Ray Burke, a Dublin politician who was imprisoned in 2005 by the Tribunals of Inquiry into corruption allegations, dating from the time when he served as Minister of Communications and Energy. Raphael Patrick "Ray" Burke (Rae de Búrca born 30 September 1943 in Dublin, Ireland. [4]
This disgruntlement means Shell to Sea is able to draw on support across Ireland, and there are branches in almost all the cities and major towns. A mural is a Painting on a wall ceiling or other large permanent surface A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof Glenamoy, (official name Gleann na Muaidhe) is a village in the northern part of County Mayo in Ireland. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there People from the Niger Delta now resident in Ireland have been especially interested and supportive of the campaign, having had first-hand experience of living in an area that Shell has been active in, and many have visited the area to show support. The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a A mural of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed after leading a campaign to reduce Shell's influence in Ogoniland, has been painted on a gable in Rossport. Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro-Wiwa ( October 10, 1941 &ndash November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian author television producer and The Ogoni people are one of the many Indigenous peoples in the Niger Delta region of southeast Nigeria.
There is also a belief amongst many people that the volume of resources declared are a fraction of those that really exist there, to prevent renegotiation by the Irish state of the less than favourable (to Ireland) terms of contract.
Smear campaign
Attempts to smear the campaign have been diverse. [5] The most durable has been the claim that the IRA or Sinn Féin control it, or somehow pull its strings. The IRA ( Irish Republican Army) is a name used to describe several paramilitary movements in Ireland in the 20th and 21st centuries though the first known use of Sinn Féin () is a political party in Ireland. The current party led by Gerry Adams was formed following a split in January 1970 This story has been encouraged by the former Minister for Justice Michael McDowell (an implacable foe of Sinn Féin and staunch supporter of Shell's plans), various national newspapers (Independent News and Media is a particularly vociferous opponent of the campaign) and local businessmen. Michael McDowell (Mícheál Mac Dubhghaill born 29 May 1951 Senior Counsel of the Irish bar is a former Irish politician who helped found the Progressive Independent News & Media plc ( INM) is a media organisation based in Dublin, Ireland with interests in 22 countries on 4 continentsworldwide Members of many different political groups are involved in the campaign, and prominent local Sinn Féin member Paddy Ruddy works for Shell (originally on the construction end, then promoted to spokesman). Most local campaigners are former Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael supporters, and Philip McGrath (one of the Rossport Five) used to be an election agent for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, shortened to Fine Gael (ˌfina gail meaning Family of the Irish or Tribe of the Irish, is the second largest For the Australian singer see Enda Kenny (singer Enda Kenny (Éanna Ó Cionnaith born 24 April 1951 an Irish politician
Before this, the caricatures were of tree-hugging hippies and "sub-intellectual" peasants. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world A peasant is an agricultural worker who subsists by working a small plot of ground Stories of intimidation of project supporters have also been rife, but these have been rubbished by local Fine Gael TD Michael Ring. Michael Ring (born 24 December 1953 is an Irish politician serving as one of three Fine Gael Teachtaí Dála (TDs for Mayo. Ring was a staunch supporter of Shell to Sea until brought into line with the rest of the party by Enda Kenny. - [1] Unsubstantiated allegations of intimidation were also made by the Gardaí, although no-one has ever been arrested or questioned for this, let alone charged. Pro-Shell businessman and president of Belmullet chamber of commerce Derek Reilly told the media that what is being described as "intimidation" is actually boycotting of pro-Shell businesses by Shell to Sea supporters. Belmullet, (official name Béal an Mhuirthead) is a market Town with a population of around 2000 lying on The Mullet Peninsula in the barony A chamber of commerce (also referred to in some circles as a board of trade) is a form of Business network. Derek Reilly (born c 1947 is a former British professional Ice hockey player A boycott is a form of Consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using buying or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of He told the Irish Times: "It has never been anything more serious than that, but that is serious enough. The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet news paper launched in the late 1850s. " [6]
Current Situation
Riding a wave of public support, the Rossport Five were released in late 2005. A lock-on is a technique used by peaceful Protesters to make it difficult to remove them from their place of protest July 2007 is the seventh month of that year It began on a Sunday and 31 days later ended on a Tuesday. The government felt compelled to appoint a negotiator, Peter Cassells, to arbitrate between the campaigners and Shell. As his remit did not include discussing the refinery, he was regarded as a distraction by Shell to Sea. The pickets at Bellanaboy continued for over a year, during which no work was done by Shell.
On Tuesday September 26th 2006, protesters prevented Shell's employees from entering the site of the intended refinery at Bellanaboy to begin work. Peat is an accumulation of partially Decayed Vegetation matter. April 2007 is the fourth month of that year It began on a Sunday and 30 days later ended on a Monday. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Around 150 local people along with some supporters from around the country blocked the entrance to the refinery site and the Catholics among them (Mayo has the highest percentage of Catholics of any Irish county) began to recite the rosary. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Since the late 16th century the Island of Ireland has been divided into 32 counties ( Irish language contae or condae The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The workers turned back after discussions with Gardaí. ga '''''Garda Síochána na hÉireann''''' (ˈgaːrdə ʃiːˈxaːnə nə ˈheːɾʲən Irish for "Peace Guard of Ireland" often rendered
One week later on the 3rd of October, scores more Gardaí were brought in from around the country, which increased their numbers to around 170. The Gardaí beat protesters away from the site gates and on to, then off, the roads near Bellanaboy for the first time. This marked a departure in Garda tactics which they have held to. The Irish Times reported: "The Garda baton charges that occurred on Friday morning in Bellanaboy were not the product of Sinn Féin or Provisional IRA machinations; they were the product of abject Government incompetence. " A government decision to avoid arresting protesters in order to damp down the negative publicity that would ensue was discussed in the police force's magazine, Garda Review. An attempt was made to block workers' access to the site by lying on the road but protesters were dragged off the road, thrown over fences and into ditches by the Gardaí. A number of people were injured and one young woman was brought to hospital. [2]
With the daily protests at Bellanaboy continuing, protesters occupied Shell Ireland HQ on Dublin's Leeson Street. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. [3]
On the 12th of October three people were arrested at the morning protests. [4]
On Friday October 20th there was a large scale protest at Bellanaboy, and one protester was arrested and released without charge. [5]
During the following weeks, incidents of Garda brutality in policing the daily protests became more frequent [7]. Police brutality is the world wide use of excessive force usually physical but potentially also in the form verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by This was a result of Belmullet Superintendent Joe Gannon's publicly stated policy of avoiding arresting protestors so as not to create "martyrs", leaving those under his command no option but physical force, which made some violence inevitable. Belmullet, (official name Béal an Mhuirthead) is a market Town with a population of around 2000 lying on The Mullet Peninsula in the barony Joe Gannon is a Philadelphia native recording producer director musical stage lighting and production designer
A second large scale protest march was planned for Friday November 10th, the anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other anti-Shell activists in Nigeria in 1995. Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro-Wiwa ( October 10, 1941 &ndash November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian author television producer and Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 When protesters worked their way around police lines, they were attacked with batons. Several were injured and some even hospitalised. Small groups of demonstrators who had been unable to get to the refinery attempted to blockade the nearby Lennon's quarry which supplies material for the construction of the site. [6] The Gardaí were even less restrained here due to the lack of any significant media presence.
There was political controversy in Ireland about the use of such force on a peaceful demonstration. The Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said in a statement that the Irish government's position was clear in relation to the Corrib gas situation - that the negotiating is over and "that is it". Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach shortened to Fianna Fáil ( is currently the largest Political party in the The Taoiseach (ˈtiːʃəx in English t̪ˠiːʃʲəx (plural Taoisigh ( or) in Irish) also referred to as An Taoiseach ( t̪ˠiːʃʲəx is the the Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern ( Irish: Pádraig Parthalán Ó hEachthairn, born 12 September 1951 is an Irish politician who served The Government of Ireland (Rialtas na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. In relation to the policing of the protests, he and Opposition leader Enda Kenny would only reiterate that "the law must be obeyed".
A further large scale protest at Bellanaboy scheduled for November 24th was cancelled by the protesters for fear of increased Garda belligerence that would have resulted in serious injury.
2007
June: on the 5th, five protestors chained themselves together outside the Bord na Móna facility in Srahmore near Bangor Erris where Shell have being dumping the peat removed from Bellinaboy. Bord na Móna ( lit Peat Board is a semi-state company in the Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946 Bangor Erris (Beannchar is a Town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is on the banks of the Owenmore River and is the gateway to the Erris Peninsula While rank-and-file Gardaí calmly awaited the arrival of the fire brigade to cut through the protestors' sophisticated "lock-on", Superintendent Gannon seemed beside himself with rage, referring to one female protestor as a "cunt" [8]. A fire station (also called stationhouse) is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus (i A lock-on is a technique used by peaceful Protesters to make it difficult to remove them from their place of protest Cunt ( IPA:/kʌnt/ is an English language Vulgarism referring generally to the Female genitalia.
September: on the 12th, a protester from Dublin charged with public order offences has his case dismissed in Belmullet because of conflicting Garda evidence. Royal Dutch Shell plc, commonly known simply as Shell, is a multinational oil company of Dutch and British origins Leeson Street ( is a thoroughfare in south Dublin, Ireland. Originally known as Suesey Street it was renamed in 1728 after the Leesons a family of local brewers Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. May 2007 is the fifth month of that year It began on a Tuesday and 31 days later ended on a Thursday. Belmullet, (official name Béal an Mhuirthead) is a market Town with a population of around 2000 lying on The Mullet Peninsula in the barony Om September 13th Judge Mary Devins delivers a judgement in the case of the protesters who had locked themselves together to stop peat stripping in June. The Judge likens the protest to Tiananmen Square in 1989, and demonstrations in Dublin by groups of farmers and taxi drivers which blocked traffic. Tiananmen Square ( is the large Plaza near the center of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen (literally Gate of Heavenly Peace She dismisses most of the charges and sentences the five to community service for "reckless behavior". These judgements are seen as encouraging for non-violent direct action style protests in the future. The judge also disclosed that she had been receiving letters about the campaign and the cases before her, some sent anonymously. [7]
2008
Gallery of campaign material
The Shell to Sea campaign has generated a lot of creative campaign material.
 Poster of Mohandas Gandhi, Michael Davitt and Martin Luther King, Jr. at Shell to Sea campaign HQ, Bellanaboy |
 Mural of Ken Saro Wiwa unveiled in Erris, November 2005 |
References
- ^ Irish Independent 21st October 2006
- ^ "Mayo News" article 3rd October 2006
- ^ RTE news report 11th October
- ^ RTE news report 12th October 2006
- ^ RTÉ NEWS OCTOBER 20TH 2006
- ^ RTE News November 10th
- ^ "Western People" article 20th September 2007
See also
- Controversies surrounding Royal Dutch Shell
- Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
- Rossport Five
- Rossport Solidarity Camp
- Royal Dutch Shell safety concerns
External links
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Michael Davitt ( Irish name: Mícheál Mac Dáibhéid) ( March 25, 1846 &ndash May 30, 1906) was an Irish Martin Luther King Jr ( January 15, 1929 April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, Activist and prominent leader Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro-Wiwa ( October 10, 1941 &ndash November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian author television producer and Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland. The main town is Belmullet. PortalCurrent events News collections and sources See WikipediaNews collections and sources. There have been concerns over Royal Dutch Shell over environmental and health and safety related issues as well as The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP is a campaigning organization representing the Ogoni people in their struggle for ethnic and environmental rights The Rossport Five (Cúigear Ros Dumhach are James Brendan Philbin brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath Willie Corduff and Micheál Ó Seighin Rossport Solidarity Camp (An Campa Dlúthchomhar was established in the middle of June 2005 at the request of residents of Rossport, in north-west County Mayo An article entitled "Sharpening Shell’s safety culture" was published on 10 August 2007 on the Portal website of the energy multi-national Royal Dutch ShellDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic