[IMC-UK-Features] Rossport feature request

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Hi folks

Would it be possible to feature the following article as a feature?

Cheers
Donal

Title: Rossport – a decade of struggle against Shell

Pictures: images at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/99686 – in
particular the one at the very bottom which is from a recent action

Abstract: For 10 years there has been a struggle against the Corrib gas
project in Western Ireland. For the last five years many campaigners
have made the journey to show their support with the local people as
they show the  international oil company that they cannot have their own
way. This year a critical stage is being reached and Rossport Solidarity
Camp is gearing up to play its role in the continuing resistance. Read
on for a history of the campaign and for information if you are planning
to come across.

Links:
1. Rossport Solidarity Camp: www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org
2. Indymedia Ireland: www.indymedia.ie/article/99712
3. Call for action (former feature):
www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/01/472775.html
4. Indymedia topic page: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/mayo/

ROSSPORT- A DECADE OF STRUGGLE AGAINST SHELL

If you have thought of supporting the struggle in Co.Mayo Ireland; this
is the year to do it. The struggle is seen by Shell as its biggest
resistance in Europe, delaying the project by a decade & making it three
times over budget. The Corrib Gas Project starts with a natural gas
reserve lying 70km off the coast of County Mayo. It is jointly owned by
Shell (45%), Statoil (36.5%) and Vermillion (18.5%). The Shell led
consortium are planning on building the final part of the Corrib Gas
infrastrucuture this year- the on-land pipeline- in a 9km tunnel
underneath the Sruth Fhada Conn estuary & adjacent farmland. The
refinery is already built as is the 70km offshore pipeline from the gas
well head to landfall. The connecting 9km is the final piece of the
jigsaw. Here is some background info on the campaign & the area; a look
at some of the politics & history of the struggle & what you can expect
if you visit this year.


Who is fighting Shell in Mayo?
Several groups are fighting the Corrib gas project. These are:

Shell to Sea
Shell to Sea was set up in 2005. It started as a local group & grew to
be a national campaign with groups in most major cities in Ireland. Its
aims are:
1)To have the Corrib gas field exploited in a safe way that will not
expose the local community in Erris to unnecessary health, safety and
environmental risks.

2) To renegotiate the terms of the Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, which
sees Ireland’s 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent* off the West Coast
go directly to the oil companies, with the Irish State retaining a 0%
share, no energy security of supply and only 25% tax on profits against
which all costs can be deducted.

3) To seek justice for the human rights abuses suffered by Shell to Sea
campaigners due to their opposition to Shell’s proposed inland refinery.

The group has been involved with picketing the refinery, blockading
trucks, presenting at oral hearings (planning enquiries), resisting at
sea, mass actions, outreach.

Pobal Chill Chomáin
This group emerged from the larger Shell to Sea campaign in April 2008.
It proposed that the refinery site be moved to Glinsk; an uninhabited
area a few miles to the east of the intended pipeline route and refinery.

Pobal Le Cheile
A group set up by local businesses opposed to the project.

Rossport Solidarity Camp
This was set up in 2005 to support the community around the time that
the Rossport 5 were sent to jail for preventing Shell from coming on
local farmers land. It started off in Rossport & moved across the water
to the dunes at Glengad. When it was evicted there it moved to a house
in Barnacuoille (up the hill from Pollatomish) & every summer sets up
camp at the most strategic location. For the last 3 yrs its been at
Glengad. This year its at Aughouse towards the eastern end of the
estuary. Its aims are:
1. to support the community in its struggle against Shell's Corrib gas
project

2. to provide a base for people to visit, learn and support the struggle
through a number of ways including non-violent direct action

3. to work as part of the national Shell to Sea campaign

4. to link with other communities under threat from the fossil fuel
industry and international campaigns against Shell & other oil companies

5. to try and become a model of sustainability
This is the place for visitors to stay & get involved. The camp has
supported the local community in pickets & blockades; presented at oral
hearings & generally been a thorn in the state & Shells side for the
last 6 years. It has a no illegal drugs or alcohol policy & a safe space
policy.

Unaligned individuals
There are some local people & people from outside the area that don't
particularly align themselves to any of the above groups but are very
much part of the struggle.

RESISTANCE HISTORY
2000- local residents become aware of locals problems with the Corrib
gas project & fight it through the planning process.
2005- indefinite imprisonment of 5 men for refusing to allow Shell
access to land for staking out the route of the proposed pipeline.
June 2005- the community organises pickets on all Shell work sites in
the area. The pickets successfully shut down the refinery construction
for 18 months.
June 2005- Rossport Solidarity camp was formed with the aim of
supporting the community struggle. Shell to sea groups formed all over
Ireland.
30th Sept- Rossport 5 released after 3 months in prison.
1st Oct- mass rally In Dublin.
Summer 2006- with collapse of mediation during the summer, Shell
announce their intention to recommence work.
3rd Oct 2006- 2000 Garda drafted into the area to allow Shell to resume
work. Sit down blockades of refinery gates violently removed by Garda.
Winter 2006-Summer 2007-blockades of site gates and haulage routes;
consistently met with Garda violence.
Summer 2007- Willie Corduff, one of Rossport 5 awarded the Goldman prize
for grassroots environmentalism.
Summer 2008- pipe laying ship the Solitaire attempted to lay offshore
section of the pipeline. Met with massive resistance from the community
& its supporters. Local fishermen lay lobster pots in the path of the
ship & the navy are called in to police the seas. People go out in
kayaks to try to thwart the associated dredging works. Local teacher
Maura Harrington goes on hunger strike. The Solitiare sustains damage
that prevented it working & once its out of Irish waters Maura calls off
her hunger strike.
Spring 2009- community attempts to stop the compound at Glengad being
built. Willie Corduff is viciously beaten by masked men at night whilst
occupying a truck. Shell nets to prevent sand martins nesting are
repeatedly removed by the community.
Spring/Summer 2009- dredging boats arrive in the bay & are repeatedly
stopped by kayakers & swimmers.
June 2009- Pat O'Donnell's fishing boat is boarded by two masked & armed
men who proceed to sink the boat. Held on the boat for two hours Pat &
his crew-mate manage to escape on to their life boat but the boat is
lost. The Solitaire returns to the area & Pat O'Donnell & his son are
arrested & have their remaining boats impounded. Two of Shell's main
obstacles who refused to bought off, are therefore removed from the
area. With a huge state prescence; hundreds of Garda & two navy boats,
the Solitaire manages to lay its pipe.
Summer 2009-oral hearing into the proposed pipeline route through &
around Rossport. The local community present their case against Shell.
November 2009- An Bord Pleanala state that whilst wanting to grant
permission to the on-shore pipeline; the proposed route is unnacceptable
for health & safety reasons. A massive victory for the local community.
A new route is recommended through the estuary-one previously ruled out
for environmental & economic reasons.
Summer 2010- Shell enter Sruth Fhada Conn estuary with two massive
drilling rigs to take borehole samples for their survey of the new
proposed route. Throughout the summer the borehole operation is
fustrated & delayed by community walk outs & occupations of the rigs.
August 2010- oral hearing into route through the estuary. Community once
again sits through 6 weeks of arguing against Shell lawyers & experts.
Jan 2011- An Bord Pleanala announce approval of new route.

Work in 2011
So work has started at the compound at Aghoose. A 2km perimeter compound
is proposed to be built here. From here the tunnel boring machine (TBM)
will work. Materials will be taken in & out of this compound with up to
450 truck movements a day. Once the TBM is in place it will tunnel under
the estuary & across land at Glengad to the receiving compound. This is
meant to take 15 months.
The focus of resistance this year is stopping this work; everything from
fence erecting to blockading trucks. This year is a land year; the water
based stuff is pretty much over. There will be a massive security
prescence. IRMS are the firm used; a company with a history of links to
neo-fascism & violence. We can also expect Garda violence & arrests. If
you are arrested & get charged; a not guilty plea will mean travelling
back & fro to court for a few months.

Background
Irish history is something that can be an issue for activists travelling
from the UK not least because modern Irish History is heavily shaped by
British imperialism. Until 1921 Ireland was the oldest colony of Britain
and today Britain still controls the Northern six counties of Ireland.
The spectre of this imperialism still plays a part in progressive
politics in Ireland today.

"The Troubles"
Perhaps the most controversial period for UK activists coming to Ireland
is the most recent war in Ireland largely fought between the Republican
Movement and the various arms of the British State. While many people in
Britain do not understand this conflict its important that activists get
some understanding of the issues around these events popularly known as
"The Troubles". This conflict while often portrayed as a religious
conflict between Catholics (republicans) and Protestants (loyalists) in
reality was at its core a class conflict with the working class on both
sides but particularly Catholics living in enforced poverty. It is in
this light many progressive activists have strong opinions on what is
often called "The North".

While the republican movement in Ireland were the main force who fought
the British Army this does not mean that all people who oppose
imperialism are republicans or that all anti imperialists agreed with
republican tactics. It is worth bearing in mind that many activists in
Ireland either formed their opinions or participated in various
movements shaped in some way by anti imperialism Activists in Ireland
have a very different opinion of that conflict than what is presented in
mainstream British books, schools, media and culture. For example many
people in Ireland do not see the pre 1997 conflict as mindless violence
on the part of the IRA as it is often portrayed in the UK. Taking an
anti-imperialist stance most progressive activists see the core of the
problem in The North as British imperialism. This does not mean they
necessarily support the IRA or its campaign but that they see successive
British governments as the major problem and the IRA was just a reaction
to this aggression.

How does this shapes people today?
While on a day to day level people can resent certain phrases like "the
British Isles" when referring to Ireland and Britain, it has lead to
more deep seated feeling that can cause tensions. While there is no one
"irish experience" some Irish people strongly resent being told what to
do by people from the UK (particularly England) as they feel it
replicates old hierarchies. Its always worth remembering when talking
about things like direct action there are many people in Ireland with a
vast amount of experience around political activism and that you have as
much to learn in Ireland as people in Ireland have to learn from your
experiences.
Most importantly enjoy yourself and learn from activists and people who
come from different perspectives, united in a common cause.

Locality
This area of NW Mayo (Erris) is predominately blanket bog, rough grazing
land, beaches & rugged sea cliffs. Thousands of years ago through a
combination of climate change & deforestation the once forested area
became blanket bog and was settled for farming. The bog land is grazed
by sheep & cut for turf (peat) which is the local source of fuel & is
used in most houses locally for heating. Most of the bog is held in
commonage with people having grazing and turf cutting rights. The bog is
part of a Special Area of Conservation called the Glenamoy bog complex
which is protected under EU law. Land nearer the coastal areas are
mainly grazing land; cattle, sheep & donkeys. Many people have their own
vegetable gardens tucked away in sheltered areas. The area is surrounded
by a rugged coastline & fishing is a major part of life here with the
sea providing both food & income to many people in the area. The bay &
estuary are also SAC's. Erris is a Gaeltacht area which means that it is
Irish speaking. These districts were first officially recognised during
the early years of the Irish Free State, after the Gaelic revival as
part of government policy to restore the Irish language.

Practicalities
Travelling to Mayo
The best way is to get a rail & sail from Britain to
Dublin/Belfast/Ballina.This is a walk on fare that you can get from any
train station in the UK & includes the ferry. It costs about £30 to
Dublin, £48 to Ballina (single) but varies depending on times you're
travelling. Or you can just go to Dublin/Belfast & then hitch or get a
Bus Eireann. Bikes can go on trains & buses in Ireland but you are meant
to pay about 10 euros. The camp is about 35 miles from Ballina. There is
one bus a day at 5.15pm from Dunnes Stores in Ballina. They will usually
drop you off at camp. Its a minibus called McGraths & costs about 10
euros. Hitching is pretty easy-ask the camp for directions.

Camp
The camp is run by everyone mucking in. We ask 25 euros a week donation
towards food & running costs. No-one will be turned away however because
of lack of funds. There are rotas for cooking & washing up & various
site maintenance jobs. Meetings are run by consensus & actions are
planned by everyone who wants to be involved. We have a camp garden for
veg growing that always needs help so there is plenty to do if actions
aren't your kind of thing. The camp has a no illegal drugs policy at all
times & no alcohol except for friday & saturday night. The camp also has
a safe space policy. The camp is an action camp & is a place to work but
we have lots of fun too! Hope to see you over the Summer.