Film, Talk and Discussion evening about local resistance to Shell Gas Refinery Development. – And the Rossport Solidarity Camp
@ MATILDA Social centre TUESDAY 4th APRIL 7.30pm (111 Matilda Street, Sheffield)
2 people from Sheffield have just spent a couple of weeks at Rossport Solidarity Camp, they will be joined by an Irishman (active in the campaign since last Summer) to talk about the history of the struggle, the solidarity camp and the future.
Also: Bring along any donations of materials for the Solidarity Camp and we will transport them over there. See http://www.struggle.ws/rsc/wishlist.html for list of useful items.
The Issues
A consortium of multinationals; Shell, Statoil and Marathon are trying to build an experimental on shore raw gas pipeline and gas refinery in North West Ireland. At 5 times the usual pressure the pipeline would be built over unstable bog land with a history of landslides and in very close proximity to peoples homes. It would be 70 metres from the nearest home, 10 metres from a public road and 3 families would have to cross over the pipeline every day to leave their houses.
Air and water emissions from the refinery would pollute the local environment including Broadhaven Bay which is a breeding ground for whales and dolphins, and Carrowmore Lake the source of local drinking water.
The Shell-led consortium have been facilitated in this project by the Irish State. The Law was changed to allow Shell to use private land through a Compulsory Acquisition Order. State owned forestry was sold to Shell for the refinery site.
Resistance
Since June 2005, Shell have been forced to suspend work on the project due to direct action taken by local people and the Rossport Solidarity Camp. Sites at Bellanaboy and Rossport were picketed daily throughout the summer. For 2 weeks in June a road blockade stopped Shell vehicles entering their compound at Rossport. At Shell’s behest 5 local men, now known as ‘The Rossport 5’ spent 94 days in jail for breaking a High Court injunction when they had denied Shell workers access to their land.
Local fishermen threatened to blockade one of the worlds largest pipe laying ships, The Solitaire, if it attempted to lay the offshore part of the pipeline. All around Ireland and further afield there were rallies, protests and pickets. Eventually Shell asked for the injunction to be lifted and the Rossport 5 were released.
However, Shell plan to start work again very soon (maybe April).
The Camp
Rossport Solidarity Camp was set up in June 2005 on the route of the proposed pipeline. The aim of the camp is to lend practical support to the local struggle and to provide a base for protestors from around the area. Over the summer (of 2005) campers took part in a road blockade, pickets of the Rossport Compound and organised gatherings with music and talks, actions and street theatre. The camp closed down over the winter (when the construction season was finished).
On 25th February 2006 work began on the new Rossport Solidarity Camp. People are needed from now until the autumn to help prevent Shell destroying this beautiful area and risking peoples health and safety.
The camp welcomes people of all ages, abilities and skills to come and stay for a few days, a few weeks, a few months.
For more info about the campaign see http://www.corribsos.com Any questions about the meeting phone 07981-452174