There were nasty scenes in North Mayo early this morning, when the Gardaí (Irish Police) baton-charged local residents and supporters when they tried to block a convoy of Shell construction workers building a gas pipeline near their homes.
It seems extraordinary that the Irish police would baton-charge its own people to allow a multinational company to build a dangerous pipeline near residences, and on boggy, unstable land. The locals want the gas to be processed at sea - hence the Shell to Sea campaign. Five local men have already spent time in prison because of their oppostion to Shell. They are ordinary, decent men, who would have lived out their lives in peace but for this monstrosity on their doorstep.
RTÉ quotes Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as saying
the Government’s position is clear in relation to the Corrib gas situation - that the negotiating is over and ‘that is it’.
And what royalty can the Irish people expect for Shell’s exploitation of Irish gas? Why, dear reader, zero. Zilch. Nada. Dada. Rud ar bith. Not one red cent.
The field is estimated to be worth €50 billion. That’s right. Billion. Would it happen in any other democracy? The deal was set up by former energy minister Ray Burke, who has since been jailed for corruption, yet the consequences of this deal continue to blight the lives of the people of Rossport and Erris in North Mayo in scenes reminiscent of evictions of tenants by landlords 150 years ago, under British rule. Michael Davitt, the Mayo-born founder of the Land League, must be turning in his grave.
Ironically today, November 10th, is the eleventh anniversary of the execution of poet Ken Saro Wiwa who was hung along with seven of his human rights activist colleagues by the Nigerian government for standing up to oil interests in Nigeria, “especially the Anglo-Dutch group, Shell.”
By all means comment.
RTÉ Report
RTÉ Video Report (requires Real Audio)
Nigeria Hangs Human Rights Activists for oppostion to oil interests (BBC On This Day, 10 November 1995)
Ken Saro Wiwa Trust
