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Shell's First Day of Peat Works 'Severely Impeded' by Protests

category mayo | environment | news report author Tuesday July 26, 2011 11:35author by j debender - Rossport Solidarity Campauthor address Aughoose, between Pollatomish and Bellanaboyauthor phone 0851141170

Come up to Mayo! Protests are continuous...

Monday 25th July Shell intended to begin constructing a permanent compound in Aughoose from which to begin laying the offshore pipeline. However in a statement to Midwest radio Shell commented that works had been 'severely impeded' on Monday. Between a 5½ hour tripod blockade in the morning and loads of protesters on bicycles and on foot, the roads remained shut down for quite a lot of the day.
On the road between Bellanaboy and Aughoose
On the road between Bellanaboy and Aughoose

The tripod was erected at 7am and the road was blocked until about 12.30pm. AGS scaffolding, a company owned by the brother of Sergeant James Gill, was called in to erect scaffolding around the tripod and the person who had climbed the tripod was arrested and charged. That was the only arrest on Monday. When the person in the tripod asked Sergeant Butler how she was going to be brought down the ladder, he responded that she would 'be handcuffed, your ankles will be cable-tied and you'll be manhandled down the ladder.'

After the tripod was taken away at least 10 tractors were either stopped or delayed throughout the day. Cyclists were cycling slowly in front of tractors bringing fencing and bog mats into the Aughoose compound, and sometimes climbing up on top of tractors to stop them from bringing in their loads. Every single vehicle that left Shell's Bellanaboy refinery Monday had a police escort. The Gardai were trying to move the cyclists off the road but found it very difficult to keep up with the cyclists when they were on foot, and were unable to do much when they were in a vehicle.

After a few hours of cyclists slowing down tractors and people climbing them, the gardai began stealing people's bikes. After four bikes were taken off of cyclists, people began hiding in ditches and jumping out when a tractor and trailer would drive by, climbing on top to block the road.

Overall Monday was a pretty amazing day of protesting, see the many photos for a better idea of what went on. So far as of 11.30am on Tuesday, only two tractor trailers bringing bog mats and fencing have successfully entered the compound at Aughoose. There was an arm tube lock-on in the morning, but no arrests. Since then people have been hiding along the road from Bellanaboy refinery to the compound at Aughoose, jumping out to stop tractors and climbing on top. Currently one person is on top of a tractor which is blocking the road from both directions. The person has been up there for over an hour so far.

Since the tripod person no arrests have been made, yet work has been massively delayed by protesters. The protests will be continuous, so come up and show your support! There will be a mass day of action this Friday 29th of July, but come up sooner if you're able.

The camp is in Aughoose, between Pollatomish and Bellanaboy.
To contact: rossportsolidaritycamp[at]gmail[dot]com or 0851141170

Related Link: http://Rossportsolidaritycamp.org

Tripod roadblock
Tripod roadblock

The person climbed into the apex of the tripod
The person climbed into the apex of the tripod

"you will be handcuffed, your ankles cable tied, and you'll be manhandled down the ladder"
"you will be handcuffed, your ankles cable tied, and you'll be manhandled down the ladder"

IRMS blocking off the public road again at Aughoose. One law for shell, another for the rest of us.
IRMS blocking off the public road again at Aughoose. One law for shell, another for the rest of us.

Comments (7 of 7)

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author by j debender - rossport solidarity camppublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:00author address author phone

more photos

On top of a tractor
On top of a tractor

p7250374.jpg

Bikes are traffic too!!
Bikes are traffic too!!

Critical mass
Critical mass

We have a right to cycle on the public roads, but the guards disagree
We have a right to cycle on the public roads, but the guards disagree

author by Maura Harrington - Shell to Seapublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 13:28author address author phone

For the information of a wider readership please note that the owner of the scaffolding firm
used by Shell to remove pesky protesters/defenders is a brother of Sgt James Gill of 'Rape
Tape' infamy.

There are many more examples known locally of the symbiotic relationship between Shell, the
cops, functionaries of the state etc.

author by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite partypublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 13:55author address author phone

..maybe in fifty years time, when the government will be wringing its anguished hands and the media will be clucking and tutting after a long-awaited Shellmullet Report into colluders in the great cover up.

Some future Enda will make a speech and StatAramShelTexaco will withdraw its corporate ambassador to the Republic of Eure.

author by j debender - Rossport Solidarity Camppublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 14:32author address author phone

more photos

critical mass
critical mass

Guards telling cyclists to clear the road
Guards telling cyclists to clear the road

p7250396.jpg

p7250401.jpg

p7250412.jpg

author by rscpublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 14:43author address author phone

more photos

dscf0544.jpg

dscf0546.jpg

dscf0548.jpg

author by heidi kellner - no to warpublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 17:49author address author phone

love seeing the bikes stopping the trucks - reminds me of Tienanmen square and the lone activist infront of the tanks.
good luck to you and NO Shell!

Related Link: http://www.notowar.com
author by Shelverpublication date Tue Jul 26, 2011 21:21author address author phone

Wow great work!
The story's and photos are inspirational, looks like Shell and the Gardaí are having serious trouble.
Beir bua agus beim ar ais go luath.
x


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