A large crowd of Ogra Shinn Fein activists organised and took part in a direct action at the Statoil service station in Newcastle (Galway) on lunch-time (Thursday 16 Nov), closing the station for buisness for an hour. The protest was attended by activists from the Socialist Party and Shell to Sea. OSF spokesperson Caitlin Ni Ruanaidh said of the action,"We mounted a picket today to express our solidarity with the beleaguered community in Rossport, and to raise awareness of the theft of our natural resources."
"We see this issue as part of a broad anti-imperialist struggle and as an integral part of our newly launched A.R.I.S.E. Campaign. We are witnessing massive corporations like Shell and Statoil, bullying a small community and robbing an entire nation with the help of a morally bankrupt state."
"We also used the action to remember the victims of Shell's intransigence, the many peaceful protesters who were beaten, bruised and batton-charged by the Gardai on Friday last, and of course Ken Sara Wiwa who was hung by a Nigerian government that was bankrolled by Shell EP."
"Ogra Shinn Fein is calling for a general boycott of Shell and Statoil stations, and also for people to make their voices heard on the issue and travel to Rossport on the next National Day of Action, Friday, November the 24th."
3 comments:
A chara,
An hour doesnt seem like along time, but im sure they are losing some amount of money on the pumps. However, although you are standing up to shell would this action not be disaffecting the small businessman?
Maxi,
e-macsual.bebo.com
In order to make a strong point, it sometimes involves civil disobedience.
The ultimate aim for a protest like this, is to make the business owner ask the question why would people be so motivated to continually protest their garage?
The protest is aimed at the multi national, not the small business, and the aim of these protests is to ensure that the small business person who holds the franchise, will take up the complaint with statoil - if enough franchise holders do so, maybe Statoil will suddenly find a conscience!
Or alternatively the business person will pull out of their franchise which again will bring pressure to bear on Statoil to change its thuggish robberry of our Natural Resources.
The small sum of money lost in an hours protest is minimal compared to the robbery of Natural Resources the World over by Shell and Statoil.
The victims in all of this are the Irish People, the people of Rossport, Nigeria and other robbed communities, not the 'small businessman.'
What we in Ógra suggest is that youth across Ireland and the world start mobilising against Shell and statoil now!
Indeed! An intresting arguement and i holeheartedly agree with you. In complete solidarity with the Servile people of Rossport, Shell to sea!
Maxi
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