Friday, October 19, 2007

Shell to Sea protests continue


There were protests around the country last Friday 12 October in support of the Shell to Sea campaign. Many Shell and Statoil sites were picketed, with a protest on the Newry Road Shell Station in Armagh for the first time.
On Friday morning Sinn Féin members were among those who joined the local community to picket the disputed Bellinaboy refinery site, where they were met with the usual brutal policing tactics.
In Dublin approximately 50 people gathered at Shell’s Irish headquarters at lunchtime to show solidarity with the besieged community in Erris and their fight against Shell’s scheme to pump raw gas through a high-pressure production pipeline and build a huge polluting refinery.
The protesters at Shell’s Leeson Street HQ included many concerned members of the public as well as activists from various groups and organisations including Sinn Féin, Ógra Shinn Féin and even one member of the Green Party.
Despite the decision of the gardaí to confiscate a ladder that one of the protesters happened to be carrying, at least one activist gained access to the top of the porch at Corrib House. Many people passing by stopped and took leaflets, conversed with the protesters and expressed their support. One motorist even made a financial contribution to help with further Shell to Sea activities.

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