National Shell to Sea Meeting

mayo | environment | event notice Thursday July 28, 2005 23:57 by Tracey Ryan & Niall Harnett - Rossport Solidarity Camp 086 8444966

Venue: Rossport Solidarity Camp Marquee

When: Saturday 30th of June - Bank Holiday Weekend.

Topics:
The national campaign (i.e. not local erris actions or legal situation)
Solidarity week of action, Erris, starting Mon 22 August till Sunday 28.

Represented: The families and enjoined landowners on pipeline route as individuals, 2 or 3 representatives from each other group and national campaigners.

Free camping and free food served. Bring camping gear, donations welcome.

Camp Guidelines

This is not camping out for the weekend, this is a serious political action that involves hard work and discipline, the camp exists to contribute to the campaign not to jeopardize it.

No Alcohol/No Drugs – this is what the media/state/corporations want – not us, we also want to live here in peace and quiet.

If the Police arrive we speak to them at the gates – they are not allowed into the camp without a warrant (obviously only applicable to those parts of the camp that are on private lands).

Non-violence – again this is what the opposition wants in order to justify repression, in any case you cannot compete violently with the state, they are trained to deal with violence and not ready for non-violent resistance.

Accountability – there are no individualist actions – every action is checked through a collective process of decision-making, we have a meeting every night.

This is a working camp – if you are here you are working not lounging, there is lots of different valued work to do for people of all ages/abilities/skills.

In regard to sexual harassment/sexual violence we are seeking advice from the Safer Communities initiative in Dublin.

Housekeeping – waste is separated and sent for recycling in Ballina, compost toilet on site.

When we have sufficient time/numbers we are helping local folk who have been at the Rossport picket or whose husbands’ are in prison, help meaning cutting turf or farm work.

There is no swimming in the estuary – it has a very strong current – there are safe places to swim – ask around.

DEALING WITH THE PRESS:
PRESS STATEMENT FROM ROSSPORT SOLIDARITY CAMP.

The Rossport Solidarity Camp functions as part of the Shell to Sea campaign and to support the community of Rossport and the 6 families, including the families of the Rossport 5 who are in dispute with Shell and the Government.

We are here at the invitation of Philip Mc Grath, Willie Corduff, Micheál O Seighin, Vincent Mc Grath and Brendan Philbin. We intend to stay here until this campaign is won.

The proposed pipeline will not go ahead, the Rossport 5 will be vindicated and the overall deal will be renegotiated in favour of the Irish people.

We wish media attention not to focus on the camp but on the issue itself, and so we as a group have decided that there will be no media access to the camp as this story is not about us, but about the attempted bullying and intimidation of a small community by a foreign private company, facilitated by the Irish Government.

If you would like more information about the Shell to Sea campaign or the Rossport 5 OR the camp please speak to Bríd Ní Sheighin, Rossport, daughter of prisoner Micheál Ó Seighin at 097 88806 and see www.shelltosea.com.