Direct Action against Shell in Ireland November 9th

ireland / britain | community struggles | news report Thursday November 01, 2007 22:57 by Alan MacSimoin - WSM

Rossport Day of Action,

The Workers Solidarity Movement is urging anarchists and other supporters of Shell To Sea to get to Rossport for the day-of-action on November 9th. WSM members will join people from around the country in showing, one year since Gardai batoned protesters, that we will not be intimidated.

Shell have shown contempt for the concerns of locals about a high pressure gas pipe running close to their houses. They have refused to move their operation offshore, claiming it would be too expensive. Shell makes a profit of €375million every week. The cost of moving the Rossport operation offshore would be €360million. Those figures speak for themselves.

But why should anyone be surprised? It is the same old story of a capitalist government giving a "dig out" to a capitalist company, and always at our expense.

Under the deal that the oil & gas multinationals were given by Fianna Fail, the taxpayers of Ireland will receive: no royalties from the oil and gas, no share of the oil and gas, no reduced price for the oil and gas. Nothing, nada, zilch. The companies can write off all their capital costs against tax for up to 25 years.

The locals have kept the struggle going. often against great odds. Far from being frightened off, whether by the power of their enemy or the role of the Gardai as Shell's cops, they have grown increasingly militant. There have been sit-downs and site occupations. To win requires large numbers of people being prepared to stand together and use their numbers to stop Shell's plan. A large turnout on November 9th will help to build a stronger campaign.

WSM Delegate Council, October 2007

For information about busses to Rossport call 0879935876

Background information at http://www.wsm.ie/public_newswire/community