SHELL’S ILLEGAL WORKS AT GLENGAD TO BE REMOVED ON SATURDAY

News Release: Shell’s illegal works at Glengad to be removed on Saturday.

Issued by Dublin Shell to Sea

Thursday, May 7th

For immediate release 

— Supporters mobilising for first Shell to Sea national day of action of 2009 —

Shell to Sea supporters from around Ireland will travel to north Mayo for a national Day of Action this Saturday (9th May) called by Mayo Shell to Sea. At 6pm on Saturday, hundreds of campaigners will begin removing fencing and other illegal works at Shell’s pipeline landfall site at Glengad Beach.

Shell does not have planning permission for the compound at Glengad Beach (see note below), where the company will this summer attempt to bring ashore the controversial, high-pressure Corrib Gas pipeline. The pipeline landfall site is in an environmental Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In 2008, Shell abandoned efforts to bring the pipeline ashore.

Caoimhe Kerins of Dublin Shell to Sea said: “This is the same illegal fencing that was removed by a group of local people recently, on the night of 22nd April. On that occasion, the Garda Press Office released a statement that gave a wildly distorted version of the event, involving iron bars, chains and balaclavas. This fantasy was mainly intended to deflect attention from the vicious beating of Willie Corduff by IRM-S staff, who provide Shell’s security.”

The attack on Willie Corduff, a grandfather, member of the Rossport Five and winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, has aroused outrage around the world. The founder of the Goldman Prize (the world’s biggest environmental prize), Richard N. Goldman, has expressed his shock at the attack and his ongoing support for Willie Corduff and the local community (see statement below). Also, 26 previous winners of the Goldman Prize have written to the Irish President and Taoiseach about the incident.

Also recently, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) has hosted talks in Dublin aimed at resolving issues relating to the controversy.

Corduff was attacked on the illegal Shell compound while protesting about Shell’s failure to comply with basic planning permission legislation.

Since November 2000, local campaigners have been calling for the Corrib Gas to be processed at sea, as is the normal practice around the world. They have also highlighted the “giveaway” licensing deal, introduced under the Haughey governments in the 1980s.

As public anger over the financial crisis grows, Dublin Shell to Sea campaigners have reported an upsurge in interest in the issue of the giveaway of Ireland’s gas. Thanks to legislative changes made by ministers Ray Burke and Bertie Ahern, Shell, Statoil and Marathon will own 100 per cent of the gas in the Corrib Field, which has been estimated at up to 51 billion euro. They can then sell the gas to Bord Gais at international market rates, or they can export it if they wish.

Caoimhe Kerins said: “People are starting to wake up to the implications of the gas giveaway and the ludicrous deals that were done. The fact that Ireland has all these huge gas resources, and will make no gain from it whatsoever is really starting to anger people. We will get no royalties and all tax is cost deductible. It is a myth that Ireland will enjoy security of supply, as we will have to bid on the global market against everyone else for what should be our own gas. This is absolutely insane.

“We see longer dole queues, special needs teachers being cut back and long waiting lists for basic cancer services, coupled with decreased tax revenue. Everyone is asking where the money can come from. When people hear that there is 540 billion euro off the west coast of Ireland for which we will get no royalties, they get very angry. People are asking us how they can get involved in the campaign.”

“Dublin Shell to Sea is calling on supporters of the campaign to travel to Erris this weekend to help the local community in their efforts.”

FOR VERIFICATION, COMMENT OR MORE INFO, CONTACT:

* Caoimhe Kerins 085 8328130

LEGISLATION RELATING TO SHELL’S ILLEGAL FENCING

[1] Under Planning and Development Regulations 2001, Schedule 2 Part 1 of Exempted Development, Class 25 (c) it states:

“In accordance with any requirements of the Minister for Public Enterprise or the Marine and Natural Resources, as the case may be under section 40 of the Gas Act, 1976, of development consisting of the construction of an underground pipeline for the transmission of gas (but not the construction or erection of any apparatus, equipment or other thing ancillary to such a pipeline save cathodic protection equipment and marker posts).”
 
STATEMENT FROM GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE:

The Goldman Environmental Prize is shocked and saddened by the news that Willie Corduff, Prize recipient for 2007, was beaten to the point of hospitalization for his opposition to the Shell pipeline project in County Mayo, Ireland. “Willie’s resolve to continue his fight against the inevitable environmental disaster that would result from the pipeline shows that he is truly a man of great courage and conviction. The Goldman Prize supports Willie in his struggle,” said Richard N. Goldman, founder of the Goldman Environmental Prize. “People everywhere should have the right to peacefully protest to protect their communities.”

For confirmation contact: Natalie Silverstein, Goldman Environmental Prize

+1 415 345 6330

[email protected] 

GOLDMAN PRIZEWINNERS CALL ON PRESIDENT, TAOISEACH TO INTERVENE IN DISPUTE:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0505/1224245943089.html

ENDS

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