Bolivia has recently had a revolution over the selling of its natural gas to US multinationals by corrupt politicians. They were getting royalties - we are not, thanks to a deal cut by the infamous Ray Burke. Draw your own conclusions.
Minister Noel Dempsey has acknowledged that 'offshore' pipelines being laid across land to be processed onshore is 'unprecedented' ie it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. Shell have been shown to be in breach of the consent to drill offshore. The pipes are being welded even though H&S regs agreed stipulated that the pipe should be in one piece (Irish Times 25 July 2005). The gombeen judge should show more consideration to people who are in contempt of an injunction which prohibits unsafe practices. Multinationals are only answerable to their shareholders; they care nothing for local sensibilities. Shell have a long history of riding rough shod over local people. BOYCOTT (a good Co Mayo name!) them, and hit them in the only place they hurt: their pockets!
A disgrace that five Irish men are in gaol for doing what their government should have done. i.e Protecting the health and safety of them and their families as well as the environment.
The surrender of ownership of Irish natural resources by Fianna Fáil to multi-national oil and gas companies is a national scandal of greater proportions to the issues that gave rise to the various coruption tribunals combined.
The electorate should remember this treachery come the next election.
We live in a supposedly free society and are perfectly entitled to protest for and protect what is dear to us, in this case these men are protecting their families, neighbours, land and environment against a known hazzard.
The government should be defending these men not against Shell and Statoil - who's running this country anyway, sure there's no revenue coming into the coffers from this deal!
I support this petition. Impím ar Rialtas na hÉireann athscrúdú a dhéanamh ar mar a bhronntar ceadúnais ar chomhlachtaí ola agus gáis, ionas gur féidir a chinntiú go mbeidh buntáiste le fáil ag muintir na hÉireann as an saibhreas acmhainní nádúrtha atá amuigh ó chósta na tíre.
I think its shameful that real criminals are walking free when decent people are in prison for trying to protect our countryside and our citizens from harm.
Shame on Fianna Fail for signing away the rights to our natural resources to multinationals who can now pillage them with no benefits for Irish citizens.
Free the Rossport 5 immediately, this is an assault on civil liberty. Refuse to buy Shell forever... this is certainly not their first offence nor will it be their last, profits are more importnat than human life.
To the Irish Government, to Shell and to all the seven sisters, I say, "The involvement of the community in any change to their quality of life is essential to the validation and acceptance of that change; without involvement, change is an imposition without worth."
I shan't touch a drop of Shell gas until this is resolved in favor of the town.
The healthrisks of the people should, in any sane world, be more important than the profits of a greedy oil company.
