An idiots guide to Shell to Sea..

[Tommy Tayto]

So last night we had another scuffle at the S2S site in Mayo.
Gardaí arrest seven protestors in Mayo | BreakingNews.ie

What do you folks think of this whole situation? I happen to think that the locals may have a legitimate point about the safety aspect, not to mention the dirty tricks that have been going on. The beating of Willie Corduff was a effectively ignored by the mainstream media, and the hard questions were not asked at all there.

However.....the entire campaign has been a PR disaster for S2S, what with the crusties, running battles with the guards, tearing down the fences strategy, and that silly Maureen Harrington woman.

I've heard conflicting debates on this whole issue, what would be the pro and cons of nationalizing our oil and gas industry? Are we getting that oil and gas at a knockdown price from shell, or are we being royally screwed? Is it fair to say that the vast majority of the locals actually support the project?

One wise person on pie suggested that there should be a prime time debate with all sides thrashing out their grievances, I think that was a very good suggestion. It would get all the opinions out there for once and for all.

What I'm looking for here really is the inside story. What's REALLY going on up there? I'm just trying to sort out the facts from the PR, which both sides have been spinning. I do understand that there has to be some give and take when dealing with multinationals, sometimes even bending the rules for the greater good. This is business after all. Do you think the end justifies the means, or are the safety issues too great? Your thoughts please.....

[fool]

There was a debate about this on Prime Time quite a while ago. But like TV debates in general it did nothing to clear up the situation.

[caminoed]

i generally agree with tommy tayto though. also seems to me like they have a genuine case, but jes... how to lose public support. they are the perfect case study. also, it seems that most people in the locality (the silent majority) are in favour of the pipeline? for one thing, i the last election, politicians who support it, won about 85% of the vote, whereas the sinn fein, green labour candidates who were against did miserably...

[MsAnneThrope]

Have you asked Frank Fahey? He was involved in the early negotiations and the granting of 450 acres of Coillte land to Shell. Drop in on him in his Dubai mansion next time you're out there. He might offer you a cuppa.

[tfy&qa]

However.....the entire campaign has been a PR disaster for S2S, what with the crusties, running battles with the guards, tearing down the fences strategy, and that silly Maureen Harrington woman

Well its hard to wage any sort of PR campaign when you do not have access to the PR, and it seems if you label the protesters as crusties without having a look yourself, all you do is expose your own prejudices for all to see.
As for running battles with gaurds, well what if running gaurds had battles with you?
Maura harrington has been in jail this last year because she made a stand over her beliefs. She also went on hunger strike this year over the same issues. She is continually described as mad in the media, and you perpetuate that PR, so what do you expect. I tell you we have a real live hero in Ireland right now, and all you can do is call her mad. Sure you would have said the same about gandhi anyways if he was here, so what of it???

[FakeViking]

As an outside observer, I wouldn't be surprised when the latest set of 'charges' are dropped just before the accused go to court. That seems to be the pattern.

[KingKane]

Are the Shell2Sea folks running any local elections candidates? Surely that would be one means to gauge real support in the locality for their approach.

[uriah]

Have you asked Frank Fahey? He was involved in the early negotiations and the granting of 450 acres of Coillte land to Shell.

Idiots Guide

1. Ray Burke (remember him?) gave our gas to Shell for a pittance without safeguarding the interests of citizens.

2. State agencies coming down hard on protesters to protect the interests of Shell.

3. We will pay going rate for this gas.

[Barry]

So last night we had another scuffle at the S2S site in Mayo.
Gardaí arrest seven protestors in Mayo | BreakingNews.ie

What do you folks think of this whole situation? I happen to think that the locals may have a legitimate point about the safety aspect, not to mention the dirty tricks that have been going on. The beating of Willie Corduff was a effectively ignored by the mainstream media, and the hard questions were not asked at all there.

However.....the entire campaign has been a PR disaster for S2S, what with the crusties, running battles with the guards, tearing down the fences strategy, and that silly Maureen Harrington woman.

I've heard conflicting debates on this whole issue, what would be the pro and cons of nationalizing our oil and gas industry? Are we getting that oil and gas at a knockdown price from shell, or are we being royally screwed? Is it fair to say that the vast majority of the locals actually support the project?

One wise person on pie suggested that there should be a prime time debate with all sides thrashing out their grievances, I think that was a very good suggestion. It would get all the opinions out there for once and for all.

What I'm looking for here really is the inside story. What's REALLY going on up there? I'm just trying to sort out the facts from the PR, which both sides have been spinning. I do understand that there has to be some give and take when dealing with multinationals, sometimes even bending the rules for the greater good. This is business after all. Do you think the end justifies the means, or are the safety issues too great? Your thoughts please.....

Direct action is all there is left. Activists travelling out to the middle of no where to stand with a placard and being battened by state forces (or worse, being ignored by the media) will do nothing. Construction carries on regardless, brick by brick.

Wrecking balls and semtex should be the next stage, nothing else will do.

[H.R. Haldeman]

If crusties are involved, I'm on the side of the exploitative, polluting, money-grabbing, megalomaniacal multinational.