Workers Solidarity Movement

The camp is open! - We'd planned to have the camp completed to welcome you all back on the 21st of June, but thanks to some great preparation work the camp is up ahead of time. Throughout June there has almost daily actions against Shell, mostly blocking haulage to Glengad.

Read on for latest news & upcoming events. The main message is that the camp is open and there are loads of different ways you can help - spread the word  and come on over!

Contents:
June Week of Action
Arrests, prison support, court
Shell work update & actions
Donal's Play
Wishlist

1. Week of Action

Friday 21st - Sunday 30th June
21st - 30th June - Solidarity Camp - bring everyone you know up to Rossport! This is going to be a pretty special event. The camp has been going since 2005 and so it's a bit of a reunion for everyone that's ever been and also a chance for lots of new people to get involved.

Remembering Naill Harnett - the inspiration lives on.
The struggle in Mayo against Shell and the campaigning community that we have grown together has become the backdrop for so many of our lives, and in the coming weeks we'll especially remember the friendship and inspiration given to so many of us by our friend Niall Harnett who tragically passed away this year. We'll celebrate the friendship, vision, passion and humour Niall brought to the camp and to the campaign throughout, and hope that we can continue to draw inspiration from his memory into the future. A special invitation to all friends and of Niall is extended to share memories of him throughout the gathering.

Full promotional article for camp here: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/103609

The latest confirmed events and provisional schedule is as follows:

Friday 21st June: welcome!

Saturday 22nd June:
Campaign update,
Theatre of the oppressed workshop on with Jim Malarkey of Ala Theatre Galway
8pm: Performance of Ailliliú Fionnuala, written and performed by Donal O’Kelly, Belmullet Arts Centre (E10 entry)
10pm: Galway's up and coming the band "The Lunatic Spoons" play a free gig in McGrath's pub Pullathomas in support of the campaign - bring your dancing shoes!
Sunday 23rd June:

1130am: Strand Feast: Reclaim the low tide!

Come Picnic, Play and have a bit of craic on the lovely Sruth Mhada Chonn Estuary.

Low tide is at 11.59 am - Meeting at Aughoose from 11.30 am

Bring Food and Friends and good weather!
Also featuring Theatre performance at Aughoose compound from 12 noon.

Sunday 23rd afternoon:

Legal workshop, dealing with the Gardaí, courts

Talk from local perspective on the campaign so far, now and into the future

21st - 30th June:

The solidarity camp stays open until the 30th of June, and possibly longer, with opportunities to reunite, take collective action against Shell and support the campaign throughout. The camp provides camping space, communal vegetarian kitchen, water, composting toilet facilities, sun and wind power mains electricity. The camp runs on a donation basis - for more details about how the camp functions and what to expect read here:

What to bring - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=24
Preparing for the camp - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=25
Our Safe Space Policy - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=278
What kind of actions can I expect? - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=282
Food and accommodation - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=274 - http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/?page_id=276

2. Arrests, prison support, court

Extraordinarily one campaigner from the solidarity camp is still being held in custody in Castlerea prison, Roscommon one week after being arrested. The reasons for his continued detention are unclear - he has been convicted of no crime. He is due in court again this Friday 21st at 11.30am. As much support as possible is welcome to demand his release.

Also two campaigners were arrested on the 6th anniversary of Pullathomas Pier violence:
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/press-release-two-campaigners-arrested...
12th of June - Terence Conway & John Monaghan were up in Court both were pushed back till next month.

3. Shell work update / actions

Shells tunnelling problems: A number of sinkholes have appeared in the estuary over Shell's tunnelling operations in the last few weeks. So far the tunnelling operation is about three times slower than Shell had predicted during the oral hearing in 2010.

Check out this video of Gerry local Aughoose farmer Gerry Burke at the first sink hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nesauZk5TWU
Midwest coverage of sinkholes: http://www.shelltosea.com/content/midwest-radio-shells-tbm-causing-holes...
Onshore Pipeline:
Shell are also working on the last three km of onshore pipeline between the tunnelling compound and refinery. They will have to close off the public right of way to the shore soon if they continue expanding the compound.

Walk in the woods:
On the 9th of June locals and solidarity campers walked on Shells pipeline route to as part of a national day of protest against the privatisation of Coillte harvesting rights.
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/walk-woods

Offshore Umbilical Lay:
On Sunday Shell began to lay the offshore section of the umbilical (controls) pipe in Broadhaven. Six kayakers from the camp took to the water to protest but were met with Shell's mercenary law. There was no Garda present and so without even the pretence of law on their side, Shell security and "safety" boats obstructed the protest, including sinking one of the kayaks: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=637897602906485&set=a.4014050898...

Video coming soon...

Glengad: Umbilical pull in probably done. Construction of Landfall Valve and tunnell reception pit ongoing including haulage.

4. Donal O Kelly's play: Ailliliú Fionnuala

This quote sums it up:
“Cuts a swathe through Shell/State propaganda, allowing audiences to access the truth of what’s happening in North Mayo” Hot Press

Performance of Ailliliú Fionnuala, Belmullet
22 Jun 2013 - 20:00
Performance of Ailliliú Fionnuala, Castlebar
3 Jul 2013 (All day)
Performance of Ailliliú Fionnuala, Riverbank Newbridge
4 Jul 2013 (All day)
Performance of Ailliliú Fionnuala, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
1 Aug 2013 (All day) - 26 Aug 2013 (All day)
Info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Benbo-Productions/150959184937388

5. Wishlist
Music, bikes, video recorders (and camera people), paint, external harddrives, but most importantly bring yourself and any support, creativity and work you can add to the effort so far.

Please help spread the word about the June summer camp!  Like and share the camp and Shell to Sea facebook pages watch our youtube videos

Solidarity from the camp,
And hope to see ye all very soon!

www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org
https://www.facebook.com/RossportSolidarityCampGathering?ref=hl
www.shelltosea.com
Donations to the running of the camp can be made to:

ACCOUNT: The Rossport Solidarity Camp
BANK: Bank of Ireland, Belmullet, Co Mayo.
ACCOUNT NUMBER:  24306733
SORT CODE: 905299
BANK ID: BOFIIE2D
IBAN No:IE83 BOFI 9052 9924 3067 33

Thanks!

WORDS: Rossport Solidarity Camp