The long running struggle in Erris (Rossport) against Shell's attempt to impose an experimental gas pipeline on the local community has once more errupted in recent days with the arrival of the Solitaire to attempt to bring the pipeline to shore. In his article Erris: Community in Struggle against Shell WSM member Sean Mallory details the latest events following the resumption of construction. Here we provide background articles on the struggle and a focus on the events of last Summer and Autumn which culminated in Shell having to halt construction over winter.

We are using the WSM twitter account to provide you with live updates from WSM members in Erris and elsewhere involved in this struggle and to let you know of developments and new information as soon as we become aware of them.

After a quiet period the struggle against Shell’s attempt to impose a dangerous experimental gas pipeline in Erris, Co. Mayo has escalated once more over the last month.

Shell are now attempting to bring the pipe ashore at Glenagad and over 20 people have been arrested to date resisting this. Shell’s Solitaire pipe-laying ship has arrived at the port of Killybegs and is expected in the Erris area any day making this a key period for Shell and for the community that is determined to halt its project.

Also check indymedia.ie for up to date reports.

As we go to press (early January 2007) the campaign against Shell’s attempts to force a high-powered gas pipeline through the Rossport area of Co. Mayo continues (see http://www.corribsos.com for details of the Shell to Sea campaign or http://www.indymedia.ie for news reports). The Rossport Solidarity Camp was established in the summer of 2005 and since then has provided an important focus for campaigners travelling to Mayo to support the local struggle. Here we speak to Sean Mallory, a WSM member who has spent a considerable amount of time at the camp, about his experiences. Please note that the views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Camp.

Work at the controversial Bellanaboy refinery site was halted on Friday the 16th February for the first time since October 3rd 2006 by a breakaway march of roughly 150 militant protestors.

The breakaway began as protestors, many of whom had traveled through the night and taken days off work to be there, left a larger Shell to Sea day of support demonstration at the main gates of the refinery. Protestors ran across bogs and passed barbed wire fences before marching for 20 minutes alongside Shell’s unlaid pipeline to reach the construction site where they surrounded Shell’s construction vehicles

Gardai protecting Shell 0.02 Mb Crossing the bog 0.02 Mb Work in progress 0.03 Mb Work halted 0.02 Mb

WSM members are present at the Rossport Solidarity Camp and are taking place in solidarity actions elsewhere around the country. This is a complication of reports, audio, video from these actions - many from WSM members - and also fragments from discussions we are involved in online.