The shell gas gravy train continues!!

Corrib gas project receives planning permission


THE final section of the Corrib gas pipeline has received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála. This decision means that Shell can now proceed to link the pipeline landfall at Glengad to the €1 billion gas terminal at Bellanaboy. This is the third application made at Shell Exploration and Production in the last ten years in relation to the project.
The revised new route will include an undersea tunnel going through Sruwaddacon Bay, which will carry a 5km section of the pipeline.
The tunneling was proposed by Shell as a safety measure following concerns about the proximity of the previously proposed routes to residential areas.
The planning permission means that Shell are now likely to try and complete work on the project in the near future although opponents to the project, who have been spearheading a campaign since 1996, may choose to seek a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision in the High Court.
The decision made public this morning (Thursday) has a total of 58 conditions.
Inspector Martin Nolan, who chaired last year’s resumed oral hearing on the revised plan, says that the application’s ‘clarity and transparency’ provides ‘confidence that the safety of the public is fully protected, and that the public will not be put at risk’.
He said this new plan submitted by Shell and partners last year was the “most suitable, the shortest and the most obvious route for this development”.
The route involves constructing a 4.2m-wide tunnel in the Sruwaddacon estuary for a pipe carrying high pressure raw gas from the landfall at Glengad. The final section will run overland to the gas terminal already completed at Bellanaboy. The offshore pipeline has already been laid.
Sruwaddacon estuary is a special area of conservation (SAC), running between the communities of Rossport, Pollathomas, Glengad and Aughoose.
Mr Nolan said the development was a “major project by any measure”, but the modifications proposed would have a “remarkably light impact on the pristine environment of the area”.
He also said that the proposed development would provide impetus for the future expansion of the natural gas network in Ireland.
“I expect it will provide impetus for additional exploration off the coast. Corrib will in my view provide opportunity for Mayo in particular to develop a new energy producing centre,” but Mr Nolan also stated new momentum was required to ‘engage the local community and to ensure the benefits of the scheme are developed and harnessed locally’.
He has recommended that an €8.5 million ‘community gain investment fund’ be paid over five years by Shell and partners, which would be held in trust by Mayo County Council, adding that this would “provide a strong enabling community gain which can be developed with leadership at every level into a long term economic and social stimulus for the area locally, but regionally as well”.
He praised Government policy on developing gas energy, but felt ‘further strategic planning’ was required if ‘the depths of controversy and conflict seen in the Corrib scheme are to be avoided in future’.
“Standards, strategic development sites, strategic corridors, clear process requirements for all consents, open procedures for decision making, transparency in presentation of projects” were areas which had ‘led to the depth of conflict and controversy seen in the Corrib scheme’, Mr Nolan said.
Once in production, Shell have stated that gas from the project will be distributed to homes and businesses throughout Ireland within the next three years.
link http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11770:corrib-gas-project-receives-planning-permission&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

Statement and photos of pow swim.(galway bay)

Galway 32 County Sovereignty Movement would like to thank everyone who participated or sponsored an activist in todays pow swim,which has been a great success.

We take this opportunity to condemn the ongoing harrassment and intimidation by free state garda again today directed at our activists.

We as Irish Republicans will continue unbowed and unbroken highlighting the prisoners plight and give them our full support.

This mindless intimidation and harassment clearly shows were the priorities of the free state garda lie,while Galway city and County continues to be riddled with the scourge of drugs and anti social elements.

beir bua

Full Text of IRA New Years Statement

Full Text of IRA New Years Statement (from The Sovereign Nation)
The following statement was released anonymously to The Sovereign Nation.

Irish Republican Army

New Year Statement 2011.

The leadership of the Irish Republican Army extend new years greetings to our friends and supporters both nationally and internationally, we send fraternal greetings to revolutionaries around the world and pay special tribute to those imprisoned for their stand against colonialism, imperialism, capitalism and occupation. Likewise we send greetings and solidarity to our own volunteers in the field and those captured by the enemy.

In the past year there has been no mistaking the fact that a conflict exists in occupied Ireland, the British, Free State and Colonial parliament in the six counties have collectively been unable to conceal or deal with this fact.The enemy has resorted to doing what it has historically done in such a situation, it has resorted to mass harassment, house raids, intimidation and politically motivated arrests and convictions as well as the demonisation and criminalisation of our struggle through the mass media and other channels. None of the above measures have worked in the past nor will they work now.


In the year to come the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann, pledge to continue to resist occupation in all its forms in Ireland and continue to do so in a strategic and disciplined fashion, we will learn from past mistakes and will strive to expand the theatre of our operations in line with our strategy. We will continue to target institutions and personel in the military, political, policing, justice and commercial and economic fields. Those who actively engage in the occupation of Ireland and those who assist this occupation are the enemies of the Irish people. In the last year the lines of demarcation between those who continue to defend Irish sovereignty and those who wish to subvert it have become clearer, in the year to come these lines will become even more stark.

Victory to the IRA.

RUC/PSNI Intimidation will not deter republicans.

Andy Martin has responded on behalf of the Ard Comhairle of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement to the recent upsurge in RUC/PSNI activity against republicans and their families across the occupied area. Mr Martin stated " It is blatantly obvious that someone at the top of the British security establishment has passed down the diktat for the RUC/PSNI to take the gloves off and to intensify their vigorous campaign of intimidation and harassment against republicans and their families. Obviously through their shared anti republican position this diktat has also been delivered to the free state police, special branch, ERU and NSU. Raids and arrests are happening all over the 32 counties, homes are being wrecked, children traumatised. Republicans are being stopped and searched on sight by the RUC/PSNI in the north and in many cases being followed around towns and cities in a blatant fashion. It is quite normal for republicans to see heavily armed police in armoured cars cruising slowly past their homes numerous times per day or setting up checkpoints near the homes of republicans. Republicans must view this as a sign of a defeat in the ranks of the RUC/PSNI, the RUC was supposed to have disappeared and the PSNI was to be the new 'peacetime' police service but due to the growing support for the republican position in defence of Irish national sovereignty the PSNI have been forced to publicly admit that this transition cannot take place. The police service is exposed as a military police force and the the PSNI mask has slipped to very publicly reveal the RUC. These attempts at crushing the republican position through intimidation will not deter republicans, if anything they only serve to strengthen the resolve of the republican family"

IRA To Expand Theatre Of Operations

IRA To Expand Theatre Of Operations



Statement details organisation's plan to ''
Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor Sunday Tribune

The IRA has threatened to expand its campaign in 2011 and is planning gun and bomb attacks on a wide range of British military, commercial, political and judicial targets.

In a new year statement released exclusively to the Sunday Tribune, the paramilitary organisation said the security forces were completely failing to deal with the threat it posed.

In the past 12 months, the IRA carried out several bombings, but it has not inflicted any fatalities on the security forces since it murdered two British soldiers at Massereene in March 2009, nor has it launched any attacks in Britain.

In its statement, the IRA Army Council said: "In the year to come, the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann will strive to expand the theatre of our operations in line with our strategy. We will continue to target institutions and personnel in the military, political, policing, justice and commercial and economic fields." The Real IRA said it had learned from "past mistakes" which it didn't detail.

It has previously taken ruthless action against those whom it claims "collaborate with British rule in Ireland". It deliberately shot and tried to kill two workers delivering pizzas to the soldiers at Massereene.

The paramilitary group repeated this threat. "Those who actively engaged in the occupation of Ireland and those who assist this occupation are the enemies of the Irish people," it said. In recent months, the IRA launched bomb attacks on Newry courthouse and the Ulster Bank in Derry. Catholic police officer Peadar Heffron lost a leg and narrowly escaped death when a bomb planted by another dissident group exploded under his car.

The (Real) IRA claimed that continuing dissident attacks showed that the two governments' policy of normalisation of life in the North had failed.

"In the past year, there has been no mistaking the fact that a conflict exists in occupied Ireland. The British, Free State, and colonial parliament in the six counties have collectively been unable to conceal or deal with this fact," it said.

It dismissed raids by the security forces and the arrest and conviction of republican dissidents. "None of the above measures have worked in the past, nor will they work now," it said. In a reference to the Provisional movement, which strongly opposes republican dissidents, it said the gulf between the two was now huge

link http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2011/jan/02/real-ira-threatens-gun-and-bomb-attacks/

POW SWIM RE-ARRANGED.

new years day swim has been re-arranged for sunday 23rd jan 2011 at noon,diving board, salthill, galway city.


anyone wishing to take part or donate email 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com or donate through paypal address 32csmgaillimh@gmail.com .

32CSM New Years Statement 2011

32 County Sovereignty Movement

New Years Statement

2011

We commend our activists for their diligence and hard work in attempting to secure the integrity of our national sovereignty. We applaud the efforts of others who struggle likewise under their own chosen banner. We send New Year greetings to republican POW’s and their families and rededicate ourselves to their service.

2010 was a year which laid bare the harsh realities of our struggle. In protest against the degradation of strip searching and its vindictive use republican POW’s embarked on a series of actions in protest against the Stormont’s regime’s deliberate policy of attacking republican prisoners. Matched on the outside by regular vigils and marches the political opposition which was generated forced the authorities into negotiations.

With the use of agreed independent arbiters an agreement was reached to the satisfaction of all. However the authorities have resumed their original policy of using strip searching to degrade the prisoners. This was a political decision which has implications for all republicans. An attack on one prisoner is an attack on all prisoners and demands a unified response from all republican organisations. Our resolve must at least match that of the prisoners if we are to successfully confront Stormont’s prison policy.

The recent disclosure of State papers clearly shows that the issue of republican prisoners was a cornerstone in British strategy to undermine our struggle. They clearly show how Dublin also collaborated to achieve the same end. This collaboration now has an added dimension in that former comrades are now part of the British establishment in Ireland. That establishment takes it for granted that its members collaborate in the wider British interest. We openly call on the PSF leadership to come clean and to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. It is your regime which is inflicting this degradation on republican prisoners. Is this your so called peaceful alternative to Irish unity? It is your actions that define you, not your words, overt or otherwise.


2010 also witnessed seismic events in economic terms. Fianna Fáil’s self serving economics led the State to bankruptcy. It bailed out bankers and developers and levied the bill on ordinary citizens. They privatised profits and socialised losses. They surrendered their so called sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund all the while denying it in drunken interviews to the people. But the real issue for republicans and socialists is that our protests failed to impact on events. The crisis in capitalism, which should have opened up so many opportunities for our cause, was duly addressed by capitalism itself. This is the reality we must face and we must face it pragmatically.

2011 must be a year of introspection and innovation. We must look at ourselves and address our failings. What went before has reached its zenith. We need to explore and devise new ways of getting our message across. We need to be more innovative in our protests. We can no longer be satisfied that our protests simply happen: they must also have meaningful effect.

We address young republicans everywhere; this is your time, it is your era, your society, your technological age, you need to lead the way on this front. Irish society has evolved a new language in which it communicates with itself and we need to learn it. Republicanism needs your ideas to advance. Our communities have the expectation of new initiatives to assist them. We need to demonstrate to our people that our aims are relevant to their everyday lives and represent an enrichment of society.

The continued violation of our national sovereignty has led to the inevitable consequence of armed struggle. Those who are engaging in military operations against British occupation have every right to do so, as they always had throughout our history. The function of the Sovereignty Movement is not to question this right nor question the merits of invoking it but to address the cause which makes it inevitable. This we will continue to do in whatever way we deem to be progressive. Treating the Irish Republican Army as a militia is a deeply flawed approach. Predicating a peace strategy on the exclusion of Irish national rights is doomed to failure.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement reaffirms our commitment to seeking an end to British Parliamentary activity in our country. The divisions amongst our people can only begin to be resolved when Westminster and its many agendas are finally removed.