Message to an Bord Snip Nua. Resolve the Recession. Tax Shell!

national | environment | feature

Monday July 06, 2009 23:35

by MAOR Derry - Donegal - MAOR Derry - Donegal

astroanne at gmail dot com

+353851080918

Unite to Fight

New licences are about to be issued for the Oil and Gas fields off Donegal without resolving the terrible situation in Rossport. Demand a freeze on the Corrib Gas refinery project until the people of Ireland are consulted about whether we want to continue giving our gas and oil away to Shell.

Related Links from Indymedia.ie:
Reports that Pat the Chief's boat was sunk last night
Massacre of Indigineous Amazonians in Peru - 25 dead and counting
The Pirates of Broadhaven Defeat Shell’s Armada
Prison van carrying Maura into Montjoy blockaded for 20 minutes by Dublin S2S
Shell security attack Willie Corduff after illegal Glengad compound dismantled
Scuffles At Mountjoy As Maura Harrington Is Jailed
Shell in Mayo from the Indymedia.ie Archives

Related Links outside of Indymedia.ie
The website of Shell-to-Sea - CorribSOS.com
Keep the pressure up: Contact ALL TDs, Senators, and MEPs in Ireland and let them know how you feel about Shell in Rossport - Contact.ie

Event Notice: 'Power Struggle' -the Niger Delta and Corrib Gas Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Galway, Town Hall Theatre, Thursday 9th July, 2:00 PM

Message to an Bord Snip Nua
Resolve the Recession.
Tax Shell!

This might seem like a simplistic solution to our present economic woes, but consider the following:

1) Of all the countries whose mineral resources are exploited by multinationals Ireland has negotiated one of the worst deals in the world with Shell for the Corrib gas field. Nearly every other country has demanded a much bigger share of the profits from the exploitation of their natural resources than we have. Those countries who started off with unfavourable contracts renegotiated much better deals later. Ireland could do the same. There is no visible reason why not. Yet our politicians try to tell us this is impossible. Why?

2) In Rossport, Co Mayo, families living near the gas pipeline will have 30 seconds to escape incineration if there is an explosion. i.e. they will have no chance at all of surviving an accident. Yet the government insists this is “safe”. Were they to admit the truth of the situation - that they are putting their own people's lives in serious danger in order to benefit Shell - the Minister of Energy could intervene in the present (disastrous) situation in Mayo without breeching the contract or incurring any kind of penalty. So why won’t he?

3) There are no independent observers to check the quantities of gas coming out of the Corrib gas field. We only have Shell's word for it. Every other country in the world has observers to ensure against theft by petrol companies. Ireland doesn’t. Why not?

4) According to our Petroleums Affairs Division (PAD) there are gas reserves worth between 350 billion to 900 billion in the gas fields off the west of Ireland. Again according to the PAD (February 2009) there is “no state participation or royalties; no signature or production bonuses; 25% corporation tax; 0-15% Resource Rent Tax for the more profitable fields; and generous write-off provisions’. In addition, companies can offset their costs against the tax rate meaning that they will have to pay little or no tax.. This means the Corrib gas field will probably be half depleted before any tax is paid at all. Why does the Government refuse to change this?

5) Security of Supply? Are we guaranteed a supply of cheap gas from the gas reserves off our own coasts? Under current terms, no security of supply is guaranteed. Companies will sell gas back to the national grid. We will pay the full market price for our own gas. Anyone who says anything else is lying. Why?

Beneath our eyes the government is cooking up another fiasco like the banks disaster. If our gas reserves are managed with care and intelligence there will be a much gentler recession in Ireland. There is enough gas out there to ensure a smooth transition from our oil-dependent economy to a sustainable economy. Make sure this happens by informing yourself about what is really happening in Rossport, Co. Mayo. The media present the protests there as the work of trouble makers and rabble rousers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Inform yourself about the struggle to protect our resources by visiting
CorribSOS.com

Pressure our politicians and trade unions to protect our mineral wealth.
New licences are about to be issued for the Oil and Gas fields off Donegal without resolving the terrible situation in Rossport. Demand a freeze on the Corrib Gas refinery project until the people of Ireland are consulted about whether we want to continue giving our gas and oil away to Shell.
Visit maorderry.blogspot.com for more info on this

Better still visit Rossport and find out for yourself what is happening..
See www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com for how to get there.

A new deal with Shell can be negotiated. Many countries have done this successfully. Imagine what a few billion euros would do for our health service, pensions and education.

www.corribsos.com
www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com
www.maorderry.blogspot.com