Cork Shell to Sea, Green Party shenanigans

cork | environment | news report Thursday September 18, 2008 19:49 by John

Cork Shell to Sea paid a visit to the Green Party office on Douglas St this afternoon as part of the sustained and mounting campaign to get the Solitaire out of Ireland, Shell out to Sea and Irish Gas in the hands of the Irish people.

The group of about 7 activists entered the office and found all the politicians out with a paid worker left running the place. Our quarrel wasn't with her but with her employers so we made our point firmly and clearly and she passed it on. After a short and cordial discussion we went outside with a banner and leafleted passers-by to an encouraging response. Around this point we were contacted by Senator Dan Boyle who expressed his irritation with our protest and said he hoped we weren't disrupting visitors to his office.
In much the same way we hope that residents of Erris aren't having their lives disrupted by Shell and Gardai, Dan
Councillor Chris O'Leary also contacted us and offered to take a letter to the Party think-in. Text follows

Eamon Ryan, John Gormley, Trevor Sergeant,
All Members, The Green Party.

RE: Maura Harrington, Corrib Gas Project.
Green Party Sell-Out.

Dear Sirs/Mesdames,

We are writing motivated and shocked into action by Maura Harrington’s hunger strike, and, as long-time Shell To Sea activists, with a passionate interest in justice, human rights and a clean and safe environment, we are disgusted and disappointed by the Green Party’s recent u-turns on numerous issues, but, principally, the Corrib gas project.

We have read the Green Party principles, and found them to be completely at odds with reality. We ask the Green Party to redeem itself and stand by its principles by:-

 Ensuring, by any means necessary, the permanent removal of the Solitaire from Irish territorial waters;

 Supporting the Irish people in the reclamation of their natural resources for the benefit of future life on the planet;

 Apologising to Green Party voters for recent betrayals vis-à-vis Corrib gas project, Tara and military flights through Shannon;

 Issuing a clear statement as to why the Green Party abandoned Shell To Sea.

In the event that the Green Party is unwilling or unable to fulfil these requests, we call for the resignation of all Green Party government Ministers, and the re-writing of Green Party Principles to conform with the new reality.

We invite any Green Party members who are dissatisfied with the current situation to get in touch with us and/or support the aims of Shell To Sea, as they see fit.

Yours,
Letter ends

The Green Party principles are worth reading as an aspirational document from a more idealistic hopeful time and they were displayed in the window of the office but on request from us they were removed as they portray a false image of the party.
Photos to follow