The Shell Empire in Ireland

How much money has the government spent protecting such controversial projects as the Shell Refinery in Co Mayo? At least €14.5 million. Sinn Féin Deputy, Peadar Tóibín, was compelled to ask in parliament for a full list of the Gardai expenses on the project when the Minister for Justice, Shatter, finally released the shocking figures. Cuts in education and health are quite understandable when Shell Exploration & Production (E&P) is building a gas pipeline and needs government defence for it. Most of the money was spent on overtime for Gardai.

Local Protesters, Photo: guardian.co.uk

Retrospectively, everyone regrets the costs, but this hasn’t led to questioning the rationale for the project in the first place. Why did the project need so many Gardai present at the building site? Why didn’t Shell take ownership and responsibility of the problem itself?

Instead of asking these questions, the government seems to prefer to give millions of Euros to the Gardai for travel and other expenses. A referendum would have cost less, but it is quite clear that the government is really seeking genuine solutions to the problems of the local people.     

Videos of local activists in conflict with Gardai at the Shell building site have been all over the news media lately. Pushing, screaming, discussing: the anger on the ground between the opposing parties is evident. When a construction truck at the site was pushed against activists behind a fence the situation really escalated: people jumped on the truck, held onto it, got injured, and were finally removed with the force of the police. “They got overtime for beating us,” said one activist who was part of the protest.

Shell’s plans to build a gas pipeline have ignited people’s fears that their local environment could be destroyed and pollution could lead to health problems. A five kilometre tunnel is planned to connect the pipes from the field to the gas terminal at Bellanaboy. From there the pipes are to be tied into the national network. The ongoing protests about this project have gained increasing attention when Gardai, controversially, used mass force to keep the building site clear for construction.

Shell Project, Photo: shelltosea.com

“The Sea has been very good to the community here. It has kept us going. That’s why I wouldn’t like to see it polluted,” said one of the local fisherman. In 2005, five farmers were put in jail because they stopped Shell workers from coming onto their land. The community supported the so-called “Rossport five” and kept the protest going, even though the Court decided against the farmers, placing an injunction on them. “All we had done was protect our homes, our families, our land, our neighbours,” said one of the five jailed. “We only got out of jail because Shell got negative publicity,” he continued.

The Mayo County councillor, Gerry Coyle, speaking about the site of the new Shell project, commented: “I think it is the most monitored site I was ever in. If I would think it would pollute the drinking water I would be down there protesting myself.” He described the flourishing economy of the area and all the jobs that have been created through Shell’s project, but added: “No one wants to see damage to the environment for the sake of jobs.”

Michael Crothers, Shell’s Managing Director, said that there will be 700 direct and 750 indirect jobs created by the time the project is completed in 2014. Furthermore, he added that €4.4 billion will be contributed to the Republic’s economy and the gas pipeline will provide 60 per cent of the natural gas in Ireland.

The “Shell to Sea” campaign is the biggest protest movement in Rossport. People representing a broad spectrum of ages, heritages and professions are protesting against the project being built on shore. “This is different from the pipes I usually drive over every day and don’t give a thought about it. Here if it leaks, it might explode, what is a scary thought,” said Diane Amber who is one of the activists.

A lot of energy has been lost in the defence of this  project. The government’s financial resources could have been invested in better ways and, psychologically, exhaustion, anger and frustration are common feelings on both sides of the debate.

Gardai and Protester, Photo: keithheneghanphoto.photoshelter.com

Colin Joyce who works for Shell Ireland explained that it is only a small-medium sized gas field and the pipeline would only travel nine kilometers on land from Rossport. The gas refinery could not be built in the sea because workers could only access the site via helicopter.

However, the arguments on the other side continue to build. “They didn’t ask us,” commented Willie Corduff, another local farmer. Corduff added that Shell workers at least have the free will to go to the site, whereas people from the village cannot choose if they want to take the risk and live above the gas pipelines. Furthermore, he claimed that Ireland’s natural resourses are not only used for Ireland but are exported to other countries. 

“It’s going to cause pollution and it has caused pollution already,” commented Eoin O'Leidhin, Shell to Sea activist. The local people in Co Mayo are scared of the consequences of the gas project and fear that they will have to move away. Rossport could turn into a place where there is no recession but where no one wants to live any more.

The project is good for Shell’s business and Ireland’s economy but harmful to the landscape and the people living in the area. Therefore, the Gardai expenses are far too high to be paid by the public. It’s not too late to raise that issue.

Dr. Merkel's Adventures

Cartoon of Angela Merkel, photo: danikaturen.wordpress.com

The arms are bent, the fingertips are touching. Angela Merkel is ready to face the press conference on the euro summit in Brussels. Her velvet suit is dark blue, the background is light blue and the European flag shines also in blue with the twelve yellow stars on it. Only the German flag in black, red and gold does not fit the theme of the conference.

Last October the European leaders met to discuss the continuing debt crisis. “Europe should, in the same way as Germany has, become stronger after the crisis,” stated Chancellor after the meeting. Merkel’s rhetorical training seems to work out. She stressed the right words in each sentence: “Maximization”, “nominal increase”, “avoidance” and “approximately”. These terms became very important in her speech.

“We agreed on economic reforms that consist of five elements: First, the individual effort of the member states, second, a sustainable solution for Greece, third, the optimization of ESFS, fourth, the recapitalization of Europe’s banks and fifth, the strengthening of the stability of the Euro zone,” said Angela Merkel. That’s it. Those five “elements” are the solution of Europe’s financial problems or rather “a step forward”, as Merkel likes to say.

“I am very confident with the outcome of the meeting,” added the Chancellor at the end of her talk.  She is then ready to answer questions of the journalists who have been silent so far. Merkel is juggling with billions of Euros for Greece till no one really understands how much money is actually going to be paid. When she doesn't know the answer she simply looks at her notes, repeats what she has said before, folds her hands and smiles confidently. Besides, none of the journalists are confronting her with tricky questions.

There is nothing to enrage Angela Merkel. She remains calm and keeps her way as usual. In her home country the Chancellor is rather seen as an uncharismatic politician. In Europe Angela Merkel is ruling walking hand in hand with Sarkozy and tells other nations what to do. Abroad she is referred to as Dr. Merkel and in her home country that title does not seem to exist at all.   

Angela Merkel’s history in well known. She was born in Hamburg but grew up in East Germany. Her father Horst Kasner worked as a pastor in the local community and therefore Merkel’s Christian background is obvious. In 1973 she started studying physics in Leipzig and gained her doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry. Merkel remained in the academically working sphere until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Her political involvement began with the membership in the new party Democratic Awakening. Shortly afterwards, the party united with the Christian Democratic Union, CDU, where Merkel is the federal Chairwoman since 2000. She was elected to the German Bundestag and represented her home state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern there. Furthermore, she used to hold the title of the Federal Minister for Women and Youth and afterwards Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

The federal election in 2005 made her move into the so called Kanzleramt and she became known for being the first female Chancellor in Germany.

Some say Angela Merkel is not a typical woman and that is why she has been so successful in the man dominated world of politics. Another question is what “femine” is supposed to be and if women in leading positions are not always seen as dashing and stern.

Even though, she seems to have a lack of charisma, Merkel is not only the leading figure in Germany but also one of the most influential politicians in Europe. Her conservative views are followed and even her coalition partner the Free Democrats cannot really introduce any liberal policy. Merkel is respected, perhaps because of Germany’s economical strength or because people believe she knows a way out of the crisis. 

„We are going to have regular Euro summits and the obligation of the member states, we agreed on that today, that the debt limitations (...) are going to be prescribed into domestic law," stated the Chancellor. There she goes again. Merkel is clear about her demands. She wants to move on with the “economical convergence in the Euro zone” to improve order and obedience in the financial world. Basically, she tells the others what to do and that is to lower the autonomy of the Euro states. Otherwise, the bailout fund could be cut very quickly. The powerful and wealthy states tell the dependent and indebted ones what to do. The ongoing protest in Athens can not change that either. France and Germany are putting even more pressure on Greece to keep with the agreed austerity measures.

Her party, the CDU, enjoys increasing prevalence in the German population and according to the latest surveys Angela Merkel is the only politician in Europe whose popularity grows within the crisis. That is quite the opposite to Sarkozy’s current status heading into the presidential election in France in April.

Merkel and Sarkozy at Summit, photo: hellenext.org

“I am going to support Nicolas Sarkozy, because we are friends – no matter what he does,” said Merkel in the double interview with Sarkozy at the beginning of the week. “I admire the woman who led 80 million Germans so well through the crisis,” was his reply. German papers refer to the dream team as “Merkozy” and write about Sarkozy’s strategy to win the elections due to mutual support. The German-French relationship might never have been as strong as it is right now. They present themselves as invincible parties for Europe and historically grown friends. To create the image of personal affection and coorporation between Merkel and Sarkozy is the aim of that campaign.

There is no gossip about the German chancellor and in general very little is known about her private life. She doesn’t have children, is married to Joachim Sauer but together they are rarely seen in public. Merkel doesn’t give statements in outrage, controls her emotions and is always diplomatic. She can not even be exposed with a fake doctorate like other German politicians have been lately. 

When Angela Merkel is smiling she seems to be a different person. The angles of her mouth are lifted up, her face brightens and little wrinkles appear next to her eyes. Merkel is not as intimidating as Margaret Thatcher with the high pitched voice. Merkel is just “Angie” who can not be imagined to lead anything anywhere. Again, it might be rather the ability of wealthy nations to profit from the crisis than great politics that rule in Europe.

Someone like you

Deep and powerful is the first word she sings into the microphone. Dressed in a black dress and with a stern look on her face she is standing on stage of the O2 Arena in Greenwich quietening the audience with her voice. The piano player in the black suite swings to the soft melody. The performance is simple but elegant. In the end of the song tears run down her face.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is still showing emotions when she sings her song “Someone like you” over and over again. Adele tells the story of a heart broken woman who wishes “nothing but the best” to her ex-boyfriend and his new life. When the British singer tunes in the verse “sometimes it ends in love but sometimes it hurts instead,” she reaches out to the people’s hearts. All of those experiences are easy to identify with because she is referring to issues in everyone’s real life. The lyrics are structured in simplicity and played so often that the memorization of them unavoidable. The music in her second album “21” turned from jazzy beats into catchy pop. Though, her voice kept the heavy soul what makes her sound much older than only 22.

Photo: sound.to

Most of the time, she wears black. Pictures show her bulgy hair which is neatly tied back to a big bun. Even her makeup seems to be the same all along. The black eye liner that emphases her big eyes and the rouge that stresses her cheekbones are a set part of her occurrence. Adele isn’t one of the dainty pop stars. Her figure is curvy and the features of her face are very smooth. Her style, self-created or adopted to her, is elegant and mature. 

The way Adele is behaving in interviews is the complete contrast to her deliberate and severe music. While talking to Jonathan Ross on ITV her strong Tottenham accent becomes obvious and her humorous nature, too. Similar to her singing voice her laugh is tremendous and the audience giggles with her. Adele makes jokes on behave of the presenter’s age, her ex-boyfriend and also doesn’t take herself too seriously. Even though, her lyrics are quite sad and sorrowful the singer seems to be a joyful person who just gets on with the ups and downs of life.

According to her main focus on relationships that didn’t work out and the feelings that remained from that time, Adele is frequently questioned about her own relationships. Too quieten the ongoing rumours about her current boyfriend Simon Konecki she posted on her blog lately:

 “This is the first and last time I will comment on the details of my relationship with Simon. Contrary to reports and headlines in the press today, Simon is divorced and has been for 4 years. Everyone in our lives separately and together wish us nothing but the best, and vice versa. These are the facts. Take care and see you all in February xx.”

Fed up with the media reporting Adele stated: “I don’t really look at the internet anymore. There is way too much bad staff.” 

There have already been drinking issues in Adele’s short career. After her first album “19” was flourishing and she got the Urban Music Award for “Best Jazz Act”, she cancelled her 2008 tour “An Evening with Adele”. The reason for that was her wish to spend more time with her present boyfriend.

"I was drinking far too much and that was kind of the basis of my relationship with this boy. I couldn't bear to be without him, so I was like, 'Well, OK, I'll just cancel my stuff then… I can't believe I did that… It seems so ungrateful," she said looking back.  

Adele started a drunken diary that she reads through when she is sober again to sort out her feelings and keep those thoughts for song writing. “I am not very good at talking. To myself obviously, but not to a lot of people. When I’m in a shit time in my relationships I am never really saying how I feel and talking about it even if they are trying to bring it out of me,” she said and added that she hates to be single.

At the age of four Adele began to sing and refers to the Spice girls as her great inspiration: “they made me what I am today.” She wrote her first chart song “Hometown Glory” when she was only 16. Right after her graduation from the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology Adele published two songs on the online arts publication PlatformsMagazine. Later, a friend of Adele uploaded her songs on MySpace what caught the attention of the music label XL Recordings in 2006.

Her second album “21” was classified as roots and country music. Adele commented that the tour through America made her change the style of her music. The single "Someone Like You" was sold over a million times in the UK. Adele won the BBC Sound of 2008 and got the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2009. In 2010 the German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut covered Adele’s song “My Same” in an alike British accent and blues rhythm. Adele took part in X-Factor and finally made her career with Bob Dylan’s song “Make you Feel My Love”.

Adele is famous for her remarkable voice and there is no need to cite more numbers to proof her success in the pop business. Nevertheless, she says that she doesn’t care about her popularity. “I am pretty oblivious to everything. I’m not very in tough with the fame side of it. I am not chasing it and to be honest it doesn’t interest me a lot.”

In December 2011 she announced that she is going to take a break before producing her third album. This announcement followed previous health problems with her throat and voice in October. 

When Adele’s recognition launched to grow she was often compared with Amy Winehouse and other female soul singers on what she commented “we're a gender, not a genre”. Those critics seem to be ceased when her second album was released.

The influence of her music is immense. People overwhelm her with declarations of love on her homepage like this woman from Colombia who wrote:

“you are my example of life and you help me a lot! give me streng in the most hard moments. thanks for be like you are. you are my hope and my favorite person in the world.
thank you.”

The music business depends on artists it can push to the top of the charts. It could be an overweening sentimentality that is made up to hit a female love frustration. The strength of her voice and the harmony in her music is definitely her advantage. Still, how honest her expressed feelings are can hardly be measured. Maybe that is not even important as long as she has the ability to tough crowds with her lyrics. The look at top 10 hits like Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” where the first line goes: “I want your ugly, I want your disease, I want your everything as long at its free...”, isn’t really the better alternative.