Corrib Gas Doc on TV3

Elmo

I still have to watch this documentry. Put of by Paul Williams and his tabloid way of writting.

Did it discuss Shell's history? I hear it was hugely bias in favour of Shell, with little new evidence coming from the documentry.

Did it discuss the contract that Shell did with the government, a government that has a chequered past when it comes to providing contracts for public services and public licences.

Hydrosylator

I only saw the last bit of it, didn't think it was very good, and thought it was very one sided.
My sister saw most of it, she told me they didn't address the gas deal at all.

One of the last thing Paul Williams said was along the lines of "Willie Corduff said he could show us evidence of his bruising, but has declined our request to do so".

In the ten minutes or so I saw, Maura Harrington was mentioned about ten times. One of the interviewees working for Shell said "Maura Harrington has her pension", which isn't an argument against anything.

One of the proponents of the development was talking about how "The Irish democratic system has decided this is to be done", which is sort of nonsensical.

There were a lot of pro-Shell arguments put forward by individuals that were presented without criticism or balance.

As far as I can tell, it was an attempted hatchet job by Paul Williams against the Shell to Sea campaign. I do say that as someone who supports the campaign, but it is a critical analysis of how the story was presented.

I don't think it'll make a huge difference though.
Everybody hates Paul Williams and TV3 don't attract the documentary-watching demographic. If this had been aired on RTE I'd be screaming bloody murder, and even if I didn't I believe somebody would get fired.

From what I've seen lately, the Guardian has put out a pretty good video with one of their articles. Here's the article which feature's the video.

irish_bob

how many anti shell canditates got elected in the 2007 general election

Elmo

irish_bob wrote: »

how many anti shell canditates got elected in the 2007 general election

How many FF candidates got elected to the dail? It means nothing really. I don't see why such campaigers go on for such elections.

Also while the greens have eaten much of their ideals I am going to guess Six?

How much money did the Government get from shell and is it worth it, because from what I can see from the FF/PD governments of the last 10 years they spent plenty of money and made plenty of bad deals.Which I could list here but I can't be bothered.

evolving_doors

The documentary was a bit all over the place but I suppose it'd need about 4 hours to explain and 'balance' everything...I think Williams' message was basically that the Shinners were orchestrating the whole thing. He should stick to crimewriting..but I suppose it has opened the debate to the irish public again somewhat..

thusspakeblixa

I thought the Paul Williams documentary (or what I saw of it before I switched off) was quite biased and generally shoddy.

A better one (which I had the pleasure of seeing recently on a trip out to near Rossport) can be found here

Also, on the political reaction, apart from the Greens (I think it was Ciaran Cuffe who called for an investigation into the recent sinking of the trawler out in Rossport) Joe Higgins MEP has also spoken out against it here

irish_bob

Elmo wrote: »

How many FF candidates got elected to the dail? It means nothing really. I don't see why such campaigers go on for such elections.

Also while the greens have eaten much of their ideals I am going to guess Six?

How much money did the Government get from shell and is it worth it, because from what I can see from the FF/PD governments of the last 10 years they spent plenty of money and made plenty of bad deals.Which I could list here but I can't be bothered.

its very relevant , presumabley a single issue canditate in mayo would have had no problem getting elected such is the strength of feeling among those who oppose shell and such is thier number in the surrounding area if those appologists for shell to sea ( who incidentley seem to dominate online forums ) are to be believed

irish_bob

thusspakeblixa wrote: »

I thought the Paul Williams documentary (or what I saw of it before I switched off) was quite biased and generally shoddy.

A better one (which I had the pleasure of seeing recently on a trip out to near Rossport) can be found here

Also, on the political reaction, apart from the Greens (I think it was Ciaran Cuffe who called for an investigation into the recent sinking of the trawler out in Rossport) Joe Higgins MEP has also spoken out against it here

oh well joe higgins would of course be an impartial voice on all things concerning multi nationals

thusspakeblixa

irish_bob wrote: »

its very relevant , presumabley a single issue canditate in mayo would have had no problem getting elected such is the strength of feeling among those who oppose shell and such is thier number in the surrounding area if those appologists for shell to sea ( who incidentley seem to dominate online forums ) are to be believed

The former TD (can't think of his first name) Cowley stood as an independent in the constituency, spoke out against Shell and supported the Rossport 5 and wasn't re-elected.

Due to unfair and biased media reporting the local population has been divided, many have been coaxed into believing that Shell are benevolent and do no harm, and that it is the Shell To Sea group that attack Shell (not the other way round).

There is a massive split in the area. Families are even divided on the issue.

There is even talk now that the Marine Correspondent for The Irish Times was told to 'tone down' some of her articles about the situation because they didn'y reflect public mood.

Elmo

irish_bob wrote: »

its very relevant , presumabley a single issue canditate in mayo would have had no problem getting elected such is the strength of feeling among those who oppose shell and such is thier number in the surrounding area if those appologists for shell to sea ( who incidentley seem to dominate online forums ) are to be believed

Did the TDs who where elected based on TV Deflectors have any real say in the make up of the 2002 - 2007 FF/PD government no hence they weren't of much use on other issues and hence they have now left the dail. Waste of time.

It is like saying the Nuclear power is good as it brings employment, guess what! so do Windturbines and Hydroeletrical plants (actually they employ more). I assume that Shell at sea would employ more than bring it in land hence their reasons for put it on land rather than off shore.

The documentary didn't discusses shells Nigerian scandal, surely that is as bad as a shinner getting involved (5 shinners in the dail).

No discussion of how much money the government got for these deal or how it will benefit people when they go to purchase gas in the future. Why not give the contract to Bord Gais the semi-state body? and let Shell buy the gas once on shore.

Elmo

irish_bob wrote: »

oh well joe higgins would of course be an impartial voice on all things concerning multi nationals

Well no, but it is a point of view, in the same way as Mary Harney's view of Multinations gives another view point.

Oh and that makes one MEP against shell.

monument

irish_bob wrote: »

how many anti shell canditates got elected in the 2007 general election

I guess you missed the local election results?

Elmo

54 sf 3 gp 3 sp and 1 sp MEP. I don't know what Labour feel about this, but Nessa Childers was a Green party Councillor before becoming an MEP for Leinster for the Labour Party. And the loss of many FF councillors.

Keeping it away from the politics of the project and getting to an actuall review of the show.

Paul Williams was bias from the start introducing one of the campaigners as "the Ring Leader", now perhaps if he had called the head of Shell Europe as a Slimly Corporate pig it may have be less bias

The documentary over all wasn't well made, it lacked any investigation into Shell, The Government or the environmental issues surrounding the pipeline (pro or anti the pipeline science). That science either came from the Mad Hatters (as portrayed in the film) or the Head of Shell stating your more likely to get hit by lighting so neither side could possible decide on environmental issues.

The documentary was dull in the extreme. It lacked any real arguments for or against the pipeline rather it feel down to a PR exercise for Shell. It cemented the anti-pipeline into their anti-globalisation believes and it cemented the pro-pipeline people into their view that this is good for the economy and a good deal was done with the Department and Shell. Unfortunately if your on the fence you didn't fall off, you remained there since the arguments weren’t well developed and you were looking for some answers only to get the same old stuff in a very bias pro-shell manner.

This could have been a very insightful unbiased film but it end up being as shallow and egotistical as the presenter.

Elmo

Indeed if Williams had read the planning proposal he would have had just as many questions as An Bord Pleanala. Questions aren't a bad thing.