Maura Harrington ended her hunger strike this afternoon on its 11th day.
This after hearing that the Solitaire had left Irish waters headed for Glasgow. She begun it on Tuesday the 9th, the day the Solitaire appeared in Broadhaven bay (which is just outside the mobile home I'm typing this in).
It appears from Shell comment that on the night it arrived it damaged its stinger, the tail of its pipelaying equipment. It was therefore withdrawn on Wednesday the 10th, the day after it arrived. This damage has been thought somewhat strange considering the calmness of the night it occurred on, this after the heavy turbulence of the weather of the preceding couple of days. It was of course deeply convenient to have another excuse for its withdrawal. It was taken back up to killibegs where it had sat for the previous 3weeks.
There were a couple of actions attempting to contact it in there days while it sat there to try to get it to withdraw further. But attempts at communication were not responded to. Maura's terms for ending the hunger strike hinged on it leaving Irish waters.
Last night Shell issued a press sytatement that it was being moved to UK waters. Several here at first feared that this might actually be Northern Irish ports and we waited for confirmation of destination. It looks like Glasgow is the port it is heading for. Protest demonstrations are planned for its arrival there.
Maura came out of the car she's been seated in outside the compound gates at 3pm today. She then made a speech of gratitude to those who'd supported her throughout this action. She was looking surprisingly well considering the effect this must have had on somebody of as slight a frame as she has. I hope her health lasts, her willpower is phenomenal.
Indymedia on the Solitaire leaving
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/89162#comment236426
&the hunger strike in general
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/89047
here is a link to an article on the Guardian's blog from Tuesday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2008/sep/16/activists.pollution
Stevo