Willie's Fight
Wednesday, May 2 2007
Willie's Fight
Mary and Willie Corduff near the proposed pipeline - click for a larger view
Willie Corduff is a farmer who lives near the town of Rossport, County Mayo in northwest Ireland. In 2000, Willie learned that Shell Oil planned to build a high-pressure gas pipeline that would run across his land. Willie said no to Shell's plans. But both Shell and the Irish government told him he had no choice in the matter.
Rather than consent, Willie and 4 neighbors went to jail. Before long, crowds were in the streets demanding the release of the "Rossport 5," and the project was suspended. Willie was very recently awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize -- the world's largest prize honoring grassroots environmentalists.
Location of gas field
Shell Oil says it will find another pipeline route and it continues to build a refinery in Ireland.
Willie and his wife Mary join Dick Gordon to tell the story of how he went from rural farmer to environmental hero.
- See larger maps of Rossport, Ireland and the gas field
- Read more about Willie and his fight
- Find out more about the Goldman Environmental Prize
- Find out more about Shell Oil's Ireland project
Music heard in this story: Squire Wood's Lamentation and Carolan's Quarrel With the Landlady, both by Turlough O' Carolan for the album Music On the Wind: Selected Pieces 1983-2003
NEW LIFE FROM A FATAL ACCIDENT
Steve Stockwell
Steve Stockwell is a state trooper in Lewis County, Washington. In 2002, he stopped by the side of the road to help at an accident scene. That day changed Steve's life. His actions both on that day and afterwards have helped save the lives of many more people.
Steve discovered that there was no direct way for law enforcement personnel to notify families of potential organ and tissue donors. So he decided to do something about it. Now troopers can simply call a 1-800 number. It's a model that Steve is hoping will spread throughout the country.
- Learn more about tissue donation
