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Che’s Afterlife

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Henri Cartier-Bresson said of Che Guevara’s eyes that they “glow; they coax, entice and mesmerize.” (WaPo), and (in a special feature ‘This Is Castro’s Cuba Seen Face To Face‘ that he shot for Life magazine) described Che as “an impetuous man with burning eyes and profound intelligence who seems born to make revolution”. The descriptions seem to fit the iconic “Guerrillero Heroico” photo by Alberto Korda, which Jim Fitzpatrick took as the basis for his two-tone poster version, but raised the eyes even more (WP).

This small Che board is in the alley between Ross Road and the Falls Road, near You’re Never Alone, over the back door to someone’s yard. It dates back to at least 2016.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Stop War

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Here are three images from CNR west Belfast commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine (plus a bonus one calling for the abolition of capitalism). Above, “End the war” and “Stop war in Ukraine”. The Leeds United flag has presumably been deployed for its blue and yellow colours, rather than for its “Marching on together” slogan. At bottom, “Stop the war! Russian troops out – Disband NATO – Support all refugess – Worker’s [sic] unity across Europe – www.socialistdemocracy.org“. In between, two Lasaır Dhearg (web) stickers on pedestrian crossing boxes: “US military out of Shannon – stop imperialist war planes” and “‘The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system; it must go’ – James Connolly [from Labour, Nationality And Religion]”

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Oi, Putin! Behave!

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Another piece from London, related to the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine. After appearing in the Washington Post (and elsewhere) the graffiti by London artist Memo has its own Instagram page where you can buy t-shirts bearing the slogan, with proceeds going to British-Ukrainian Aid.

At the junction of Church Road and Anerley Road, in Crystal Palace.

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Copyright © 2022 Peter Moloney
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Ordinary People

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This is an update to End The Sanctions! We’re Freezing, which has now been changed to “Sanctions only hurt ordinary people”, perhaps including the “ordinary people” of Russia alongside those of the New Lodge.

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End The Sanctions! We’re Freezing

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased pressure on already-climbing energy prices (Irish News | News Letter). Since March 1st, petrol is up 17 pence/litre and diesel up 35 pence (Bel Tel). Home heating fuel has gone up 50% and more in the same period (Consumer Council | BelTel). The New Lodge graffiti in today’s post suggest that residents are choosing eating rather than heating, and want sanctions to end. As an alternative, to help people pay for the higher prices the SDLP proposed (on March 10th) emergency legislation that would allow 300 million pounds from the NI block grant to be distributed to funds that help people pay their energy bills (web); there have also been calls to delay or scrap the introduction of the new National Insurance levy, due to come into effect in April. Support in the UK for further sanctions against Russia that would increase costs to individuals is just under 50% (IPSOS | Sky News).

See also: You Are Now Entering Freeze Derry

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ukraine Has Suffered Enough

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After amassing roughly 200,000 troops along the border, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th; yesterday thus ended the tenth day of fighting. Perhaps 10,000 soldiers (both Ukrainian and Russian) and 2,000 civilians have died, and roughly 1.4 million people have fled the country. “Слава Україні!” [Slava Ukraïni!] is the salute of the Ukrainian armed forces but has become a rallying cry in the mouths of people and nations around the globe in support of Ukraine, amongst which are artist FGB (ig) and the Sunflower bar in Kent Street, Belfast.

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One World, One Struggle

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“One world, one struggle” and one common cause: British imperialism. The Palestinian flag flies beside Free Derry Corner (and the Petrol Bomber mural), which has been papered over with “There is n0 British justice” – this sets the theme for the march this afternoon (recreating the 1972 civil rights march in Derry from Creggan to the Bogside, starting at 2:30) which not only commemorates the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday (Bloody Sunday 50) but protests the British occupation of countries all around the world – the poster from Bloody Sunday March makes reference to the Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh) Massacre, the Barbados Slave Code, (Second) Boer War concentration camps, and many others.

See also: the Visual History pages for the front of Free Derry Corner | the rear of Free Derry Corner

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Copyright © 2021 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Solidarity

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Solidarity between CNR west Belfast (specifically, Andersonstown) and Cuba and Palestine.

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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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They Prosecute Children

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These images are from two campaigns on the railings of Groves-Reilly Corner (a.k.a. the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks, now named after a pair of campaigners against the use of plastic bullets, particularly against children). The focus in the first three is the arrest of children and their prosecution of children in Israeli military courts: Every year 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted in Israeli military courts. The US pages Israel $7 million a day.” (Board borrowed from SeaMAC.) And “9 years old – the age of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. Is this democracy?” The final image is of a tarp sponsored by the ‘Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign’ (Fb | web) calling for “boycott, divestment sanctions” against “Israeli apartheid”.

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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Solidarity With Palestine

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The Dome Of The Rock with its golden dome and octagonal walls (WP) provides a background to Palestinian protesters in this Ard Eoın/Ardoyne board expressing solidarity with Palestine. Éıstıgí (Fb) is the youth division of Saoradh (web), and IRPWA (tw) is its prisoner-of-war organisation.

This is a printed board but even so the artwork is in a different style to what has been previously seen, with the two characters drawn in a cartoon/animation style. (See, e.g., End Maghaberry Torture previously in this spot, or Leave Our Kids Alone around the corner in Ardoyne Ave, or The Rising Of The Moon in Derry.)

For the current Kickham’s mural in the background: see The Heart Of Our Community.

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