graffiti/writing

No Hedge Trees Or Shit

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With less than a month to go until 11th night, bonfire builders are busy collecting materials for their pyres, but although they want people to “dump wood”, they don’t want to become dumps. Thanks to Dean Weir for this image of the site in the Brownstown estate (Portadown): “Dump wood – no hedge trees or shit.”
Our image of the mural in the background was also provided by Dean: see In Answer To The Echo Of Alarm.
Copyright © 2019 Dean Weir
X06634

Dump Wood, No Shite

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With less than a month to go until 11th night, bonfire builders are busy collecting materials for their pyres, but although they want people to “dump wood”, they don’t want to become dumps. “No shite” is on Lanark Way (west Belfast). For a more articulate list, see previously Stuff We Don’t Need.
The other three images are from the RYL [Roslyn?/Ravenhill? Young Loyalist] bonfire site in Lismore Street (east Belfast). where the “Irish News [is] not welcome” to write stories and take pictures of sites as the controversies surrounding them resurface each year, such as toxic fumes from tyres (see e.g. Tyre-Free Pyre and Tyred Of Your Culture) and state attempts to exchange funds for conditions on fires (see e.g. Culture Before Cash and Real Loyalists Will Never Be Bought).
Click to enlarge (to 1500 x 1074)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f3.5, 1/400, ISO 80, full size 4896 x 3504
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Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f3.3, 1/250, ISO 80, full size 4608 x 3672
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Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f3.7, 1/125, ISO 80, full size 4896 x 3672
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Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f3.7, 1/800, ISO 80, full size 4896 x 3672
X06551 X06552 X06553 X06554 No fly tipping

Your Wall, Your Border

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US president Donald Trump followed a three-day state visit to the UK (London and Portsmouth) with a few days in Ireland before briefly stopping in France for D-Day commemorations. In London, protesters gathered in their tens of thousands and the ‘Trump baby’ blimp flew in Parliament Square (gallery of images at CNN) before making its way to Dublin (BBC) for the second leg of the trip. The Trumps were likewise met by protesters when they landed at Shannon Airport (Irish Times) where he met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and remarked “I think it [Brexit] will all work out very well [for the UK]. And also for you, with your wall, your border. We have a border situation in the United States and you have one over here, but I hear it’s going to work out very well.”
The besieged president would have been welcome, however, in loyalist west Belfast – the Israeli Star Of David and graffiti shown above were added below the Imagine mural between the security gates on Northumberland Street: “President Trump welcome in Belfast. No surrender.”
Click to enlarge (to 1800 x 1200)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f4.1, 1/200 ISO 80, full size 4896 x 3264

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Burning Issues

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A sticker protester in Bloomfield Avenue is tired of high rates: “UVF bonfire riots are to add £500 to your rates. Thank your morons”, “UVF scum push up rates + selfish bonfire builders”, “High private rentals and lack of council homes = EU open border German plan”.
Policing at two east Belfast bonfires last year cost 188 thousand pounds (BBC-NI), but it’s not clear that had any impact on rates. Commercial rates will increase by £138 this year, due in part to the allocation of half a million pounds for “bonfire diversionary schemes” (up from 400,000 pounds in 2018), resulting in a rates increase of 1.98% compared to a planned increase of 1.67% (Irish News | BBC-NI). The scheme has been called a “carve up” for special interests as the allocation of funds was decided by Sinn Féin and the DUP alone. Last year’s allocation was investigated by the NI Audit Office, and it appears that the office will investigate this year’s too in order to see that the recommendations made were adhered to (Alliance).
The other issue seems to be that immigration into Europe (including Belfast) is forcing up rents. Most immigrants to east Belfast live in privately-owned accommodation (NIHE). Germany ended its open-door migration policy in June 2018 (Vox).
Please get in touch if you can shed light on any of the issues.
Click to enlarge (to 1800 x 1200)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/500 ISO 400, full size 3888 x 2592
Click to enlarge (to 1800 x 1200)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/400 ISO 400, full size 3888 x 2592
Click to enlarge (to 1800 x 1200)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/500 ISO 400, full size 3888 x 2592

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Even Protestants Love Marxism

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“Even Protestants love Marxism/Leninism – just ask Wolfe Tone.” Tone, an Anglican, was an Irish republican and famously thought that the “men of no property” would play a part in the revolution, but what he thought their role would be in the new Ireland is much less clear. The graffiti is in loyalist east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/400 ISO 400, full size 3888 x 2592

X06602 London St

Ireland Out Of Britain

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Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald drew criticism for appearing behind an “England get out of Ireland” banner at the St Patrick’s day parade in New York city (BBC-NI). This Shankill Road graffiti reverses the sentiment (replacing “Britain” with “England”), commenting perhaps on the difficulty the Northern Ireland border poses for the UK’s attempt to exit the European Union.
Click to enlarge (to 1400 x 1096)
Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/320, ISO 200, full size 3312 x 2592
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Freedom For The Basque Country

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“Freedom for t[he] Basque country! Fucking bastards from Iruña.” Iruña is the Basque name for Pamplona, capital of Navarre, the district neighbouring the Basque Country and part of the greater Basque region but which has a majority pro-Spanish government.
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Copyright © 2019 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f1.7, 1/50, ISO 64, full size 1866 x 1037
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Pill Pushers Are Killing Our Youth!

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“Pill pushers are killing our youth! INLA” in Creggan, Derry. Drugs offences were up 54% in the Derry & Strabane council area (Derry Journal). Previously: RAAD graffiti in Foyle Hill.
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Copyright © 2018 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f, 1/, ISO , full size 4896 x 3672
text: X06382 Central Drive

Victory To Hamas

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… and “FUCK Sinn Fein [sic]” in Herbert St, Derry.
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Copyright © 2018 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f14, 1/320, ISO 100, full size  2816 x 1316
text: X06434

End British Internment In Ireland

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Gabriel Mackle was returned to prison most recently in November, 2017 (Pensive Quill | Irish News) and released in March, 2018 (An Phoblacht). The RSF board on the front of Lecky Road remains in place, however, as is joined by “IRA” graffiti. Bernadette Devlin (as she then was) organises in the background.
Click to enlarge (to 2000 x 1500)
Copyright © 2018 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f3.7, 1/160, ISO 80, full size 4728 x 3672
text: X06368