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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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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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Jamie Dornan lost his virginity here”. Perhaps while a student at Methody? Dornan is originally from Holywood (WP). The painter of the orange lily is unknown.
Exchange Place, Belfast city centre. Next to RogueOner’s Minotaur.
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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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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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Chaplin’s first “talkie” was The Great Dictator in 1940, a satirical condemnation of Hitler (Adenoid Hynkel) and Mussolini (Benzino Napaloni). Towards the end, the Jewish barber impersonates Hynkel and gives a speech (youtube) in favour of liberty and democracy:
“To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed. The bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish. [Soldiers, don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder.] Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men with with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! [You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don’t hate. Only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers, don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines, the power to create happiness!] You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. [Then, in the name of democracy,] let us use that power. Let us all unite!”
India Street, Belfast, replacing the murals of George Michael and Prince.
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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Talents have been robbed by addiction, suicide, mental illness” – the shoes of the dead form part of an installation on Stewart Street, around the perimeter of the Markets. The RNU banner off to the right contains the numbers for Pieta House, PIPS, Samaritans, Teen Line, Lifeline, and Breathing Space.
“I am here – a son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, partner, lover, cousin, friend, grandfather, family. Why, why, why??? Are you okay? Our love[d] ones. Every day in some small way memories of you come our way. Through [sic] absent you are ever near, still missed, still loved, and ever dear.”
“The families[‘] pain continues!! They continue to struggle in silence: each loss has had a ripple effect throughout our community! Through the travel of time the pain remains the same!!!”
“It’s OK not to be OK – mental health illness is an invisible illness – breathing space – open up when you’re feeling down”
Below the shoes: “Dream big – smile – be thoughtful – respect – caring – love – be you – support – family”
The final image is from the nearby Friendly Street: Believe in yourself – Be kind – Something inside so strong – Positive mental well-being
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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Night falls over Free Derry Corner and temperatures head down, reaching freezing before dawn this morning. To heat your home with oil currently costs roughly 460 pounds or 500 euro for a delivery of 500 litres in the area (Derry Journal). In Belfast, prices have increased 36% in two months (Belfast Live). The council characterises a household as suffering “fuel poverty” if it spends more than 10% of its income on home fuel (Derry & Strabane). To protest and demand action, the group Derry Against Fuel Poverty (Fb) is holding its second rally this afternoon at 4 p.m. in Waterloo Place.
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Copyright © 2022 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Work by SHUK (ig) in Kent Street for HTN2021.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This is work by Manchester graphic designer Micah Purnell (web) in Kent Street, for HTN21. Next to My First Paste Up and replacing Friz’s Got You In My Sights.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Work by NOTA [None Of The Above] of TMN [The Most Nasty] krew in Union Street, Belfast, replacing Rob Hilken’s fried eggs.
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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 