children/youth

Times Change

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Despite the quote “Times change; we need to change as well” (attributed to Nelson Mandela, though perhaps only from Francois Pienaar in the film Invictus) the riot going on in black-and-white is not from the past (as in this east Belfast mural) but the present, and in particular from the 2021 riots on Lanark Way (BelTel) which is the site of this new mural. Similarly, the mural depicted in the background of the riot scene is not from the past – it was refreshed in 2022 and continues to loom over Mount Vernon and the off-ramp from the motorway – see Prepared For Peace, Ready For War.

The mural thus asks young people to decide between two visions of present-day life: the grey world of violence and the colourful world of programmes from R-City – Communities Integrated Through Youth (www.rcitybelfast.com), including “one-one mentoring”, “leadership for life” (QUB), and “SHE” [Supporting Her Empowerment].

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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How Real Men ‘Take A Knee’

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Here is a survey of PUL boards (from left to right) at the shops in the centre of the village of Moygashel, just south of Dungannon.

First is a British Army soldier in a firing position. Compare this board to Now Is The Time To Kneel in Clonduff, Castlereagh, which suggested that the time for soldiers to kneel was in mourning for Queen Elizabeth.

The subject of the second image is obscure. Vanguard as a political and activist group dissolved in 1977 (WP) and the name and emblem have been taken up by the Vanguard Bears, a Rangers supporters’ club (see e.g. Defending Our Traditions).

Third is a children’s mural, produced (in part) by children from Howard primary school.

The ‘Time To Decide’ and UDR 8th (Co. Tyrone) battalion roll of honour were seen previously, alongside two others which are now absent, in Belfast Agreement Null & Void.

Beyond those is a tarp celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, in 2022.

Finally, a Moygashel Youth Club (Fb) mural in disrepair.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Creggan Is My Home

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“Since 1947, Creggan is my home.” The murals of local sporting heroes on the Creggan shops/Sıopaí An Chreagáın have been replaced by a series of flowers and some local musical heroes: above, ‘Teenage dreams so hard to beat’ is the opening line of the Undertones’ ‘Teenage Kicks’ (also seen in Belfast); below is the title of Dana’s Eurovision-winning song: ‘All Kinds Of Everything’ (youtube).

The murals were created by Peaball (ig) and children from Holy Child PS (across the street) during the 2023 Derry Féıle project ‘Graffiti On The Wall’, which also produced Friz’s Derry Dryad and emic’s Younger Days (see Summer’s Blood) (Derry Journal).

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Humanitarian Intervention

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On March 25th, Israel declared that it would no longer work with UNRWA to deliver aid into Gaza (Reuters | Guardian). On March 28th, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced that Ireland plans to “intervene” in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, asserting that the Genocide Convention includes blocking humanitarian aid (BBC | Guardian | RTÉ).

The support for Palestine by Ireland and South Africa is illustrated here by Irish, Palestinian, and South African children standing hand-in-hand. The same type of image was also used, with younger children, in the Painting For Palestine project on the International Wall – see The International Court Of Justice, which also gives details of South Africa’s initial case against Israel.

Painted by MD in South Link, west Belfast, facing the Israeli tank in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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Looking Heaven In The Eye

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The launch event for the Painting For Palestine project (Fb) took place on March 3rd. A large paper Palestinian flag (with the cartoon character of resistance Handala (WP) on it) was used as a cover over the mural of three children – Irish, Palestinian, and South African – and unveiled by local children who had worked on the piece.

For the ten pieces linked by Alareer’s poem on a red ribbon, see Tell My Story.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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A Window To A Free Country

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A Palestinian boy sitting among rubble looks out through a window of bars to see doves flaying in front of a Palestinian flag.

Based on a original by artist Azhar Al Majed (ig).

On the International Wall, west Belfast, part of the Painting For Palestine project (Fb).

The image above is from February 25th. Other images are as dated below:

February 18th:

February 11th:

February 4th:

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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The International Court Of Justice

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In December, South Africa lodged an emergency application (pdf) at the International Court Of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, alleging that Israel had violated the 1948 convention on genocide (see also the WP page of human rights violations against Palestinians).

Two days of public hearings were held on January 11th and 12th and the ruling on the 26th directed Israel to take “all measures” to prevent any acts that could be considered genocidal, though it did not order a halt to Israel’s attack on Gaza (Al Jazeera | WP).

Sınn Féın moved in the Dáıl that Ireland join South Africa as a plaintiff in the full case, but the motion was defeated (Irish Times).

The image above shows, on the left, three children from Ireland, Palestine, and South Africa holding hands, and, on the right, dead Palestinian children flying to heaven over stripped and kneeling Palestinian prisoners. The flying children are based on an image by Taqdees Fatima (ig) and the kneeling prisoners on an image by Saïd Hassan (ig). The source for the three children is unknown.

The murals are on the International Wall, west Belfast, and part of the Painting For Palestine project (Fb).

February 18th:

February 11th:

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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How Many Kids?

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This mural of (Israeli) soldiers standing over the bodies of dead children is based on an original by Saïd Hassan (ig).

On the International Wall, west Belfast, part of the Painting For Palestine project (Fb). The next mural (to the right) can be seen in The International Court Of Justice.

Previously, from 2015: Graffiti in Cliftonville: “Israel, USA – how many kids have you killed to-day[?]”

January 24th:

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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