Cultural Rioting in an Alternative Belfast

I just got back from I just got back from holiday where I was exploring other cultural experiences outside our small country. When I got there I got asked the usual questions you get when you say your from Northern Ireland. i.e. "Are your you British or Irish?" I hate those question, I usually think its someone in disguise from Belfast trying to catch me out so they can stab me while I sleep on the top bunk of a 'triple' bunk bed.

When I got back to Belfast the first thing I read in the paper that there was again violence on the streets of Belfast. Not about religion or politics- But football. Its great we have moved on from the primal urge to hate and kill someone because of their politics or religion. Now we want to to do it on the grounds of football. Well done! We are moving up the hatred ladder and becoming more like every other major European city. Even though we are the 8th smallest in Europe we can pack a lot of hate.

I missed the meteor shower the other days because I was sleeping. I heard there was small lights floating across the sky. Nice.

The alternative forum for Belfast has got a summer school which was on last week. Fidel "Hackett" is taking the Urban design and mapping. Which probably ended in a lot of 'beardyness'.

Protest in the Streets of Belfast

What is this: Protest against the Bill 37 (Public assemblies bill) which prevents protests and public gatherings taking place unless permission is given 38 days in advance or 3 days permission given by the police if it is an emergency.

Where was it: Meeting at the University of Ulster's Buoy Park

When I got there, there was a crowd of over 60 people who from either a socialist party, communist party, or from a trade union. I thought there would have been more people concerned that the Local assembly was trying to change the fundamental rights to protest.

The march took off at 12:30 on Saturday 23rd walking down Royal Avenue to the City Hall. Was great seeing all the City's traffic stop for 35minutes. I got stuck behind the a Trade Union banner-it was funny because I hadn't a clue who they where.

If the bill is passed public meetings and public art projects with more than 50 people will need permission. Bad Times

North Korea's Escape to Victory

Its great to see the North Koreans in the world cup it reminded me of a report I saw on Newsnight on North Korea. The report showed how the goverment showed the society as a socialist utopia. The relaity was that the people were hungry and less than happy with the country. Only the elite lived a more than comfortable life style. The national football team would be looked after by the state living in luxury while there country men and women are paying the price.

It would be impressive if the football team protested about the North Korean's regime at this World Cup or tried to escape like in the film "Escape to Victory" a trailer shown above. "Escape to Victory" is set during World War 2, the Allies captured by the Germans are told they have to play a game of football against the Nazi's, the main actors are Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and some football stars such as Bobby Moore and Pele.

Popaganda. Less Chilling More Killing

This is work that was posted up in New York. Its anti-consumerist posters work well. In Belfast all illegal posters are painted over every couple of days leaving black rectangles all over the City. If the council put local art work or street interventions over the illegal posters it would make a big difference.

Check out some more street interventions at Popaganda.com

Below is an interesting trailer for a posters intervention film.