PEACE WALL PRESS COVERAGE

BERLIN 1961-1989, BELFAST 1969-????

11th November 2009 PRESS RELEASE 9TH NOVEMBER 2009:

BELFAST YOUNG PEOPLE MARK FALL OF BERLIN WALL AT BELFAST PEACE WALL

 

 

A group of more than 60 young people from interface areas across Belfast gathered at the gates in the peace wall on Lanark Way in West Belfast on Monday 9th November to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 

They wore t-shirts which read: ‘Berlin 1961-1989, Belfast 1969-????. Thinking Seriously about Peace? Walls’.

 

The t-shirts were funded by the Youth Council for NI as part of the Youth Service month.The young people came together from both sides of the interfaces where they live in North, East, South and West Belfast. They played basketball with ‘the Peace Players’ against the peace wall and then they participated in a drumming workshop with the ‘Gathering Drum’ at the Lanark Way gate.

 

The Lord Mayor, Naomi Long, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley and visiting representatives from the US Congress attended the event to listen to the views of young people.The young people were then invited to the City Hall to meet discuss the issue of ‘peace walls’ with the Lord Mayor and to explain what they have been doing over the past six months as part of their ‘Up Against the Wall’ initiative.

 

The event is part of the ongoing ‘Up Against the Wall’ initiative that supports children and young people living in interface communities to have a voice on the future of interface barriers.  ‘Up Against the Wall’ is being organised by a group of youth workers from a range of community groups, youth organisations and churches who are working within and between interface communities in North, West and East Belfast.

 

The meetings have been co-ordinated by Youth Link NI, the inter-church youth service for Northern Ireland. John Peacock, Community Relations Manager, Youth Link, said “We hope that the relationships formed through these conversations will continue to develop and give these young people the opportunity to participate in building a better future in their areas.”

 

 

For more information please visit http://www.youthlink.org.uk/up-against-the-wall-nov-2009.html

 

See Press Coverage:

 

BBC News:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8351569.stm

 

UTV Lifestyle:  http://www.u.tv/Lifestyle/Belfast-marks-fall-of-Berlin-Wall/aee2617a-5812-425f-8d1f-13cef4b10238

Belfast Telegraph:  http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/berlin-celebrates-but-northern-ireland-has-more-barriers-than-ever-14557115.html