London (including Brexit demonstration), Northern England: Oct. 15-22, 2018

I stayed in England (in the Britain Island) several days during my visit to Europe. It was my first stay in England in two years.

There was a big demonstration in London on Sat. Oct. 20 to demand the second referendum on Brexit. About 700,000 people were reported to join it. It was the second largest demonstration in the U.K.’s post-war history after the anti-Iraq war demonstration in 2003, which 2 million people joined.

Various people participated in the event. They included men and women, the old and young.

They also included: 

Kids ans babies, (See also the top photo)

disabled people,

dogs,

and Superman(s).

It was not organized by the Remainers, but most participants were pro EU. The slogans included:

"Stop Tory Brexit,"

"We demand a vote on the final Brexit deal,"

"Liars" and "Enemies of the people."

Supporters of Conservative, Labor and Liberal Democratic parties joined the march.

There were flags and signs of the U.K., EU,  Ireland, several regions of the U.K. 

After looking the demonstrators passing by about 2 hours, I joined the parade. I walked from the Green Park through Trafalgar Square and the Dawning Street to the Parliament. (See also the 2nd photo).

The Brexit negotiations between EU and the U.K. are not going well and the concerns over no-deal Brexit is increasing. Newspapers write articles on Brexit every day (mainly on the conflicts in the ruling Conservative Party).

Once I visited bookshops, however, I found the publications on Brexit and Europe matters were less notable than two years ago.

There were many books related to Brexit and the relations with EU in 2016 in the Waterstone bookstore in the Bloomsbury district, where the Britih Museum (Photo) as well as the University Collage London and other university gather. Now, they have less books on such topics. Much attention was payed to the books on AI and the impacts of innovation I found.

The situation on Brexit is complicated and it is difficult to foresee the future developments.

I found many changes in London in the past two years.

The renovation works began in the Big Ben.

Winston Churchill' s statue looked the construction. (See the 3rd photo) 

Huge blocs were installed in the sidewalks of the Westminster Bridge, where a terrorist attack happened in March 2017.

I also visited New Castle (left photo) and Sunderland in the North East area (in the northern England). My train moved from London through the East area (cities include Peterborough), East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber (cities include York), and arrived in the North East. These five areas all voted for “leave” in the 2016 referendum. Vote for leave gathered nearly 60% in East Midland, Yorkshire and

North East.

Coal and textile industries flourished in the past in these areas. Now, many cities and towns in these areas face economic difficulties.

There spread meadows and agricultural fields alongside the railway. The farms employed many immigrants from the Eastern Europe. The number is decreasing after Brexit decision.

The streets were quiet near the Sunderland railroad station.

The shopping mall was, however, crowded with people.

I found no political campaign posters on Brexit in both Sunderland and Newcastle.

Brussels: Oct. 18-20, 2018

More than two years have passed since the U.K.’s decision to leave EU. I visited Brussels this time on the day when the EU summit meeting was held. No progress was made on Brexit negotiation. ASEN (Asia-Europe) summit was also held.

The scenes around EU is gradually changing, I found.

There is a big curtain placed in the headquarters buildings of European Commission.

The Berlin wall was places in front of the headquarters building.

At the buildings of the Commission’s divisions, their functions are well explained on the walls

Objects of “European” were placed near the headquarters.

All shows EU’s efforts to gain people’s understanding.

People’s reactions looked to be cool.

There are less EU-related goods in the souvenir shops near the Grand Market. The shops shared more spaces for the goods related to Brussels and Belgium than before.

There were various demonstrations held in the Schuman district, where the EU institutions gather. They include gatherings of Catalonian people to appeal their independence from Spain to European leaders. People from Bangladesh held another demonstration for democracy.

There are many reporters gathered to cover EU and ASEM summits.

The security looks to have been stricter as times go. Security members with machine guns guarded the meetings.

I visited Molenbeek, where the terrorists of November 2015 Paris attacks stayed. The weakness of security maintenance was criticized. Now, the atmosphere seemed improved than two years ago, when I visited there last time.

Northern Ireland (Belfast, Londonderry): Oct. 14-15, 2018

The status and situation of Northern Ireland are complicated. It belongs to the U.K., but its tie with the southern part of the island (Ireland Republic) is historically strong. Catholic people prefer the land to be united with Ireland while Protestant people want a unity with the U.K.

They had serious conflicts from the 1960s to 1990s. More than 3000 people were killed in Northern Ireland and other parts of the U.K. The conflicts ceased in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement. Now, people freely move across the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland Republic.

U.K.’s decision to leave EU, or Brexit, has cast a new shadow. If a stricter border control is reintroduced, people’s lives would be more inconvenient. It may awaken people questions on their identities and on the U.K.- Northern Ireland relations.

I found that people were spending peaceful lives in Belfast. They enjoyed shopping and lunch at the St. Geroge’s market in central Belfast when I visited there on Sunday. 

I also saw young people enjoying their times in the Victoria Square Shopping Mall in the city center.　

There are many facilities, including the Titanic Belfast exhibition, in the harbor area; I found many tourists there.

The scenes were different in the western part of the city. There remains a huge wall which was built in the days of conflicts to divide opposing people. Protestants lived (and now live) in the northern part of the wall while Catholics lived (live) in the south. 

Various murals were drawn on the wall. Tourists visit there and write their messages (such as “peace”) on the wall. (see also the 2nd and 3rd photos)

However, hostile feelings still remain in both sides. I visited a monument in the Shankill Road, a bloc north from the wall, where Protestant people live. The monument was built by a private group. I saw a message in the monument saying “IRA-Sinn Fein-ISIS no difference.” Another massage accused former PM Blair, who realized the peace agreement, as worst PM.

I visited another monument in the southern side of the wall. They commemorate the victims of the conflicts in the Catholic side. I found a message which asserted: Northern Ireland is still ruled by the U.K.

There is a gate between the two sides. They can close the road anytime when it is necessary.

There are, of course, messages for peace. John Lennon’s “Imagine” plays an important role here. (See the 4th photo) 

Looking at various scenes, I reaffirmed difficulty and complexity of issue. I sincerely hoped that Brexit would not create a new mess.

I also visited Derry (Londonderry), about 100 kilometers west from Belfast.

The city is famous for its “Bloody Sunday” or “Bogside Massacre” incident on January 30 in 1972. 14 Catholic people were killed by the forces from the U.K. Former PM Cameron admitted the responsibility of the U.K. government on the incident in 2010.

There are many murals in the Rossville St. and surrounding Bogside areas. (See also the 5th photo)

14 victims are drawn in a mural.

The “Free Derry” message was first drawn on the wall of a house to encourage the civil right movements in the early 1970s. It is now preserved. (See also the top photo)

The gas bombs were shot by the government army from the hilltop into the Bogside areas in the 1970s. The scene was later drawn in a mural.

I talked with a guide of a walking tour. He was nine years old　when he experiences Bloody Sunday.

I found a bus connecting Derry direct to Dublin International Airport. The economy and life of Northern Ireland and Ireland Republic are closely connected.