I spent the weekend down at the Tall Ships festival in Belfast. And had a great time. There was a buzz in the city that I've never experienced before. Certainly it contrasts with the last event like this I attended. New Years Eve 1999. Belfast City Council, decided to set the fireworks off to celebrate the new millennium at twenty past midnight rather than disturb the Bjorn Again concert they were holding. I remember hundreds of people standing at the Queen Elizabeth Bridge looking at each other wondering what the hell was going on. I've never realised it before but it now seems somehow appropriate that I toasted the New Millennium with a tin of warm Harp.
Of course there's been the usual whinging about the event, missing the entire point. I'm as cynical as the next person, but even I was able to mute my cynicism for the duration and saw a side of Belfast that was totally unexpected. The city, round the docks, down High Street, around Custom House Square was packed to the rafters, filled with people out celebrating.
Incredible.
My interview with the Jobcentre (I've decided that it's one word rather than "Job Centre") was brief and to the point. They've now got 2000 people signing. They've not seen it this bad in 15 years. The harsh reality of the situation was reinforced as I drove down, passed Nortel's old factory and saw the Union pickets outside, protesting at how employees had been dismissed with no notice and no redundancy, and then just a bit further along posters in support of similarily dismissed workers from FG Wilson.
The interesting thing about Nortel (or "The Standard" as it's still known round here) is that for as long as I can remember it's existed in a state of perpetual job losses. I was quite surprised to find there was anyone left to make redundant. Nonetheless it's damning for Nortel that people are so aggrieved they have to protest to secure some sort of redundancy package. I wish them success.
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