towards understanding and healing
The “Burning Issues” graphic novel script arises out of a collaboration between good relations organisation, Towards Understanding and Healing (TUH) Blue Eagle Productions and Revolve Comics. Artwork excellence has been provided by the multi- talented Joe Campbell. The “Burning Issues” storyline emerged from school and community-based workshops conducted with a number of groups over the past six months. TUH wishes to warmly thank Amanda Thompson and the boys and girls of last year’s 9A1 at Lisneal College; Joe Thompson ( no relation) of EXTERN and the young men from the West Bank Youth Support - Oisin O’Donnell, Seamus McGlinchey, Ryan Dillon, Matthew Brown, Daniel Brown, Garreth Brown, Conor McGlinchey; Jeanette and Graham Warke and the youth group from the Cathedral Youth Club in the Fountain especially Shantel Temple and Britney Hetherington; young IRSP members who came to Holywell Diversecity Community Partnership to share their views and offer additional storyline ideas. We also wish to thank Laurence Mc Clenaghan and the Headliners young people who freely offered their creative feedback about the developing script. Thanks are also due to Emily McCloskey and Barney McGuigan from REACH ACROSS who also offered constructive feedback and valuable insights. We also appreciate the ongoing support of Maureen Hetherington, chairperson of TUH and of Richie Hetherington of the Junction who has helped manage the financial administration around this process. We also want to thank those individuals including Peter Osborne, chairperson of CRC and independent councillor, Gary Donnelly, with whom we have consulted. TUH also wants to thank Edwina Beattie for her energetic and insightful contributions to developing the educational materials published alongside the “Burning Issues” graphic novel. Finally TUH wants to acknowledge the terrific support of Deirdre MacBride at the Community Relations Council Media Fund. Without CRC, this creative work would not have been possible. The “Burning Issues” graphic novel and its electronic counterpart will be freely available from TUH for youth and community use in the years ahead as communities work together to address and overcome the burning issues around bonfires. Eamonn Baker on behalf of Towards Understanding and Healing
R.E.A.C.H ACROSS Residentials, Educational Activities, Community Holidays 10Tel.No. (028) 71 280048 Mobile No. 07854833371 www.reach-across.co.uk reach_across@hotmail.com
Charity No. XR 11455
towards understanding andhealing
Company No. NI33889
Charity No. 103289
BURNING ISSUES GRANNY! GET AWAY FROM THAT WINDOW, SOMEONE MIGHT SEE YOU
I LOVE IT WHEN EVERYONE COMES OUT TO SEE OUR BONFIRE. I LOVE DRINKING A FEW CANS AND WATCHING THOSE AULD HUN FLAGS BURN
WELL, THOSE PEOPLE SHOULDN’T HAVE BUILT THEIR HOMES SO NEAR TO OUR BONFIRE!
I LOVE OUR BONFIRE. LOVE WATCHING THOSE FENIAN FLAGS BURNING
EVERY YEAR COMMUNITIES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE RELIGIOUS DIVIDE BUILD MASSIVE BONFIRES...
SOME PEOPLE SEE THESE BONFIRES AS ANTI-SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL. BUT, THE TURNOUT FOR THESE ENORMOUS BONFIRES ENSURES THAT THE tradition WILL NOT BE DYING OUT ANYTIME SOON... ...WE TALK TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE eAST BELFAST COMMUNITY DURING THE RUN UP TO THIS YEAR’S ELEVENTH NIGHT BONFIRES...
Kate is from the fountain, londonderry...
because you’re his mother tut!..
HOW COME IT’S ALWAYS ME THAT HAS TO RUSH david over to A & E?... and you’re supposed to be his father!
stop shouting!
i’m trying to to play, Brothers in arms!..(splutter cough)
you stop shouting david or else!..
for god’s sake!
would you two stop!.. where’s your nebuliser son?
johnny, 16, is from the bogside derry. johnny’s mother has recently passed away. his father is struggling and is drinking more...
later, at Reach Across i met kate through reach. i couldn’t take my eyes off her, even though she was from the Fountain...
i met johnny through Reach. he was really good-looking and funny. i liked him straight away even if he was from the bogside.
so! it’s all these things that divide us!
a little later on the walls what’s that flag flying down there on that wall?
not sure what the flag’s called...i think it’s to do with Gaza...
god! it’s not that bad up there, is it?..
gazza?!!..
the footballer? he played for rangers years ago. my da talks about him.
no! not the footballer!
just messin’! i know they’re all hemmed in to gaza...the way we are in the fountain...
maybe you should try living up there for a week...
just leave me up to ferryquay gate and i’ll HEAD on up home.
oh okay! i’ll see you next week at Reach
i’ll be there!
later
where were you last night? you keep coming home later and later!
Nowhere! i called up to britanny’s
and at johnny’s people at the eleventh night bonfires in sandy row in belfast claim “their culture” is being eroded”
...mmhuh? who’s that? johnny?..
err... sorry da: i was home late last night. i called over to roker’s house after reach
WHAT? DOWN HERE?
just bloody lie there then!!
! ! m sla
you seem to do as you please johnny! your mother wouldn’t have stood for it! now, go away. i’m trying to sleep!
WHAT’S IT TO YOU? SURE ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS YOURSELF!
ping!
ahh... it’s just chantelle wanting to know stuff for our maths homework mum!..
who’s that?..
Good craic last night! Can’t wait untill REACH next week. Maybe we could meet at the Food Court first and then head up to Bishop Street. X
Sorry help thJohnny. w e boys e have Newbu to go for th ildings to out to e 11th ge Night t pallets Bonfir e
xx
Sorry Johnny. We have to help the boys go out to Newbuildings to get pallets for the 11th Night Bonfire xx
Eleventh Night? looks like their bonfire is more important than me. still!..she did put two kisses at the end!
next day outside the bogside Inn
hi roker! you know what we need to be doing?.. we need to be collecting pallets for the 15th
sounds like you have it all sussed!
we need those trollies from the back of the supermarket... we need more pallets... we need to rob tyres too and steal flags from the huns.
LATER...
STOP!
YOU CAN’T TAKE THOSE!!
...EH!!?
ah naw! it’s the man!
No CHANCE!
tHAT’S WHAT WE CAME FOR! hE CAN’T RUN AS FAST AS US!!..
run! leave the wood!!..
seconds later... STOP COME BACK!!..
A LITTLE LATER...
HA! HA!
THIS 15TH BONFIRE IS GOING TO BE CLASS IF WE CAN KEEP STEALING PALLETS! (GASP) BUT WE NEED TYRES. tHEY BURN LIKE hELL! (GULP)
HA! HA!
HA! HA!
BUT... THE COMMUNITY WORKERS WON’T LET US BURN TYRES.
community workers!..they think they can tell us what to do! it’s our bonfire!
that was some craic! we’ll have some fire if we keep collecting like that!..
well, maybe. not if either the cops or the community workers come and take it all away we won’t. We’ll need to keep watch over it all these next few weeks.
sign me up for THE security detail!
what?.. you joining the army?..
it’s a job johnny! sure what else is there to do round here? we’re not all as smart as you!
meanwhile at the fountain
this eleventh night bonfire is going to be cracker this year!
what about your boyfriend? you inviting him up?..
who told you about johnny?
ohh! “johnny” SURE IT’S ALL IS IT?.. OVER SCHOOL. YOU WERE BOTH SEEN UP ON THE WALLS.
A SHORT WHILE LATER...
BRITANNY! YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! WILL YOU PLEASE?
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP TODAY...
...REMEMBER, WE CAN HELP SPRING CLEAN. IF YOU HAVE ANY UNWANTED WOODEN ITEMS ADD THEM TO THE BONFIRE. WE WANT A RESPONSIBLE BONFIRE. SO, NO TYRES NOR NOTHING HARMFUL!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WILL YOU BE BACK LATER?..
NOT SURE sIS. IT’S BORING JUST SITTING ROUND A BIG PILE OF PALLETS AND OLD FURNITURE.
LATER, AT THE FOOD COURT
I’M GLAD YOU COULD COME. i JUST NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
MY MA AND DA WERE ARGUING AGAIN. MY WEE BROTHER HAS ASTHMA. BUT HE’S HANGING AROUND WITH A BAD CROWD. i THINK THEY’RE INTO DRUGS AND STUFF.
...is it that bad?
my ma and da wreck my head! they’re narking at each other all the time. roaring into each other’s faces.
what about your mother?..
i’d rather be in your house with someone roaring than stuck in my own house. my da just sits on the sofa everyday. not moving ... NOT TAKING ME ON
she died... cancer. my da hasn’t been the same since...
.
..he’s on the drink these days.
aw johnny, i didn’t know. you never mentioned that at reach you can’t go around telling everybody your business now can you?..
did you get much stuff collected for your bonfire? aye, we all helped out... ...the community workers drove us out to new buildings to get loads of pallets. what about yours? i’ve never been down the bogside.
...I’VE NEVER BEEN TO THE FOUNTAIN, NEVER MIND SEE YOUR BONFIRE.
i’m sure your bonfire is just the same as ours! Except different flags, different posters of course... ...you show me yours and I’ll show you mine! Ha!
johnnnnnyyy!!!
who’s this babe you’re with from the fountain? i hear she’s a cracker!
who told you?
remember? i’m training for the security forces! you bringing her down for the 15th?
you are wired to the moon roker!
well, if she’s as good-looking as they say none of the lads are going to mind.
ah good! here’s our tyres! brilliant!
we’re not having tyres! they will stink the place out to high heaven!
i’m not bringing the wee girl down here to have all of you sniffing round her.
fire fighters... fighters. some of them are women
we all know that tyres pollute the whole atmosphere. this bonfire is supposed to be a bit of craic. the smoke will kill us!
get a grip johnny! who do you think you are? we get enough grief from the community workers and the firemen without you starting!..
you have women on the brain since you met that wee hun from the fountain!
ha! ha!
ha! ha! ha! ha!
you shut your bloody mouth or!...
...or what johnny...or what?
...or i’ll give you a big sloppy kiss!..
ha! ha!
hE! hE!
pout ut po
toxins that’s what comes off burning tyres... toxins in the atmosphere can give people cancer.
cancer killed my ma. but i know what roker would say “wise up johnny. a bonfire once a year would hardly have killed your ma.”
meanwhile, at the fountain... you bringing johnny up to our bonfire?
yeah! you bringing your bogside boy up to the boney?..
maybe we could throw him on the bonfire? we’ve no tyres this year!
that’s not one bit funny britanny! we’re supposed to be friends. you two are going on like a pair of witches...
catch a grip kate!.. we were only slagging. aye! calm down kate. you are not serious about Romeo are you?
naw!.. i like him that’s all. i told him if he was to come up to the fountain on eleventh Night he’d be doing it at his own risk.
bbbbrrrmmmm!! screech!!
HA! HA!H
HA! HA!
A! HA!
HA! HA!
HA! HA!
you’re missing him aren’t you?
G
no way! besides, I have my wee bro’ to look after
! knock ! knock
they moved in during the night!!
N
N
M
roker??
it’s all gone! they stole our bonfire! but, we’re building it again. all the lads are out gathering pallets and this time...
we’re building it right in the middle of the flyover... WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU! THEY STOLE OUR BONFIRE!..WE ARE RE-BUILDING IT!
have you lost your head? what about the traffic??.. and those tyres are killers!
GET DOWN FROM THERE THIS MINUTE! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!
.
..we’re not letting them stop us
B
a few days later IN THE BOGSIDE
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE SINCE...
LOOK AT THAT... ...DISGRACEFUL!
M
N
SINCE WHEN?...
...SINCE MUM DIED....
WELL... YOU ARE EITHER AT SCHOOL OR... UP AT THAT REACH aCROSS. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT i GET UP TO. yOU’RE too BUSY WITH YOURSELF.
LOOK AT THAT BLACK SMOKE! THAT COULD KILL YOU. I HOPE YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PUTTING THOSE TYRES ON THAT FIRE?..
a week later, at the food court... our david had to be rushed to hospital last week.
what happened?
he had a bad asthma attack. my ma said it was because of the black smoke blowing up from the tyres on your bonfire
your ma Is only after blaming our bonfire for your wee brother getting rushed to hospital!
i can see why your da is always fighting with your ma!
...and you haven’t even asked how he’s getting on.
what do you mean? you’ve a nerve on you! yOU don’t even know my parents.
no! and I won’t be asking! this is useless anyway! meeting like spies here! we can’t even go to each other’s bloody bonfires!
...i’ve never heard you speak like that before... and you won’t hear me speak like that again!
...calm down johnny for god’s sake! and if you really want to know he’s been diagnosed with copd...
later, in the bogside... it would never have worked out johnny. she’s a prod. let’s face it. you were like oil and water.
he wasn’t bad looking kate, for a taig!, Ha! Ha!.. you are cruel britanny! he thought i was blaming him for david‘s COPD..
what’s C.O.P.D.?
...NEVER MIND. IT’S NOT GOING TO BRING HIM BACK!..
you blaming me for her giving you the ...why don’t elbow?.. we go down to pilot’s row for a game of snooker? why did you put tyres on the bonfire for god’s sake roker?
...and, by the way, she never gave me the elbow.
sometime later...
what’s the point in that?
have you heard about the “temple”? it’s a big wooden church or something, some sort of artwork. They’re building it up near The Top of the hill.
messages about your life. mrs thompson says. you could put up a message about johnny...might bring him back?..
what, a real actual church?
err...no, but they’re going to build it, right! and then... they’re going to burn it down!
it’s like a gigantic bonfire, and people get to put messages inside the temple before they burn it down. sounds a bit mad! what kind of messages?
a short while later at the temple on the hill...
hurry up!...just finish writing your message kate and then pin it to the little altar...
hope david gets over his copd...
omg!.. kate! there’s johnny!
God bless youwe mammy. s all mis you.
you need to wise up chantelle! who said i wanted him back anyway?
one week later
what am i going to do girls?..
oh i think we all know what you want to do...
Want to go to a bonfire?..
later, at the temple bonfire...
i’ll show you my bonfire...
...and i’ll show you mine!
dice preju ianism sectar racism
the end
FIREFIGHTER SALLY’S
STAYING SAFE AT BONFIRES
Bonfire safety tip 1 Site the bonfire well away from homes, houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs. Bonfire safety tip 2 Build the bonfire so that it is stable and will not collapse outwards or to one side. Never build a hut or den inside the bonfire. Bonfire safety tip 3 Never light your bonfire with a flammable liquid. NEVER use paraffin or petrol to light the fire. Before lighting the fire check that no children or pets are hiding inside it. Bonfire safety tip 4 Don’t burn foam-filled furniture, aerosols, tins of paint, bottles or tyres. Bonfire safety tip 5 Keep everyone well back from open fires and ensure children are supervised at all times. Bonfire safety tip 6 Always pour water on the embers before leaving the bonfire at the end of the bonfire party. Bonfire safety tip 7 At any sign of danger or in the event of an emergency, ring Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service 0n 999 for assistance. YOU DECIDE: Groups of three are given “bonfire tips” cards. Place cards in preferred order of importance. (Facilitator prepares laminated cards in advance.) Groups are given examples of superhero comic strips. Individuals create their own bonfire safety comic page with Superhero Firefighter recommending key tips for “Staying safe at bonfires.”
PLANTER THOMAS’S
catch a grip kate!.. we were only slagging.
RELIEF OF DERRY BONFIRES
aye! calm down kate! you are not serious about romeo are you?..
naw!.. i like him that’s all. i told him if he was to come up to the fountain on eleventh night he’d be doing it at his own risk
1. Research Planter Thomas Thomas is dressed in the garb of a typical defender during the Siege of Derry, 1689. Thomas is armed with a musket and a sword. Can you research what kind of musket and what kind of sword? What would his clothing be made of? What is he wearing over his shoulder? What are they for? What else would Thomas need to fire the musket?
2. Groups of three Carry out research into the background of the bonfires in the Protestant / Unionist / Loyalist communities on the 11th night of August. Are there 11th August bonfires in Belfast? If not, why not?
3. Groups of three Using stop motion animation, Powerpoint or IMAC programme, create a short presentation telling the story of “The Relief of Derry” in 1689. Focus your presentation on: who - what - where - when - why in order to fully explain what happened.
4. In Pairs Find out about the history of The Apprentice Boys of Derry. How do they celebrate “The Relief of Derry”?
5. Groups of four - creative writing task: Groups of four create a short role play outlining what might happen if Johnny visited the Fountain bonfire or if Kate visited the Bogside bonfire. In one version all may go well. In another version all may not go so well. Perform to entire group and record these sketches using audio and / or visual.
our david had to be rushed to hospital last week
BONFIRES & TOXINS
what happened?
he had a bad asthma attack my ma said it was because of the black smoke blowing up from the tyres on your bonfire
Burning tyres releases a deadly cocktail of more than 100 chemicals into the air with the fine particles able to settle in people’s lungs. This can lead to heart problems and cancer. But despite warnings from the community, youth workers, shopkeepers, councillors and firefighters, those building 11th night and 15th night bonfires sometimes pay no attention.
1. Research and name 3 or 4 toxins that are released into
the air as a result of burning tyres on bonfires.
2. Name 3 or 4 short-term and long-term results of toxins being released into the air from bonfires.
3. In the graphic novel, are David’s family right or wrong to
think that toxins released from the 15th night bonfire caused David to be rushed to hospital? Why? Why not?
4. Think - Pair - Share If burning tyres releases toxins into the atmosphere, why do people still do it? 5. Group Discussion Suggest three ways people could be persuaded to stop burning tyres.
6. Individual work Design a poster aimed at stopping people burning tyres on bonfires. Include: an eye-catching slogan, a picture and some interesting information on toxins.
AUGUST 15TH BONFIRES The August 15th bonfires may be related to the annual Celtic harvest time festival, Lughnasa named after the Celtic god, Lugh. Lughnasa was celebrated with bonfires on hilltops across Ireland, with sacrificial offerings of food and animals. Dancing and matchmaking took place as well. The feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the Roman Catholic belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. Assumption Day, the 15th of August, is a public holiday in : Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, France, parts of Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and parts of Switzerland. Assumption Day is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Colorful processions, ceremonial flower arches in the streets and firework displays mark the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption in Italy. In Brazil, the feast is called Nosa Senhora dos Navegantes, or “Our Lady of the Navigators”.
1. Pair research What religious aspects are there in today’s 15th bonfire celebrations?
2. Think- Pair -Share List in order of importance why people from the Catholic/Nationalist /Republican community light bonfires on the 15th of August. 1) To remember the introduction of internment August 1971 2) To compete with the 11th Night bonfires in the Protestant /Unionist /Loyalist community 3) To gather around a bonfire for “great craic” 4) To celebrate the Roman Catholic Feast of the Assumption
3. Groups of four Give three reasons why 15th August celebrations are now opposed in many Catholic/Nationalist/Republican communities.
4. Group discussion How could the organization of the current 15th August bonfires be improved?
5. Pairs In the graphic novel what do you think Roker means when he shouts “ It’s our bonfire ” ? Script a conversation between Roker and the community worker about the bonfire that he has helped build.
THE TEMPLE BURNING There is an ancient belief that fire can both heal and protect against the power of evil.
1. Think- Pair- Share
Pairs share positive emotive experiences of fires e.g. fire at home; camp fire; fire on a beach. Thousands crammed on to a hilltop in the Waterside, Derry-Londonderry in 2015 to watch the Temple Burning. Research the what - when - where - why and who of the 2015 Temple Burning event and find out more about “The Burning Man�, David Best.
2. Groups of three
Suggest three reasons for and against having a Temple Burning event each year. Suggest three ways in which an annual Temple Burning event might be best organized. Suggest three ways in which an annual Temple Burning event could be a positive community experience.
This media project has received support from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and recognition of interdependence. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Council.