Violence flared once again in the Ardoyne area in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the traditional but controversial “Twelfth” parade that commemorates the 1689 ouster of King James II, a Catholic, by King William III, a Protestant. The parades have often been marked by riots and the 2010 one was no exception, with 55 police officers injured. An angry police chief Constable Matt Baggott condemned the crowd’s actions, but appealed, in a police statement, in a new way to the province’s non-violent majority: ”
“The cost of policing last night in that small part of Northern Ireland is the equivalent of a ward in a hospital. It’s the equivalent of a primary school. It’s the equivalent of neighborhood policing. It is time to have that big debate about what is really important for the future in Northern Ireland. I would like to see a very loud collective voice making sure that these people are condemned. Everyone who has a say in the future of Northern Ireland must condemn those responsible and make sure it is clear to them that they have no place in that future.”
Links to other sites: Belfast Telegraph, CNN, RTE
The People’s Republic of China turns 60 Thursday 1 October, the country’s national day. This year’s festivities are larger and more colourful than ever, although the details are not being made public and security is tight for the military show, with reports that balloons and kites are even banned. Boston.com carries a large collection of photos, with military troops, theatre troupes, special lighting and more. Forty commemorative films are being shown around China and are expected to draw good cinema crowds. The party isn’t limited to Beijing or even China: New York’s Empire State building will be bathed in red and yellow light, China’s official colours. Other sites featuring the preparations: China Radio International (Eng), CS Monitor, Xinhua
Title: Guggenmusik festival
Location: Neuchatel
Link out: Click here
Description: Guggenmusick, or groups of up to 40 musicians playing drums and brass will parade dressed in costumes through the streets of Neuchatel.
Start Date: 25 Sep 2009
End Date: 27 Sep 2009
Fête du Bois, Lausanne school parade
Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Geneva and most international schools in the area finished the 2008-09 school year 26 June, last Friday, but canton Vaud children are still braving hot days for their last week of school, which finishes Friday 3 July.
Lausanne’s primary schools Wednesday 1 July celebrated the end of the year with their traditional Fête du Bois parade through the city, to the cheers of parents.
Images: reproduced with permission, celestialpilgrim (see his complete parade collection on flickr). Click to view larger.
Summer music festivals begin
Summer now begins in earnest, by popular acclamation, in the Lake Geneva region with city music and arts festivals.
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival opens Friday 3 July. Expect long lines at the A9 autoroute entrances to Montreux, and if you’re going to the festival from another town, seriously consider taking the train. The festival’s new magazine is out, with day by day highlights. The free music in the streets pulls in crowds so prepare to mingle! [Ed. note: GenevaLunch articles on the Montreux Jazz festival are here. We'll be reviewing the festival for you, starting next week]
A Dutch man, 38, drove his car into the Queen’s Day parade in east Amsterdam Thursday 30 April killing 5 people and wounding 12 others, say Dutch officials. The car missed his intended target, the bus carrying the queen and royal family, and crashed into a stone monument several meters away. The driver was injured in the crash and has been detained. The government cancelled the remaining official activities for the day. Financial Times
