In a little over two weeks, the self-important leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) will be meeting at the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Northern Ireland. There’s a slight problem, however. The local economy is in shambles and many of the neighboring towns are in horrible shape. While real economic collapse doesn’t seem a huge concern, the thought of Barack Obama, Shinzo Abe and David Cameron having to confront the realities of poverty while feasting on caviar and foie gras is simply too much to bare.
So what’s the solution? Simple, just pretend nothing’s wrong by remodeling storefronts long since abandoned just as you would in a Hollywood set. What about those pesky abandoned buildings and other eyesores of blight and destitution? No problem, just place colorful murals in front of them. It makes sense. After all, the response by the G8 to the financial collapse since the beginning has been to cover it up and pretend nothing happened. At least the meme is consistent across the Western World. From the Irish Times:
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on a Fermanagh facelift as the county prepares for the G8 summit in just under three weeks’ time, but locals complain the work paid for by the local council and the Stormont Executive is little more than skin deep.
More than 100 properties within range of the sumptuous Lough Erne resort which hosts the world’s wealthiest leaders, have been tidied up, painted or power-hosed.
However, locals say the makeover only serves to hide a deeper malaise which US president Barack Obama, German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande and others will not get to see.
Two shops in Belcoo, right on the border with Blacklion, Co Cavan, have been painted over to appear as thriving businesses. The reality, as in other parts of the county, is rather more stark.
Just a few weeks ago, Flanagan’s – a former butcher’s and vegetable shop in the neat village – was cleaned and repainted with bespoke images of a thriving business placed in the windows. Any G8 delegate passing on the way to discuss global capitalism would easily be fooled into thinking that all is well with the free-market system in Fermanagh. But, the facts are different.
“That work happened just a few weeks ago,” he said. “The council got that place painted but it went under sometime last year.
The butcher’s business has been replaced by a picture of a butcher’s business. Across the road is a similar tale. A small business premises has been made to look like an office supplies store. It used to be a pharmacy, now relocated on the village main street.
Elsewhere in Fermanagh, billboard-sized pictures of the gorgeous scenery have been located to mask the occasional stark and abandoned building site or other eyesore.
Global ponzi economy. Pathetic.
Full article here.
In Liberty,
Mike
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Belcoo has a heavily fortified Police Station, there used to be regular gun battles and rocket attacks from the Black Lion side (IRA) across towards the Police station. (RUC & British Army. We used to guard the Police Stations just like in Iraq and Afghanistan),The Police Station is a heavily fortified bunker and therefore a prominent target just across the old stone bridge. Belcoo, County Fermanagh, is still in the British held North, while Black Lion is in County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, there are problems that are a remote location, poor economic infrastructure and not to be forgotten the civil war which lasted more than 30 years and is still not really over, but the artificial border helps no-one as it leaves this part of Fermanagh in limbo, which is a shame as Co. Cavan and Co. Fermanagh are both beautiful and well worth a visit! Reunify Ireland!
The great and powerful oz … Great post
We were laughing during the 2008 summer olympics, when chineses were painting grass in green.
Yeah. Great post.
This is a scene from History, one of a decadent monarchy just before the wheels come off the wagon.
Generally it surprises the ambitious minions and greedy nobles in their obliviousness but not the security forces which have been making lists for years.
In the South, that strategy is known as turd polishing.
You refer to Enniskillen and Belcoo as being in “Northern Ireland” however you go to say that “Ireland’s Economy is in shambles”. They are two completely separate countries with the only thing in common being they are on the same island. So what if Ireland’s economy is in shambles? It has nothing to do with N. Ireland as N.I is part of the UK therefore much better off than Ireland. Also why is it so bad that they have received grants to tidy up and paint their shops? As you know we are in a recession, yes not as bad as Irelands, but shopkeepers in NI have better things to be worrying about than painting it isn’t that they have no money!
Also in reply to Yusuf M Turner, reunifying Ireland would only worsen the overall economy in NI… We are better off part of britain and there are so many benefits to being so! Free Healthcare and Social Security to name only 2.
SO MESSAGE TO EVERYONE, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE POSTING ABOUT STUFF YOU HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT. BETTER YET, DON’T POST ABOUT STUFF YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT