Green message: candidates unveil posters made from wood
THE SETTING was idyllic in Dublin’s Percy Place, Northumberland Road.
Yesterday, in glorious sunshine, in the shadow of the 1916 monument and overlooking the tree-lined Grand Canal, the Green Party unveiled a range of environmentally-friendly posters made out of wood from Irish forests.
Although it was the perfect photo-opportunity, one party activist was worried about the emergence of metaphors about “wooden” candidates.
“Or political ducks drowning,” remarked an intrigued passer-by, as he surveyed the length of the canal.
In fact, the ducks behaved with exemplary manners, coming out on the canal bank to welcome their midday political visitors and then retreating to the water as party leader John Gormley, Dublin Euro candidate Deirdre de Burca and local election candidates posed in a variety of positions.
At one stage, the candidates stood perilously close to the canal, and it was clear that even a slight movement in climate change, causing a realignment of the Earth, would have seen the party leader and candidates get a drenching.
The ducks scampered up the canal and only returned when it was clear that the gathering was safe on dry ground.
John Gormley, who has emerged as a strong man of the Cabinet, on issues such as electronic voting and the Dublin byelections, arrived on his bicycle.
“Posters are normally printed on to backings derived from petrochemical-based plastic ‘polyboard’ material, often supplied from continental Europe,” he explained.
“These Irish wooden posters are biodegradable and can be reprinted; reused in roof-lining, flooring underlay, pallet construction and loft insulation; ground into wood pellets; converted into liquid biofuel; or mulched for animal bedding and garden use.”
Mr Gormley sounded as if he had the ingredients for a small industry in these recessionary times.
“All round, they are a better option,” said the Green Party leader.
Ms de Burca, sporting a Leinster rugby scarf, said: “I know that I can talk the talk on sustainability, and I like being able to walk the walk and run a much greener campaign than any other MEP candidate.”
Having walked the walk along the canal bank, the politicians dispersed, some to go canvassing. An estimated 13,000 of the posters will be erected around the State from Wednesday.
