Call To Reduce Poster Use In Presidential Campaign 2011
Politicians Urged To Show Understanding To Families, Environment & Electoral Process in Call To Reduce Poster Use In Presidential Campaign 2011
A new community organisation has been launched this week to encourage all candidates for the 2011 Presidential race to substantially reduce or abolish the use of “Election Posters” in this Autumns election. The group, marketing themselves under the web name www.posterfree.org is writing to each of the candidates nominated this Wednesday to seek their co-operation.
Respected GAA legend Micheal O Muircheartaigh was recently tipped as a potential candidate for President of Ireland. Reknown for his 62 years as a broadcaster the ‘voice of GAA’ was widely considered a serious and well liked challenger. However, after consideration, he decided not to allow his name to go forward, but not before making some very valid points and observations.
In an interview with RTE Morning Ireland, Michael O Muircheartaigh stated that had he been a presidential candidate, he would have advocated a no-poster campaign. His suggestion was welcomed by many politicos, community groups, tidy towns groups and environmentalists alike. His comments were also praised by Independent Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher.
Meanwhile, FG candidate Gay Mitchell and Labour candidate Michael D Higgins have remained ‘silent’ on the issue. Similarly Mary Davis nor Martin McGuinness has not committed to support a no-poster campaign.
In this modern age, it is entirely possible to run an election campaign poster free. There is no need to have unsightly posters on every telegraph pole in our cities, towns and rural areas. There is no need to have political parties spending (then claiming back from the taxpayer) hundreds of thousands of Euro, which could be spent more sensibly. There is no need to damage our environment with these chemically based electioneering techniques.
We are therefore advocating a Poster Free 2011 Presidential Election in Ireland. Lets have a robust election campaign which is run economically and environmentally friendly.
Featured on the groups website are examples of the likely expenditure each candidate will spend on electioneering, a substantial amount of which is spent on posters. Examples are then given as to how this spending could impact services in communities.
A spokesman stated, “In these hard economic times, there doesn’t seem to be money for critical comunity services like Special Needs Assistants, Home Helps for the elderly or disabled or money to help businesses expand. But when it comes to government and politicians, a substantial amount of the €750,000 each candidate is allowed to spend on this campaign will be rebated to them by the taxpayer at the conclusion of the election. It is time our politicians realised the hurt, worry and genuine concerns communities have in each city, town and village and stem the waste which occurs during elections”.
He continued “Aside from the huge environmental impact when manufacturing these posters, the leave behind a residual presence when many are disgarded or the cable ties used to erect them are left behind. These posters are mainly manufactured from oil, and have a considerably higher carbon footprint compared to other more environmentally friendly methods of campaigning. The other key concern is financial, the cost of manufacture, erection and removal at the end of the campaign. Today www.PosterFree.org is urging all candidates to pay particular attention to the money they spend on campaigning and th effects this will have on the environment”.
At present, the www.PosterFree.org campaign will be highlighting the environmental aspect of poster use in elections. While understanding fully the need for a healthy and vibrant democratic debate, no studies have proved posters win votes. Politicians claim to want to discuss the issues, policies and what type of President they will be and www.PosterFree.org is urging all candidates to sign up to make their campaign as close to carbon neutral as possible.
