Poll bets told: Don't attach posters to trees
Published Jan 23, 2019 11:46 am
By Chito Chavez
The EcoWaste Coalition and the National Coalition to Save the Trees (NCST), appealed to all candidates in the May elections and their supporters to remove their campaign propaganda nailed and tacked on trees.
(Eco Waste Coalition / MANILA BULLETIN)
The two groups made the appeal after discovering that plastic posters were nailed or tacked on trees by the candidates’ supporters.
"Trees don't vote. For the sake of life-sustaining trees, we appeal to all candidates and their backers to voluntarily remove campaign materials on trees," the groups said.
Environmental and human rights advocate Fr. Robert Reyes of the NCST urged candidates to respect the trees, as he likened the nailing of posters on trees to the torture and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
“The Roman executioners nailed Jesus to a tree. Don’t candidates repeat the deadly act by nailing their posters on trees? Yes, but instead of killing Jesus and us directly, they are slowly killing the trees. Genuine politics does not hurt or kill whether persons or trees. Do not kill trees. Do not kill us,” said Reyes.
Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner of the Quezon City-based EcoWaste Coalition, added that “the nailing of posters and banners on trees is blatantly unlawful and has to stop”.
He said candidates should “be the first ones to uphold the laws protecting trees from human abuse and disrespect.”
Republic Act 3571, as amended by Presidential Decree 953, prohibits the “cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in any other public ground.”
Violators face imprisonment of from six months to two years, or a fine of as high as P5,000.
Both groups said tacking or nailing campaign materials could stress out trees and make them vulnerable to decay-causing micro-organisms, bad insects, and diseases causing stunted growth, shorter lifespan and premature death.
They noted the shared responsibility of the government and the general public to protect the trees “as they clean the air we breathe, store water and prevent soil erosion and floods’’.
(Eco Waste Coalition / MANILA BULLETIN)
The two groups made the appeal after discovering that plastic posters were nailed or tacked on trees by the candidates’ supporters.
"Trees don't vote. For the sake of life-sustaining trees, we appeal to all candidates and their backers to voluntarily remove campaign materials on trees," the groups said.
Environmental and human rights advocate Fr. Robert Reyes of the NCST urged candidates to respect the trees, as he likened the nailing of posters on trees to the torture and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
“The Roman executioners nailed Jesus to a tree. Don’t candidates repeat the deadly act by nailing their posters on trees? Yes, but instead of killing Jesus and us directly, they are slowly killing the trees. Genuine politics does not hurt or kill whether persons or trees. Do not kill trees. Do not kill us,” said Reyes.
Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner of the Quezon City-based EcoWaste Coalition, added that “the nailing of posters and banners on trees is blatantly unlawful and has to stop”.
He said candidates should “be the first ones to uphold the laws protecting trees from human abuse and disrespect.”
Republic Act 3571, as amended by Presidential Decree 953, prohibits the “cutting, destroying or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises or in any other public ground.”
Violators face imprisonment of from six months to two years, or a fine of as high as P5,000.
Both groups said tacking or nailing campaign materials could stress out trees and make them vulnerable to decay-causing micro-organisms, bad insects, and diseases causing stunted growth, shorter lifespan and premature death.
They noted the shared responsibility of the government and the general public to protect the trees “as they clean the air we breathe, store water and prevent soil erosion and floods’’.