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“HARM
not the trees. No nails, no staples please.”
This is
the appeal of the EcoWaste Coalition to all political
parties and their candidates as the campaign warms up
for the coordinated national and local elections in May.
“Nailing
or stapling campaign materials or commercial ads is most
stressful and harmful to trees. Trees sustain life, so
why subject them to such an atrocious and cruel act that
could stunt their growth and even lead to untimely
death,” Roy Alvarez, actor and EcoWaste Coalition
steering committee member, said in a statement. “We call
on all aspiring senators, representatives and other
candidates to pay serious attention to protecting our
remaining trees from injury and destruction during the
campaign period. Harm not the trees. No nails, no
staples please.”
Instead
of scourging trees for political gains, the EcoWaste
Coalition is asking candidates and their supporters to
plant trees—not for show—but to make up for the trees
cut and turned into campaign materials, as well as
counterbalance pollution from the campaign caravans and
sorties.
The
Coalition notes the proliferation of posters and banners
on trees in major highways and thoroughfares as the
campaign progresses. Politicians’ streamers carrying
graduation and fiesta greetings are likely to mushroom
in March to May.
Republic
Act 9006, or the Fair Elections Act, prohibits the
posting of campaign materials in public places outside
the assigned common poster areas such as trees, electric
posts or wires, road islands, bridges, schools and other
government facilities, shrines and the like.
In
issuing the public appeal not to harm the trees, the
EcoWaste Coalition, which is campaigning for waste-free
elections, also took the opportunity to highlight the
benefits of trees that are often overlooked.
Trees,
according to the eco-group, beautify our communities,
improve air quality, stabilize the soil, keep water
contamination in check, serve as noise barriers,
conserve energy, provide shade for people and habitat
for birds and other animals.
Leaves
from turfgrasses, shrubs and trees filter the air by
removing dust and particulates, absorb carbon dioxide
and other pollutants and release oxygen. In urban
centers like Metro Manila, trees moderate the heat from
concrete pavements, and soften the “concrete jungle,”
while greatly enhancing the air quality. |
