NAMA To Nature
national |
housing |
press release
Wednesday March 28, 2012 20:01
by anon
Civil disobedience with a difference - planting trees
Today the NAMA To Nature group struck again. This time in Cherrywood industrial estate, Dublin near the Luas line. In an act of civil disobedience a group of 12 people in business suits started planted trees this morning at 7am on an area of wasteland beside the Luas track along the edges and ridges to help shield the eyesore from the nearby apartment block part of which is a ghost estate.
Ireland has over 600 ghost estates and 40,000 empty dwellings. Rather than watch the government dither and procrastinate let's help nature take them back.
The group was only formed a few weeks ago and last Thurs they released the press release below.
**** Press Release *****
March 22nd 2012
We have received an overwhelmingly positive response since news of our activity on ‘The Waterways’ Keshcarrigan, in Co. Leitrim came to light. It seems that we have tapped into a widespread desire to act in the face of inaction.
The state has fallen short of addressing many of the deep problems we face. People feel let down. In these circumstances it is right and proper for civil society to generate creative action.
Anyone who sees the devastation that ‘The Waterways’ has wrought on its environment can easily see that planting trees represents real improvement. The ‘ghost estates’ are a symbol of past mistakes. There remains a pronounced lack of transparency on the issue and even a democratic deficit. The planting of trees offers one positive response.
There remains a short window in the season for us to plant on similarly tarnished ground, and in response to the positive reaction we have decided, as a group, to fit one last planting day in. We hope to identify a suitable site in the days to come.
We also hope to develop an ongoing discussion with the community of Keshcarrigan, in relation to ‘The Waterways’ site, with the particular aim of helping to clear and make safe the site.
Lastly, we are a group that has taken an initiative not an organisation as such. We hope that other people will be inspired to improve the ‘ghost estates’ within their own communities. Planting trees is a peaceful and positive action. We hope that all actions will be undertaken in this spirit.
To follow the NamatoNature initiative please go to https://www.facebook.com/namatonature
NAMA to Nature
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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4I live in that estate and it is not a ghost estate. No part of either apartment blocks are unfinished. Also that wasteland is a development zone, plans are currently available at dlrcoco.ie
Well, on this morning's John Murray show, Radio 1, Serena Brabazon in the interview describes the adjacent estate as such.
At the link below scroll down to: 28/03/2012 Nama to Nature - guerilla gardening on ghost estates
And click on the audio button
I live in this area and saw these guys this morning. They planted trees in an area which floods in the winter and in an area which is about two metres deep with gravel. Also I don't think it is such a good idea to plant these trees in such dry weather when they are going to need to be watered over the coming days; I don't think these guys are going to come out to do so without any cameras present. Of the 200 trees planted they will be lucky if a handful survive. Although probably well- intentioned it seems to me a poorly thought out publicity stunt.
The picture alone would suggest that these trees are planted in a very inappropriate location and that they are unlikely to survive.