Path to glory: Green crusader targets real dirt
It’s not unemployment, traffic chaos, drugs, crime or homelessness or some other profound social issue, but the rather more prosaic issue of dog poo.
But not for long though if Dublin central by-election candidate David Geary of the Green Party has his way.
It’s rare that a politician cuts right through the bullshit to tackle the dog variety, but Mr Geary has done just that.
In fact, he is so determined to tackle this menace head on that he has placed 1,000 “pooper scooper” brown bags in shops for free.
Politicians used to only handle brown paper bags full of cash. In fairness to the Greens, they take them full of crap.
Mr Geary has even launched his campaign on the internet highways (which also come laden with the brown stuff).
At the time of writing, the YouTube video on the issue had racked up a whopping 30 views. And this reporter watched it twice.
Still, you can’t fault Mr Geary for his commitment to the dog turd cause.
Labelling it a “big problem,” he comes across as a polite, middle-class, dog turd-erasing vigilante.
“Dog dirt is dirty, dangerous and disgusting.
“Despite many public notices there is no enforcement of the laws on this.
“Dog dirt is a serious health risk, especially for children and for pregnant women and action needs to be taken,” he said.
Forget swine flu, this stuff is lethal and it is everywhere. You don’t want to be walking around Stoneybatter with your loafers covered in dog dirt. It’s just not on. In fact, there are no gardens in Stoneybatter, things are that bad.
“Where I live in Stoneybatter, there are no gardens and some people allow their dogs to use neighbour’s doorsteps as toilets.
“For too long Dubliners have had to tolerate dog dirt and nothing has been done to stop this,” said the Green party candidate.
They have had to pave paradise it seems, and all because of canine bowel movements.
However, that’s all about to change. The Green crusader hopes his campaign will get people talking about the issue on the streets of Dublin.
“We hope that our campaign will get people talking about dog dirt and will make people realise that it is unacceptable to leave dog dirt on the street.”
Sounds like a fun chat.
