Beyond the `tree people' stereotypes

It's a year-and-a-half now since "defiant activists took to the trees", camping in tree houses to protest against a road-improvement scheme at the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow, a project which would result in the loss of approximately 2,000 trees. Pro-active environmentalists, green activists, eco-warriors - the label depends on what you read - were in court last month challenging the county council's plans. In court, one of the protestors said the development would irrevocably destroy the woodland ecosystem. The council said the proposed scheme would improve road safety, citing five deaths and 84 accidents on the stretch of road in the space of almost 10 years. Whatever the arguments, a bunch of people living in trees "defiantly" protesting state-supported plans was ideal media material.

However, the protesters were conscious of how their demonstration might be manipulated. Speaking to Hot Press, an environmental activist involved in the campaign expressed a reluctance to engage with the media because "exaggerated or sensationalist reporting may well try to make us out to be a bunch of degenerates", and unwarranted hysteria generated by the media would "obscure the really important thing that's at stake - which is the imminent destruction of one of the few remaining native deciduous forests on the east coast of Ireland".

Meanwhile, Crann, an organisation which promotes the conservation and establishment of broadleaf woodlands, was issuing press releases to the same effect: "the proposed dual carriageway would severely damage a rare example of Irish oak woodland and associated habitats." To less attention that the "tree people" generated, Crann also expressed concern that "a drastic precedent will be set if EU money is used to undermine both the EU and Irish environmental protection laws". In turn, Wicklow County Council and the Eastern Region Parks and Wildlife Service told the media that the campaigners were themselves damaging the trees - and that most of them weren't even Irish, never mind locals.

They drink herbal tea and eat organic brown rice. They get in touch with their inner child at the local healing workshop - in designer gear from Prada and Agnes B.

Hello? Shouldn't that be hand-knitted trousers and Clarke's open-toe sandals? No, that would be hippie chicks (sooooo 10 minutes ago...). This is 1999, and we're talking Eco-Babes. The media may be tripping over stereotypes, but it knows a good "latest thing": articles on "eco-chic" are springing up all over the place - a new, improved green clichΘ.