Potatoes For Bertie Ahern 2008

by staff-room notes. Mon Mar 03, 2008 22:01

Yep, Mark. it's pretty sad. the man should have just stayed at home & pulled his own little pinkie.

But we have a chance to plug UN potato year & maybe get the swampfascists onto an Gort Mhór something!

http://www.potato2008.org/

(There are activities for kids too. They might like to know what french fries are made from & how to make some) But for us more sophisticated types who remember the days when there was no potato in a Mc Donald's french fry & supported a brave couples' right to freedom of speech to say so for many years - here's the UN blurb -
_________________________________________

"........The celebration of the International Year of the Potato (IYP) will raise awareness of the importance of the potato - and of agriculture in general - in addressing issues of global concern, including hunger, poverty and threats to the environment.

Over the next two decades, the world's population is expected to grow on average by more than 100 million people a year. More than 95 percent of that increase will occur in the developing countries, where pressure on land and water is already intense. A key challenge facing the international community is, therefore, to ensure food security for present and future generations, while protecting the natural resource base on which we all depend. The potato will be an important part of efforts to meet those challenges...

Potatoes are grown worldwide

The potato has been consumed in the Andes for about 8 000 years. Taken by the Spanish to Europe in the 16th century, it quickly spread across the globe: today potatoes are grown on an estimated 195 000 sq km, or 75 000 square miles, of farmland, from China's Yunnan plateau and the subtropical lowlands of India, to Java's equatorial highlands and the steppes of Ukraine. In terms of sheer quantity harvested, the humble potato tuber is the world's No. 4 food crop, with production in 2006 of almost 315 million tonnes (about 347 million US tons). More than half of that total was harvested in developing countries.

Potatoes feed the hungry

The potato should be a major component in strategies aimed at providing nutritious food for the poor and hungry. It is ideally suited to places where land is limited and labour is abundant, conditions that characterize much of the developing world. The potato produces more nutritious food more quickly, on less land, and in harsher climates than any other major crop - up to 85 percent of the plant is edible human food, compared to around 50% in cereals.
Potatoes are good for you

Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, making them a good source of energy. They have the highest protein content (around 2.1 percent on a fresh weight basis) in the family of root and tuber crops, and protein of a fairly high quality, with an amino-acid pattern that is well matched to human requirements. They are also very rich in vitamin C - a single medium-sized potato contains about half the recommended daily intake - and contain a fifth of the recommended daily value of potassium.............."

http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html
_________________________________________________________

by Mark C Mon Mar 03, 2008 21:23

Mc Gowan "just wanted to do this art piece and bring art to Dublin".

Could someone tell this moron that there is already (some) art in Dublin? He wouldn't have been the first person to try his hand at something creative in the city.

Just goes to show what the man really thinks of the Irish.

Mark.

by french fries & giggle Mon Mar 03, 2008 21:18

from RTE news tonight complete with a picture of a man who looks well incapable of pulling 300kg of Kerry pinks anywhere.

......."London-based artist Mark McGowan wanted to pull 300kg of potatoes attached to his leg from Ballymun to Drumcondra as a show of support for Bertie Ahern. Potatoes for Bertie Ahern, which was scheduled for this morning, was to see Mr McGowan crawl from the old Ballymun swimming pool to Fagans pub in Drumcondra in the hopes of showing the people of Ireland just how hard it is being Bertie Ahern. 'Because its a publicly funded exhibition, I have been asked not to do the performance because the Ballymun Regeneration people see it as a party political issue and cannot be seen to be partisan,' the artist explained. 'I am really disappointed and just wanted to do this art piece and bring art to Dublin and at the same time give Bertie Ahern a boost in what is really troubled times for him. 'I believe it is unfair not to let this event happen but it is out of my control,' he said. The performance was to be part of the six-week long exhibition entitled Art in the Life World.2 questions answered. Yields a certain satisfaction to at least one reader / contributor (me)........"

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0227/mcgowanm.html

You know you could cynically say it was all just crap publicity in this UN year of the potato. & the press statement wasn't followed up on.

by Roasted not fried Tue Feb 19, 2008 06:18

The chinese new year began on 6th February. According to the chinese horoscope this is the Year of the Rat. I hope they're not nibbling the UN spuds. They don't want a Gorta Mor in China this Olympic year.

by french fries Mon Feb 18, 2008 21:04

For like anyone who has noted this year is UN year of the potato : I've dutifully gone to the website & learnt that the majority of spuds eaten in the world now are seeded, raised, grown & reared in the PRC.
that said & written, it might be worth observing that the UN used an Indian looking chap as their starter image. I say Indian-looking because I nurse a widespread conviction (but nothing like a grudge) that a chap in a turban is an Indian not a Chinese citizen. I may be wrong. But until you lot over in Ireland either acknowledge UN year of the Potato or allow Irish people in turbans to be Gardaí, I'll have a moral edge for all my widespread convictions. I recommend it too. A moral edge is often the defining factor in discerning a grudge or prejudice from a well-experienced & honed generalisation.

http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html

by Biker Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:24

I hope they're Irish potatoes!

by Mark C Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:09

This sounds to me to be about as artistic as a bed push for Crumlin Children's Hospital, which is a publicity and money generating stunt (and one that they are welcome to for all the good work they do).

Methinks this "artist" is doing nothing else - why doesn't he drag a tonne of bowler's hats to 10 Downing Street?

Mark.

by TJ Sun Feb 17, 2008 22:46

How very culturally sensitive that he would use a sack of spuds to protray the irish nation in this ridiculouss attempt to paint bertie as some kind of atlas.

When is this happening? I wouldnt mind going along to pelt this moron with a few ripes ones. That said maybe I should save them for Bertie himself.

by Spud Thu Feb 14, 2008 17:29

Lighten up! - he's taking the piss out of the Teflon One. At least that's how I interpret it.

by Cathar Thu Feb 14, 2008 17:24

Anyone who thinks Bertie is great needs pschiatric treatment. I enjoy installation art but I hope this one convinces the artist about his absolute ignorance of the reality of Irish life.

by giggle Thu Feb 14, 2008 15:19

Leave that argument to others, I suppose. I hope the potatoes are edible afterwards & go to their intended purpose. It would a terrible waste of carbohydrate. Thinking about it - wouldn't it be easier to pull 300kg of instant mash? Now I'm not thinking weight here - I'm thinking aerodynamics. After all, you wouldn't want the drag factor slowing down a non-stick taoiseach.

look forward to photos.
& vids.
& acclaim.
& the globalisation of this simple protest device (or Art technique) to the length & breadth of the Irish world - from wherever there is a Ryanair airport to any Chadian refugee camps.

lug yer spuds.