Green Paper Chain

Roland Flamini reports from Malta for the World Politics Review:

With elections set for early 2008 on this Mediterranean island, which is, incidentally, the smallest member of the European Union, the Maltese environmental minister announced this week that he will plant new trees to replace the paper he'll be using in his campaign. George Pullicino said he has set up an audit board to assess just how many trees will be involved.

Pullicino took his cue from a memorandum sent to the island's political parties by school children taking part in a nationwide ecological project. The children urged parties to use recyclable materials, and to install bins to encourage waste separation at political activities. The appeal is being taken seriously, and other candidates said they are thinking of following Pullicino's lead..