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The Leaning Tower of Pisa taking part in Ireland’s Global Greening initiative in 2017. Sarto Roberto

Global Greening paused this year so monuments around the world can be lit in Ukrainian colours

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has written to all Irish embassies asking for monuments to be lit up in yellow and blue.

THE GLOBAL GREENING campaign will not take place this year so monuments can be lit in Ukraine’s colours.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has written to all Irish embassies asking that embassies, monuments and other sites typically lit up green for St Patrick’s Day should instead be lit up in yellow and blue.

It is believed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ireland did not think it would be appropriate for the usual marketing campaign to go ahead as normal this year given the crisis in Ukraine. 

Some countries which have already lit up their buildings in yellow and blue were going to turn them off in order to go green on St Patrick’s Day, but it is understood the Government said they would rather they stay in the Ukrainian colours.

Micheál Martin told the Dáil during the week that the Government was looking at how the campaign that coincides with the St Patrick’s Day celebrations around the globe can be modified to include “Ukrainian theme” this year. 

Hundreds of iconic landmarks and sites in over 50 countries were set to go green next week to mark St Patrick’s Day, including the London Eye and famous waterways including Niagara Falls.  

“The global greening programme, in partnership with Tourism Ireland, has been enormous success over the years. We’re re examining that for St. Patrick’s Day in terms of how we can interweave this Ukrainian theme as well,” the Taoiseach told the Dáil earlier this week. 

Martin said the Government has evolved the tone and theme of St. Patrick’s day for next week, adding: 

“We will use St. Patrick’s Day, the week basically, to highlight our solidarity with Ukraine and the values that Ukrainian people are standing for.”

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:11 PM

    When out celebrating St Patrick’s Day this year, remember there are plenty of quality Irish Craft Beer companies out there that need our support right now unlike brands like Heineken who’s parent company is continuing to pay significant taxes to Putin’s war chest.

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    Mute Simon
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:22 PM

    @Ciaran Adamson: why / how are they paying tax to russia?

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:32 PM

    @Simon: They are attempting to distance the name ‘Heineken’ from all the other brands that they continue to produce in that market. It is business as usual for all eight breweries that Heineken own and operate in Russia.
    A company that makes BILLIONS in profit every year could easily afford a temporary suspension of business activities while supporting their employees in Russia…. But no… money money money.
    It looks like they are playing both sides to me, just like the Torys and the Republicans in the US with their Oligarch friends.
    #boycottHeineken is gaining traction around the globe.
    Sláinte.

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:37 PM

    @Simon: Companies like Heineken are financing Putin’s machine and helping it tick over.
    They make beer… not very nice beer… it’s not food… beer is a luxury for a lot of people these days.
    When Putin’s machine starts spluttering just like our cars will soon, I believe he will be looked after by one of his own with a bullet to the head.
    Maybe the management of Heineken Ireland could grow a pair and talk to Head Office and ask why they think they are exempt from all this…I mean, what are they at, like ?

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    Mute TomTraubert
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:10 PM

    @Ciaran Adamson: thought Heineken stopped everything in Russia yesterday?

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:25 PM

    @TomTraubert: That statement from Heineken yesterday was a PR stunt like swapping bottle labels. It is business as usual for all eight breweries that Heineken own and operate in Russia. They are ceasing all new investments in Russia… Big swing !… I mean, I’m ceasing all new investments in Russia too!

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:36 PM

    @TomTraubert: Statement from Heineken:
    MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. Heineken will stop the production and sale of beer under the Heineken brand, the company reported on Wednesday.

    “Heineken will stop the production, advertising and sale of the Heineken brand in Russia. We will take immediate steps to ring-fence our Russian business from the wider Heineken Company to stop the flow of monies, royalties and dividends out of Russia. Heineken will no longer accept any net financial benefit derived from our Russian operations,” the report said.

    Meanwhile, all facilities, operational and commercial divisions of the company on the territory of the Russian Federation will continue working, the company added.

    The Netherlands-based Heineken N.V., a global leader of production of premium beer and cyder brands, has been operating on the Russian market since February 2002 when it acquired the first brewery in St. Petersburg. Currently Heineken owns seven breweries in Russia.

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    Mute Colin Conlan
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:39 PM

    @Ciaran Adamson: Where does that beer go? Who buys it? Where the profits come from that are taxed? Those people should boycott this alternative brand as they send money *into* Russia.

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    Mute Ciaran Adamson
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:01 PM

    @Ciaran Adamson: Apologies for the error in some of my above posts.
    Heineken owns and operates only SEVEN breweries in Russia.

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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:11 PM

    Great idea. Slava Ukraini

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    Mute Eoin Byrne
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:44 PM

    blue and yellow makes green

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:31 PM

    Very good idea.

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:20 PM

    Oh My Good Lord, can anyone in authority please say stop to this ongoing virtuous nonsense.
    Please.

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    Mute Peter
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:30 PM

    @Gavin Linden: please explain what is wrong with showing support for the people of Ukraine while they are being invaded?

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:56 PM

    @Peter: — He has all the signs of an amateur Vlad Bot.

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    Mute bkyona
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:56 PM

    @Peter: We could make more of a statement using the peacetime white instead of supporting more infractions of sovereignty. Bugs Morans gangsters.

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:11 PM

    @Peter: No need to explain Peter, there is absolutely nothing wrong in supporting Ukraine and its citizens in meaningful and beneficial ways. There wouldn’t be enough room on this page to list those methods. But flying flags, renaming streets and light shows are none of the above. It’s the hyped up nonsense that people get wrapped up in to make themselves feel good. Sad really.

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    Mute Paul Clancy
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:32 PM

    @Gavin Linden: you reply as if the lighting up was the only response being offered. It is one of many many supports offered to Ukraine and the refugees fleeing the country. If you choose to look at the lighting up and name changing in isolation you’d have an argument but it’s merely one small addition to a much larger package.

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    Mute Fachtna Roe
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:40 PM

    @E.J. Murray: hmmm. Is he from Vladi’s Bot Stock?

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:47 PM

    @Gavin Linden: Cynical and speak for yourself, not Irish people.

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:53 PM

    @Paul Clancy: Sorry Paul but I don’t agree with that point. I would isolate the actions that I mentioned as I believe they are not connected to other positive activities which have real impact.
    Far too many people jump immediately to the symbolic actions on issues of concern and then stop there and shout at all and sundry, “hey! look what I’ve done”, “I’m doing my bit, why aren’t you?”
    It’s meaningless and self serving, like those changing internet profiles with Ukrainian flags, similar to those using masked faces as avatars last year.
    I would even suggest that the campaign to change the street name is worryingly dangerous when people jump up and down to push it and others join thinking “oh, this must be right, better support this”. All without actually thinking out what it actually means.
    Ah, now I can breathe again,, rant over…!

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Mar 10th 2022, 2:09 PM

    @Gavin Linden: Anything to keep the suffering of people in Ukraine at top of the agenda is useful. It attracts charity, plain and simple. Money, medicine, shelter, repatriation. By saturating the media with that support, it will filter through eventually to people in Russia that Ukraine has the support of ordinary people across the World and the Russia is seen as a pariah. Maybe, just maybe, that will do something to change Russian policy. In the meantime, have a little lie down after your rant and consider how thankful you could be about not having to try to feed and console your family under a hail of missiles and bombs.

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Mar 10th 2022, 2:19 PM

    @Gavin Linden: What is wrong with showing our support for Ukraine in whatever way we can?

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:43 PM

    @Fachtna Roe: Gobshyte..

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:46 PM

    @Eoin Roche: I have read and will consider your points in relation to the topics already discussed.
    What I will not take is your condescending comments as to how I should or should not feel regarding others suffering. You are a sickening rick (with a capitol P) bursting with smugness.

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    Mute Jonathan O'Riordan
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    Mar 10th 2022, 5:22 PM

    @Gavin Linden: Gobshyte

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    Mute Jonathan O'Riordan
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    Mar 10th 2022, 7:17 PM

    @Paul Mcnevin: maybe he is not Irish. There is afterall a Gavin Linden from Moscow on Facebook -very Russian name

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:23 PM

    @Jonathan O’Riordan: Your own given name smacks of an Anglo hereditary there Johnny. I’m as Irish as you will get by the way. Gavin + Linden, very Russian name? Ring Fossets, they have a place for you in the Clown act.

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Mar 10th 2022, 2:36 PM

    If the Irish Embassy in Moscow gets lit up in Blue and Yellow, it might end up getting lit up in some other way.

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    Mute Alan Rothwell
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:23 PM

    @E.J. Murray: Don’t be Putin ideas in their heads!

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    Mute Datalore
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:45 PM

    Well green = blue + yellow, so there’s that!

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    Mute Kevin Hickey
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    Mar 10th 2022, 6:30 PM

    I thought we were a neutral country??

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    Mute Datalore
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    Mar 10th 2022, 3:45 PM

    Well green = blue + yellow, so there’s that!

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