We're tired of picking up trash. If no one litters we can turn our efforts to something more rewarding like painting over the graffiti! Hmmmmm another PSA perhaps!
UPDATE!
Here's the newspaper article from the Tribune regarding this new commercial!
Beautify CNMI to air new commercial next week
In an effort to raise awareness on the effects what littering can do to the islands, Beautify CNMI is scheduled to air its new commercial next week on KSPN 2.
The commercial which took two weeks to complete, depicts three young characters who ultimately miss out on doing some fun things because they are helping to keep the islands beautiful by participating in the BCNMI clean ups.
The narrator states that three characters could not attend soccer practice, a birthday party, or a baseball game because they were picking up other people's trash. The commercial also reminds the community that littering is illegal in the CNMI.
The script, which was written by CVI-Creative Visuals International president Cory McRae, was submitted to Beautify CNMI proponent Cinta Kaipat and volunteer Angelo Villagomez for input.
McRae specializes in video production, promotions, and media consulting. Before coming to Saipan, he worked for the FOX Network in KansaS City, MO, as a promo producer.
McRae, who produced the commercial, worked in collaboration with Mike Tripp president of Mike Tripp Productions.
According to Tripp, the reason for the commercial is the importance for people to realize that many people give up countless hours of their own time to try and pitch in an help tidy up the environment.
“They are trying to make the CNMI a better place to live and visit. Ultimately with tourism our number one industry we need to keep our attraction beautiful,” Tripp said.
McRae used video that he shot from a baseball game, birthday party and soccer games.
The videos were then edited together with still shots of children that would help bring across the message that because people continue to litter, it affects the community.
Adults and children “are missing fun activities because they are cleaning up the trash left behind,” McRae said.
Tripp said that every time an individual litters, “they not only disrespect the environment but they also take away from our islands economy. After all, if the litter continues, it is only a matter of time before all those precious tourists find a more desirable tropical island destination. Then what do we do? Thus, littering is everyones business and needs to stop.”
Tripp added that Beautify CNMI wanted to dispel the rumor or sentiment that those participating in the BCNMI clean ups are doing it because it is fun.
“In fact one of the things we discussed when developing the concept was the fact that the first commercial looks like everyone is having too much fun,” Tripp said.
He said one of the frustrations everyone who goes out to clean up the island week after week has to deal with is the fact that the littering never stops.
“Some think that those who litter may do so in part because they know someone else will clean up after them. We wanted to send a strong message that everyone at BCNMI would actually rather be doing something other than cleaning up trash in their spare time. We also wanted to remind people that littering is illegal,” he said.
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4 comments:
Where are the "litter police" that were supposedly created about a year ago? Why aren't they patrolling the beaches and offering up citations, or at least making their presence known, so that folks will be more thoughtful about their trash. This is the only thing that is going to work for some people. A warning or a ticket. Repeat offenders should do time. If it's not the law.. it should be the law. Hell, put a few people in jail for a few days for the first offense, and the litter problem will be a thing of the past.
I'm not really sure. At one point I heard they had tried to issue a few citations but the reaction from the perpetrators was more than they could bear and few if any tickets were issued.
As with most things here the enforcement is pretty lax. It's crazy because all it would take is a few $500 fines given out consistently regardless of how much bitching there was or who the guilty party was related to.
As it stands now could you imagine how much better our tourism industry would be if we could put all those participating in the BCNMI cleanups to work writing welcome letters to potential visitors knowing that we offer a clean and safe place to visit!
Of course we can complain about the lack of enforcement but, ultimately you have to wonder about the mentality of those who litter especially when they do it in such a big way. We're not talking about the odd gum wrapper here and there, we're talking about outright disrespect for the environment and everyone who lives here.
Personally I think anyone caught littering should be sent to work at the transfer station sorting through garbage in the hot sun. If they do it again, kick em off the island.
Things have gotten much better though Mike. Back in the 70s people would just throw bags of trash out of their cars along the roadside, they'd junk cars along the roadside, trash and broken bottles all over the beach, cans would remain for months in large piles around the beaches, etc. Changing behavior can take a long time. The general behavior has changed quite drastically actually. There will always be those in the community that will never give a sh#t.. they're the ones who need to be ticketed in order to see change.
I hear ya. I think things have improved considerably in just the past couple of years since BCNMI got into the act.
Hopefully continued education will see the shift in the right direction continue.
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