Pollution message showing at a theater near you
August 2nd, 2012 by cdunaganIf you’ve been going to the movies on the Kitsap Peninsula and you arrive before the previews for upcoming films, you’ve probably watched a promotional clip about reducing pollution from cars.
The promo, at right, was produced by Seattle Public Utilities, and its use was granted to the West Sound Stormwater Outreach Group free of charge. The educational group, which promotes clean-water efforts, is made up of Kitsap County and its four cities plus Gig Harbor and Port Townsend.
For about $5,000, the consortium was able to get the promo into all the major theaters except for Bremerton’s new downtown theater, which wasn’t open when the deal was made.
“The neat thing about this is that we are trying to reach out to a younger audience, 18- to 24-year-olds, who tend to go to the movie theaters, and they tend to get there early,” said Liz Satterthwaite, education and outreach coordinator for Kitsap County.
It’s an age group that can play a critical role in the battle against pollution, but it’s a group that’s not easy to reach, she said. Television commercials are expensive, and most people don’t like ads on their cellphones or pop-ups on websites.
Being somewhat entertaining and offering a positive spin to the problem, movie theaters seemed like a great place to show the clip.
Other stormwater-education groups in the Puget Sound region may be approaching local theaters to show this clip in the future.
Other recent efforts by the West Sound stormwater group include an online ad on the Kitsap Sun’s website and graphics on Kitsap County street sweepers and trucks likely to be seen on the streets. Some of these messages on wheels say things like “Sweeping for a healthy sound.” Others display the Water Pollution Hotline for reporting pollution problems, (360) 337-5777.
Kitsap County also is experimenting with a community newsletter about Puget Sound and local issues. They are being sent to homes in a targeted area, first Manchester, then Kingston. The next is planned for North Dyes Inlet, including Silverdale and surrounding areas.
Surveys have shown that people are becoming more aware of stormwater pollution and the steps they can take to reduce the amount of dirty water getting into our waterways.
Feel free to add your thoughts on this blog entry, or jump to the comment section of the cinema ad itself.
Tags: automobile pollution, Kitsap Peninsula, movie theaters, Puget Sound Starts Here, stormwater pollution
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Recent Comments