Pollution: Keep America Beautiful - Canoe

More than four decades ago, the Ad Council partnered with Keep America Beautiful to create a powerful visual image that dramatized how litter and other forms of pollution were hurting the environment, and how every individual has the responsibility to help protect it. The ad, which featured Native American actor Iron Eyes Cody, "The Crying Indian," first aired on Earth Day in 1971. Created by ad agency Marstellar, Inc., the campaign used the line, "People Start Pollution. People can stop it." The ad became one of the most memorable and successful campaigns in advertising history and was named one of the top 100 advertising campaigns of the 20th Century by Ad Age Magazine.

• Category

  News & Politics

[AmethystWillow]

I remember this public service announcement and it taught me not only to appreciate America's beauty, but not to pollute. It should be re-aired.

[reyguel]

The commercials of the good ol' days are the best. If aired today, they just might teach the young kids something constructive.

[Nuno Rodrigues]

It's funny because the USA pollutes more than any other country.

[kiez120]

Have you ever seen an Indian reservation? Sadly, TRASH everywhere!

[Shaaz aam]

While we're at it, and everyone wants to be liberal here i know....... look at which communities have more trash strewn all over....black communities.

[camille zeno]

The sad thing is, I walk around my city and all I see is trash everywhere. People don't care and it shows.

[Abigail Watson]

This is part of the reason why I prefer to recycle and put trash in the garbage cans... :) This PSA is very well-done, too. :)

[GueiGirl]

Ironically this ad was made the same year Godzilla vs Hedorah (The Smog Monster) was made. The intro with the factories and polluted water reminded me of the opening to Godzilla vs Hedorah before the title screen showed up.

[TheMonirene76]

I remember this commercial

[Anthony Monti]

Ironicly Iron Eyes Cody wasn't indian he was italian.

[1caninelover]

Yes, it was Iron Eyes Cody.

[Malachy896]

Iron Eyes Cody ?