“Iron-Eye Cody was the ‘Crying Indian’ in the “Keep America Beautiful” public service announcements in the early 1970s. The environmental commercial showed Cody in costume, shedding a tear after trash is thrown from the window of a car and it lands at his feet. The announcer, William Conrad, says: “People start pollution; people can stop it.” The ad won two Clio awards, incited a frenzy of community involvement, and “helped reduce litter by 88% across 38 states”, according to one reliable source. – Wikipedia”
Will Rocky Mount’s tears produce the same results?
From a Keep America Beautiful webpage, here are some facts.
Along roadways, motorists (52%) and pedestrians (23%) are the biggest contributors to litter. Research also shows that individuals under 30 are more likely to litter than those who are older. In fact, age, and not gender, is a significant predictor of littering behavior.
Why do people litter? Personal choice, individual behavior – Nearly one in five or 17% of all disposals observed in public spaces were littering, while 83% disposed of litter properly. 81% of littering was intentional, e.g., flicking, flinging, or dropping. On the other hand, individuals who hold the belief that littering is wrong, and consequently feel a personal obligation not to litter, are less likely to do so.
Litter begets litter. Individuals are much more likely to litter into a littered environment. And once there, it attracts more litter. By contrast, a clean community discourages littering and improves overall community quality of life.
Like most of you, I don’t throw things onto the roadsides. It isn’t done…we know better! The prevailing attitude that takes no responsibility for one’s actions is evident on the roads in Rocky Mount. It is good citizens that are picking up after those who are trashing and irresponsible. We have a litter crisis on our borders. Imagine those who are following new jobs here and see this disregard for what everyone knows with ‘walking-around sense’ not to do. What can be done about it? Leave a comment below with your advice. Thanks.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP – THE ONLY CURE IS YOU, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Main Street Rocky Mount 
Litter seems to be a growing problem across the south. I thought the Indian with the tear was a great campaign and would love to see it again and pray that it tugs on the hearth strings of those that litter.
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I have noticed the same, not just in Rocky Mount. The Iron Eyes Cody PSA was a national ad campaign (?) and we all saw it because we all watched the same channels. How do we mount a national campaign against littering today?! Too many have not gotten the word.
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I have a Bob Timberlake original hanging over the desk in my home of Wide Eyed Cody with those tears streaming down his face and I every time I gaze into his big brown eyes I want to bust out in tears. Now those are the folks that deserve repriations.
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Name was IRON EYES CODY
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Thanks for catching that. I went back in and edited the mistake. Never hesitate to be of help like that. I appreciate it! Thanks for joining me on Main Street. SFH
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