Title | MARINE CAMPAIGN |
Brand | NSW ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY (EPA) |
Product / Service | NSW ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY (EPA) |
Category | A06. Not-for-profit / Charity / Government |
Entrant | PAPER MOOSE Sydney, AUSTRALIA |
Idea Creation | PAPER MOOSE Sydney, AUSTRALIA |
Production | PAPER MOOSE Sydney, AUSTRALIA |
Post Production | PAPER MOOSE Sydney, AUSTRALIA |
Name | Company | Position |
---|---|---|
Nick Hunter | Paper Moose | Executive Creative Director |
Kate Holdsworth | Paper Moose | Creative Director |
Pete Foley | Paper Moose | Motion Director |
Scott Ford | Paper Moose | Illustrator |
In their hit single, the band Rage Against the Polystyrene (a group of marine creatures), sing out against people littering, a behaviour which is harming their pristine marine home and killing their friends. The protest song, in the form of a classic 80s power ballad, tells the story of sea animals who are being hurt by trash that’s washed into waterways, rivers and then the ocean. Rage Against the Polystyrene waxes lyrical on a tale of destructive and deadly creature warfare – albeit accidental – all arising from that little piece of litter you have in your hand. They foretell of a situation where a fish eats the litter, and the litterer then eats the fish – eventually being harmed by their own actions. The song tugs on the heartstrings and tells of the consequences, telling listeners to not litter with the chorus “Don’t be a tosser!”.
What you got there? It could end up in the sea. That’s creature warfare. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! That little bit of litter could become marine debris. And I’ll get pretty bitter if it ends up hurting me. Our waterways are messy, and marine life’s being harmed. I’m no octopussy, but I’m terribly alarmed. Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! It could end up in me and I could end up in you. If that ends up in me it’s on you. And if you eat me it’s in you. Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser! Don’t be a Tosser!
‘Don’t be a Tosser’ is a well-known line in Australia, riffing on the word tosser, which refers to both people who litter, and also means ‘wanker’ (a derogatory term that’s often used in a light-hearted way). The double meaning makes it very funny - especially coming from cute marine animals. Many towns in Australia are inland, but litter makes its way to the ocean through waterways, impacting the stunning coastline and marine life. Australians are very protective of the marine environment, and boast some of the cleanest beaches in the world – with beach goers often picking up any litter they do find. It’s culturally frowned upon to leave rubbish near the ocean in Australia, but many don’t understand that their street litter often makes its way to the sea, no matter how far away.