A coalition of High Desert residents and public agencies announced Friday the creation of a public awareness campaign to spread the simple message: "Don't Trash Our Desert."
The brainchild of Victorville resident Michael Stevens, president of Stevens Consulting Services and a member of this newspaper's editorial board, the campaign already has reached out to municipal and county governments, trash disposal companies, the Victor Valley Transit Authority and local media for assistance in turning the campaign slogan into a rallying cry for the region.
The group also is pursuing is use of the multitude of electronic message boards throughout the High Desert. Victor Valley College already had two "Don't Trash Our Desert" messages on its electronic board on Friday, Stevens said.
“This is a simple, inexpensive campaign that uses a variety of communication methods to remind and encourage people to help keep the desert clean and free of illegal dumping and debris,” said Stevens, who said the campaign also is targeting residential neighborhoods. "What we're hoping is people will get behind this effort. We want them to rally around it. Whether you've been here for two years or for 22, everybody is concerned about our image.
"We all have an obligation to keep our desert clean. I'm excited. My hope is people will see this so much that they'll think twice before they do anything to trash our desert."
The coalition is asking residents, businesses and agencies to add the "Don't Trash Our Desert" slogan to their website, Facebook page, lobby monitors and newsletters.
Stevens said Victor Valley Transit is developing a poster that the agency plans to hang inside each of its buses.
The campaign's goal is to augment existing efforts that address illegal dumping of trash and debris and to inspire preventive action.
A “Don’t Trash Our Desert” rally is being planned at Victor Valley College to serve as an official kickoff.
For more information, visit www.donttrashourdesert.com or call Stevens at 760-900-0152 or Cari Thomas at 760-780-7908.