Comedy Central's Address the Mess: the network's new pro-social campaign is committed to showing viewers easy ways to reduce waste, improve their lives and help revive the planet. Address the Mess launched in 2007 via a national Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign designed to introducethe initiative and prompt a call-to-action to visit
AddressTheMess.com, an engaging, interactive and educational website that will inform visitors on a variety of environmental issues. The site also offers links to partner sites, such as the
Natural Resources Defense Council,
Earth 911 and
GreenDimes that offer specific information on what people can do and how they can effect change by providing real, tactical ways to take action.
Address the Mess aims to help individuals identify their own carbon footprint and offer information on how to reduce it. Specific areas of focus will be educating on proper trash disposal of items such as alkaline batteries, motor oil and e-ware (Comedy Central's audience has one of the largest concentration of early-adopters to the latest and greatest gadgets -- what's the best way to dispose of that six-month old cell phone that they now consider hopelessly outdated?), as well as ways to reduce the amount of junk mail cluttering mailboxes and claiming trees. Also on the personal and local level, Address the Mess will encourage action around community clean-up projects, as well as revitalizing neighborhoods and historic venues.
Along with its presence on-air and online, Comedy Central will spread the message of Address the Mess through the network's successful Comedy Central Live stand-up tours, beginning with a college tour this fall, which will include distributing "Waste Sucks" reusable tote bags and student involvement in recycling drives. The network continues its discussions with its national advertising and affiliate partners to build the reach and impact of the initiative. Additionally, Comedy Central has collaborated with
NativeEnergy, a national marketer of carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), the
Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav in 2007 was the network's first-ever carbon neutral production.