Keep Oceans Blue
Event Organizers
Guide
Include conservation in your celebration!
World Oceans Day events and activities increasingly have emphasized the importance of not only celebrating, but conserving our
ocean and its animals. For World Oceans Day 2017, the conservation focus will be on the problem of plastic pollution.
Research also tells that one of the main reasons people take action on issues like this is that it makes them feel good about themselves,
that they are joining as part of a larger worldwide movement, and is something that they will want to share with others.
Step 1: Make The Ask
Knowing that your audiences are likely share your concern about plastic trash
in the ocean, ask them not if, but how they are becoming part of the solution.
In-person: Ask them to take out their smartphones and go to: keepoceans.blue
On that site they’ll find a simple form asking them how they are helping the
ocean and its animals by reducing their use of some of the most problematic
plastic items: single-use plastic bags, single-use plastic bottles, plastic straws
or all of the above!
Online: Post on your web site, and social media, linking directly to
keepoceans.blue
Step 2: Help Them Share Their Commitment
As the second and final step, those who hit submit on the survey screen will
receive a “thank you” with links to pre-scripted responses for posting on
their own social media accounts with the handles/hashtags for
#worldoceansday and #cleanseas.
Research tells us that there is no time like the present! People will be much
more likely to share their commitment at the moment they make it,
especially if they are encouraged with some simple prompts. Research also
tells that one of the main reasons people take action on issues like this is that
it makes them feel good about themselves, and is something that they will want to share with others.
Step 3: Watch That Commitment Grow
Soon after World Oceans Day, as part of our year-round engagement strategy on this issue, we will be launching an online infographic
akin to a fundraising thermometer, which will be tracking social media traffic including these, as well as other key hashtags connected
to individuals taking action on plastic pollution (E.g. #strawlessocean, #TrashFreeSeas, etc.)
Downloads and Tools
For this promotion, we have
• Sample scripts (see below)
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Banners for Facebook or Twitter pages (see below)
Suggested social media postings (see below)
Thanks to a partnership with UN Environment, we’ve also created an “online exhibition” www.ouroceansourfuture.org featuring
additional resources - photos, videos, infographics and background reports -- you can use typically free of charge!
Scripts for Onsite Engagements
Script Draft – Show / Large Group Setting
(Please modify to suit your own sites, settings and audiences!)
1) Plastic pollution is a big problem for our oceans and ocean animals, such as (sea turtles / sea lions / sea birds / other), which all too
often eat or are entangled in plastic trash.
OR …for our oceans and shores such as at (LOCALLY RELEVANT LOCATION) where increasingly we find (INSERT SPECIFIC
EXAMPLE)
2) (Optional – more on the extent of the problem) How many of you have been to the ocean recently and seen plastic trash on the
beach or in the water? Sadly, that’s not surprising. More than 8 million tons of plastic trash get into our oceans every year. So much
that we see more than half of sea turtles and nearly all marine birds are now found with plastics in their stomachs. So much that
scientists now say we could end up with more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050
3) But by taking small steps together we can be a big part of the solution…
…here at the (ORGANIZATION) you may have noticed (INSERT SPECIFIC EXAMPLE e.g. that we no longer provide plastic
bags at our gift shop, or plastic straws at our concessions)
(AND/OR)
…and we know that many of you are already taking similar steps, perhaps bringing your own shopping bag or water bottle (HOLD
UP EXAMPLES), or skipping the plastic straw?
4) In honor of World Oceans Day (today/this week/this month), we have a fun and easy way for you to show how our concern and
commitments can add up.
…(HOLD UP PHONE) just take out your phone, and go to keepoceansblue.org
…you’ll see a single question survey, asking how you are already helping
…and a chance to share encourage friends and family on social media, and help the movement grow
5) Then stay tuned as the oceans start trending as a top topic on social media. And everyone will be able to see how together our
actions - your actions, his actions, her actions, my actions - can add up to a big difference for our oceans and the animals!
SCRIPT DRAFT – SMALL GROUP / ONE-ON-ONE SETTING
(Please modify to suit your own sites, settings and audiences!)
1) In honor of World Oceans Day (today/this week/this month), we have a fun and easy way for us all to show some love to our
oceans and its animals, such as these (sea turtles / sea lions / sea birds / other)
…(HOLD UP PHONE) just take out your phone, and go to keepoceans.blue
…you’ll get a link to a single question survey, asking how you are already helping the ocean by choosing to reduce your use of
disposable plastics, which the animals accidentally
…and a chance to share encourage friends and family on social media, and help the movement grow
2) Then stay tuned as the oceans start trending as a top topic on social media. And everyone will be able to see how together our little
actions can add up to a big difference for our oceans and the animals.
General Tips for Zoos and Aquariums
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Engage guests near, and directly reference how sea turtles, sea lions, sea birds or other animals are helped by a reduction in
disposable plastics (Our research has found that visitors expect, trust, and appreciate conservation information, especially
when it is framed as ways they can help the animals)
Display reusable alternatives to some of the most problematic plastic items
Emphasize the solution, and position the visitor as part of it (Note that in a show setting we understand some background on
the problem can be helpful, but in small group and one on one settings where time is more limited our ISG+ sites have told us
best to just skip to the solution!)
Demonstrate the action steps using your own phone – i.e. mimic taking out a phone, clicking, sharing while explaining the
steps
Suggested Social Media Postings
Twitter
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For #worldoceansday, how are you keeping plastic out of our oceans? Tell us at keepoceans.blue - the sea turtles thank you!
#cleanseas
For #worldoceansday join the movement to keep plastic out of our oceans at keepoceans.blue - sea turtles will thank you!
#cleanseas
Facebook
 With @worldoceansday, @unep and people around the world, we’re helping to keep plastic trash out of our oceans. You can
too! Go now to keepoceans.blue - the sea turtles will thank you!
 For #worldoceansday we’re pledging alongside @unep and people around the world to help keep plastic trash out of our
oceans. What are you doing? Go now to keepoceans.blue - the sea turtles will thank you!
Facebook Cover Photo
Square Graphic