His name was Iron Eyes Cody, an Ersatz Indian.  The cause was Keep America Beautiful.  The TV spot was one of the first to launch the green movement in mass media.  I believe it’s one of the most influential commercials in the history of green marketing. For you trivia buffs, the voice over that delivers the famous line, “People start pollution; people can stop it,” was famous for narrating what popular cartoon from 1959 – 1964?

For a quick look at the genesis and growth of the green movement, check out this article from CNN’s Planet in Peril series: History of Environmental Movement Full of Twists, Turns.