MORE WACKY FINNS NEWS:

TRASH BINS IN FINLAND SAY THANK YOU IN FINNISH (AND IN SIX OTHER LANGUAGES)

HELSINKI, FINLAND (July 2009) -- Finland has a reputation for its rather wacky events: wife carrying contests, mobile phone throwing competitions, mosquito swatting events, table drumming, and team berry picking are just a few of some of the most distinguishing ones.  This summer, Helsinki creates a wacky, welcoming “buzz” with its talking trash bins. Not only will the trash bins teach passersby the Finnish language and encourage them to throw trash away, the trash bins will also play a musical thank you.

Keying off last summer’s enormously successful introduction of its four talking trash bins in the center of Helsinki, eight talking trash bins will appear in locations around Helsinki this summer. Simo Frangén, a popular Finnish TV celebrity, is the voice behind the taking trash bins greeting passersby while promoting cleanliness and environmental care. The trash bins will be located near Esplanadi, Senate Square, Sibelius Monument, and Temppeliaukio  Church.

The talking trash bins will espouse their message in six languages: Finnish, Swedish, Japanese, English, German, Polish, and Russian.  Some trash bins will also provide some fun musical sounds created by high school students from the Kruununhaka district of Helsinki as part of the Helsinki City Public Works youth campaign. The campaign and the talking trash cans work together to teach the benefits of a clean city.

For more information:

Talking Trash www.talkingtrash.fi 

Visit Finland www.visitfinland.com

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