Re:Mailbag: Jim Hurley writes: for posting on Observer site

James Hurley <hurley@aqua.wisc.edu> wrote:

Dick

We got the video of the mercury conference back from City Cable and we’re slowly but surely converting it and putting it up on our web site.  Could you post the following on your blog?  Thanks.

 

- Jim

 

 

Mercury 2006 conference and Evansville’s participation

 

It has been a few weeks since the conference ended, a conference that included representation from 69 nations to discuss the worldwide problem of mercury pollution.  I can’t begin to express my thanks to the people of Evansville that participated in this important meeting.  From the fifth graders (now enter sixth grade) at Theodore Robinson Intermediate School who participated in the student art project, to the teachers who made it possible, to all those who carried flags at the opening ceremony.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  I hope you all felt a part of a global community of concerned people and maybe learned a little science, too.

 

We have made the opening ceremony available online at www.mercury2006.org.  It runs pretty well on a high-speed connection.  The flag ceremony and the slideshow of student artwork are included, as are speeches from Chairman George Goggleye of the Leech Lake Band and Senator Russ Feingold as well as a moving drum ceremony by the Mole Lake Singers.  The discussion sessions from the four following days are there too, if you want to learn all you’ll ever need to know about mercury pollution.

 

Thanks again to everyone from Evansville who made the mercury conference even more special.  I’m really proud to be from this city.

 

- Jim Hurley