Contact:
- Michelle Rosier, Sierra Club, 612-659-9124
- Carin Skoog, National Environmental Trust, (612-730-6526 today only) or 651-645-2433
EARTH DAY 2005: Mercury in Minnesota's Waters
Kids, Parents Visit the Science Museum to Learn More, Take Action(St. Paul, MN) — Families and other concerned citizens from around the state took part in an Earth Day festival at the Science Museum of Minnesota, focusing on mercury in Minnesota's environment and its effects on humans and wildlife. The museum teamed up with the Mercury-Free Minnesota campaign to not only educate Minnesotans about the sources of mercury pollution, but also to offer a variety of solutions for reducing risks of exposure. The event focused on fun-for-the-whole family games and interactive displays that allowed kids and parents to learn more about mercury in Minnesota's waters, fish, and birds of prey.
Julie Ogle of Waverly, Minnesota, mother of three, attended the event in order to learn more about mercury and to provide a "constructive educational opportunity" for her kids to engage on Earth Day. "The more time my kids spend learning about the environment, the more likely they are to take care of it," said Ogle. "My kids all love to fish. It's a favorite Minnesota past-time, and with the number of lakes and rivers in this state we need to do everything we can to keep them clean and our children healthy. It's good stewardship and it just makes sense," said Ogle.
"The Science Museum's 'Big Fish, Little Fish' presentation brings to life the complex topic of mercury bioaccumulation — how mercury builds up in fishes' bodies — in a fun, engaging demonstration that audiences won't soon forget," said Renee Rude, director of visitor services for the Science Museum. "It's rewarding to see the looks of wonder and surprise on kids' faces when they see the differences between larger and smaller fish."
Presentations by The Raptor Center at The University of Minnesota were also a highlight of the event. "Mercury is dangerous for the health of birds, just as it can be unhealthy for people who eat significant amounts of fish," said Laura Ellis of the Raptor Center.
The Earth Day event was a combination of main stage presentations by the Raptor Center, Science Museum, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Clancy, the Mercury-Sniffing Dog. Other participating organizations included Japanese fish-printing sponsored by the Bell Museum, mercury trivia by the Minnesota Department of Health, and policy solutions for addressing Minnesota's mercury problem by Mercury-Free Minnesota.
"We wanted to host a fun event to celebrate Earth Day, but also something that kids and parents would come away from with a deeper understanding of the sources of mercury pollution in Minnesota and that we all have a responsibility to take care of the environment," said Michelle Rosier, Clean Air Organizer for the Sierra Club.