John Hart to deliver SXU Honors Program Guest Lecture

Water activist helped found Caribou Clean Water Partnership

Chicago (March 28, 2008) Water activist John Hart will deliver Saint Xavier University’s Ninth Annual Honors Program Guest Lecture at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8 at Saint Xavier’s Chicago campus, located at 3700 W. 103rd St.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center.

In his lecture, titled “A Partnership for Clean Water: The Politics of Conservation,” Hart will describe work being done to prevent mining pollution in the Greater Yellowstone region and his own quest to protect the sacred natural resources he loves.

The lecture will address issues SXU honors students are exploring in their interdisciplinary honors science course “The Bio-Politics of Water Pollution.” The students will travel to southern Idaho this summer to help prevent mining pollution.

A front-line activist in the struggle to protect America’s water, Hart is a founding member of the Caribou Clean Water Partnership. The group works to bridge the divide between environmentalists, farmers, ranchers and businesspeople to oppose further expansion of phosphate mining in southwest Idaho. He is Phosphate Campaign communications manager for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.

Hart, who is originally from Idaho, said he learned of the pollution after moving back to his home state from the east coast to raise his family. He now aims to spread awareness of the problem and work for a solution.

“The pollution has been happening since before I was born and it’s something that has been kept undercover,” he said. “The lands and water around eastern Idaho have a big impact on who I am and how I was raised. It’s just wrong- it was not a hard choice for me to come aboard and help fight.”

Hart recently finished a post as a county administrator and director of economic development. He also has taught digital media, exhibited his art in galleries and museums in New York and Connecticut and illustrated the “Prince Valiant” comic strip.

-SXU-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu