This is not a new problem nor is the solution a simple matter of wording. I did speak in our first issue of our newspaper at this conference about the gobbledygook and imprecision of such frequently used words as globalization and sustainability, words that cry out for definition. The name of the International Conference on Freshwater is simple and clear enough but it doesn't shock the way global warming does. But I can't say that an exciting name would make much difference to the media.

I recall the concern of Maurice Strong, the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (better known as the Earth Summit) about the media's disinterest in that ground breaking confab. But the indiscriminate development, the prime cause of environmental destruction, could not attract nearly the attention the media was focusing on whether then US President George G. W. Bush would attend the Earth Summit. He was refusing to fly to Rio unless the targets and timetables on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions were removed from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an issue that remains unresolved to this day as his son persists in opposing the targets and timetables in the protocol adopted in Kyoto, Japan. But the media considered whether or not he would attend to be much more newsworthy than the global warming the greenhouse gases are causing.

The Earth Pledge Foundation and, in turn, the Earth Times were born as part of our effort to publicize the Earth Summit. The great international artist Robert Rauschenberg created and contributed a stunning print series called Last turn - Your Turn which helped us raise funds to launch the Earth Times. Incidentally, the Earth Pledge Foundation is in possession of a limited number of the prints and is making these collectors items available to select contributors in appreciation of their support of the Carriage House Center on Globalization and Sustainability as we travel on the road to Johannesburg. For further information about the Center, see the right hand column on the home page of the Earth Times at www.earthtimes.org.

We are pleased to be able to publicize such important UN conferences as this International Conference on Freshwater. As we travel to far away places from our home base, we depend heavily on local printing, housing and community assistance. The support we have received in Bonn, I am pleased to say, has been exceptional. The meeting facilities are unique and the printing has been superb. As we publish this wrap-up edition of the six daily issues of our newspaper, we wish to express our profound thanks to the sponsors of the conference and the City of Bonn.