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Atlanta delegate Kathy Hutton sheds a little light (and hair) on her mercury levels with the help of stylist Len Handeland, who is in a flurry of activity behind her.
Photo by T.E. Lesle

by Timothy Lesle
Exhibits

Ready for a haircut? Not a complete makeover, just a little off the top. Or sides. Whatever works. "Don’t worry," Len will reassure you (do all stylists double as therapists?). "It won't be noticeable."

Len Handelend is the owner of San Francisco's Utopia Salon, and is volunteering his time this weekend to help the Sierra Club collect hair samples from Summit participants. Maybe you read about this in the Planet a few months ago—scientists are surveying mercury levels in people across the country by analyzing their hair.

You can register for these tests at the Sierra Club's mercury testing booth in the exhibition hall. Cathleen Sullivan, a San Francisco organizer for the Club, has been volunteering at the booth and said business has been booming. The booth's staff estimated over 80 participants on Friday. And the testing costs less than usual. According to the Club's Orli Cotel, commercial tests normally cost $80 to $100; the Sierra Club’s test, which you can order online, is $25; but at the Summit, a test is only $20.

But back to the chair. So long hair is easy to take an inconspicuous sample from, but what about short hair? Len has been grappling with this question all day. But he seems to have perfected his technique of carefully trimming with scissors until he gets just the right amount needed for testing.

Or, you could just throw caution to the wind. Unlike a few other participants, Kathy Hutton, an Atlanta delegate, had no qualms about shedding some hair. “I just donated 15 inches of hair to Locks of Love,” she told me. Locks of Love is an organization that helps children with cancer and other medical conditions who have lost their own hair, and whose parents can’t afford natural hairpieces.

As for Len? He’ll give a hair sample tomorrow, when some of his other stylists will be helping out. He’s been a vegetarian for 12 years and doesn’t eat seafood, so he’s hoping his mercury levels are pretty low.

Just behind the mercury testing booth is a sea of posters describing the work of Sierra Club volunteers and staff around the country.

For example, you can look at the latest accomplishments of Scott Dye’s indispensable Water Sentinels.

Next to that, learn about the clean water issues in your watershed from the indefatigable Robin Mann and her Clean Water Campaign colleagues. Robin is seen here pointing out some water quality issue in the Midwest.

And help stop polluters in Hawaii with Carey Morishige and her Blue Water Response Team, part of the Hawaii Blue Water Campaign. Here she is discussing water problems on the Big Island with volunteer Diane Wolking.

But much more awaits, so explore and enjoy.

-- 09/09/2005 Fri
8pm