A THOUSAND CUTS Film Virtual Live Stream Question and Answer with Christine Amanpour, Ramona Diaz , Maria Ressa. →

August 08, 2020 in Bioethics, Health Inequity, Human Rights, Social Justice, EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING

A Thousand Cuts SPECIAL LIVESTREAM Q&A SUNDAY, AUG. 9, 2020 at 11 AM EDT Go Here You may submit questions for participants Christine Amanpour, director Ramona Diaz & Maria Ressa. Also, you can still see the film during its virtual opening period prior to the Frontline broadcast in January. Here is how:

If you are not familiar with the virtual cinema openings ( hardly anyone is) here is what to do for dditional information on seeing the film A Thousand Cuts - GO HERE: ahead of its FRONTLINE broadcast in January 2021. You will be asked to have your purchase credited to the theater you have chosen in your region, that is, he independent theater where you would have gone to see it near you. It may seem complicated but welcome to “The New Now” now.

More about the film A THOUSAND CUTS:

A THOUSAND CUTS is a film directed by Ramona S. Diaz (IMELDA, MOTHERLAND) and featuring the work of Philipino Journalist Maria Ressa ( CEO of news organization Rappler.)

Nowhere is the worldwide erosion of democracy, fueled by social media disinformation campaigns, more starkly evident than in the authoritarian regime of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Journalist Maria Ressa places the tools of the free press—and her freedom—on the line in defense of truth and democracy. Cl Click here: Theatrical Release Date August 7, 2020, USA nationwide virtually, Running Time: 98 minutes, Language: English/Tagalog with English Subtitles. Broadcast release —Frontline —early 2021. The theatrical release is virtual and the link above will take you to more information.

* September Williams supports Thousand Cuts Virtual Livestream Q &A w/Christine Amanpour, director Ramona Diaz & Maria Ressaa →

August 03, 2020 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Cove International, Echo Boomers, Human Rights, New Media, Resistance, Social Commentary, Social Justice

This is one to see — my review will follow but I wanted my followers to have a chance to buy tickets from the link on the website for the virtual opening. It is a bone-chilling film and yet so familiar in these times of the USA.

A THOUSAND CUTS produced and directed by Ramona S. Diaz is about the work of journalist Maria Ressa. After studying molecular biology and theater at Princeton she applied for a Fulbright fellowship with which she completed her Masters in Journalism. She has been a journalist in Asia for nearly 35 years. Maria Ressa co-founded Rappler, the top digital-only news site that is leading the fight for press freedom in the Philippines. As Rappler's executive editor and CEO, Maria has endured constant political harassment and arrests by the Duterte government, forced to post bail eight times to stay free. Rappler's battle for truth and democracy is the subject of A Thousand Cuts.

For her courage and work on disinformation and 'fake news,' Maria was named Time Magazine’s 2018 Person of the Year, was among its 100 Most Influential People of 2019, and has also been named one of Time's Most Influential Women of the Century. She was also part of BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2019 and Prospect magazine's world's top 50 thinkers.

September Williams MD-Author with Director Mike Binder Black & White, at the Mill Valley FIlm Festival, 2014

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury: The 2020 US Census as An Act of love in the time SARSCoVID-19

March 21, 2020 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Death and Desperation, Film, Grief, Healing, Health and Fitness, Health Inequity, Peace, Resistance, September MD-Writer, Social Justice

I very nearly forgot to fill out my household’s United States Census, amid the struggles around the SARS-CoVID19 pandemic. Maintaining social distance is designed to save lives—not to save money and it will do so—if people work hard to adhere to it during the rising phase of this viral epidemic. The USA census is also designed to save lives. Of course, the devil is in the details of the application. But it starts by “We the people” making sure every member of our nations households are fully counted. It’s not about citizenship, but about the distribution of resources in accordance with humanitarian law which demands every nation provide certain things for those living in it. We see the hell on earth when nations stop doing that. By the way, It took me exactly 10 minutes to fill out the US census. Here is how the census is applied. It determines:

1) The way that federal money is distributed to the citizens of the country at local levels when things work at their best—based on the science of health, welfare and economic parameters—consistent with humanitarian law. That includes providing for local communities schools, roads, public services.

2) Funds for preparing for transportation and emergency readiness.

3) THE NUMBER OF SEATS EACH STATE HAS IN THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND YOUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. Have a look and please fill out the census and make sure every member of your household and your family, community and living soul in this nation is counted.

In that obscure way, that I often put things together, I was reminded about a film I reviewed 5 years ago, while completing the last question of the census, That question asks the race of each member of the household is counted. The question is as lousily written this year as those in the past. It mixes up the fallacy of race with ethnicity and nationality all over the place. The film reviewed was Black or White by Mike Bender. The review got picked up by Mixed Race Studies.

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury & Filmmaker Screens When We Are Asked at CSU-Chico/Talks Diversity & Inclusion

December 20, 2019 in Bioethics, Film, Social Justice, September MD-Writer, Human Rights, Death and Desperation

Hi, I hope you are all well and beginning a holiday break!

For your Calendar:

September Williams MD-Writer- Filmmaker will be at California State University-Chico (CSU-Chico) speaking and screening her film When We Are Asked: About Crossing Over (WWAA), February 12, 202 When We Are asked is a 360 view one-hour documentary narrative about End of Life Issues from the perspective of African Americans and those who are allied and provide care for those who are living until they die. She is presenting as a part of the CSU- CONVERSATIONS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION series at 12 noon in room BMU 210 and a 6 PM full screening. For more venue information contact CSU-Chico office of diversity and inclusion For more on my screen work at IMDb and for recent film reviews I’ve written go to Bioethics.net.

September Williams' Bioethics Screen Reflections supports the Film ABOUT SAMA

November 18, 2019 in Bioethics, Freedom of the Press, Marie Covin, Resistance, Waking up in Syria, Victor Hugo

FOR SAMA is a documentary film by International Emmy Award-winning Journalist and film director, Waad Al-Kateab. The project was brought to fruition with co-director Edward Watts. it was my honor to meet Waad and her husband, Dr. Hamid Al-Kateab who is featured in this astounding work documenting about the core of what it means to resist the degradation of the human spirit with persistent humanity. My full review will follow shortly on bioethics.net. See FOR SAMA’s trailer is here on this blog. I am asking you to support FOR SAMA and human rights and the people in the war-torn Syria. You can increase the power of this film through your viewership. PLEASE SEE FOR SAMA’s WORLD BROADCAST PREMIERE this Tuesday. TOMORROW, November 19, 2019. Check your local FRONTLINE PBS/Channel 4 broadcast: HERE

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury: A short film on mercury in the body →

November 01, 2019 in Bioethics, Baby Boomers, BOOKS, Breast Feeding, Chasing Mercury the Novel, Echo Boomers, Environmental Justice, free grassy.net, greenaction.org, Health and Fitness, Human Rights, ipen.org, mercury pollution, Minamata disease, Nutrition, Peace, Resistance

There is a new very short film on mercury in your body from the Minamata Convention on mercury. There are a whole series of short films on the subject produced by UNESCO with the Convention secretariat. On YouTube under the tag #MakeMercuryHistory there are several short films that might answer questions you have about mercury. People are still asking me about it over the fish couters in various markets.

Remember Governments may come and go, and a million people are tweeting about the USA excutive officer while he gives a life feed speech in Mississippi — but heavy metals are here to stay so the Mercury Convention folks are working internationally to: contain mercury, reduce technology that uses mercury, find alternative technologies to replace them, remediate the environment and the improved or compensate lives that have been damaged by this particular heavy metal. Also, I’ve been updating the Mercury and Minamata Convention on Mercury page of my website. So have a look. And use that #MakeMercuryHistory.

SEPTEMBER WILLIAMS Author of Chasing Mercury Thanks You and Just One More Thing...

October 14, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, BOOKS, Book to Film, Echo Boomers, Environmental Justice, greenaction.org, Health Inequity, Peace, Resistance, Victor Hugo

Hi Folks,

The business of being a writer is much harder than that of being a physician — well on me anyway. They taught me how to practice medicine while have to teach myself or find those to teach me the trade aspects of being a writer.

I wanted to thank all of my family, friends and readers for the outpouring of greetings for my birthday and the support for my work you have shown. Though these are enormously hard times for the nation, the world, the ecology… I am heartened by the interest my peers and my children and therir peers have shown in making the world a better place — PLEASE MAKE TIME AND SPACE TO GET OUT THE VOTE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS — Which begin in February see https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/elections/2020-presidential-election-calendar.html.

The first Primary/Caucus is in February — only 4 months away. To make the world inch those two steps forward — even if we then go one step back—we have got to get out the vote. I’m looking forward to sharing reviews of 8 films over the next months before Christmas the will help you feel why I believe we really have to make this the focus for the end of the year year. I believe each film I’ve screened for this collection of reviews have profound implications bioethicaly and in terms of what my nephew, grandchildren and baby cousins will be facing. Though I am also busy working on Book II of the Chasing Mercury Toxic Trilogy- Weighing Lead. I consider getting out the vote as a part of that work — because the lead and the mercury cleanup work can’t properly happen under the current political circumstances in our nation.

Meanwhile keep an eye out for the film reviews in the pre film award season screenings — just a heads up —PLAN TO SEE THE FILM ‘JUST MERCY’ on Christmas Day. Everyday someone does the impossible and let it be me and you. I’ve screened Just MERCY and let’s just say —- we pulled off a film industry coup with our support of HIDDEN FIGURES openning on Xmas Day in 2016 — which financially helped fuel STEAM programs but we lost the momentum by loosing a government that cared about STEAM. Let’s support JUST MERCY and work and get a government back that believes in JUST MERCY.I write about films I want to support and I want you to help me support! …Oh yes, and if you haven’t, have a look at my new review on bioethics.net of the film: THE LURE OF THIS LAND directed by Alexandra Lexton. http://www.bioethics.net/2019/10/a-film-review-the-lure-of-this-land/

I really have to stop writing notes late at night! Thanks for reading.

September Williams Author: New Film Review on Bioethics.net ASK DR RUTH →

September 09, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Death and Desperation, Destiny, Feminism, Grief, Sex and Love

See my film review of ASK DR.RUTH by Director RYAN WHITE. The full article was first printed on Bioethics.net https://www.bioethics.net/2019/09/a-film-review-ask-dr-ruth-bioethics-acts-of-love/ Thanks to Larsen Associates for access to the screening and photos curtesy of Hulu Originals.

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury & The Elephant in the Room... At The California Book Club Opens Monthly Author Season →

August 22, 2019 in Bioethics, BOOKS, Breast Feeding, Chasing Mercury the Novel

Join Us September 15, 2019 doors open at 12:30 — public welcome

https://cwc-berkeley.org/2019/08/19/9-15-19-speaker-causes-cross-genres-with-september-williams/

Some people find understanding through technical language and academic conveyance. But almost all people can learn through well-constructed Aristotelian Plot Curves.

Using accurate scientific, medical or other precise technical information to inform fictional narratives is not for the faint of heart. It does not mean “dumbing down” …

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury & The Elephant in the Room... Thanks Book Passage and Marin Magazine!

July 12, 2019 in Bioethics, Baby Boomers, Breast Feeding, Echo Boomers, Feminism, Health and Fitness, Human Rights, Health Inequity, Infant & Child psychology, Librarians, Peace, Pregnancy and Prematurity, Waking up in Syria

Thanks Marin Magazine for the Shout Out About the August 3. 2018 reading of the Elephant in the Room. at

Book Passage, Corte Madera !

https://www.marinmagazine.com/event/september-williams-the-elephant-in-the-room/

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury reads from new book The Elephant in the Room at Book Passage, Corte Madera August 3, 2019 for World Breast Feeding Week!

June 28, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Echo Boomers, greenaction.org, Human Rights, Peace, Nutrition, Health and Fitness, Infant and Cold Psycholog, Librarians, Pregnancy and Prematurity

Hi all,

I’m delighted to be introducing my this year’s book THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM:BIOETHICAL CONCERNS IN HUMAN MILK BANKING to the independent book store community beginning at the guiding light of community based readers BOOK PASSAGE CORTE MADERA, on Saturday, AUGUST 3, 2019, at 4PM. Joining me will be Pauline Sakamoto the founding director of Mothers Milk Bank San Jose — the organization to whom the proceeds from the sales will be allocated and Susan Martinelli of the California Breastfeeding Coalition—who is a lactation consultant with the County of Marin— my own home county.. Please join us, kids welcome, as we celebrate and promote the international WORLD BREAST FEEDING WEEK !

September Williams' BIOETHICS SCREEN REFLECTIONS -Remember the Loving Decision and Families

June 18, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Book to Film, Destiny, Echo Boomers, Feminism, Freedom of the Press, Human Rights, Peace, Resistance, Social Justice, Victor Hugo

Author GiGi Panderian ( the Accidental Alchemist and others) sent a note today reminding me that this is the day that the Loving Decision was handed down by the US supreme court confirming the right to marry and have children under the 4th Amendment of the United States and the 16th Article of the Declaration of human rights. of the Declaration of Human Rights. This is the Anniversary of the Loving Decision in the USA supreme court.Confirming the right to marry and have family as outlined in Article 16 of the Declaration of Human Rights.

It was only in 1968 that the Supreme Court of the USA ruled that interracial marriage is legal to see my the two-part review--and be aware that we, at this time, on this date of today as a nation are moving backward in terms of family protections under the law--if we do not stop it. Have you checked the news today to see what is being done in our name? see both parts of the review Part I and 2 — then watch the movie and recommit to justice for families that are being torn asunder.

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury + National Writers Union Supports San Francisco Freelance Journalist Bryan Carmody

May 16, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Chasing Mercury the Novel, Freedom of the Press, Article #19 UDHR, Marie Covin

SAN FRANICISO BASED FREELANCE JOURNALISTS Bryan Carmody has had his work product and equipment seized. As many of you know I am a member of the National Writers Union UAW 1981/AFLCIO) - an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists. We are supporting You also know that there is a reason why one of the protagonists of Chasing Mercury is a Whistleblowing Journalists. We of the National Writers Union are supporting Freelance Journalist Bryan Carmody of San Francisco whose home office was raided by local police and FBI and his entire work product over the years of his career along with his equipment has been seized earlier this week because he refused to name the source of his information The NWU Northern California Chapter and the NWU National support Bryan Carmody. To HELP Please see https://nwu.org/police-confiscate-a-newsroom-to-try-to-reveal-a-confidential-source/ Also Bryan

SEPTEMBER WILLIAMS' BIOETHICS SCREEN REFLECTIONS NEW POST On BIOETHIC.NET : A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN - A CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTORY MARSHALL CURY

April 29, 2019 in Bioethics, WWII, Waking up in Syria, Resistance

My Review of Marshall Curry’s Oscar Nominated Documentary Short FIlm A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN is on bioethics.net

Posted on April 28, 2019 at 6:02 PM

by September Williams, MD

Boarding my flight from Burbank, I flicked through my phone emails, finding that director Marshall Curry was available for interviews. It was a few weeks before the Academy of Film Arts and Science 2019 shindig. I had not seen Curry’s most recent film nor had I realized it was now also nominated for an OSCAR® in the Best Documentary – Short Subject category. This new work is added to his eight films since 2005 with their 38 awards and nominations. The new film is A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN — The title references New York’s iconic venue, Madison Square Garden.

Photo attached by courtesy of photographer Bill Johnston Caption: Marshall Curry in Conversation with September Williams

I clicked on the email link. The run time was 7 minutes. A bit longer than the usual for a trailer, I thought. But what do I know, nobody ever nominated me for an ACADEMY AWARD®. Seeing the first few frames of Curry’s film, everything around me seemed to grind to a halt. Seven minutes wasn’t the length of a trailer but the whole film. It had been culled from hundreds of hours of 1939, black & white, newsreel camera footage. A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN shows twenty-thousand Americans at a gathering of the German-American Bund. The event was billed as a “Pro American Rally.” They lifted their arms in Nazi salutes, toward American Flags and a portrait of George Washington. This gathering took place a historical breath before the USA would enter WWII against the Nazis. Given the linkage between the development of bioethics to the atrocities of fascism associated with that war, it was clear that on my arrival in San Francisco I would head straight to interview Marshall Curry…

Read the the full interview and click the link there to see the entire film.

http://www.bioethics.net/2019/04/a-film-review-a-night-at-the-garden-conversation-on-moral-intuition-with-director-marshall-curry/

NEW REVIEW ON SEPTEMBER WILLIAMS' BIOETHICS SCREEN REFLECTIONS: ROMA Bioethics and the Mobius Loop

January 25, 2019 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Echo Boomers, Environmental Justice, Feminism, free grassy.net, Human Rights, ipen.org, Louis Riel, Resistance, Social Justice

ROMA: Bioethics and the Mobius Loop

It is difficult to describe the number of ways that writer-director Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-biographical ROMA represents an Ichthian leap in cinema. There are no special effects to speak of, no costumes except at a New Year’s Eve party cum fire. To compare the film with the level of change that Italian Neorealism presented in the middle of the last century seems strident, yet true. Equally valid is the sense that this film represents the 7th Art at its best in both the creative and technical expression of cinema. There is not a super hero among them — but a sense of magic at the level of Murakami’s Wind Up Bird Chronicle or Hayao Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle. It is a universal film from the soul of a Spanish master.

See more at: http://www.bioethicsscreenreflections.com/2019/01/roma-bioethics-and-mobius-loop.html

Cuaron, Alfonso ROMA https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6155172/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Miyazaki, Hayao HOWL’s MOVING CASTLE https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347149/

Murakami, Haruki https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/m/murakami-windup.html

Copy of September Williams'Bioethics Screen Reflections : A PRIVATE WAR Bioethics meets the Guardians of Truth

January 08, 2019 in Bioethics, Book to Film, Death and Desperation, Feminism, Grief, Human Rights, Peace, Resistance, Social Justice, Waking up in Syria

As we move into the Oscar Season — I am reviewing films from the fall. A PRIVATE WAR is a film that likely will not win an Oscar, despite an Oscar winning director, and an Oscar nominated actor who gives an Oscar worthy performance. This ought to be the period where male and female actors are held as equal not separate and compete against one another for awards — this past year gave so many stellar leading roles for women that the dramatic bar iis set somewhere in the moons orbit. There are women directors, and directors of color unlike any other — kind of reminds me of the midterm elections in terms of land-slide. I’ll be giving you a look several other films if you want to get a head start: The Hate You Give, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Kindergarten Teacher, Destroyer, Roma, Widows,

So — A Private War— Things are not wrapped up in a tidy fictional bow in the end. I really should have used one of the gorgeous shots of Rosamund Pike in the protagonist role — but that would be misleading. You may want to understand the history in more detail — given the story turns on a region of the world where the USA has troupes on the ground in several countries — at least for the moment. You will be mad as hell and guilty too. So I have posted a two part series on Bioethics Screen Reflections http://www.bioethicsscreenreflections.com — with some references.

It is a hard story to tell, about a woman with a compulsion to change just one thing — the capacity for anyone to say “But I didn’t know that atrocity was going on.” If you vote, anywhere in the world — if you believe science and technology should be used for beneficent purposes and war doesn’t meet that bill, and if you, I dare say —believe in love— this is a film you need to see.

In the spirit of full disclosure — many readers of my novel Chasing Mercury know that one of the protagonist, Forest, is a whistleblowing journalist. They are not easy types to live with— or without.

September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury Reviews Cary Richards 'Poppy Field Diary'

December 08, 2018 in Baby Boomers, Bioethics, Cold War, Grief, Feminism

The Poppy Field Diary

Carey Richard (Goodreads Author),

Susanna Burney (Narrator)

September Williams's review Dec 08, 2018 ·
it was amazingbookshelves: romantic-suspense-saga

I won the Poppy Field Diary in a Goodreads Romance Audiobook Giveaway. Because the delivery of the prose by the narrator was so eloquent I bought the ebook and reread it without the bias of the audio voice -- Guess what? It stands up in print as well as in audio! A version of this review is also on Amazon.

When I was halfway through the book, I was stunned by the lushness and beauty. I was absorbing it as I would an old uncle reading the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam after lunch, and before nap, on a warm summer day by the sea--begging it not to end -- I sent a note to the Author, Carey Richard, saying so. For me it became a slow read -- because I did not want it to end. I didn't want to devour the meal but savor it. I listened to a chapter every few days usually while doing something outside.

September Williams' 'The Elephant in the Room: Bioethical Concerns In Human Milk Banking' is reviewed by Grady Harp on Amazon

October 31, 2018 in Bioethics, Breast Feeding

Grady Harp is one of the top reviewers on Amazon and he has written a review of The Elephant in the Room: Bioethical Concerns in Human Milk Banking which truly warms my heart. I know the whole thing with babies is that they are magic anyway you look at it. But I’m glad Grady caught all the bells and whistles I could hope for a reader to recognize. He is a top contributor of reviews in Children’s books and so it makes sense that he should care deeply about a subject that affects children and families so profoundly. Despite Reading thousands of books over his reading career — he managed to dig out less apparent jewels in the little monograph with the gigantic title. He got it. it is a story for the average person — and I dare say as he did— a story for “The MAN in the street.” Things that men may not think of made the read worth while for for Grady.

September Williams' Bioethics Screen Reflections AT THE MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL (MVFF41) Screenings

September 26, 2018 in Baby Boomers, Book to Film, Grief, Death and Desperation, Bioethics

Lots of people ask me what I am going to be reviewing on Bioethics Screen Reflections from the Pre-Oscar Run Up Film Festivals. As it turns out, I picked the town where I have been living for the past 14 because it has one of the best International and local Film Festivals in the world. Every October — beginning on the Thursday closest to my birthday, a ten day screening event begins. Sixty Thousand people watch some of the best films of their time. Last year I was in Geneva at the Minamata Convention COP1 and through I was delighted to be there ( It took 60 years to get to the treaty), I admit I missed the being at the MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL. So— I will share with you over the next week the tiles I will be watch on the MVFF big screen

September Williams' Chasing Mercury Continues to Hold Her Own

September 03, 2018 in Bioethics, Baby Boomers, Chasing Mercury the Novel, Cove International, Eco-Fiction, Human Rights, Environmental Justice, mercury pollution, Occupational Disease, Peace, Resistance, greenaction.org, free grassy.net, ipen.org

Well, this year has been a heck of a ride — On August 16, 2017 the World Minamata Convention on Mercury was ratified and thus transitioned from a convention to treaty to international with the strength of international law . That means the first year anniversary of the treaty has just passed.http://www.mercuryconvention.org.) I was able to be at the first convention of the parties signatory to the convention in Geneva this past September. Over this year my romance suspense novel Chasing Mercury seems to have opened up the dialog on environmental toxins to several thousands of people who otherwise might not have cared as much — and hopefully more will come. Here are some reviews from the past month— but what is clear to me is what readers are appreciating is not me — but the story of a group of people who came together to make change and who are still working at it. Hope people will continue to support Chasing Mercury and remember that a portion of the proceeds continue to go to greenaction.org and http://freegrassy.net/mercuryhome/

Surprising, mysterious, romantic, and smart. A must read!

Chasing Mercury is an incredibly unique book, one that made me realize that I didn’t know there was an entire new way to put together a historical romance, and I was definitely...Read more

Wow! That was my reaction to the quality and fun time I had reading this book, just wow!
Fantastic read, strongly recommend

Tracking the process of application to the convention has been brought with joy and fear as I begin to understand how hard people worked to achieve the convention and how much work still has to be done —

Mercury is a natural element: it is found in the Earth’s crust and naturally released through volcanic activity and weathering of rocks. It exists in various forms, each with a varying degree of toxicity but all equally harmful, affecting the nervous system, the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the lungs and the immune system of all living beings. Because exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, including in utero, the World Health Organization considers it one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.