Sixth-graders at Montpelier's Main Street Middle School learned firsthand Wednesday that global warming is an uncomfortable subject.

The students filed into Room 11 in the Statehouse to hear Bill McKibbon's opening speech in the global warming hearings for legislators, took seats on the right side of the room, then quickly learned that would be relegated to sitting on the floor so legislators could have the chairs.

The room was, in fact, packed, which is not hard to do when you have eight committees attending, a class of eighth-graders and various other interested parties. That is typical life in the Statehouse.

Some of the kids were drawing pictures unrelated to global warming, others appeared to be listening intently as McKibbon told the crowd that Western Europe manages to live a good life with 50 percent less energy, that the state should make it easier to build small hydro power plants and solar systems, should discourage big-box development, and ensure that lettuce doesn't have to travel thousands of miles to reach the Northeast.

We'll have the details in tomorrow's Free Press.

Today's global warming schedule will provide more room for the curious. Amory Lovins will speak in the House chamber at 10 a.m.

Are these sessions changing minds, generating genuine debate or are firing up the already converted?

- Terri Hallenbeck