SHANGHAI - Greetings to all from the Ireland Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010!
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At close of business Tuesday night we had welcomed just over 620,000 visitors to the Ireland pavilion. That is 620,000 people whom we hope have left the pavilion better informed about Ireland - who we are, where we are, and what we have to offer. As an Irish person proud of my heritage and of my country, that is very important to me.
My personal belief is that a very important part of the Expo is learning about other cultures and peoples. It is through learning about each other that we come to understand each other better and live in harmony with each other and with the world.
This is the third Expo in which I have been involved and I am convinced that the Expo is a very valuable opportunity for all the countries of the world to come together for 6 months and tell the world their own story in their own way. The opportunity to live and work together and learn about each other can contribute to better communication and mutual respect. This is a very powerful legacy to leave for the next generation.
In my opinion that is a more important legacy for the Expo than the theme of the Expo or the theme of any individual pavilion. At every Expo there is debate about the cost and the environmental aspect of the event.
These are important issues to consider but I believe the contribution of the Expo to improving understanding and respect between peoples transcends all other issues. We all want to leave a better, more peaceful and more harmonious world to our children. Expo can contribute to that, so let us all continue to support it.
The author Jim Blighe is the director of the Ireland Pavilion.
