Helium isn't just for animal-balloon makers and kids who want to sound like Mickey Mouse. Without helium, MRI scanners today would not function properly nor would radiation detectors used by security officials in airports.

Want to hear the real party pooper? A Nobel laureate and head of a National Research Council panel predicts the world will run out of helium in 25-30 years.

This is due to a thoughtless U.S. policy to sell its helium reserve -- up to 1/2 of the world's supply -- by 2015. Because of this policy, helium now goes for a bargain basement price, completely discouraging any conservation or recycling.

Our decision to liquidate the "national helium reserve," which has existed since before World War II, is the reason our kids or grandkids may not have access to this precious non-renewable resource. In fact, within 15 years, the U.S. could be a net importer of helium, which will come from the Middle East and Russia.

Please tell the Secretary of the Interior, and your member of Congress, that you demand the U.S. government preserve the world's helium supply and rethink its policy.

Experts say a party balloon should really cost $100, not a few cents, to fill-up. Wouldn't you rather your kid have an MRI than a party balloon?