I just don't have the energy to describe those final negotiations in detail. Suffice to say that watching the EU and Brazil eventually reach a compromise agreement, the Chinese delegate, a very professional negotiator, sneak in for a touch down at the very last moment (12pm to 3am Friday morning), and the oil producing nations try to derail the whole agreement during the WG1 plenary later that morning and then 'compromise' during the final COP plenary in the afternoon was an absolute education for this first time 'negotiator'.
Here are a few pics taken during those last couple of days.
The BIOTA side event where unfortunately the South African NGO rep, from Paulshoek in the Tanqua Karoo, did not even get a chance to speak
Another kind of side event
I love Kolsch!
Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Somewhere close to 3am !!
The Norwegian delegate receiving a necklace from an NGO group who appreciated her efforts regarding Indigenous and Local communities
At one of the late night session I was given a seed bracelet from a young lady from Argentina for the same reason
My colleague Nonhlanhla from Department of Agriculture, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Yours truly holding the fort while the other delegates were otherwise engaged
A WoodCentral sighting!
Forest biodiversity related I guess!
The Japanese delegation inviting everyone to COP10 in Kobe, Japan in two years time
In an earlier post I mentioned that I noticed the blue pleasure boat, the Moby Dick, and referred to it as a significant lapse in German good taste.
Well if you include the floating Chinese Restaurant - perhaps two lapses!
A model railway, complete with wind turbine, at Cologne railway station where I caught the high speed train 'flight' to Frankfurt Airport on Saturday about lunch time
Whew - even a couple of woodturnings in a shop window at Cologne railway station
A solid wooden ball
Not an unattractive burl bowl - though I have seen better
The roof over the platforms at Cologne railway station through which I could actually see the spire of Cologne Cathedral
Leaving Cologne over the Rhine on the first cold and wet day I had on the trip
A grey Rhine view
On board the high speed, approx 300kph, train
Smooth as a plane ride - if not smoother
The Chinese press delegate sitting opposite asked if I'd like my picture taken with my own camera
Nice guy that I am - of course I obliged and did the same for him
And then it was on to the plane at Frankfurt Airport and overnight to Cape Town arriving at 5am on Sunday morning
A quick sleep and off to a friends birthday party at lunchtime! Man am I glad that I took Monday as a days leave!
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