Wednesday 16th December 2009

As we type it’s snowing! Yes, it is absolutely freezing in Copenhagen and the snow is quite a novelty. Wearing more layers than most of us have in our lives, we brave the Danish snap with the upmost positivity (note: thermals here are not just for Guide camp here, they are for everyday usage).
Access to the Bella Centre is continuing to become more and more restricted and the mechanisms in place for entry are being adjusted ongoing. Unfortunately most delegates were unable to enter today; very long queues in the freezing cold (a Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties) only to be told in some cases that access was denied (a Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does). There is an increasing presence of police and security as the heads of state continue to arrive - helicopters are a regular fixture in the sky.


Learning about running programs in the SNOW a completely new experiance

We continued with the non-formal education outreach program; environmental and climate change education at local schools. The activities have been very well received and the high level of English spoken by the students is not only very impressive but very helpful! And we are learning to consider snow when planning activities and considering program options. Speedy attended the Australian delegation meeting on our behalf to get first-hand info on our country’s status and opinion on the text. She was also involved in the WAGGGS press conference and action today which have received a lot of positive feedback.

So, we bid farewell to the Bella Centre but not to the importance and focus of the conference or the impact that WAGGGS can have both here and after COP15. We will miss our early morning entry security checks (who wouldn’t want their ankles frisked each morning), the sense of notoriety in having your official ID card scanned numerous times daily, leaving your jacket in a cloakroom the size of a basketball court and weaving through the cast of thousands as you get your daily exercise running the marathon from one end of the Centre to the other for meetings and sessions.

Tomorrow starts with the ‘from COP15 onwards’ debrief...where we’re going after this amazing event and how we can maintain the momentum and work...



A group shoot in the snow with many of these girls seeing snow for the first time!


Everyone enjoyed a good snow war!!!


This it the same sign as in our first blog but now a part of the amazing winter wonderland!