We held our 'evening of biodiversity' last night. Our little program featured some bits of the dance we will be performing in Bonn, the presentation of the statement we have crafted, and a long night of feasting and drinking. The Environment Minister of the Bavarian State graced our event, together with the Director of the Bavarian Forest National Park, and other locals. We handed them out 'ecological footprint' plaques for souvenirs.
Today is our last day here in the Bavarian Forest. We are going to the dance studio in a little while for our last rehearsal here in Bavaria. Tomorrow we will head off to Bonn.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Taking shape
We spent our day yesterday to shape things up- for our dance lessons and statement the UN Convention on Biodiversity. In the evening, some went for torch-lit hiking while the rest chose to stay cozy and warm by playing music.
Today will be another long day of dancing and statement-polishing!
Today will be another long day of dancing and statement-polishing!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Climbing the Summit
Yesterday se started our dance lessons with professional instructors all the way from Essen. We will perform this interpretative dance next week here in the Wilderness Camp.
In the afternoon we traveled to another part of the Bavarian Forest that is being managed "by doing nothing." This means that the forest is left on its own as much as possible, except for some trees that are cut for the safety of visitors. Somewhere in the forest we had a small program with music from traditional percussions- bongos, maraca, and anything you hit that makes sound! We put our memoirs in a giant glass ark donated by the Poschinger glass factory- the oldest in the world. This ark is held by a wooden hand that came from the Czechs. Czech Republic is only a few kilometers away from this part of Bavaria, and the country actually shares the forest with Germany.
We further hiked and reached one of the summits of the mountain. Despite the freezing weather all of us managed to reach the top! Up there we got our reward of a really filling typical German dinner!
Suffice it to say that I am now feeling sore and still tired even after 7 hours of sleep from all the physical activity yesterday. But we have just begun!
In the afternoon we traveled to another part of the Bavarian Forest that is being managed "by doing nothing." This means that the forest is left on its own as much as possible, except for some trees that are cut for the safety of visitors. Somewhere in the forest we had a small program with music from traditional percussions- bongos, maraca, and anything you hit that makes sound! We put our memoirs in a giant glass ark donated by the Poschinger glass factory- the oldest in the world. This ark is held by a wooden hand that came from the Czechs. Czech Republic is only a few kilometers away from this part of Bavaria, and the country actually shares the forest with Germany.
We further hiked and reached one of the summits of the mountain. Despite the freezing weather all of us managed to reach the top! Up there we got our reward of a really filling typical German dinner!
Suffice it to say that I am now feeling sore and still tired even after 7 hours of sleep from all the physical activity yesterday. But we have just begun!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ecological footprint
It is 7a.m. and I am here outside the just outside the main hall to reach the wiffi signal emanating from the "international hut" a hundre meters away. It is still raining, like how it did the whole day yesterday. The weather should be weather today as what, Barbara Kus, one of the organizers, told us yesterday.
We finished doing our "flying footprint," and learned that the USA and Germany has one of the highest ecological footprints. Among the participants in the youth summit, Benin and Namibia have one of the lowest. To cap off the long day, we danced our worries away to the tune of music from Latin America, Africa and Asia. Benin and Namibia participants, respectively, left us their cultural footprint as they taught us some of their traditional dance steps!
This afternoon, we are scheduled to visit a glass factory, which is one of the local industries here in Bavaria.
We finished doing our "flying footprint," and learned that the USA and Germany has one of the highest ecological footprints. Among the participants in the youth summit, Benin and Namibia have one of the lowest. To cap off the long day, we danced our worries away to the tune of music from Latin America, Africa and Asia. Benin and Namibia participants, respectively, left us their cultural footprint as they taught us some of their traditional dance steps!
This afternoon, we are scheduled to visit a glass factory, which is one of the local industries here in Bavaria.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Preserving biodiversity
As I write this, people around me are getting busy preparing the 'flying footprint.' This is an encased exhibition of different materials found all over the globe. The participants of the youth summit had to hurdle the customs section to bring in seeds, crops, and food products to put in this time capsule. Some brought colorful cloths, stones, and what-nots.
Earlier, we had our lecture on access and benefits sharing, forests, and environmental governance. Later we will be presenting this flying footprint to the whole group, and next week, to Bonn for the whole UN CBD delegates to see.
Earlier, we had our lecture on access and benefits sharing, forests, and environmental governance. Later we will be presenting this flying footprint to the whole group, and next week, to Bonn for the whole UN CBD delegates to see.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Meeting the world
After traveling the wholeday- from Freiburg to Frankfurt Main to the Bavarian Forest- the whole troop of about 50 participants from all over the globe finally met.
We are now on our second day, and have done discussing biodiversity and development cooperation. We have also done a bit of hiking in the forest, and got a feel of challenges in this protected area. These mainly include management issues and bark beetles that feast on the trees.
In a little while we will be presenting our respective countries in an activity called- my environment and me. Photos and more updates soon!
We are now on our second day, and have done discussing biodiversity and development cooperation. We have also done a bit of hiking in the forest, and got a feel of challenges in this protected area. These mainly include management issues and bark beetles that feast on the trees.
In a little while we will be presenting our respective countries in an activity called- my environment and me. Photos and more updates soon!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Bound for biodiversity
By the time this entry gets published, I will be on a train en route to Frankfurt. From there, I will meet my other co-participants in the Go4Biodiv International Youth Summit. I hope to update still this blog regularly, and even give a blow-by-blow account of the Convention on Biodiversity when I arrive in Bonn!
Until then!
Until then!
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