It's hard to believe that COP 17 is coming to a close. According to my "source", an outcome could be forthcoming by 4:00 a.m.! That's a few hours away yet, as it's only 1:30 here. It will be interesting to see what finally gets pulled together.
My "blog" is also coming to a close...I've enjoyed sharing my experiences and thoughts on this whole conference. People have talked about their experience of COP in terms of "peaks and valleys" and I would definitely have to agree. I hope I'm ending on a peak, but a more accurate description might be a plateau!
I have also had the opportunity to meet so many amazing and inspiring people, including the members of the Canadian negotiating team. They are a fun bunch and tolerated my presence with a generous spirit and lots of patience for my many questions!
I owe a huge amount of thanks to The Climate Registry for providing me with my accreditation. To have the opportunity to experience some of the side events and all the associated goings-on of COP 17 was a once-in-a-lifetime event, which I won't soon forget.
COP 17's symbol for the conference is a Baobab tree. In fact, there is a giant, man-made one right on the beachfront near our hotel, lit with LED lights, powered by bicycle energy. One of the hotel's cleaning staff left a little bead work tree, along with the story of the Baobab tree. I am going to copy it here for you, as it seems to me a fitting conclusion.
Africa's Tree of Gifts
A Bushman Myth (re-told by Gill Steyn)
Nxou was a young Bushman boy who travelled with his family across the desert in search of food and water. Nxou longed to be allowed to hunt with the hunters but while he was young, he had to stay behind with the women of the tribe as they built shelters and prepared food. But when the hunters returned, Nxou would happily help them to skin and cut the animals they had caught with their sharp, pointed arrows. Nxou's life was very different to ours. His school was the wide open spaces of the desert and his teachers were the elders of the tribe. At night they would gather around the fire and Nxou would listen to stories told by his parents and grandparents. There were no computers, no shops, no electricity and no books. But Nxou loved the fireside stories that told of the beginning of the earth and strange animals that could speak. One night as they sat under a huge baobab tree, Nxou's grandfather told him how the tree had come about.
"In the misty past, before the stars lit up the sky and before man walked on earth, the great Creator was busy making the plants we see today. He created each one and carefully placed it on the ground where it immediately began to grow. The great Creator was pleased with the plants. He made some which were food for the animals and others that would be used by man for firewood, shelter and food. He created trees for shade and flowers to brighten the desert.
The Creator worked very hard for many months until he was satisfied that he had created all the plants the humans and animals would need when they walked the earth. The Creator was just putting the finishing touches to his creation when he came across the baobab tree. "This is an incredibly ugly tree," he thought. He looked down and saw the weeping willow with its beautiful long leafy branches, the sturdy oak, the tall pines and the jacaranda tree covered in purple flowers. The Creator was disappointed with his last tree and so he threw it down to earth expecting it to die where it lay.
The following day the Creator looked down at the earth and was surprised to see that the baobab tree was growing - and upside down at that! The branches of the tree were firmly embedded in the hot sand and the roots of the tree were proudly reaching for the sky. The Creator was so impressed by the tenacity of the baobab tree that he made it "the tree of gifts". The bark of the tree would carry water for the Bushmen to chew when they were thirsty. The wood of the branches could be made into rope and the leaves of the tree would be edible for animals and humans. The fruit of the baobab was to be a medicine chest containing tartaric acid, calcium and vitamin c. The seeds of the tree could be ground to make coffee and the pollen was to be used as glue."
Nxou was fascinated. "Grandfather, you have mentioned every part of the tree that gives us a gift but what about the flowers of the tree? Did the Creator forget about the flowers?"
"The flowers, little Nxou are very beautiful. They are the Creator's gift of splendour.
As you sit quietly at the fire at night or as you lie on your mat, listen carefully and you will hear a distant 'thud'. You will then know that the Creator has thrown another baobab tree down to earth as a gift to Bushmen people."
To this day, the baobab tree and its gifts are still used by animals and man.
The Baobab tree is revered in African culture for many reasons. In ancient times kings, elders and leaders would hold meetings under huge Baobabs to discuss matters of great importance. Not only did the trees provide shelter, but the tribal leaders also believed that the spirit of the baobab would always help them make wise decisions. Let us hope that the "spirit of the Baobab" has guided all the people who have gathered here in Durban to hopefully ensure climate justice for all.
Remember, every day is Earth Day! Do what you can, where you are...
(Thanks for following this little blog. We are leave for Cape Town on Sunday and are continuing the rest of our African adventure.)
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Heidi
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