Dear Soroptimist Friends,

I had the privilege to be one of the three representatives of Soroptimist International (besides International President Hanne Jensbo and FAO-Rep Else Larsen) at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.

As the UN had restricted the access of the accredited NGOs drastically during the

second week, we had to wait in line for five(!) hours in the cold to get into the Bella conference Center.

One highlight was: Wangari Maathai's address after having been named "UN-Messenger of Peace" by Ban Ki Moon. She is an outstanding personality and I remembered Mariet Verhoef-Cohen who had tried to have her for the SI/E Congress in Amsterdam, but she asked for too much money (some 20.000 € for her organization).
We also attended an interesting press conference with Barbara Stocking, director of OXFAM, who did not attract more than some 20 persons (in a big hall!) when she talked about the excellent climate programs OXFAM has worked on.

The frustrating experience was that everybody wanted to hear and see Schwarzenegger and Al Gore, so that other very good events remained in the shadows and did not have the audience they deserved. Everything seems to be VIP-oriented everywhere in the world.

I did appreciate the excellent work at the stand of SI-Denmark in the DGI, the Copenhagen Center for the NGOs. They really showed a very intensive commitment to the climate matter (see also article in TIS) and did wonderful PR-work for SI. I had meetings and talks with our Danish Soroptimists Ulla Madsen (who sends you all the very best greetings) and Johanne Sorensen (former Five-O Project coordinator) who invited us for dinner. It was a very instructive and rewarding time in Copenhagen!

Now the show is over and the result of COP 15 is not satisfying. But at least the UN may have learnt that a conference with 194 statesmen is not likely to have a good political result. They will have to structure this political world business differently.

I am still optimistic that there will be a positive development in the future, as people around the world have become more aware of the dramatic problems of climate change.

I wish you all a wonderful Festive Season and a happy and successful New Year,

Warm regards,
Kathy Kaaf