It's Good To Be Back In Copenhagen

Submitted by Mary Simon on Wed, 2009-12-16 09:31

Here I am back in Copenhagen, this time it is for the Climate Change Conference COP-15. The negotiations are very strained and the tension is, at times, high with demonstrations and police clashing at times.

We as Arctic peoples are here in full force to have our case heard and understood by the world community. To say the least circumstances are, at times difficult, and it is certainly one of the busiest times I have seen here in Denmark.

That said, it is good to be back in Copenhagen for a few days.

From 1999 to 2001 I had the honour of being the Canadian Ambassador to The Kingdom of Denmark and enjoyed my time with the Danish people immensely. On Monday I had the opportunity to attend an official dinner at the Canadian Residence hosted by Ambassador Peter Lundry, and his wife. It was wonderful to revisit my former residence, and it was equally nice to see that Inuit have made their mark on the residence, the walls are hung with Inuit art and there are many Inuit carvings on display.

Danes, who are members of the European Union, are proud to wear seal skin and one can see seal skin is in high fashion in Copenhagen - in fact it's difficult to go out without seeing someone walking down the street wearing a seal skin coat, or a pair of fashionable seal skin boots.

We must continue our work internationally to build on these positive aspects while facing the most challenging issue of our time. Climate Change.