Day 1 @COP17

Scoping out the formal government, business and (to a minute degree) NGO expo stands adjacent to the heavily policed UNFCCC Precinct today, I was struck by one thing. No, not a baton - I didn't try my luck. 

Rather, I was surprised by how outdated an expo with typical stands advertising 'good deeds' seemed, against the backdrop of our species' continued comfort - our means of survival in discussion just next-door.

Across the road, activists on the roundabout island had no shortage of media suitors - these included former UN delegates and goverment policy advisors. The #Occupy_COP17 movement has also materialised. It will be interesting to offset today's "have" showings against the "have-not" climate adaptation appeals I expect to emanate from the NGO community expo at Sun Coast Casino tomorrow morning.

Fast-forward to the past. The UNFCC borderline expo was dominted by SA's Department of Environmental Affairs, DIRCO and Local Government enjoying most of an exhibition hall each, with the fourth long hall spread with SA's banking, mining, transport and a few alternative energy stands. Overseas' representation included a large lonely Japanese stand, our ever-eager Nordic partners and Siemens with a massive display including this bike-mobile sporting a Chinese friend testing German technology:

Cape Town had a very shoo-wow stand built of crates in the centre, adjacent to Wits University's engineers sporting a biofuels plant, ideal for small farms and with parts they overhauled from the 1920s! Of course, we were treated to Zulu and Indian traditional dance throughout the day, and I did spot the Vegan, some spiritual stands scattered between our government monoliths.

Notably, Eskom displayed Upington's impressive solar farm and SA's very own first battery electric engineering masterpiece - the Joule car - was viewed up close by our Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe I caught on walkabouts when government undoubtedly needed a break from the negotiating table (or just needed to check what us kids were up to):

I wasnt surprised to see the dti stand there, but I was pleasantly surprised that they were showcasing my PET recycling client Propet on their promo video! What did catch me off-guard, was NERSA's stand there - wherefore...

With the new day comes new strentghs and new thoughts. From NGO and agriculture, to a sneak peak at BMW's new hybrids, to The World Wide Fund for Nature tomorrow evening, it promises to be a spectacularly varied day for me...