Tears and smiles

I have little to report from the official negotiations, but despite - or perhaps because - of this, it's been an emotional day. Several times today I have cried out of anger and frustration that those with the power to help secure an agreement have failed to do so. I spent an hour in the Oksnehallen, a hall that has been opened up next door to the alternative summit to accomodate those excluded from the Bella Center, watching one world leader after another, all men, deliver their set-piece speeches. It's hard not to feel like crying when Obama fails to improve on the US's pathetic offer at emissions reductions, or Rudd suggests that we will not be able to reach the two degree target because of developing countries' actions.

Yet my spirits have been kept up by activities that have been going on in spite of the inaction inside the conference. At lunchtime those in the Oksnehallen were treated to the presentation of the "Fossil of the year" award. Each day Climate Action Network have asked NGOs to vote for a "fossil of the day" award, for the country that has performed the worst in the previous day's negotiations. As a result of winning the daily award most during the conference, Canada took the prestigious annual award in a hilarious award ceremony.

This afternoon I heard a speech from the mother of a campaigner who was arrested for helping to organise the demonstrations earlier in the week, and who still hasn't been released. She was justifiably angry about her daughter's treatment, yet managed to cheer and fire us up by getting us all singing.

And the closing ceremony of Klimaforum was a reminder of how much has been achieved outside the official conference in terms of building networks and a movement which will carry on pushing for the necessary action on climate change long after the delegates, and Klimaforum participants, have left the city. I left behind a hall full of passionate individuals, dancing to Danish klezmer orchestra Mames Babegenush - it could be a wild night for many.

Tommorrow I leave Copenhagen for home, so this may be my last blog. As yet there's no information as to whether a deal has been reached - a close friend who is one of the few NGO representatives who was admitted to the Bella Center today says that they are due for an update in the next hour or so. A member of GenderCC is also inside the Bella Center - keep an eye on their website for the latest news on the outcome of the talks from a gender perspective.