Less than 24 hours to go here at the UN, but no-one thinks it will be over according to the timetable. We meet half an hour each close of session each evening to talk about which countries are doing what to whom and what the word is in the corridors of this strange building where so many monumental decisions have been made. This evening it was especially tense because the draft outcome was presented to the awaiting delegates to take home and consider overnight and come back tomorrow to negotiate during the day and no doubt night – drafting by committee is a laborious process.
'The Text', as it's affectionately called, presented to folk this evening by the Chair, is the basis on which countries or negotiating blocks like the EU come together and argue over each spit and cough, every nuance is argued and every comma is discussed. It is truly soul destroying in process but at the same time magnificent that the planet can come together in one place at one time over one issue and find or force a stumbling compromise or "resolution". Resolute – yes we are. Resolved, perhaps not, given Spain's desire to screw the process as well as the EU's dignity along the way.
You've got to wonder about the process, given that Spain who have only 19 vessels outside the realms of already established rules are taking down not only the EU, but also the rest of the world and the chance to protect the oceans we know so very little about.
Karen and Saskia sit behind me and talk about glass half empty or half full.
At this point late on a Thursday night, with only a day to go, we wonder whether the deep sea will get the protection it so desperately needs – a moratorium on bottom trawling before it's too late.
We're hoping for a grand marriage of Neptune and The Fat Lady on the UN stage this time tomorrow.
Susan
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Comments
I have all my fingers and toes crossed that sanity will prevail . Thank you for keeping us informed on the fight. Just to let you know that I have just come home from the GPNZ AGM and a great presentation on your efforts on bottom trawling. Our thoughts are with you. Keep up the good work.
Angela
