12.12.2008
The last day of COP14
COP14 is going to the final. In a few last days of your staying in Poznań, we would like to invite All of the Conference Participants to sightseeing excursions around Poznań. You can walk among The Old Town Squere, place which is charming a Magic of The Christmas Time or chose some offer from the list of cultural events.
Worth to see is also exhibit "Chords of Light and Colour. Work of Art Wojciech and Anna Irena Weiss".
More information: conference cultural agenda
11.12.2008
"Philharmonic of Humour". Waldemar Malicki's Presidential Concert
8.30 pm, Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium (Aula UAM), ul.Wieniawskiego 1
"Filharmonia dowcipu" is a musical-cabaret show by Waldemar Malicki and Jacek Kęcik, who grant highest level entertainment and fun.
Waldemar Malicki - piano virtuoso, prize-winning musician, one of the most versatile Polish artists with a unusual sense of humour and surprising intelligence in constructing his stage shows.
More information: conference cultural agenda
10.12.2008
Affabre Concinui Vocal Ensemble - Concert
8.00 pm, Polski Theatre, ul. 27 Grudnia 8/10
The concert programme features madrigals, Baroque miniatures, musical humour 20th-century popular music hits, as well as Ravel's Bolero.
More information: conference cultural agenda
Tomasz Stańko & Andrzej Smolik - Concert
8:00 pm, "Zamek" Culture Centre (Centrum Kultury Zamek), ul. Św. Marcin 80/82
Tomasz Stańko and Andrzej Smolik's special project is an attempt to rearrange Stańko's "Peyotl" album recorded in the early 1980s with the band Freelectronic. The record is quite exceptional in the artist's work: T. Stańko sought his own way to combine words with music. The music, which is inspired by American rap from the turn of the 1970s-80s, is accompanied by Witkacy's texts. Stańko and Smolik, who worked jointly on the new version of the album, will be accompanied by young Polish musicians: Marcin Ułanowski and Krzysztof Pacan, as well as a 3-man horn section.
More information: conference cultural agenda
9.12.2008
Organ Masterpieces - concert
7.00 pm, Nova auditorium (Aula Nova), ul. Św. Marcin 87
The idea behind the concert was to present the capability of the organ built by the company Schuke of Potsdam. The sound disposition of the instrument developed by Elżbieta Karolak, Sławomir Kamiński and Waldemar Gawiejnowicz, all teachers at the Academy, makes it possible to perform European organ music of different periods, including French Baroque and Romanticism.
More information: conference cultural agenda
8.12.2008
Concert of Early Music - Persona Grata [Muzyka Dawna - Persona Grata] series performed by Arte Dei Suonatori orchestra
7:00 pm, Nova auditorium (Aula Nova), ul. św. Marcin 87
The concert features "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi performed by Dan Laurin, one of the most interesting musicians in the world, who plays all types of end-blown flutes. Laurin is a professor at music schools and universities in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the United States, but above all, an outstanding interpreter of music composed between the Middle Ages and the present day.
More information: conference cultural agenda
5.12.2008
Islamic feast of Eid Al-Adha at COP 14 on Monday
In addition, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, upon a request from the Group of 77 and China, took the decision that the Islamic feast of Eid Al-Adha will be observed at COP 14 on Monday, 8 December. No formal meetings related to the process will be scheduled on that day. All formal meetings currently scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled to Tuesday, 9 December, at the same times.
All other meetings not directly related to the process, planned side events and press briefings at the COP 14 conference venue and in the City of Poznan, scheduled to take place on Monday, 8 December, will proceed as scheduled.
The conference premises will be open and operational on Monday and Tuesday to support participants.
The City of Poznan is happy to announce that participants who originally scheduled excursions for Tuesday may reschedule to Monday, if they so wish. Participants should contact the Information desk of the City of Poznan, next to the Registration area, in Hall 15A.
5.12.2008
World Opera Stage Stars
20:00 Adam Mickiewicz University auditorium (Aula UAM) ul. Wieniawskiego 1
The hero of this popular series organized by the Poznań Philharmonic is Samuel Ramey (bass), the legendary American singer, who will be making his first Polish appearance.
Recycling Fiesta
19:00 Old Market Square / 'Zamek' Culture Centre, ul. Św. Marcin 80/82
This colourful musical procession will pass through the streets of Poznań from the Old Market Square to the "Zamek" Culture Centre, where it will end with a concert, will feature 30 musicians from the Republika Czadu ensemble and drummers from Zbyszek Łowżył's Pulse and Rhythm Laboratory.
More information: conference cultural agenda
4.12.2008
Grand Music Gala
20:00 Muzyczny Theatre, ul. Niezłomnych 1a (Niezłomnych Street)
Performed by the theatre's soloists, ballet and orchestra, the concert features the greatest operetta and musical hits.
More information: conference cultural agenda
4.12.2008
Environmentalists and the COP14 Climate Conference
Scientists and politicians are not the only ones attentive to the outcome of the proceedings of the 14th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Among those visiting Poznan is a sizable group of environmental organisations which seek to take this opportunity to share their ideas on combating global warming.
For the duration of the Conference a special zone has been provided in Wolności Square, in the very heart of the city, for the environmentalists to voice their opinions and promote their ideas in.
On Tuesday, December 5th, a construction symbolising a ski slope will be erected in the square. In this way, the activist want to show that global warming contributes to the melting of ice and can therefore put an end to practicing winter sports.
On the following day, December 6th, the streets of Poznan will host a special march called "Climate - Now!", which will be accompanied by a bikers parade. Between December 8th and 12th, a miniature Earth will be displayed in the square, also accommodating a special Ecology Centre. During these few days, the environmentalists want to show people how they can contribute to curbing global warming by taking care of their immediate surroundings.
Throughout the Conference, groups of eco-activists will gather near the entrance to the Poznan International Fair area. On the first day of the Conference, they handed out hard nuts to conference participants - gifts that stood for the problem we are all facing and which will not be an easy one to crack for scientists and politicians.
4.12.2008
Kyoto - Poznan - Copenhagen
The eyes of the world are on the Climate Conference in Poznan. All the important press agencies reported on the inauguration of the conference proceedings.
Throughout the Conference, the eyes of the world will be fixed on Poznan. The largest press agencies, followed by major newspapers, reported on the commencement of the 14th United Nations Climate Change Conference proceedings. News from Poznan have made it to news updates and newspaper headlines all around the globe, from Honolulu in Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, China and Iran to the European Union and the United States.
According to experts, the Conference in Poznan is especially important, as it paves the way for a new document likely to replace the Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997 in a few years' time. When ready, the new protocol setting greenhouse gases emission reduction targets will be signed at the next Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Therefore, many commentators refer to the Poznan Conference as a "step between Kyoto and Copenhagen". Scoop, a website run from New Zealand, goes even further, referring to a "Poznan action plan".
The Conference attracted the attention of many press agencies also because of the message conveyed to the participants by US President-elect, Barack Obama. The United States is one of the largest greenhouse gases emitters in the world, which is why the President's intention to change the US economic policy and pay greater attention to environmental protection bodes well for the entire planet.
3.12.2008
"Amadeus and Painting" - Concert performed by the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio
20:00, Adam Mickiewicz University Auditorium (Aula UAM), ul. Wieniawskiego 1
On the programme is The Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi and A. Piazzola, which shall achieve a unique visual setting of the picture The Four Seasons. The Four Seasons of Life by Mariusz Kałdowski. Inspired by Vivaldi's music, the artist's work shows the history of human life inscribed in the cyclical nature of the seasons. Jarosław Żołnierczyk, the leader of the orchestra, performs the solos.
More information: conference cultural agenda
3.12.2008
Honorary Doctorate for Al Gore
Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and a Nobel laureate, will receive an honorary doctorate from Adam Mickiewicz University in a few weeks' time. The ceremony will be part of the UN Climate Change Conference that will then be taking place in Poznań.
Awarding Al Gore with this honourable title came on the initiative of the Faculty of Political Science and Journalism of Adam Mickiewicz University. It has already been established that the award ceremony for the former Vice President will take place on the 11th of December, on the last but one day of the Climate Change Conference. It is also possible that Mr. Gore will meet with students from the University.
Al Gore, whose full name is Albert Arnold Gore, was the Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2000 under President Bill Clinton. In 2000 he ran for the presidency, unsuccessfully, but later re-emerged as a champion of environmental protection. In 2006, his documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, about global climate change, won Oscars for Best Documentary Feature and Best Original Song.
On the 7th of July 2007, as part of a campaign promoting the battle against climate change, he helped organise the "Live Earth" concerts that were staged on all continents of the world, in Hamburg, New York, London, Johannesburg, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai. Among the celebrities who took part in the event were Madonna, UB40 and Metallica. Several months later, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2.12.2008
Herbie Hancock - Concert
20:00 Arena Hall (Hala Widowiskowo Sportowa Arena), ul. Wyspiańskiego 33
Herbie Hancock, who this year continued to make jazz history when his album "River: The Joni Letters' won the 2008 Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Album of the Year - only the second jazz album ever to win the Album of the Year Award - makes his way to Poland for eagerly anticipated live shows: "Herbie Hancock Sextet".
More information: conference cultural agenda
2.12.2008
Welcome Pack
The City of Poznań give each COP14 participants a Welcome Pack, contains:
City Information Guide, a pocket map of the City, the unique CD with records of Polish birds' songs, a winter cap protecting from cold and a 2009 calendar.
These souvenirs will help COP14 participants to get acquainted with our City. We hope they will be undoubtedly also remind of the time spent in Poznań.
The Welcome Packs will be distributed to Guests upon arrival to the hotel.
In case you don't receive your set in your hotel please contact the City Information Point at the Conference venue.
2.12.2008
Solar Taxi on the Streets of Poznań
A solar taxi, powered entirely by solar energy, will come to Poznań in the beginning of December.
The solar taxi set off on a round-the-world journey from Lucerne, Switzerland, in July 2007. So far, the car has covered 50,000 kilometres through Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North America, during which its builder and main driver has not once had to buy petrol, nor has the car emitted a single gram of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
The solar taxi is an electric vehicle covered with 6m2 of solar batteries. The energy that they collect is transported to a battery called the "zebra', that enables the car to run for 100 km, in darkness or rain, even when the battery is not charged. Therefore the taxi, as if contrary to its name, can also run at night.
The two-person, three-wheel car can reach a speed of 90km/h and may be adapted to right-hand as well as left-hand traffic thanks to a mobile steering wheel. It's official name, "Solartaxi', stems from the fact that many VIPs from the cities the taxi has passed through have all made use of the experimental vehicle, including Prince Hassan of Jordan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, and Prince Albert of Monaco.
Last week, the solar taxi drove from Paris to rainy London and from there, the vehicle will head to Berlin. At the beginning of December it will then arrive in Poznań. From the 1st to the 12th of December, Poznań will be hosting the UN Climate Change Conference, which is, among other things, devoted to global climate change.
Accounts of Solartaxi's journey can be found on the web at www.solartaxi.com.
2.12.2008
Hybrid Bus on the Streets of Poznań
For several days now, a hybrid-engine bus has been present on the street of Poznań. Poznań is the first city in Poland - and one of the first in Europe - to introduce such a bus to its public transport fleet.
This modern bus was produced at the Solaris Bus & Coach Plant in Bolechów, near Poznań, which is the largest manufacturer of public transport buses in Poland, and one of the largest in Europe.
The most important element of the new bus is its hybrid engine, which is a combination of a combustion engine and two linked electric engines. The bus starts with an electric engine and switches over to the combustion unit after a while. The electric engine also supports the combustion engine in times of maximum loading, maintaining stable rpm. Batteries use energy produced when the vehicle brakes, or are recharged when the combustion engine builds up an excessive amount of energy.
The originator of the purchase of the hybrid bus by MPK was the Department for Environmental Protection of the Poznań City Hall, who had been trying to persuade MPK to invest in hybrid buses for several months. The appearance of the hybrid bus on the streets of Poznań is related to the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. For this occasion, Poznań proclaimed 2008 as the year of climate and the environment.
The Solaris hybrid-engine bus was first presented in 2006, and these modern, ecological vehicles can be seen on the streets of several German cities and the Swiss city of Lenzburg. In Poland, such buses have already been tested in Warsaw and Gdynia.