First steps in Montreal28 November 2005
Well, we made it - from chilly London into freezing Montreal.
We're getting used to slipping around on snowy streets, padded like Michelin men with woolly hats and bright red cheeks.
Katie Elliot, Climate Campaigner, getting her bearings
in Montreal, at the start of the UN climate meeting
The big event
What's the biggest buzz in Montreal? You got it - U2 are playing two concerts and Bono has been out to address the nation on poverty.
Meanwhile, two weeks of talks about the future of the UN negotiations after 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol start on Monday 28th November.
This is incredibly important as it's the only international treaty to tackle climate change.
No one knows how this historic meeting will turn out. It's an opportunity for the developed nations to take positive action. But will they rise to the occasion?
Spanner in the works
Oh, and the Canadian government who is hosting these talks is facing a no-confidence vote today. We'll keep you posted how this progresses tomorrow...
Our message
Friends of the Earth is here in Montreal with a truly international team from Africa, Asia, Europe Latin America and North America.
We are here to lobby our governments. We will represent the concerns of people from around the world who want urgent action on climate change.
We'll be here as observers in the conference centre - working all hours of the day and night trying to persuade the decision makers to do the right thing.
Climate Mosaic
3000 painted tiles with messages from people all over Europe are going up on 150 foot wall outside the conference. They will serve as a constant reminder to delegates that the world is watching.
We've spent three days in a cold underground garage sawing wood, drilling holes and attaching thousands of tiles to make the panels.
Making the climate mosaic from the thousands
of tiles painted by European citizens
And our first teaser installation is up in the conference venue already.
The mini climate mosaic inside the conference centre
Visit the page again tomorrow for updates from the first day of the conference.
Katie Elliott and Joanna Watson, our Climate Campaigners are sending daily updates direct from the COP 11 talks in Canada.
© Katie Elliot/Joanna Watson, Friends of the Earth
