INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR

POLAR OMNIBUS SLATED FOR 2009
There will be approximately 40 countries involved in this series. It was originally discussed during a state visit to Finland by Michelle Bachelet, the president of Chile, where it was decided to call attention to the environmental impact of global warming.
At the same time this series is intended to promote the protection of not only the regions but also the glaciers.
All participating country will decide individually what feature will appear on the stamps, but it has been agreed that all administrations will have to include the adopted "Crystal Insignia" which will appear on all issues.
Make note that all stamps will be issued between January and March of 2009. Other confirmed features to appear are; icebergs, glaciers, penguins and polar bears.
Some of the countries who have signed on for this issue, Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers include:
Ø Argentina
Ø Australia
Ø Belgium
Ø Brazil
Ø Bulgaria
Ø Canada
Ø Chile
Ø Czech Rep.
Ø Ecuador
Ø Estonia
Ø Finland
Ø Greenland
Ø Hungary
Ø Iceland
Ø India
Ø Japan
Ø New Zealand
Ø Norway
Ø South Africa
Ø Switzerland
Ø Uruguay
Ø Aland Islands
Ø Faroe Islands
Ø Romania
Ø Slovenia
Ø Algeria
Ø Austria
Ø Croatia
Ø France
Ø Greece
Ø Indonesia
Ø Kazakhstan
Ø Latvia
Ø Lithuania
Ø Mexico
Ø Paraguay
Ø Peru
It seems Aland will be among the very first nations to release its contribution to the IPY.
On 22 January, Aland Post will issue a miniature sheet as part of the joint stamp series 'Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers' in which more than 40 posts from around the world take part.
The Aland contribution features a wind turbine, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the introduction of electricity in Aland.
The symbol of this joint issue, an ice crystal, can be seen in the upper left corner. The wind turbine is embossed and the rest of the sheet is supplied with Metal FX effect.