"Glaciers"

Not knowing yet how I will present this exhibit, I figure the first step is research and reading on the subject as much as possible. While doing this I think that passing along, to you, any interesting facts on the subject might get you more interested in this topic and who knows with what some of you might come up with.

Why then are Glaciers so important?

We all know by now that receding and melting glaciers are a sign of global climate change. It is documented and proven that glaciers grow and shrink in lenght, width and depth in response to climate fluctuations. Furthermore, the rate of their growth or decline serves as an indicator of regional as well as global climate changes. Some three quarters of the earth's fresh water is held in ice sheets and glaciers. Thus recognizing and understanding changes in the world's glaciers is crucial because these changes can and will affect agriculture, drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power supplies and not to mention transportation, tourism and ecological habitats.

Some sad facts...

Over 120 glaciers have disappeared from Montana's Glacier National Park over the past 150 years, that's almost one a year. Furthermore, it is estimated that the remaining 26 glaciers could be gone in another 25 years. Mount Kilimanjaro, know as the "Shining Mountain" may not be shining anymore by 2020. That's pretty soon my friends! 82% of the ice on the summit is already gone. As you can see, this exhibition project could lead to several others. In upcoming posts I will give you more facts specific to the polar regions Arctic and Antarctic separately.

Interested in exchanging, trading IPY items.

It dawned on me that a project of this magnitude cannot be accomplished by one man or one head only.

By one head I mean I can't think of everything related to this huge international programme. Just think, researchers in more than 60 countries endorsed 228 projects which provided a framework for six different themes:

• Status
• Change
• Global linkage
• New frontiers
• Vantage point
• Dimension

I have no doubt in my mind that many special postmarks and covers must exist of which I have no knowledge.
I would be eternally greatful and thankful if some collectors out there would be willing to send me such items either voluntarely or in consideration of receiving Canada's issues related to the IPY.
If interested by such a possibility please contact me (see my profile) and we can discuss any necessary arrangement.

"Plan your work - Work your plan"

During my professional life I had the chance of working for some great companies.The very first one, and to this date probably the best one, was Gillette Canada. From day one I was told to always plan my work and work my plan. From that day on it just stuck with me and for the next 22 years I practiced what they told me and when I left the company I started teaching the same to the other sales forces I had the chance to lead.One very positive thing about this is that you can and should apply this to your professionnal life but also use the same principle in your private life.

What does this have to do with my exhibit?

Well, it's very simple. At this point in time I still don't know how to approach the subject. Philatically speaking I know which countries are participating in this issue, I know that by now most items have been issued, I know that the International Polar Year 2007-2009 has officially come to an end (March 2009), I know I want to transmit and make the public aware of all the efforts made by so many people and countries, but I still don't know what to do or how to present the material at hand.

Preliminary thoughts and ideas.

What could then make this exhibit stand out? Designing my pages, placing the different issues on them, giving some details about the issues, anybody can do that and I don't think it would stand out at an exhibition. Keep in mind that my objective is to create, through stamps, more awareness about the dangers we are all facing due to climate change.

So, I'm thinking about gathering some covers from the issuing countries, send them to the different governmental agencies that are involved with the IPY and have some official sign the cover and at the same time maybe have an official document summarizing what that country has done during the IPY programme. Am I dreaming or can this be accomplished?

Originally I was thinking of a one-frame exhibit. Now, the more I look at it, I begin to wonder if this can be accomplished in a one-frame exhibition?

Finally, I'm not sure if all issuing countries should be included or only the major participants. By doing so will the message have the same impact? Will the message conveyed say; "as usual always the same players" or do I want to say that even small countries like Estonia are concerned about the state of our planet. Time will tell....

My first attempt at a philatelic exhibition

THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR (2007-2009)

I have never before attempted to prepare a philatelic exhibition. But with this important international endeavor and the announcement, last year, that there will be some sort of an Omnibus series celebrating the end of this 3-year programme, I figured this to be the best time to try to mount a one-frame exhibit.

But first a little background on this philatelic event. It was on September 20th 2008 at the Austria Center in Vienna that this major philatelic event relating to the “International Polar Year 2007-2009” was presented. 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.To pay tribute to all the efforts made during this fourth “International Polar Year” 2007-2009 and to deliver a strong message aimed at the whole world, the postal administrations of about 40 countries decided to produce a common stamp issue concerning the problem of Global Warming and to promote the protection of not only the regions but also the glaciers thus putting forth the slogan “Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers”.Each participating country was free to decide the theme and illustration for the issue, but had to agree to share a common campaign logo.

The design for the logo, a “protected ice crystal”, was created by Saku Heinänen a Finnish graphic designer and Master of Arts but also a keen amateur naturalist.

The Finnish Philatelic Center’s Director, Markku Penttinen, is the leader of this campaign. As Director Markku Pertinnen said, “A stamp is a receipt for postage paid but it is also a media … millions of people all over the world will see this message and its appeal”.

Thus, after reading this quote I decided that this message should not end with the year 2009 and that it should be carried on for as long as possible. If successful with this project I then hope to be able to carry on this message at various philatelic exhibitions and by constantly working on it make it to the highest levels.

So, if you are interested to follow this project you are more than welcome to follow it, comment on it, add your suggestions and as with any philatelic projects, maybe develop some frienships along the way.

Issue from Canada

On April 9, Canada issued its contribution to the International Polar Year. Although it is a beautiful sheet I regret the fact that no glacier has been depicted on the sheet.

What we see represented are wild animals from both end of planet Earth.

Representing the Arctic, we see the Polar Bear and the Arctic Fox. From the Antarctic, we see a group of Penguins and the Arctic Tern.

Why an Artic Tern in antarctica? Very simply put this bird migrates yearly between the two poles. It was therefore decided by the designer of this sheet (Tiit Telmet) to use the Tern as a symbol showing that both poles are united.

The stamps have also been issued in sheets of 16 with marginal inscription. The post office was already out of the sheet when I went, so as soon as I get it I will upload it.

The stamps have been issued at 2,000,000 examples while the issued quantity for the souvenir sheet is 225,000.

Site worth visiting...

While doing some further research on the subject I found this interactive presentation on Antarctica.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15850535/

Hope you'll enjoy!

IPY issues - checklist

Even though you won't find any specifics about the issues themselves, here is a very useful link which will provide you with a checklist of all IPY related issues.

http://stampnews.com/stamps/stamps_2009/stamp_1239739632_238093.html

As I receive them personnally I will psot all relevant information about each and every issue.

On 22 January, Åland Post issues a miniature sheet as part of the joint stamp series "Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers".

The Åland contribution features a wind turbine, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the introduction of electricity in Åland.

This miniature sheet features a wind turbine with a flash of lightning in the background. 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.

The photography was done by Daniel Eriksson.

120,000 were issued.

The printing method used is: 4-colour offset, partly embossed and with some metal FX.

This souvenir sheet comes from Estonia and it reflects perfectly the effects of Global Warming on Glaciers.

This sheet was issued on January 15, 2009.

Designed by Lembit Lõhmus is was printed offset, perforated 13 X 12.75 and 75,000 copies have been issued.

The average global temperature has risen by more than 0.5°C during the past one and a half centuries.

The frequency of extreme phenomena of climate – hurricanes, draughts, heavy rains and floods etc. has grown.

The global warming has become a worldwide environmental problem, but there have been vast differences of opinion on the role of human activity as one of the main cause of the process among scientists. Climate is an extremely complex, non-linear chaotic system with thousands of variables and influencers.