Environment correspondent Catherine Jacob in the Arctic Circle
I write this standing on the side of a snow-covered Arctic mountain in what's usually one of the most wild, remote and unpopulated places on earth. Except today.
Because gathered here alongside me are around a hundred journalists, cameramen and photographers from nearly every country in the world.
Add to that the same number of politicians and international dignitaries, throw in a few dozen frazzled press officers and you have a veritable media circus in the most unlikely of places.
It's been rather a stressful morning for all concerned. After all, sending back live television and radio reports on the opening ceremony of the world's first global seed vault to our respective countries (from the middle of nowhere, in a minus 15 degree blizzard) was never going to be a breeze.
The media are based in a tiny portacabin just a stone's throw from the Global Seed Vault and it's just a little bit cramped.
Slight panic ensued earlier when, about ten minutes before our live cross to Eamon Holmes back in London, the internet went down and all looked doomed. We got it back just in time for our slot.
There's a bit of a problem with the portacabin's power supply too, it's been overloaded because too many computers and machines have been plugged in.
So a few minutes ago a rather terse Norwegian technician came to tell us to turn off all the heaters to save the supply!
The opening ceremony's now over so we're all here trying to edit our reports for this afternoon's bulletins.
We have a stash of mini chocolate bars, some cold coffee and some hand warmers to sustain us for the next few hours until our next live report.
One other slight inconvenience: the nearest loo is miles away, way back down the mountainside.
I'm not keen on cold coffee anyway.
Oh dear, we do have [High Hopes] as they [Shed Seven] tonnes of human sweat.
Posted by: Khalid 27 Feb 2008 21:18:44
Is this news?
Posted by: Della 27 Feb 2008 09:43:01
What is that article all about? Complete pointless article. Whatever!! God, I would have loved to have been there. I would not have been complaining about the "conditions". Go around the side of a snow mound and be one with nature if you bursting that badly for the loo!
Posted by: Fiona O'Mahony 27 Feb 2008 08:44:42