Well, it’s APEC time again and you know what that means. Yes, time to see all those world leaders wearing something that looks ridiculous even on the people native to that country. Throughout this post, whilst taking you back through the years at some of the more ‘interesting’ attire the leaders were forced to wear, I’ll endeavor to discover why APEC is usually remembered simply for ‘shirt day’ and not much else.
These leaders meetings, whether it be the G20, APEC, CHOGM, ASEAN or others like them are simply talk fests, at least by the time the leaders have arrived. Days, if not weeks before, departmental heads and ministers do the leg work and the late night meetings, making sure that all is ready for show during the leaders conference. The leaders simply turn up and agree on what has already been agreed upon. It’s basically a 2 day photo op for the leaders, a chance to have a chat with old friends, avoid old enemies and wax lyrical about why APEC is important. Like other conferences, it finishes with ‘intent’, ‘commitment to further negotiations and discussions’ and a ‘firm belief and joint cooperation’. They generally come away from these meetings appearing to be singing off the same hymn sheet. That’s important, especially for APEC. It is, we must remember, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. If cooperation is not evident,then what is the point? 
This year’s conference is in Hawaii. Beautiful beaches, gorgeous weather and Mai Tai’s being drunk as the sun sets over Waikiki. Surprisingly, they are all seriously talking of a free trade agreement within the Asia-Pacific region. Maybe the Hawaiian air is doing them all some good. I always find the groups that gather at both APEC the most disparate and diverse group that you could possibly get together. If this was a party, none of these people would invite each other. What on earth does the Sultan of Brunei have in common with the Canadian Prime Minister? How does Argentina even vaguely relate to Australia? It’s almost like 2 families; the Asian family and the family of the Americas. At least all the significant players in the Asian family are there. The South American family can only be invited if their country sits on the Pacific Ocean! Their neighbours, like Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica etc are left out of the loop and whatever deals they agree to may not favour other nations in their continent. Canada and the United States are on the same page, so that’s a good thing. It is easier to get agreement on issues when you ALL have something in common. Having an ocean you all back onto is not really enough in my opinion. If it is a true Asia-Pacific meeting, where is Tonga, Cook Islands, Samoa, just to name a few of the Pacific islands. They at least live smack bang in the middle of the Pacific. Do they not count? Or is this a case yet again of including only the big boys at the poker table? India wanted membership and it doesn’t even rim the Pacific Ocean!
A realistic and practical common bond is importa
nt. In talking with friends last night, the issue came up about Europe and how the whole Eurozone mess is made harder by the fact that Europe itself is so disparate. The Germans are nothing like the French. The British are nothing like the Spaniards and the Greeks are not at all like the Irish. Like APEC, where countries are simply joined together by an ocean, Europe is joined together purely on the basis that they are all European! Policy and agreement on issues is harder when you all see things very, very differently. Australia wants in on the ASEAN forums, but ASEAN is playing hardball and so they should. It is an Asian network. Australia should have engaged with Asia many, many years ago, but apart from former Australian PM Paul Keating stating that ‘we are part of Asia’, no other Australian government till Kevin Rudd pushed a more Asian focus to our trade and foreign policy. We lost 12 good years under John Howard.
Ah well, let’s hope that at least something concrete comes out of it all. If nothing else, we are at least all wondering whether the Hawaiian hula skirt and floral Hawaiian shirt will be the ‘shirt’ worn by leaders this year.
Can’t wait to see Obama in that. He’d have to wear it. One mustn’t offend the home town crowd.
Enjoy your day.
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November 13, 2011
Ministry of Silly Shirts
Posted by damob under Politics, Social commentaryLeave a Comment
Well, it’s APEC time again and you know what that means. Yes, time to see all those world leaders wearing something that looks ridiculous even on the people native to that country. Throughout this post, whilst taking you back through the years at some of the more ‘interesting’ attire the leaders were forced to wear, I’ll endeavor to discover why APEC is usually remembered simply for ‘shirt day’ and not much else.
These leaders meetings, whether it be the G20, APEC, CHOGM, ASEAN or others like them are simply talk fests, at least by the time the leaders have arrived. Days, if not weeks before, departmental heads and ministers do the leg work and the late night meetings, making sure that all is ready for show during the leaders conference. The leaders simply turn up and agree on what has already been agreed upon. It’s basically a 2 day photo op for the leaders, a chance to have a chat with old friends, avoid old enemies and wax lyrical about why APEC is important. Like other conferences, it finishes with ‘intent’, ‘commitment to further negotiations and discussions’ and a ‘firm belief and joint cooperation’. They generally come away from these meetings appearing to be singing off the same hymn sheet. That’s important, especially for APEC. It is, we must remember, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. If cooperation is not evident,then what is the point?
This year’s conference is in Hawaii. Beautiful beaches, gorgeous weather and Mai Tai’s being drunk as the sun sets over Waikiki. Surprisingly, they are all seriously talking of a free trade agreement within the Asia-Pacific region. Maybe the Hawaiian air is doing them all some good. I always find the groups that gather at both APEC the most disparate and diverse group that you could possibly get together. If this was a party, none of these people would invite each other. What on earth does the Sultan of Brunei have in common with the Canadian Prime Minister? How does Argentina even vaguely relate to Australia? It’s almost like 2 families; the Asian family and the family of the Americas. At least all the significant players in the Asian family are there. The South American family can only be invited if their country sits on the Pacific Ocean! Their neighbours, like Brazil, Paraguay, Costa Rica etc are left out of the loop and whatever deals they agree to may not favour other nations in their continent. Canada and the United States are on the same page, so that’s a good thing. It is easier to get agreement on issues when you ALL have something in common. Having an ocean you all back onto is not really enough in my opinion. If it is a true Asia-Pacific meeting, where is Tonga, Cook Islands, Samoa, just to name a few of the Pacific islands. They at least live smack bang in the middle of the Pacific. Do they not count? Or is this a case yet again of including only the big boys at the poker table? India wanted membership and it doesn’t even rim the Pacific Ocean!
A realistic and practical common bond is importa
nt. In talking with friends last night, the issue came up about Europe and how the whole Eurozone mess is made harder by the fact that Europe itself is so disparate. The Germans are nothing like the French. The British are nothing like the Spaniards and the Greeks are not at all like the Irish. Like APEC, where countries are simply joined together by an ocean, Europe is joined together purely on the basis that they are all European! Policy and agreement on issues is harder when you all see things very, very differently. Australia wants in on the ASEAN forums, but ASEAN is playing hardball and so they should. It is an Asian network. Australia should have engaged with Asia many, many years ago, but apart from former Australian PM Paul Keating stating that ‘we are part of Asia’, no other Australian government till Kevin Rudd pushed a more Asian focus to our trade and foreign policy. We lost 12 good years under John Howard.
Can’t wait to see Obama in that. He’d have to wear it. One mustn’t offend the home town crowd.
Enjoy your day.
Like this: