Cabo Pacific Rim Trade Meeting
Five years ago I was down here where all these developments were being planned. I feel like I'm partly to blame. I knew about it but did nothing to
stop it. I did write a little blurb about it to alert people what was going on.
After APEC
Asian-Pacific Economic Co-operation
2002
News about the local impact of the 2002 APEC meetings in Cabo San Lucas was not good. Local business owners were disappointed in the numbers and the
dollars. Those who were convening in Los Cabos apparently stayed in their fancy corridor hotels, did not venture forth to get the flavor of the
place, to sightsee, shop and eat. The restaurants and bars were prepared for a crowd of jolly Asians and Australians celebrating the successful end
of a whole year of meetings, talks, luncheons, symposiums held in several Mexican states, culminating with this summit meeting in a popular vacation
resort.
Maybe the delegates were simply worn out, content to nap, regain their strength in the deluxe posturpedic, king-sized beds at the Westin-Regina, the
Cabo Melia, each time a long, perhaps tedious, meeting came to an end — just not enough energy left to grab a cab, summon the limo, join a busgroup to
look at the city, the marina, enjoy the sights, smells, sounds of this unique part of Mexico.
Perhaps it was a matter of economics — after all, the big E in APEC stands for Economics. Could it be that many of these folks, having partied their
way all across Mexico for a whole year, now were holding back, dreading their return to the world of Accountability. Could there be waiting for them
Asian Expense Account Clerks who care little for acronyms, much about things fiscal; green visors down, long fingers extended, almost giddy in
anticipation of colorful ways the members will explain the 3,000 peso lunch in a small cafe in Monterey, the 4500 peso guided tour to the Maya ruins
at Copal?.
They should have gone out; should have left their rooms, the bar by the pool, got on the bus. No worries! (as the Aussies say) Had they gotten a
peek at the Leader’s Statement, the document explaining who they are, why they met, what they got accomplished, they would have been throwing money in
the streets, swilling down $12 Margaritas with the best of them.
I read the Leader’s Report. It is almost 6,000 words. It is thing of beauty. It would have those stingy accountant types burning their visors.
The devil though is not in the details, it is in the verbs, the action words. The delegates, the Leaders better hope the accountants don’t know much
about the World Trade Organization. The WTO is the all-powerful body which sets the trade rules for The World. Since world trade already follows the
written-in-stone doctrines, laws of that body, one wonders about the dubious existence of, the efficacy of regional trade organizations that hang
their charter on some special affinity others can’t see or appreciate.
What did they do? I’ll tell you. It’s all in the report. The action words tell it all. They welcomed, noted, enhanced, promoted and encouraged.
They resolved, acknowledged and reaffirmed. They advanced, provided for and fostered. Here’s the rough verb count — you may make of it what you will.
For everybody’s sake, please do not send this list to the accountants.
Verb Count
Welcomed 13
Recognized 10
Called for 10
Noted 7
Acknowledged 6
Discussed 6
Endorsed 6
Agreed 5
Promoted 3
Improved 3
Encouraged 3
Adopted 3
Enhanced 2
Supported 2
Fostered 1
Provided for 1
Developed 1
Expanded 1
Advanced 1
Urged 1
Resolved 1
Recommended 1
Reaffirmed 1
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