Summit preparations

Minato Mirai in Yokohama must be, to date, Japan's most modern and most futuristic area. Close to Yokohama Port, huge, massive buildings with very interesting architectural designs compete for one's attention. Hotels and countless shops, restaurants, and other commercial areas need more than several days to be rounded up. The carefree and daring are also enticed to climb the so-called tallest building in Japan or to try the biggest Ferris Wheel or the most exciting roller coaster ride, among other choices.

One gets a feeling one has entered the latest, futuristic site when one "walks" through Minato Mirai. As one gets on the long "moving walk" that makes it easier and faster for one to reach several locations within Minato Mirai (imagine a very long, horizontal escalator), one cannot help but wonder how technologically advanced the Japanese are and how much effort they have exerted in creating an area far beyond anyone's idea of a modern community.

What really caught our attention though during this visit to Minato Mirai to meet with our partners for Education for Sustainable Development, Ms. Zinaida Fadeeva and Mr. Kasunori Suzuki at the United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) were not these grand futuristic designs and structures alone.

As we walked from the Sakuragicho Station to the building that hosted the International Conference Organizations where the UNU-IAS holds office, the banners announcing the holding of the next G8 Summit to be hosted by Yokohama and Niigata in 2008 transported us from the futuristic Minato Mirai to the present Cebu.

The G8 Summit is still two years from now but the Japanese are already preparing the public for it through public banners. Expectedly, the Japanese have already created the 2008 G8 Summit central coordinating committee and have designated its members as well. The Japanese are not taking any chances but are already, this early, preparing for a major global event that will take place two years from now, in 2008!

Imagine how much they can safely and timely build whatever structures they wish to put up for this 2008 summit! Imagine how much they can prepare all, not only those in policy-making bodies or in the government, but everyone, including business and the public to do their share for the 2008 G8 summit.

Imagine how careful they can manage their budgets or how much lead time they have to raise funds should more be needed for the 2008 G8 budget. Imagine what kind of summit will be held with preparations on all levels carefully planned and executed without rush, with much consultation, collaboration, and coordination!

Then, we are brought back to the reality of the hasty preparations for the ASEAN Summit next month. Then we recognize that buildings are being rushed to be built and completed, initial allotted funding has dried up and more have to be raised. People are being displaced and relocated. More questions, more issues, unresolved only several days and weeks now before the grand event. Everyone is now asking the important question, how ready and prepared is Cebu for the December 2006 ASEAN Summit?

Definitely, not as ready and as prepared as Japan that has started its preparations for its 2008 G8 Summit hosting this early.

The comparison is not intended as reckless, irresponsible criticism nor a sign of non-appreciation for the best efforts being exerted by the most sincere in Cebu who are among the ASEAN Summit major players. The stark contrast is a lesson to be remembered next time around that this country or any part of this country ventures once again into hosting another global event in the near future.

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