Saturday, November 3, 2012

International Summit: The Good Side by Erick San Juan

International Summit: The Good Side by Erick San Juan   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
I have attended  and have been invited to attend several prestigious international conferences like the IISS(International Institute for Strategic Studies) Shangri-la Dialogue based in London, the RSIS Singapore Global Dialogue, the ASEAN conferences, the APEC Leaders' meeting, the Asean Regional Forum, East West Center, etc. All of them are inspired by members of the academe, scholars, big business, top government, diplomats, and military officials of nation-states discussing relations and partnerships, regional and world economic cooperation, world leaders speaking about policy differences and coalition instead of collision.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
At the RSIS-Singapore Global Dialogue last September hosted by the S. Rajaretnam School of International Studies, in one of the programs concerning global security challenges, Prof. Efraim Inbar of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies of the Bar-Ilan University in Israel made a fiery statement against Iran's nuclear ambition but a muslim scholar on the floor reacted by saying that Israel has more nukes than any nation in the Middle East. Joseph Liow of RSIS, an expert moderator easened everything and let the discussions of other matters push through.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Even  at the recent APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russia last month, top political leaders want Russia to participate in the nation-states multilateral regional conferences. APEC leaders wanted big powers to interact and have confidence building through dialogue. In this kind of framework,it develops new regional architecture, based on principles,learning from each others experience especially on security matters to strengthen the stability of each region.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
As I have been espousing,  that politics begins and ends in economics. APEC advocates business cooperation among member states. Given the existence of a number of territorial and economic conflicts among countries in every region,while raising these issues under the dialogue mechanism, several countries including Russia were able to demonstrate particular foreign policy stance, sanctions and commitments to the peaceful settlement of international and territorial problems.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Even in the APEC's ministerial level meetings, most of them adhere to the greater integration of the political and economic development especially in the South East Asia and the Pacific region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The ASEM and EAS forums for the dialogue and cooperation in the regional security, the U.S. and Russia were in constant constructive dialogue, levelling military strength as part of the counteraction to the growing influence of China.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Experts and think-tanks evaluate such interaction to make sure that it will be beneficial to all concern parties. I was told that among the advantages for the region, like with Russia are long-term and stable supply of raw materials especially oil and gas, joint projects on exploration, development of deposits,oil and gas pipeline construction,projects in hydro and nuclear power, research in alternative energy sources and energy technologies. With this information, Russia can play a significantrole in the economic development in the region.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
If Russia can do this, why not us? Philippines have GOD- gas,oil and deutherium(heavy water used for space exploration). We only  need to unite and get partners-investors who can develop our natural resources. We should stop the manipulation of our politicians and leaders and the principle of 'what's in it for me'.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Through such dialogues, even the U.S. learned from other nation-states on how to cope up with the new kind of terrorism. It's all about the widespread corruption - worst than a disease. According to ATS, the threats before used to come from inter-government conflicts, destabilizing activities of right wing militants and left wing extremists. Now, it's the smugglers, illegal drug traffickers, carpet baggers/mafia bosses who steal the show. Most of their leaders now have legitimate fronts, big business controlling dirty politicians, scalawags in robes, law enforcers, military, goons, soldiers of fortune, warlords and even the church.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
This is the reason why  U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made a policy strategy guidance last January that will reportedly shape the U.S. Department of Defense engagement in the region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Watch the movie- LOOPER and you will understand what I'm talking about. Cheers!

No comments: