Hi!

According to an article in today's Kumanichi, APEC's next Sectorial
Ministerial Meeting on Human Resource Development will be held in Kumamoto
during September of next year.

The article says that APEC is intended to create egalitarian partnerships
between countries that go beyond the unequal relationship of aid-giving
country vs. aid-receiving country.

So far, meetings of this level have been held in Manila, Seoul, and
Washington D.C., all of which are national capitals. This is the first
time such a meeting will be held in a region such as Kumamoto.

The meeting will last from September 27 to the 30th. About 200 high level
officials from twenty-one countries, including China, Australia, the U.S.,
Peru, and Mexico will attend.

Kumamoto fought and won a struggle with Tokyo, Fukuoka, Hokkaido and other
areas for the meeting. Apparently, Governor Fukushima's experience as
Minister of Labor helped him win the battle. Kumamoto also got good marks
for its facilities. (I imagine that Mr. Yagi's International Center is one
of the key facilities that will be used -- it's set up for simultaneous
interpretation.)

This year there will probably be international seminars and meetings with
foreign technicians in preparation for the event. Efforts will also be
made to make Kumamoto more appealing to foreign investors.

Governor Fukushima says this will be a great chance to do some public
relations work about Kumamoto.

[End of summary -- start of personal comment]

Three key words in this article are "PR," "labor" and "international."
Let's see, that reminds me of a situation at a certain prefecturally run
university where "international labor" has been treated very shabbily. I
hope the prefecture gets its house in order before next year. Otherwise,
our three key words may combine in ways that the governor does not intend.

Here's the address of the article:

http://www.kumanichi.co.jp/dnews/20000128/kiji1_0000001332.html

So long for now,

Kirk Masden