$331 million dollars of tax payer's money + 21 heads of state + three days + one city = John Howard losing Sydneysiders' vote.
APEC is "an inter-governmental forum facilitating economic growth and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, and operates on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants regardless of the size of their economy." To Sydney, it means a city-wide day off, make-shift fences, the most hated person in the world getting the most ludicrously extravagant welcome, and snipers.
Josh and I have grown accustomed to helicopters flying over head (with the occasional search shining their blinding light on our patio), missels ready for action on darting fighter planes, nonstop melodramatic 'news' recounts of violent protesters, and the always optimistic APEC symbol on the Coat Hanger bridge.
On a positive note, Sydney's businesses were closed on Friday.
No comments:
Post a Comment