Asian Transformations in Action - Api-fellowships.org

xiiiare common to nations around the world. There arecountless examples of problems that go beyond borders,and of communities in different countries that face thesame problems.To deal with these difficulties, it is necessary tostrengthen the network of people in the region whoknow each other well, who can learn from each other,and who can freely express their ideas in order to findsolutions.promote original research and hands-on activities thatwill increasingly contribute to the development ofAsian society. At the same time, I hope your influencewill extend beyond this region, and that you grow into abody that will transmit Asia’s voice to the world. Thankyou.API was created precisely to answer this need. It aimsto build a new intellectual community in the region byidentifying intellectual leaders, like yourselves, with astrong sense of mission to contribute to the public good.These intellectual leaders are given the opportunity totravel to other parts of Asia, learn from their neighborsand take part in exchange with others with a commongrasp of the issues. The aim is for them to cooperate,enriching people’s lives and devising specific solutionsto the problems confronting us all.A number of different intellectual networks exist inAsia. However, until API, there had never been such abroadly-based network of public intellectuals, consistingof bureaucrats, NGO activists, artists, journalists andthe like.At the API Workshop in Phuket, I called on Fellows toaim at transforming the API Community into a thinktankand a do-tank for the development of Asia, one thatwould draw together public intellectuals from acrossborders, bring in wisdom and experience, and developnew methods to solve problems. Since then, two yearshave passed. In that time, I have been delighted by theprogress that has been made. Workshops have beenheld in different countries, regional committees havebeen formed, and preparations have been advancingfor an initial regional workshop, with the environmentas its theme. I sincerely hope this will lead to concreteaction. This is the task of those who make up the APICommunity.In conclusion, I would like to recall the words of formerPresident Corazon Aquino at the first API workshop:She said, “My fervent hope is that, through this evergrowingpool of Asian public intellectuals, Asia’suniqueness and complexity can be preserved, and itsmany voices magnified and heard around the world, aswe join the often confusing and dehumanizing tide ofglobalization.”For my part, I hope that the API Community, throughthe participation and effort of all its members, willAsian Transformations in ActionThe Work of the 2006/2007 API Fellows