Time running out on USA pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

My name is Travis Bond and I have lived in Shanghai China for the last two and a half years. I have read many comments that say the expo is unimportant or would be a waste of money. My time spent in Shanghai allowed me to see exactly how important the 2010 Expo is for China and if the American Pavilion is not present it would be not only embarassing for the Americans but a wasted opportunity to expand buisness and important relationships. I think that the American Pavilion shouldn't be government subsidized but as the most succesful free market economy in the world private enterprise should be taking a much larger interest in foreign investors and markets. Now many of you have probably never been to China and would have difficult time trying to imagine it, but China and its people are currently in their most important developmental period and to not have a strong American presence would definatley leave a lasting impression on the government as well as the people. I implore all Americans to take a greater interest in their place in the world because the American economy is truly a world economy and its time for us to take responsibility for our actions and think not only of ourselves but for those that share the world with us.

Hi,

I used to work as a liaison between the European Participants and The Expo Bureau here in Shanghai. And now I am the European Business Manager for The Bureaus main Multi Media Provider.

I will not repeat the words written by Bob Jacobson, I will just say: "He is soooo right!!!". Now, the day of today a lot of people here at the Expo bureau are concerned, worried and very sceptical about the participation of the US. (one of the few....or the only country who has not signed its participation and only given its "word").

Now if China is number one or number two or number eleven...who cares....we will have to pass this GLOBAL Economic Crisis together and yes, this expo may really be a burden for the US.

Will there be important business ties made? Maybe.

Do other countries count on it? Not all of them...in Europe a lot of countries know that economically, this will not be the holy grail, but they know it is of some importance (except Austria who changed their general commissioner candidate twice and their design twice too).

One thing is for sure, the Chinese say they will have 70.000.000 visitors and rule of thumb says that from all these estimations made by expo organizers only a certain percentage will really visit the Expo, look at Hanover and Zaragoza for example. But here in China, they will have way more, why? Well the Chinese will gather all the people they can get from schools, factories, communities, etc...put them on a bus and send them to the Expo. After the Spring Festival Holidays it was rumoured in the Expo Bureau that the government together with the Expo bureau will do all they can to reach 100.000.000 visitors.....even if they have to stop whole counties for a day.

Now how many of these visitors are economically interesting for the participants...hmmm very little if none.

And yes I have to admit as well that this Expo is really an Expo to promote the Chinese and showcase China!

But should the US be there?...Yes they should....it will not be the economical miracle that you are waiting for.....but not participating will...for sure...harm the trade relationships between the countries...and the Chinese are not shy in cutting trade ties for a certain amount of time with any country.

Like I said before, this is a Global Economical Crisis and we will have to work together to get through it.

Now the only thing I do not agree with BH&L group is the Budget needed….I mean it is exaggerated. On Urso Chapells (Expo Museum) website there is downloadable file explaining the situation etc….and I have to be honest I do not recall the exact number right now…but Mr. Jacobson…The expo is in China this means that your budget does not have to be so high!

Even BRC Imagination Arts is working together with our company because of the reduced costs and they are the Nr. 1 American if not Global producer of experiencing events and Audience entertainment.

If you need more information or if I can be of assistance please let me know.

At a U.S. Consulate briefing a few months ago, the Consul-General discussed the pavilion issue. I then received a flyer stating what the themes of the pavilion would be. I don't recall the themes exactly, but each struck me as a 1) theme for which there are no serious corporate sponsors, or 2) an area in which the U.S. is not known to excel.

There seemed no natural theme for Boeing to step forward and grab. The themes weren't friendly to companies such as McDonalds, Coke, etc. either. Unfortunately, they missed the window to get commercial and investment banks in as sponsors...

The BH&L website doesn't re-state the themes I had previously read. Perhaps somebody realized that the pavilion should be more Fortune 100 focused, given the need to raise tens of millions of dollars.

@ El Jefe

Is there even any evidence that Expos are profitable for the participants? I doubt that as well. I would think that for the EU, North America, Oz, NZ, Japan, India and Korea there would such a miniscule blip of profit that it would not be worth their effort. The university systems sell themselves, as do the ability to get into the real estate markets.

"Peanut gallery" references certainly betray Bob-O's age. I'll bet after Nanny's suggestion, he and his cohorts are looking into ways to lobby for expo funding.

Good luck, the Madoff scandal may have been the icing in the cake.

Screw the expo, go to the country you are interested in seeing.

There are two primary reasons that the US is in danger of not having a pavilion at the Shanghai Expo; 1) years ago the idiots in our Congress passed a law that no gov't money could be used to participate in World Expos, and 2) the marketing departments of the Expo have been poaching the large US multinational corporation sponsorship away from a US pavilion. Shanghai has put pressure on the large American corporations to support/sponsor the Expo, to donate to the Chinese pavilions and to set up their own corporate exhibits. After the Chinese get through with the multinationals there's nothing left over for a US Pavilion. So if there isn't a US Pavilion it will be, in large part, Shanghai's own fault.

Last comments from me:

1. There is a book in process detailing the costs and benefits of Expos -- by an American, interestingly enough. For those interested enough, either pro or con, to learn more:

http://www.theexpobook.com/

2. As for the Expo's benefits to Shanghai residents, other than the general boost to commerce and tourism that accompanies Expos, and the resulting urban park, how about some environmental benefits?

http://www.chinaenvironmentallaw.com/2008/12/16/shanghais-environment-the-way-forward/

3. Lastly, Nanny is on to something....

Thanks for the conversation, it's been informative. I hope those that have such dim opinions of their Chinese and Shanghainese hosts, but who nevertheless make their livings in their societies and markets, can open their minds to the possibility of change. We did here in the U.S.

See you at the Expo!

Hi,

I used to work as a liaison between the European Participants and The Expo Bureau here in Shanghai. And now I am the European Business Manager for The Bureaus main Multi Media Provider.

I will not repeat the words written by Bob Jacobson, I will just say: "He is soooo right!!!". Now, the day of today a lot of people here at the Expo bureau are concerned, worried and very sceptical about the participation of the US. (one of the few....or the only country who has not signed its participation and only given its "word").

Now if China is number one or number two or number eleven...who cares....we will have to pass this GLOBAL Economic Crisis together and yes, this expo may really be a burden for the US.

Will there be important business ties made? Maybe.

Do other countries count on it? Not all of them...in Europe a lot of countries know that economically, this will not be the holy grail, but they know it is of some importance (except Austria who changed their general commissioner candidate twice and their design twice too).

One thing is for sure, the Chinese say they will have 70.000.000 visitors and rule of thumb says that from all these estimations made by expo organizers only a certain percentage will really visit the Expo, look at Hanover and Zaragoza for example. But here in China, they will have way more, why? Well the Chinese will gather all the people they can get from schools, factories, communities, etc...put them on a bus and send them to the Expo. After the Spring Festival Holidays it was rumoured in the Expo Bureau that the government together with the Expo bureau will do all they can to reach 100.000.000 visitors.....even if they have to stop whole counties for a day.

Now how many of these visitors are economically interesting for the participants...hmmm very little if none.

And yes I have to admit as well that this Expo is really an Expo to promote the Chinese and showcase China!

But should the US be there?...Yes they should....it will not be the economical miracle that you are waiting for.....but not participating will...for sure...harm the trade relationships between the countries...and the Chinese are not shy in cutting trade ties for a certain amount of time with any country.

Like I said before, this is a Global Economical Crisis and we will have to work together to get through it.

Now the only thing I do not agree with BH&L group is the Budget needed….I mean it is exaggerated. On Urso Chapells (Expo Museum) website there is downloadable file explaining the situation etc….and I have to be honest I do not recall the exact number right now…but Mr. Jacobson…The expo is in China this means that your budget does not have to be so high!

Even BRC Imagination Arts is working together with our company because of the reduced costs and they are the Nr. 1 American if not Global producer of experiencing events and Audience entertainment.

If you need more information or if I can be of assistance please let me know

@Bob Jacobsen, get on the phone now with Bill Richardson in Santa Fe. He will be the next Commerce Secretary and he can get you guys hooked up with the new Obama Congress to rewrite that law and make pavillion or whatever in Shanghai happen. If it's important for businesses and for China, he should be very receptive.

We'll celebrate the environment by building another building! yeah that's the ticket!

Seems to me that the residents of Shanghai get quite a few premiums from the Expo being there

Aside from Haibao (who is, awesome) and subway lines which lead to, uh, the Expo site - pray tell what is one thing which affects the daily life of most residents and is a direct result of the Expo?

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

No one can produce that evidence either because no one ever cared enough to study it.

"The peanut gallery"- awesome!

The most disturbing thought about this whole topic to me, is the idea that 50 Cent will still be around in 2010.

*Shudder*

It's lovely to hear so much sophism. Why will every other nation be at the Expo? They're certainly not taking their advice from this Peanut Gallery. Could it be there's something in it? Just maybe?

Expos may lose money for their hosts but not for the participants. No one can produce that evidence, because it doesn't exist.

As for money -- did we put our hand out for government funds? I think not. We lamented that there isn't federal money, as there is in every other nation, because truth be told, Expos are more memorable and better sales tools than YouTube videos and self-important websites. We're looking primarily for private funds. So keep your pennies in your pockets if you want to. Or give it to the government there for earthquake relief. Fair enough.

Something that may not be so evident to those overseas: perhaps we are naive, but we Americans at home are coming out of 8 or 18 years of dark ages, depending on how you figure it. We would like it to be a different place and we would like to share that with the world, more powerfully than a Flash homepage. (We'll have that too.) We're happy and we're scared. Is it too much to want to be in the company of the rest of the world.

Lastly, this Expo is about the environment -- about the only venue to publicly promote global environmentalism, besides the contentious UN meetings. How much is that worth? Seems to me that the residents of Shanghai get quite a few premiums from the Expo being there. But you prefer to look a gift horse in the mouth. Okay, when the Expo opens, be principled: stay home.

PS Thanks to every creep who thinks we in BH&L are doing this for "money." We've been working our butts off on the side for two years without seeing a dime. And even if we are successful in doing the Pavilion, it's not going to make anyone of us rich. You have a lot of nerve, actually.

We should have a reality TV show about who can come up with the best idea for an expo and then have a panel with one international superstar w/a harsh British accent or just one of the former, whichever this recession can afford and then have only ex-pats to vote for the winner. I apologize if this is accordingly a run-on sentence. But yeah

As long as we're being pedantic, it is the Jonas Brothers, not Johnas Brothers

NHYRC: It's "Fiddy"...not "Fitty" ;^)

As for this comment:

"Yes, the Chinese will be offended if the US doesn't participate. In September, they gave a presentation to a visiting group of Americans explicitly stating, "we highly expect U.S. participation for the benefit of the Chinese and American people." Not showing, we would lose "face." China is America's economic brake as everything slides downhill. Maybe it's a vestige of American commercial domination at work, to think you can slight a nation and then ask it for a favor. I've got news for you: even the CIA says we're no longer No. 1."

The US won't lose face, China will because they were snubbed. China expecting the US to show up is basically an order from the Peacock throne. If the US does show up, the Chinese language media will gloat that the US is behaving properly towards China. If not, the US is racist and is looking down on China and its 5000 years of glorious and continuous Han led history.

And China being the savior? HAAAHAHAHAAHA

Mr Expo dude ought to read the newest Economist. China is in a very precarious position due to its export levaraged economy and the state of its social fabric.

This guy sounds like just another China shill clutching his copy of "1 billion customers" and bowing in the direction of Beijing at sunrise and sunset.

What a chump.

World Expos existed to showcase other nation's cultures in a time when "fast" travel was having the wind push the schooner in the right direction, taking a 30 day trip down to 25-27.

Now there is satellite TV and the internet. And foreign TV shows can project more realism about that culture than a big advertisement put forth by a national government.

As for this being a "Shanghai only" project, no way. Shanghai got the expo as a consolation prize for Beijing taking the olympics. And it is national coffer money paying for all of the upgrades to the city and of course the relocation of the old, weak, poor and unattractive (and non-Han).

And China will be pissed at the US, when China throws a party everyone shows up or else! But like that joke about McD's. The US does not need so much as a kiosk. I'm sure plenty of Jay-z, Beyonce, Johnas brothers and Fitty will be blasting from speakers around the entire international scene while people pick up tex-mex, McDs and ice cream cones while they walk around. 'nuff said.

BH&L ought to try actually pitching to companies instead of trying to suck out tax payer dollars for their pathetic little scheme.

"You honestly believe China would cut off its nose to spite its face, all over a no show at a world expo? Honestly?"

They've done worse over less.

Well done!

But I think this 'Expos in the internet age' has been done to death.

Enough of the negativity and skepticism - World Expos are forces for world peace, friendship and goodwill, and in these days and age, we certainly need more of that.

Expos come down to the opportunity for personal exchange, a world village, and this is China's big debut - in international 'soft' diplomacy like the Olympics - on the world stage.

A USA not at the Olympics - how ridiculuous - and yet what we are looking at here is paramount to same.

I say 'Go all for it, USA', DON'T LET THE KNOCKERS SUCCEED!

Read this article http://www.foundationexpo88.org/forbes-mcgregorexpodiscussion.pdf

Another "no" vote for taxpayer money on some "world expo booth".

There are far more important matters on hand where my tax money can be better used.

I would like to gently point out that this, same as the Olympic Games, is simply a domestic propaganda exercise, full focus on the Chinese people. I applaud prudence and low spending on it. No country will be humiliated by not being there.

Please also be kindly reminded that the World Expo is a thing of the past. Tokyo even canceled the entire last Expo, because it was too expensive and did not make any sense.

I am watching carefully what my country's government is doing for the Shanghai Expo and if it is the usual exuberant crap at ridiculous expense, designed by some detached bureaucrat, I will vote for the GOP in the upcoming elections.

World's Fairs are antiquated notions left over from before the digital age. I'd never heard of the world expo before living in Shanghai for a few months and my friends/family members certainly have never heard of it.

World's Fairs were effective during the industrial revolution to exchange technology and view innovations. In the postwar era they were effective in helping to bring different cultures together and to promote understanding.

Today, there simply is no point. Deals are made, ideas are exchanged, and cultures are experienced by individuals not only on the internet but also in person, on their own. The internet is a modern day World's Fair where ideas and innovations are exchanged and where cultural connections are made.

Furthermore, with the affordability of air travel, people are able to visit and experience cultures first hand instead of at these hokey "expos" where the image of the country is entirely contrived and carefully groomed in order to make the country look its best. Why spend the money to fly to Shanghai when you can just as easily fly to anyone of these countries to experience these countries firsthand.

Finally, just look at the image at the top Norway, Switzerland, UK, Serbia, Poland. Travel is cheap and easy in Europe. Why, if you're British, would you fly to Shanghai to see some cursory view of Poland when you can just go there yourself?

World Expo? They still have those things?

These events are politically, culturally, socially irrelevant in the modern world. They might have made sense 100 years ago when there was little communication between countries and industries. But in the internet age?

It's just another circus-themed photo op orchestrated to pry money out of state governments and taxpayers. Does anyone under the age of 75 get excited about an Expo?

there is only one Expo each decade: one chance for cultural exchange and commerce on this scale, maybe helping to salvage our collapsing economy.

So does this one count or Expo 2005 in Japan or Zargoza 2008. You remember Zargoza 2008, and what sort of groundbreaking work went on there - it was only 3 months ago. Surely you remember there was a world expo this year. What's that you say? Irrelevant?

When was the last time a world expo introduced something groundbreaking or revolutionary? television? The ice cream cone? Le Tour Effiel? American's first serial killer?

And really? Only one chance for culture exchange and commerce on this scale? What about that thing that was going on in Beijing just 4 months ago? You know, with that Phelps guy, and all those Chinese gymnasts and the fireworks. I'd hazard a guess that that might've been a *little* bit bigger of an event.

Humiliation? Hurt feelings that still linger? What an incredible load of poo. I agree with CLB; get some perspective. World Expos are about a century out of date and are ultimately the efforts of city governments, not countries. To say there are officials in Brussels or Berlin still licking their wounds because the US didn't bother with Hanover is laughably naive.

Perhaps Shanghai will be slightly miffed at a US no show, they may even state their displeasure in a typically awkward press release, but in truth they could really care less. In fact, Zhongnanhai may even secretly be pleased with the affront to Shanghai. Let's not lose sight of the fact this is not a PRC project, it's a city event.

"Maybe it's a vestige of American commercial domination at work, to think you can slight a nation and then ask it for a favor." Good God, really? You honestly believe China would cut off its nose to spite its face, all over a no show at a world expo? Honestly?

This sounds to me like a shot in the dark from the BH&L Group in a last ditch effort to drum up some business.

Andy Best- give me a break, I'd been drinking since noon and the Martinis in Glamour Bar are strong.

Dear Bob J.

Nice pitch. I know, you *have* to...it's your job. Be thankful you have one.

The U.S. is one nation out of many that truly doesn not need any representationat an expo. I'll bet people will still try to study there or immigrate regardless.

Maybe if you can get the boys at GM, AIG, CitiGroup, etc. to pony up with funds, then you guys can go ahead with your booth.

Enjoy and thanks for again. When does the basket get passed around?

The Expos are non events. People only get attracted to them because there's a fair amount of hype telling us that they are great etc. Also, they are symbolically questionable.

Consider this. The gov has no existing contingency for large earthquakes and needed charity work to make blankets - and yet billions can go into putting on the expo and building a huge pavilion. And hello New Orleans too.

T made the correct observation - how can the USA justify a huge pavilion when they've robbed billions of tax dollars and given it to dodgy banks?

Just like back home for me. All that money on invading Iraq ..a proposed 200 bill for new Nukes (Trident) ..and yet NHS hospitals and gov schools are clutching at straws.

I dunno why people take it. Shows like the Expo just rub the whole situation in people's faces.

Reminds me of that utter c*ck at the Arundhati Roy reading at the lit festival. Roy spends 90 minutes outlining the essays from her new book and going over the nuances of development policies. Then this guy blurts over his cocktail "but isn't the fact that we are standing here, in the Glamour Bar, proof that the economic miracle works".

Yes ... a handful of yuppies partying on the bund offsets 1.72 billion people in the world in absolute poverty (UN figures for less than 1$ a day).

Christmas? Bah humbug.

Okay, I agree the US absolutely should exhibit and it would be a darn right shame if we did not. But I really do not think our failure to exhibit will subject the US to "global humiliation." I mean, let's keep this in perspective.

Bumix: I was at the Expo in Hanover too. And while it was cool, the Expo attracted waaaaaaaaaay fewer people than they predicted and lost millions of dollars. Whether the Chinese can make money out of this Expo is another question, but I'm sure they can bump up visitor figures by more than a few times.

I was at the 2000 Expo in Hannover and it was really cool! A big deal for Germany too, attracting millions of visitors. And of course seeing all the pavillions trying to be the coolest was great.

I got to admit, i didn't realize that the US didn't have one. The area was huge, so you couldn't see everything in a day. But i'm a little shocked now to find out!

I mean, it doesn't cost the world. You can probably build one for 10 million. And that money could be easily provided by a couple of companies. Or by Steve Jobs maybe, if you ask nicely!

The World Expo is a great opportunity to present yourself to the world, so do it! Especially in a time where the US doesn't exactly have the best reputation.

-- so is Iceland, despite its living on borrowed funds.

Is this really a wise idea? Didn't we just learn about the perils of living beyond one's means?

Dear Les, not only is Luxembourg participating -- so is Iceland, despite its living on borrowed funds. You're right, one of the benefits to the host city, besides usually improved infrastructure, is the legacy of an Expo park and buildings that can find many uses.

In Seattle, where I lived, the remains of the '62 Expo, including the Space Needle -- now the city icon -- have become Seattle Center: a great community center with a Science Museum, picnic grounds, the Pulsing Fountain, restaurants, and fun. It ties together three neighborhoods.

In Shanghai, one of the benefits delivered before the Expo will be the expedited delivery of 4G mobile services, which will blow all those snarky minds. Lucky you. Our Pavilion will also partake, if we're so fortunate as to create it.

It is pretty pathetic that Luxembourg will have a pavilion and the USA won't. I've been down to look at the site and what they are trying to do with a distressed industrial area is pretty amazing. The city's south waterfront will be a beautiful place when they are done. Shanghai is using this opportunity for a massive urban renewal project that emphasizes the connections of the city with the Huangpu. I'm sure you all will get your snark on about this but I can't wait to go hang out down by the river round about 2012 and fly a kite or something...

The website URL given above is flawed. The correct URL is:

http://www.unitedstatespavilion.com

Thanks. And thanks for reading. -- Bob

I'm the Bob Jacobson quoted in Dan's posting. I work with the BH&L Group. We're actually quite optimistic about finding funding and creating a US Pavilion that will make Americans proud.

Below, I explain why a US Pavilion is important,

First, let me correct a misimpression. It's not "Jacobson's group" that owns the U.S. Pavilion website. I am but a junior member of the BH&L Group, an upaid consortium comprising world-class, award-winning Expo veterans -- designers, builders, operators, etc. -- who have participated collectively in over 40 Expos. (I'm a regional development planner specializing in information services and public knowledge.) The other guys (whom you can read about on the US Pavilion website are far more accomplished. It was they who formed the BH&L Group. I merely mailed our press release to The Shanghaiist, thinking its readers might be interested.

Now, in response to some of the comments above:

• Expos serve vital diplomatic and commercial purposes. In addition to their entertainment appeal for most visitors -- often creating positive lifelong memories -- a lot of commerce actually takes place at Expos. Every Pavilion has a commercial zone where sizable deals are done. They also promote trade and tourism. Also, in our case, a US Pavilion would provide a platform for developing and demonstrating green technologies, as earlier Pavilions did the same for transportation, entertainment, architecture, and construction. Pavilions pay for themselves many times over, in many ways.

By the way, a large part of the US Pavilion at this Expo, by request of our Chinese hosts, will be an Online Pavilion that will prototype radical new technologies of communication and knowledge-sharing.

• Yes, the Chinese will be offended if the US doesn't participate. In September, they gave a presentation to a visiting group of Americans explicitly stating, "we highly expect U.S. participation for the benefit of the Chinese and American people." Not showing, we would lose "face." China is America's economic brake as everything slides downhill. Maybe it's a vestige of American commercial domination at work, to think you can slight a nation and then ask it for a favor. I've got news for you: even the CIA says we're no longer No. 1.

• The reason money was cut off for Expos -- in 1991, not the 70s -- was because a Midwest congressman whom no one remembers wanted to take a shot at Spain for not accepting NATO bases. Spain was hosting the 1992 Expo in Seville, so a law was passed that took us out of every Expo since. The Germany story is cute, but in fact there were very bad feelings between the EU, for whom Hanover 2000 was its coming-out party, and the US for the next many years; they still linger.

• Private and foundation sources pay the freight. The Federal government doesn't. I'd like some new schools and hospitals too, but whereas we can and should be building them continuously -- perhaps instead of waging a multi-trillion-dollar war or giving money away to banks or buying millions of wide-screen TVs -- there is only one Expo each decade: one chance for cultural exchange and commerce on this scale, maybe helping to salvage our collapsing economy.

• This Expo is different from the rest. First, every nation in the world is participating, except at this time the U.S. Second, the Expo's theme is "Better City, Better Life," which means about sustainability and quality of urban life. Shouldn't those issues take global center-stage for at least one year? You will know better than me, but my understanding is that environmental groups in China, not to mention Shanghai, are using the occasion of the Expo as leverage for new actions and initiatives. Elsewhere, the Shanghai Expo is creating opportunities in participating nations to showcase ongoing green initiatives and catalyze new ones.

For those who want to learn more about the Shanghai Expo and BH&L's US Pavilion initiative, please visit our website -- http://unitedstatespavilion . Also, feel free to email me at bluefire@well.com. Put "Expo" in the subject line. We appreciate your interest and invite you to visit the US Pavilion together with 70 million guests in person and two billion online.

Bob Jacobson

Core Team, Communications

BH&L Group, Santa Monica, California

PS We already have a lemonade stand, in Santa Monica. For your convenience, we'll take yuan.

"All important 2010 World Expo"?? Yeah...that's like an effective and potent UN. LOL ha ha LOL ha.

Who gives a lao shu's pi gu???

I totally support WatchBagDVD's first comment!

WatchBagDVD - and more expensive too.

I was at Expo'86. I don't see how this one will surpass that one. It was in Vancouver!

Alternately, the US could simply park an Air Force spy plane at the Expo site for a few weeks. That'd make for an awesome pavilion.

it will be a shipping container, with a homeless theme

I'm trying to remember when that ban on federal funding for World's Expositions came into effect. I think it was in the 1970s when we were in a recession and the Carter Administration ran up a mindboggling $40 billion deficit. It would be cool to get one of our starchitects into Shanghai to do a pavillion but it would be even better to get one in to do a new hospital or some handicapped housing.

I think that should have read:

Emphasis sarcastically added by Shanghaiist.

HANOVER, Germany _ "Where are you from?" asked the young Asian woman from Vancouver, Canada, who was behind the counter of a bratwurst-and-beer kiosk.

"The United States," I answered.

"Oh, have you seen the U.S. pavilion?" she queried, a wry grin barely stretching across her face.

"Nooooo ..." I replied, waiting for the punch line.

"It's right up there," she said, gesturing up one of the many boulevards that crisscross the Expo 2000 world's fair site. "See it? It has the big M made of golden arches."

(http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-63518258.html)

US didn't need the pavilion at the EXPO 2000, why need to have one now? At that time, it was Clinton administration decision. The States didn't plan to participate at that Expo either.

The US decision did not insult Germans at that time, why it should insult Chinese? Participation in the Expo is not mandatory.

Cheers!

eh. . .as much as I'd like to have a US pavilion, with over a trillion dollars in bailouts and the world economy collapsing, I'm okay with not having one.

Global humilation for the American people? You mean aside from having Chimpy McFlightsuit in the highest office in the land for 8 years, starting a war on dubious causes, almost electing the worst candidate . . .ever . . .to the second highest office in the land, Katrina, a nation of credit card debtors living above their means, our entire auto industry going belly up, and a land of seriously overweight people - I think we can go ahead and not really worry about additional humilation from not participating in the Expo.

I propose a bake sale table and a lemonade stand. I know a few kids who could make some cute signs.