08/16/2008 En Español
Guest Host State and Consumer Services Agency Secretary Rosario Marín Discusses XXVI Border Governors Conference in Governor’s Weekly Radio Address
Hi,
this is Rosario Marín, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency,
filling in for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.
Earlier
this week, I was proud to join the Governor as he hosted the XXVI Border
Governors Conference in Hollywood.
This annual meeting is a great
opportunity for the 10 U.S.
and Mexican border states to collaborate on the big issues affecting our
region.
The
theme of this year's conference was Building Green Economies.
We
held forums with Nobel Laureates and other environmental experts.
At a
Green Tech Expo we saw electric cars, solar-powered flashlights, non-toxic
cleaning products and other innovative technologies that will help us protect our
environment and our economy.
The
governors also signed a declaration to work together on important issues such
as agriculture, education, economic development, border security and
infrastructure.
They
agreed to create a council of advisors for economic development.
They
are developing a compact among all ten border states for mutual aid in disaster responses.
And
they are working to reduce the environmental damage caused by millions of scrap
tires scattered along the border.
Governor
Schwarzenegger also wants to change people's perceptions of that region.
When
many people think of the border they think only of illegal immigration, drugs,
crime and human trafficking.
But
the Governor also wants people to know about the positive stories.
He
wants you to know that Mexico is California's number one trading partner and that Mexican tourists
contribute billions of dollars to our economy.
That
if the ten U.S. and Mexican border states were one nation its economy would be
the 3rd largest in the world.
And he
wants you to know about the great friendship and cooperation that exists
between our governments.
Last
month, for example when California was battling 2,000 fires, President Calderón
called the Governor at 2 a.m. while on a flight to Japan to offer
assistance just as we reached out to Mexico during recent flooding in
Tabasco.
Like
the Governor says, we are proving we can and must be more than just neighbors.
We
must also be partners and work together to solve our common challenges and lift
up all our people.
On
behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger, this is Secretary Rosario Marín.
Thank
you for listening.
