Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 08:07:11 +0800 From: "Alan G. Alegre" <alalegre@fma.ph> Subject: [communication 856] FW: In Cancun > Press Release on Communication Rights vs. "Free Trade" To: "wsis-asia" <communication@wsisasia.org>, "NetAktibista Group" <netaktibista@yahoogroups.com>, <plaridel_papers@yahoogroups.com> Message-Id: <003601c3772f$7bf492a0$fd00a8c0@fma> X-Mail-Count: 00856Press Release Cancun Forum on Communication Rights vs. 'Free Trade' Tuesday, September 9th In the Ex Palenque 10:00am - 12:00pm Press conference: Monday, September 8th, 9am, Coco 4 Contacts: International: Sasha Costanza-Chock: schock@asc.upenn.edu - (011) 52 =998.890.4768 Mexico: isaurapool@hotmail.com - 998.887.8167 This September at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in =Cancun, the US Trade Representative has proposed to expand the WTO's =power over media and culture. The US wants to submit Communications and =Audiovisual Services, including film, radio, television, video, and =music production, as well as media distribution services such as =satellite, cable and broadcast, to the WTO's General Agreement on Trade =in Services (GATS). This would spell disaster for vibrant media systems worldwide: public =funding for media, including mass, alternative, community, and citizens' =media, could be attacked as "barriers to trade." Media ownership limits, =as well as laws and initiatives that encourage diverse, locally-owned =media, could be considered outright trade violations. Public funding for =cultural and artistic production could also come under attack. On September 9th, representatives from the Movements assembled in =Cancun will meet to denounce the idea of surrendering media and culture =to the WTO or any other 'free trade' agreement, and to strategize on how =to build the international movement for Communication Rights. Members of the press are encouraged to attend a press conference the =morning of Monday the 8th, to attend this event, and to arrange =interviews with representatives of the Communication Rights movement =during the WTO Ministerial. Background In Cancun, trade ministers from 146 countries will continue =negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). =Critics argue that this agreement is used to override the democratic =process, weaken national laws, and undermine public interest regulations =around the world through trade mechanisms that favor the privatization =of every sector of life and the sale of all public services - including =education, health care, electricity and water, just to name a few - to =the world's largest, most powerful transnational corporations. Requests to include Communication and Audiovisual Services in GATS - =film, radio, television, video, and music production, as well as media =distribution services such as satellite, cable and broadcast - have been =put forward before. To date, many countries have resisted these requests =and fought for an (albeit limited) exemption from GATS known as the ='cultural exception.' So far, this stopgap has kept many media and =cultural services out of the agreement. If Communications and =Audiovisual Services do find their way into GATS this September, the =repercussions will be severe. Certain measures taken by governments to defend or build media =localism, diversity, and pluralism could be classified as 'barriers to =trade;' other WTO member nations would be able to attack them using the =binding dispute mechanism of the WTO. Decisions on 'trade disputes' made =by the WTO are enforced by international law - member nations must =comply with WTO rulings or face multi-million or -billion dollar =punitive sanctions. A variety of measures crucial to delivering high =quality public service broadcasting would be seen as clear violations of =GATS rules, including limits on media ownership, specific restrictions =on foreign media ownership, public service obligations, and rules =regarding cross ownership. Even if a country exempts its broadcast regulations and programs that =support media and culture from the current round of negotiations, the =goal of GATS is "progressive liberalization." This means that there =would be strong pressure to discard such exemptions in future, built-in =negotiations. In addition, efforts to improve regulatory structures =would be impaired, since the legally binding trade obligations of GATS =virtually "lock-in" the regulatory status quo. Any adjustments to =regulatory structures that would change country commitments under GATS =would require compensation to all trading partners. At a time of such =dynamic change in the regulatory environment for media and broadcast, =this would be a public policy disaster. For these reasons, concerned citizens in many nations (including the =European Union) have so far successfully lobbied their governments to =reject US proposals on Communications and Audiovisual Services, and to =block agreements that could impact their nations' media systems. People =everywhere recognize that a free, diverse, local, and independent media =system is a fundamental requirement for a functioning democracy, and =that ensuring such a media system requires regulation in the public =interest as well as support for public service, local, nonprofit and =independent media. Organizers: AMARC - World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters CENCOS Centro de Medios Independientes Cancun COMCOSUR CRIS - Communication Rights in the Information Society Free Press Global Project Las Agencias OURMedia/NUESTR@Smedios856_2.html (attatchment)(tag is disabled)