Rock against the Round 2008

Musicians against the WTO

July 25, 2008; 8 pm

Mogwai, Cubao X

Filipino musicians are Rocking Against the Round this Friday, July 25 at
Mogwai in Cubao X, joining activists around the world in the global call to
reject the Doha ³Development² Round.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding a Mini-Ministerial this week
July 21-26 in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This informal meeting
being hosted by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy aims to conclude the Doha
³Development² Round but is only being participated in by around 30 trade
ministers out of the more than 140 plus members of the WTO and is using
unfair and imbalanced texts as the basis of negotiations.

Launched in Doha, Qatar, seven years ago, the Doha Round of negotiations has
moved farther and farther away from its promises of development for
developing countries. Instead, what can be seen from the texts being used in
the talks is the push of developed countries for more market access in goods
and services, while refusing to heed the demands of developing countries for
rich countries to end their trade distorting subsidies in agriculture.

Civil society organizations, social movements and activists around the world
are calling for the rejection of the Doha “Development” Round. Many have
stated that Doha is the problem, not the solution to the current global
crisis of rising food prices.

"What is happening in the WTO, the domination by the rich over the poor, the
powerful over the powerless is colonialism revisited. Only now it goes by
the name globalization. Artists today like those that resisted colonialism
in the past must act against and inspire resistance to the oppression and
domination" said musician Jess Santiago.

Filipino musicians are joining this worldwide call to reject the so-called
Development Round. Musicians including Noel Cabangon, Jess Santiago,
Pedicab, Peryodiko, Radioactive Sago Project, Village Idiots and Sandwich
are all Rocking Against the Round this Friday, July 25 at Mogwai in Cubao X.

"In these times, for musicians and artists to be apathetic in face of a
reprehensible anti-people force like the WTO is a criminal act" said Lourd
de Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project.

The event, Rock Against the Round is co-organized by Focus on the Global
South, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Jubilee South-Asia Pacific Movement on
Debt and Development, Stop the New Round! Coalition, Tambuyog Development
Center and Kilusang Mangingisda.

Entrance is free. Show starts at 8pm, Friday, July 25 at Mogwai, Cubao X.

For more information, please contact: Gerry Arances at gerry jsouth.org or
0920-8290504 or Mary Lou Malig at marylou focusweb.org or 0918-9456353