> 19 March 2005 > > URGENT APPEAL FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT > FROM U.S. ORGANIZATIONS > > The United States is about to launch negotiations for a free trade > agreement with the Republic of Korea. The Office of the U.S. Trade > Representative has called for public comments on the proposed talks, > which must be received by noon on March 24th. > > > The INCD is inviting you to sign on to an important submission it will > file on the deadline. We urge you to read this material and indicate > your support no later than the end of the day March 23rd, by replying > to this email. Include a brief description of your organization, or > indicate if you are signing as an individual. > > What are the issues? > The price for opening negotiations for a free trade agreement was > Korea’s agreement to accede to U.S. pressure to reduce its successful > cinema screen quota. The 50 percent reduction will take effect in > July 2006. Since it was implemented in 1993, this quota has fuelled a > rapid growth of the Korean film industry which increased its share of > the domestic market from 16 percent to more than 47 percent in 12 > years. Korean films have achieved international acclaim and their > availability has increased choices for movie goers everywhere. The > reduction in the screen quota will threaten this remarkable record and > the Korean film industry believes U.S. pressure will continue in the > upcoming talks in an attempt to completely eliminate the quota. > > U.S. movies continue to have strong access to Korean cinemas: foreign > movies can be shown 60 percent of the time on each screen. Further, > the quota has driven a tremendous growth in overall attendance, from > 58 million in 1999 to more than 130 million in 2004, which has > benefited U.S. movies. > > This issue highlights the huge gulf between the United States and the > rest of the world on cultural diversity. The U.S. was one of only two > countries which opposed the adoption in October 2005 of the new UNESCO > convention on cultural diversity. INCD and its U.S. members believe > that there is need for civil society and governments in the United > States to be leaders in promoting diversity and cultural equality, > both within the U.S. and globally. The U.S. needs to confirm its > sovereign right to implement policies on the arts, culture and the > media, including the promotion of diversity in the media. > > What is the submission calling for? > The submission urges the United States government: > • To propose an unrestricted and unlimited exemption for cultural > goods and services from the terms of the free trade agreement with the > Republic of Korea. > • To exercise leadership to promote cultural diversity > internationally, and within the United States itself, by ratifying the > UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of > cultural expressions. > > We know this is a late request, but we only just received the > information. We hope you will send your letter of support to us > quickly. > > In solidarity, > James Early, Smithsonian Institution and INCD Steering Committee > Garry Neil, INCD Executive Director > > For more information: > Garry Neil 416.268.5665 > > * * * * > Frannie Wellings > Free Press > (202) 265-1490 x 21 > http://www.freepress.net > > Media is the issue. > > To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your > subscription, please go to > http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=1793730&user_secret=387be0d0