22 planet of the arts / december 1997 CULTURAL DIALECTICS .-.continued from page 20 Commodification of Culture We see arts and culture being used by the gov- ernment and big business as a tool to gain our sup- port for this global vision. “Canada’s Year of the Asia Pacific” was created by the federal govern- ment as part of this year’s APEC process. John Bell, the Ambassador for CYAP, denies that the function of CYAP is to attract Asian interest and invest- ment. Rather, CYAP is about making Canadians more interested in the importance of Asia to Canada. If we take a critical look at CYAP’s func- tion, we can expose it for its true purpose. The fed- eral government uses this expensive campaign to engage youth and small business in the promotion of the APEC agenda. CYAP’s funding of the many cultural arts and cultural events is a clear example of the govern- ment’s role in the commodification of culture. For example, the recent performance of Balinese dancers at the Vogue Theatre was brought to Vancouver through the generous ‘sponsorship’ of CYAP and APEC. This type of attention on the arts and culture of ASIA brings Canadians’ attention away from APEC’s anti-people agenda. The B.C. Coordinating Committee for APEC ‘97 launched an “Asia Pacific Connections” region- al tour. This multi-media display travelled across B.C. to give “young people more information about the Asia Pacific culture, trade, and career opportunities” while ignoring the harsh realities of APEC. Under the pretence of making ‘connec- tions’ with youth of the Asia Pacific, government and business are really attempting to sell the APEC agenda to youth. Youth and Students Fight Back The youth and students of the NO! to APEC coalition (Network Opposed to Anti-People Economic Control) understand the immediate need to join the anti-imperialist movement. The coalition is a group of over 50 grassroots organiza- tions and individuals throughout Canada and the U.S.A. working on a public education campaign to expose and oppose the evil effects of APEC and NAFTA. It is a continuation of the resistance orga- nized by BAYAN, an alliance of people’s organiza- tions, that brought together the first “People’s Conference Against Imperialist Globalization” in the Philippines where the 1996 APEC Leaders’ if | lt | m Map of APEC Members Ay . Taiwan Hong Kong @) Australia @ standard of living. Np Japan @ th Korea €) 4, New Zealand © The one common element among the 18 members of APEC is that they border the Pacific Ocean. They have varied levels of economic development and different interests. The number beside each member's name indicates its Human Development Index (HDI) ranking (among 175 countries), a measure of a country’s achievements in 3 areas: life expectancy, education and United States @D Canada @ § Summit was held. BAYAN mobilized a caravan of 10,000 people against APEC and imperialist glob- alization. This caravan embodied people from dif- ferent sectors in society: youth and students, peas- ants, workers, etc. This year, and in Vancouver, the NO! to APEC coalition held their 2nd “People’s Conference Against Imperialist Globalization - Continuing the Resistance” simultaneous to the APEC Leaders’ Summit. The coalition also held a mass mobilization on November 25 to reflect the growing opposition to APEC and imperialist globalization. Beginning at 3:30pm at Oppenheimer Park, youths and stu- gathered for the NO! to APEC Demonstration. They marched through the dents Downtown Eastside and rallied at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The 2nd “International Youth and Student Caucus” was hosted by the youth and stu- dents of NO! to APEC on November 27-28. International youth and students shared their organizing experiences and worked towards a common front against imperialism. In the Third World, youth and student move- ments are closely connected to the people’s strug- gles. They recognize that their future depends very much on the solidarity of all sectors of society. The APEC leaders are compromising our future. It is now a challenge for us to reject APEC and imperi- alist globalization and stand in solidarity with not only other students around the world, but with all sectors of society. ce) “We are the youth and students of the world. As inheritors of the Earth, we will fight for the people’s liberation and emancipation with all our vigour and vitality.” -excerpt from Statement of Unity, International Youth & Students’ Caucus Against Imperialist Globalization and APEC, November, 1996. REPRINTED FROM CURRENTS (CANADA ASIA WORKING GROUP) VOL 19 NO 2 SEPTEMBER 1997 Notes 1. GATT - General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade, FTA - Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement, SAP - Structural Adjustment Programs 2. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives For more information, contact: NO! to APEC coalition c/o Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell St., Vancouver, B.C. phone (604) 215-9190 or fax (604) 215-1103. only listens to business . . Ten Criticisms of APEC results in the uprooting of peoples leads to unsustainable development of resources excludes human rights, social and cultural ‘concerns ignores labour and environmental standards overlooks question of just distribution of benefits cuts and privatizes social programmes offers little relief from poverty + does not meet local development needs disregards democratic processes and accountability REPRINTED FROM CURRENTS (CANADA ASIA WORKING GROUP) VOL 19 NO. 2 SEPT MBLR 199/ 22 plonet of the orts / december 1997 CULTURAL DIALECTICS Commodification of Culture ‘We see arts and culture being used bythe gov ‘eznment and bg business a ooo gin our sup Port for this global vision, “Canada's Year ofthe Asia Paci” was ereated by the federal govern: nll, the Ambassador for CYAR denies thatthe function rent apart ofthis year's APEC proces of C¥AP isto attract Asian interest and invest ment. Rather, CYAP is about making Canadians ‘more interested in the importance of Asia to (Canada, IF we tke a critical look at CYAP' func tion, we can expose it fo its true purpose The fed ‘ral government uses this expensive campaign to ‘engage youth and sll busines in the promotion ofthe CCYAPS funding ofthe many cultural arts and APEC agenda cultural events sa clear example ofthe govern modification of culture, For ‘example, the recent performance of Balinese dancers at the Vogue Theatre was brought to Vancouver t ough the generous ‘sponsorship’ of CCYAP and APEC. This ype of attention on the ats and caltre of ASIA brings Canadians’ attention ay fom APEC anti:people agenda The B.C. Coordinating Committe for APEC “97 launched an “Asa Pacific Connections region al tour. This multi-media display travelled across BC. to give “young people more information about the Asia Pacific culture, trade, and career ‘opportunites while ignoring the hash reales of APEC tions’ with youth ofthe Asia Pacific, government Under the pretence of making ‘connec: and business ate relly attempting to sell the APEC agenda to yout Youth and Students Fight Back The youth and students ofthe NO! to APEC. coalition (Network Opposed to. Ant-People economic Conte!) understand the immediate need to join the antimperalist movement. The cealtion isa group of ove 50 grasroos organiza tions and individuals throughout Canada and the US.A. working ona public education campaign to expose and oppose the evil effets of APEC and NAFTA. Its continuation ofthe resistance orga nied by BAYAN, an aliance of people's organiza tions, that brought together the frst “Peoples Conference Against Imperialist Globalization” in the Philippines where the 1996 APEC Leader Map of A or Singapore Australia © ‘economic development and differen standard of living. Index (HDI) ranking (among 175 count APEC Members \ Papua New Guines @ i. ‘The one common element among the 18 members of APEC is that they border the Pacific Ocean. They have varied levels of crests. The number beside each member's name indicates its Human Development ), 4 measure of a county's achievements in 3 areas: life expectancy, education and United states @ Mexico @ chile @ Summit was held. BAYAN mobilized a caravan of 10,000 people against APEC and imperialist glob alization. This caravan embodied people fom dit ferent sector in society youth and students, pes ants, workers et. Tis year and in Vancouver, the NO! to APEC coalition held their 2nd "Peoples Conference Against Imperialist Globalization ~ Continuing the Resistance” simultaneous 10 the APEC Leaders Summit ‘The coalition also held a mas mobilization on [November 25 to reflect the growing opposition to [APEC and imperialist globalization. Beginning at 30pm at Oppenheimer Park, youths and stu fathered for the NO! to APEC Demonstration. They marched through the ents Downtown Eastside and rallied atthe Vancouver {Art Gallery, The 2nd “International Youth and Student Caucus” was hosted bythe youth and stu dents of NO! to APEC on November 27-28 Tnvernational youth and students shared their ‘organizing experiences and worked towards ‘common from against imperialism, In the Third World, youth and student move ments are closely connected tothe people's strug shes They recognize that their future depends very ‘much on the solidarity ofall sectors of society. The [APEC leaders are compromising our future. I is ow a challenge for ust eect APEC and imper als globalization and standin solidarity with not only other students around the worl, but with ll sectors of society. "We are the youth and student ofthe wold. As inheritors ofthe Earth, we wil iht forthe peoples liberation and emancipation with allourvgour and vital excerpt International Youth & Students’ Caucus ‘Against Imperialist Globalization and APEC November, 1996 from Statement of Unity, Notes 1. GATT - General Agreement on Tarif & Trade, FTA. Fre Tade Agreement, [NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement, SAP Structural Adjustment Programs 2. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives For more information contac: NO! 1 APEC coalition lo Kalayaan Contre, 451 Powell St, Vancouver, B.C Phone (604) 215:9190 or fa (604) 215-1103. + overlooks questi Ten Criticisms APE + ealides human rights, social and culty ors labour and environmental standards just distribution of benefits of + does not meet lca development neds + aaregards demoeratc process and accountability