U.S. Out in Cold in UNESCO Diversity Pact

[tocqueville]

By JOELLE DIDERICH, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 12 minutes ago

PARIS - UNESCO's member nations voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve a pact on protecting cultural diversity after a bitter debate left the United States isolated in opposition to what it sees as a threat to sales of American movies and music.

The convention — championed by the European Union and Canada — aims to promote ethnic traditions and minority languages and to protect those local cultures from the negative effects of globalization, UNESCO said.

The United States argued the convention could be used to erect trade barriers against cultural exports such as films and pop music as well as indirectly curtail free speech.

Calling the text "deeply flawed," the U.S. delegation proposed 28 amendments to the draft, but all were rejected. Delegates voted 148-2 to approve the pact. The United States and Israel opposed it and four nations abstained.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051020/ap_on_re_eu/unesco_culture_vote

[Spazito]

1. Whoa and WTG UNESCO

It is interesting the same old two nations that stick together like glue were the only ones voting against this.

[HereSince1628]

2. This isn't about globalization, its fear of succumbing to US hegemony

Planet USA has been roundly rejected.