The Tidal Wave alt.media convergence kicked off in Cancun, Mexico today with nearly 100 participants from across the globe. Media activists from as far away as Kyrgyzstan, Australia, Slovenia, Ireland, the UK and from across the Americas converged on Cancun with the intention of skill-sharing, networking, resource-sharing and of course, having a good time.

The media convergence takes place in the week before the World Trade Organisation has its meeting in Cancun.

On the agenda is everything from agriculture to education, from health to energy. A lesser known but potentially devastating threat is the US Trade Representative's hushed agenda on media and culture: to expand the WTO's power over Communications and Audiovisual Services. This is part of a quiet pattern of closed-door trade negotiations that could spell disaster for vibrant media systems worldwide.

If the WTO gets a strong grip on Communications and Audiovisual Services, any kind of public funding for media diversity, localism and the public interest could be attacked as a so-called "barrier to trade."

Media ownership limits could be considered outright trade violations.

Media activists in the US are putting increasing amounts of pressure of congress to keep media and culture out of the WTO.

As well as the alt.media convergence, there are hundreds of other workshops and forums offering alternatives to the WTO taking place in Cancun during September.

Keep an eye on Cancun Indymedia for updates.