"Confrontation, like many of the progressive reggae artists that have made contact with GLW, is a member of an organisation known as Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide (RAW). RAW was established in 1992 out of frustration at the music industry's neglect and exploitation of reggae music.

      RAW brings together artists, DJs, fans, writers, promoters and small labels in a cooperative, non-commercial network to 'serve the best interests of the singers and players, as well as the reggae industry as a whole, and act as a vehicle to move reggae music to higher heights of popularity' and 'spread the positive vibe of reggae music'.

      'In a money-hungry society, a world where the mighty dollar speaks loudest, RAW succeeds at being a decidedly un-money thing', notes an editorial in Dub Missive magazine, 'This spirit of collective work toward a common goal represents a phenomenon too seldom seen in this modern world, where it is money money money money.'

      RAW has more than 1000 members in 53 countries. RAW 2000's 74 minutes and 20 tracks include bands from Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Canada, Holland, Nigeria and England, as well as the Caribbean and the US. Isaac Haile Selassie (Ethiopia) calls for people to unite to solve the world's problems, Nasio Fontaine (Dominica) attacks militarism, the Reggae Cowboys (Canada) call for the tearing down of borders and 'peace and justice from coast to coast', Rising Lion (USA) condemns the use of landmines as 'murder in the first degree' and Norway's Ras Nas issues a timely warning about AIDS.

      The diversity of reggae today is also on show, ranging from the wacky ska-jazz-blues dub of Doctor Ring Ding, HP Setter and Ice Melter (Germany), the countrified reggae of the Reggae Cowboys, the hip hop/soul reggae of Whispering Lion (USA), to Isaac Miller and Solid Earth's (USA) bubblegum reggae, Irie Time's (USA) Spanish-language Latin reggae, Jerri Jheto's (Nigeria) African reggae and the captivating Middle Eastern reggae of Dub Factory (England). There is not a dud track to be found.

Visit the RAW web site at http://www.reggaeambassadors.org"

send your samples or subscription enquiries to:
Green Left
23 Wandsworth St.
Parramatta, NSW
Australia, 2150
http://www.greenleft.org.au