______________________
news from
the cockburn project
at
cockburnproject.net
______________________

4 June 2003

Greetings:


PEACE SONGS ALBUM RAISES $100,000 FOR WAR CHILD CANADA

SONY MUSIC CANADA AND BMG CANADA PRESENT WAR CHILD CANADA WITH THE
FIRST
PROCEEDS FROM THE GOLD SELLING ALBUM


TORONTO: June 3, 2003 -- $100,000 has been donated to War Child
Canada fromthe sale of Peace Songs, an album that includes songs from
some of theworld's best-known International and Canadian artists -
including BryanAdams, Jann Arden, David Bowie, Jarvis Church, Bruce
Cockburn, LeonardCohen, Celine Dion, Gord Downie, In Essence, Garou,
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), K-OS, Chantal Kreviazuk, Kyprios, Avril
Lavigne, Paul McCartney,Moby, Our Lady Peace, and David Usher. The
proceeds will help children affected by war through War Child
Canada's international humanitarianprojects, including humanitarian
relief in Iraq.

As the CD was arriving in record stores across Canada in mid April,
War
Child Canada's Co-founder and Executive Director, Dr. Samantha Nutt
and President, Dr. Eric Hoskins were already in Iraq assessing
humanitarian needs and distributing the first urgently-needed
medicines, medical equipment, oxygen and children's clothes to the
Karbala Children's Hospital - a hospital that War Child Canada has
been supporting since 2001.

This initial $100,000 will enable War Child Canada to purchase
additional medicines and medical equipment, which Dr. Hoskins will
be delivering to the Karbala Children's Hospital in Iraq within the
next few weeks. War Child Canada is also delivering urgently needed
supplies of the life-saving drug pentamadine, for the treatment of
the sandfly borne disease Kala Azar - a disease that is 100% fatal if
left untreated.

In Afghanistan, War Child Canada is launching a women's literacy and
vocational training project for Afghan women in Kabul. This project
is being carried out in partnership with the Afghanistan Women's
Council - War Child's local partner. Dr. Nutt leaves for Afghanistan
on June 8th to bring support and help initiate this important project.

In addition, funds generated from the sale of the CD will go towards
supporting and sustaining War Child Canada's international
humanitarian and relief projects helping war-affected children
throughout the world. This assistance includes rebuilding schools in
Sierra Leone, working with ex-child soldiers and other displaced
children in Colombia, and funding a dance and music troupe of
Liberian refugee youth who are teaching local communities about
HIV/AIDS prevention, among others.

"War Child Canada could not exist without the generous support of our
donors and supporters." states Dr. Eric Hoskins. "Sony Music Canada
and BMG Canada, music artists, management and retailers have all come
together to support the cause of war-affected children, and we are
extraordinarily grateful for their commitment, their hard work and
their dedication to helping some of the most disadvantaged children
in the world."

"Working with War Child and Sony Music on this project has been a
truly inspiring experience. So often we take for granted the power
of music to heal and affect change. Peace Songs is an example of
that. How exciting to see the connection make such impact," comments
BMG Canada Inc. President, Lisa Zbitnew.

Denise Donlon, President of Sony Music Canada, adds, "It was a
tremendous joy to experience the vigour and enthusiasm displayed by
the staff of the Canadian music labels and publishers as we pulled
together with WarChild to produce such a meaningful collection of
songs. To have Peace Songs so widely embraced by artists, fans,
retail and the media at large is once again testament to the fact
that music IS the food of life."

War Child Canada is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to
providing humanitarian support to war-affected children around the
world. Assistance includes relief supplies, health care, education,
rehabilitation and psychological support for the young victims of
war. Working closely with the music industry, War Child Canada is
also committed to providing Canadian youth with meaningful
opportunities to get involved in human rights and social issues. To
learn more about War Child Canada, please visit www.warchild.ca or
call 1-866-WARCHILD (1-866-927-2445).

War Child Canada Contact:
Aubrey Charette
416.971.7474
aubrey@...

Sony Music Canada Contact:
Michelle Bryce
416.391.7994
michelle_bryce@...

BMG Canada Inc. Contact
Dawn Dwyer-Pappas
416.586.1629
dawn.dwyer-pappas@...

Peace,
Suzanne Myers
editor@...