Launched in 2003 as a non-corporate alternative to the Rock'n Coke Festival organized by Coca-Cola in Turkey, Barışarock has received support from national and international bands, NGOs, activists and thousands of participants.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to present the program for the festival's sixth installment, Barışarock activist Serap Yağız said the festival was "a call for people who desire to take action to create a different world."

"Unfortunately the screams of war are still echoing across our planet instead of happy songs of fraternity. We continue to sing songs of peace to defend life and fight the voice of war," she said.

Recalling that Barışarock was not a commercial organization, Taner Öngör, the bassist of the famous Anatolian rock group Moğollar, said the festival was also an important platform for emerging voices in the Turkish rock music scene. "This year we tried to include some young newcomers who may not be widely known but who are successful in their own fields," he said. The İstanbul-based Teneke Trampet, the folk-rock band well known by İstanbul audiences for their street performances and politically charged lyrics, put on a live performance ahead of the press conference.

Running under the slogan "against war, occupation, nationalism, racism and global warming," this year's festival will feature performances by more than 40 Turkish acts, including Zardanadam, Mor ve Ötesi, Teneke Trampet, Gevende and Sakin, on two different stages over two days. Apart from music, the festival will also include other arts and cultural events, such as theater, art workshops, plays and discussions. Among these activities, there will be an artistic platform, dubbed "Art Against Nukes," featuring various artists from different cities, a study by the Artists for Peace Program titled "The Horror of War," which will include pieces from 255 artists' from 57 countries, Digimural, a digital wall painting, an exhibition displaying photographs of the occupation of Palestine, a Social Rights Café and workshops on puppets, kites, rhythm and comic strips. There will also be panel discussions titled "No to War," "Stop Global Warming," "Nationalism's Dance with Coups," "Don't Touch My Water," "Music and Opposition," "Music of Rebellion" and "Another History is Possible."

Admission to the festival area will cost just YTL 3. The Mehmet Akif Ersoy Park in Sarıyer will also offer a camping area for festival goers from Friday evening to Monday morning.

Todays Zaman