500th issue Australian solidarity messages
Congratulations to Green Left Weekly, our robust, people-produced, streetwise and ethical alternative source of news and views, in a dangerously censored world. Best wishes for the next 5000 editions, at least! — Bob Brown, Australian Greens Senator.
GLW is the only newspaper that I know of which exposes the royal commission into the building industry as the political sham that it really is. Good on you — Martin Kingham, Victorian state secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
If it wasn't for a pro-worker paper like GLW, many militants like myself would never get to put our side of the story. Congratulations on your 500th issue" — Craig Johnston, Victorian secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
GLW has a special place amongst progressive media in Australia: its weekly production makes for immediate impact, debate and relevance as issues occur, rather than simply reflecting on events that have already happened. This has been the case throughout the debate about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. Congratulations, as always, for an inspiring internationalist and activist newspaper — Cam Walker, national liaison officer, Friends of the Earth Australia.
Congratulations to GLW on your 500th edition. Jim Green keeps GLW readers well informed with in depth and necessary critical analysis of nuclear issues in Australia. No other newspaper keeps the public as informed and up to date on these issues — Natalie Stevens, nuclear campaigner, People for Nuclear Disarmament.
Since its inception, GLW has contributed to making the world a more humane place by giving voice to left-wing ideas and thoughts critical of the status quo. GLW has also impressed upon me the global scale of the struggle against exploitation by keeping me informed of the struggles taking place in the majority of the world — Manoj Abey, NUS NSW anti-racism officer.
Whacko! GLW is 500 today — may s/he live forever, keeping us informed of what is going on behind closed doors and giving us the space to provide the real information. Keep us challenging the globalised homogenised newspeak that confuses and poisons; keep demanding that we rise up and challenge the racist laws of mandatory detention and discrimination of our indigenous brothers and sisters; remind us also to glory in our successes so that we are encouraged to hold fast and long as fighters for human rights and justice for all. Happy Birthday GLW!" — Pamela Curr, Greens, Victoria
Union delegates at the Red Cross Blood Service, Western Australia, believe that GLW contributes an important perspective to the community of the social ills that plague society, which mainstream newspapers and magazines often ignore. Keep up the good work!
GLW's coverage of the anti-corporate movement and the struggle of ordinary people for justice and their right to a decent life is essential reading given the silence on these issues by the mass media. I look forward to the next 500 issues of Green Left Weekly — Naomi Arrowsmith, union activist and anti-corporate campaigner, Wollongong.
It's good to have a paper that has a left perspective on issues in Australia and globally — Janet Giles, Secretary, United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia.
GLW is a very inspiring newspaper for active rank and file workers. It gives a broad view on a range of national and international workers' struggles. I urge every trade unionist to take the time to read and get involved in what this paper outlines. A true unionist must also have some politics — GLW encourages workers to do just that — Chris Cain, maritime union activist and Socialist Alliance national executive member, WA.
Congratulations on a major milestone! In the face of the belligerent lies and racist myth-making of those in power, every single one of GLW's 500 issues has been a crucial ally to the many struggles for freedom and justice in the Asia-Pacific region. Your long-time coverage of Indonesia, the unsurpassed analysis of the recent situation in Afghanistan, the voice you give to Pakistan's fledgling peace movement, the expose of Canberra's racist "Pacific Solution" — all this and much more have provided Asia-Pacific solidarity activists with an indispensable resource — Pip Hinman and Iggy Kim, Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific.
GLW has been a resolute defender of the Socialist Alliance. The Socialist Alliance looks forward to GLW further developing as a forum for that discussion that the left urgently needs — Dick Nichols, Socialist Alliance national co-convener.
GLW has strongly supported the Socialist Alliance ever since the alliance formed. Both projects are about building left unity. GLW plays a vital role in informing and organising people with a broad range of progressive concerns. The Socialist Alliance is about uniting the left to give the workers a voice in an arena dominated by the big business parties — parliamentary elections. Congratulations on your efforts in the struggle. May our joint efforts continue to build a bigger left and may GLW continue to report on the growing strength of the left in this country for which the time is now right — Brian Millar, Socialist Alliance candidate for Franklin in the Tasmanian elections.
GLW
Any reader of GLW will know that September 11 did not change anything for the billions of people suffering from the injustice and oppression of imperialism, that the wars on Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine are but a manifestation. The depth and breadth of coverage in GLW is a must for any internationalist looking not just for an alternative analysis of world events, but of the system that propagates them — Nikolai Haddad, Palestine Human Rights Campaign activist.
Congratulations GLW. The political process is all the richer because of the diversity of the debate. Violence will only ever be overcome by words. Peace is the forum in which those words can be heard. The Socialist Alliance attracts my admiration for in the face of adversity, it adheres to this principle and never forgetting our common humanity — James Crotty, ALP candidate for Denison, Tasmania.
Congratulations on reaching 500 issues. I've always relied on GLW for a balanced view on current events — Ron Watt, Wollongong S11 and Socialist Alliance activist.
I have been reading GLW since the first issue. I look forward eagerly to its arrival each week because of all the news of the workers' struggles that you can't find anywhere else. I congratulate GLW on reaching the 500th issue and wish you all the best for the future — Fred Moore, retired miner, Wollongong.
Seeing patients every day who are profoundly affected by the horrors of the capitalist system, sometimes leads me almost to despair. I only have to pick up a copy of GLW and read about how people all around the world are fighting back to feel hope for the future again. Congratulations on issue 500 and may there be many, many more — Dr Margaret Perrott, People's Medical Centre, Warilla.
From Green Left Weekly, July 17, 2002.
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