Editorial: Green Left Weekly — proudly outspoken
Whether this is your first copy of Green Left Weekly or your 150th, you'll notice this newspaper is rather different from the rest. We're proudly anti-racist, proudly pro-environment, proudly anti-sexist, proud to champion the interests of working people, the oppressed and exploited all over the world — and we're never ashamed to say so.
We're outspoken on the crucial issues, be they the land rights of the Mirrar people and saving Kakadu National Park from another uranium mine, or exposing the wheeling and dealing of Labor careerists inside the trade union hierarchy. We're the only paper that actively assists the high-school students' anti-racism campaign.
Green Left Weekly has been a source of inspiration for many activists, both in this country and overseas, for seven years now. Of this, too, we are proud.
You'll notice that our articles and reports are often very detailed. There is a logic behind this. Green Left is not simply a vehicle for understanding the world of struggle in which we live: we make an enormous effort to motivate people into action, to move the spirit and inspire people to join movements to change the world for the better.
While we believe we've hit on a good formula, we don't think we've got all the answers. For instance, Green Left Weekly is constantly looking for new contributors, both to report on and debate issues of the day. That's a big part of why we've been successful to date. While almost all other independent newspapers in Australia have gone by the board, Green Left has survived thanks to the commitment of its many contributors.
The other reason for our success — something that's no secret — is the energy and drive of the paper's distributors. Week after week, for most of the last seven years, Green Left supporters have braved the elements to reach new and seasoned readers alike. Thanks to them, Green Left Weekly is a familiar sight on city corners, in pubs and cafes, at railway and bus stations, and on campuses the country over. While the more traditional forms of newspaper distribution remain out of our reach, direct selling — which provides important feedback — will continue to be one of the paper's lifelines.
The other tremendously important lifeline is Green Left's subscribers, the people who provide us with financial security and give us a vote of confidence by subscribing for up to two years.
Over the next two weeks, Green Left supporters will be working extra hard to increase the paper's circulation. We aim to increase and stabilise weekly sales by 1000, and get 275 more subscribers. You may be approached to buy a subscription — and we are offering a special discount on longer-term subs — but why not jump in first and take one out? If you already subscribe, ask a friend, workmate or member of your family. Why not take out a sub for your daughter or son — each issue contains a huge amount of valuable information not easily accessible elsewhere.
Right now we're struggling against the tide, but that's no reason to give up. We identify with and extend solidarity to the millions of people who are also struggling against the odds for a humane world. Their struggle is our struggle, and every individual's input makes a difference.
The growing number of high-school students who have bravely taken the anti-racist cause to the streets are an inspiration to all of us. Help Green Left Weekly spread the word: no-one is too young or too old to be part of campaigns against injustice of any sort.