On March 12 this year the 1000th issue of Green Left Weekly will be published. We will be marking this significant milestone in the pages of the paper and through events in cities across the country. Come along to help make sure that Australia's most-read progressive media project remains in good shape.
GLW will need to be fighting fit because this year is going to be a year of great challenges in the face of an Australian government determined to slash hard-won public services, working conditions, civil liberties and environmental safeguards.
Over the past couple of months, the Tony Abbott government has revealed its dangerous climate change scepticism and its absolute commitment to raising the wealth and power of the already too rich and powerful ruling minority, at a terrible cost.
As Australia experiences another record heatwave, more and more people are realising that things have got to change, that we cannot afford to let the insatiable greed of corporations dictate how society runs.
We know that there are many people who deeply respect GLWfor consistently campaigning for system change. In particular, they respect GLW’s persistence through the ups and downs of the progressive movements. GLW keeps hitting the streets, week after week. When it stops for a break, it is missed.
All this is only possible because of the many volunteers who help write, take photos, design, illustrate, distribute and fundraise for the paper. We will be paying tribute to these volunteers and urging others to join their ranks.
We are also launching an ambitious “crowdfunding” appeal for pledges to the 2014 Fighting Fund. Our annual target will be $250,000 again but in just the next eight weeks we will try to raise pledges and promises totalling $100,000.
We are confident we can do this with your help. All you have to do is make a pledge towards the 2014 Fighting Fund by emailing 1000thissue@greenleft.org.au or phoning 1800 634 206 (free call from anywhere in Australia).
In particular we are calling for anyone who can afford to pledge $1000 to join the GLW 1000th issue $1000 Club. This pledge can be paid off over the rest of the year.
We will keep readers and supporters informed of our progress with this campaign – including how many people have joined the 1000th issue $1000 club – in each of the next eight issues, on our website and Facebook page.
We are also asking for short messages of support to mark our 1000th issue. In this issue we are publishing a message from the outstanding writer, filmmaker and longtime supporter John Pilger, whose latest powerful film Utopia has just been launched in Australia.
Send your message of support to the email address above and we will publish it over the next few weeks.
GLWis a people-powered media institution that is here to stay.
Even the right-wing hacks in Rupert Murdoch's media empire acknowledge our standing by using terms like “Green Left Weekly moment” as a term of abuse against anything progressive.
By helping keep our project fighting fit, you'll be striking a blow against the global tyranny of Murdoch and the other billionaires.