Thanks to the generosity and hard work of Green Left Weekly's supporters, we have raised $155,467 for our Fighting Fund this year. Over the next three months we need to raise $94,500 to reach our target. Every bit our readers do — whether through making donations or organising and/or attending our fundraising events — will be critical.
On September 29, GLW will be holding a very special fundraising dinner to celebrate the fantastic victory that took place during the September APEC summit in Sydney when up to 15,000 people took to the streets in the face of unprecedented police intimidation. The protest took aim at the policies of US President George Bush and PM John Howard on climate change, war and workers' rights.
Film-maker, journalist and GLW patron John Pilger will be a special guest on the night. His new film, The War on Democracy, is being launched in cinemas this month (see advertisement on page 14 for details of GLW preview screenings).
The War on Democracy is Pilger's first major film for the cinema — in a career that has produced more than 55 television documentaries. Set in Latin America and the US, it explores the historic and current relationship of Washington with countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile.
"The film tells a universal story", says Pilger, "analysing and revealing, through vivid testimony, the story of great power behind its venerable myths. It allows us to understand the true nature of the so-called war on terror."
The film features the music of the great Chilean balladeer Victor Jara and the legendary American soul singer Sam Cooke.
Other guest speakers at the dinner will be Graham Brown, a retired coalminer, militant unionist and climate change activist from the Hunter Valley, and Alex Bainbridge, a Stop Bush rally organiser and Socialist Alliance Senate candidate in the coming federal elections.
This special dinner, which will be at Marrickville Town Hall, will be a great chance to celebrate with a feast of fine food, music and good company, while helping to raise funds for Australia's leading progressive newspaper. Make your bookings by phoning (02) 9690 1977 or 0413 847 852.
You can also deposit a donation to the GLW Fighting Fund at: Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, Account No. 901992. Alternatively, send a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway, NSW, 2007, phone it through on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206 (within Australia), or donate online at http://www.greenleft.org.au/fogl.htm.