You could be forgiven for missing the good news this month.
At the November 16-18 Rome summit on world hunger, the world's richest countries abandoned the challenge and moral duty to feed the 1.02 billion people starving in the world today.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's latest annual report said an estimated 642 million people are suffering from chronic hunger in the Asia-Pacific region; in sub-Saharan Africa 265 million; in Latin America and the Caribbean 53 million; in the Middle East and North Africa 42 million; and in developed countries 15 million.
Meanwhile, the governments of the world's rich countries defend the right of the global agribusiness corporations to keep making a profit at the expense of feeding the world's poorest.
New research shows the Antarctic's eastern ice sheet, long thought to be unaffected by climate change, is melting 10% faster than it produces ice — yet another grim sign of the rapidly escalating climate change crisis.
And in Australia, the big news this week is that shameless climate change denialists are making a move on the leadership of the Liberal Party.
So where, you may ask, is the good news?
Readers of Green Left Weekly are familiar with the broad pattern of global developments taking place in the 21st century. Even after the profit madness-driven global economic crisis, and the world's scientists' warnings about climate, the rich and powerful continue their orgy of exploitation, pillage and environmental vandalism.
Most of the world remains divided, ruled and held hostage by this crazy agenda that now threatens human survival.
But imagine if the world's oppressed and exploited majority could work together for a common political agenda.
A big step in this direction took place in Venezuela recently. GLW and the Socialist Alliance had two representatives on the spot. Kiraz Janicke and Federico Fuentes, GLW correspondents based in Caracas, reported on the historic conference, which decided to form a new international coalition of parties for "socialism in the 21st century".
Not only that, they also made an important political contribution at the conference. The conference declaration incorporated an important amendment by the Australian delegation.
GLW is an extraordinary project. This is why our readers and supporters have raised an incredible $214,831 for its fighting fund this year. There is a further $35,169 to raise in December to make our target of $250,000. Last year we raised $32,594 during December, so with your help we can make or exceed our target this year.
Donate today online at www.greenleft.org.au/donate.php or make a direct deposit at: Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, account no. 00901992. Otherwise, you can send a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway NSW 2007 or phone in a donation on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206 (within Australia).
If you're a subscriber, have you considered taking out a solidarity subscription? If you read