An invitation
Nearly two years ago, on the occasion of Green Left's 20th issue, we commented:
"When the idea for this newspaper was first floated more than a year ago, no-one could be sure whether it was a goer or a pipedream. Would it really be possible to create a paper which could become a forum for a broad spectrum of the left, ecologists, and other progressive movements — and which could survive financially? ...
"You only need to flip through recent issues of Green Left, and then think back to where the Australian progressive press was a year ago, to realise how far we have come. In the spread — geographically and politically — of our contributors, in the quantity and quality of input from writers, artists, cartoonists and photographers, Green Left is already more than anyone had dared to hope would be possible.
"Equally encouraging and crucial is the number of people who have offered support in other ways — helping with the typing, wrapping subscriptions, encouraging their friends to subscribe, selling the paper on the street, buying shares and making financial donations. It is this sort of backing that has made it possible for Green Left Weekly to reach new audiences well beyond the traditional circulation of the left press."
Those words are worth repeating now because they are, if anything, even more true today. The support for, and active involvement in, Green Left Weekly have continued to broaden. At a time when control of the Australian media is narrower than ever, this is particularly heartening.
So, looking back over the first 100 issues encourages us to look forward to a continued expansion of the paper's readers and supporters. One of the many ways Green Left differs from the establishment media is that it's not exclusive; it's not necessary to have gotten in "on the ground floor". Whether this is your first or your 100th issue, Green Left Weekly wants and needs your active involvement.
Congratulations to everyone who has contributed so far. Welcome aboard to all of you joining us now and in the coming months.