December 29, 2003

Dear Friend,

I think you will agree that the challenges we face today are pretty staggering.

On too many fronts we are going backwards. Global warming. Pre-emptive wars. The widening gap between the rich and poor. Reversing nuclear weapon bans. Rolling back of environmental laws. Civil liberties abandoned.

And when we needed our media - more than ever - to tell us the truth, they were gone. Years of corporate buyouts and consolidation had created a monolithic, profit-driven media empire. When giant arms merchants own our TV networks is it any wonder that they produce 24/7 war cheerleading masquerading as news? When corporate headquarters is focused only on the next quarter's profit report is it any wonder that 'all-scandals, all-the-time infotainment' has replaced real journalism?

And when we needed our elected leaders - more than ever - to lead us, they were gone. When the growing big money corruption of our political system went unchecked for so long is it any wonder that we are left with 'representatives' who let the corporate lobbyists write the laws? And, is it any wonder that the politicians, with too few exceptions, take their cues from polls and their wealthy donors?

But in 2003, on many fronts - when we needed it the most - we began to move forward.

There is a lot of good news to celebrate - thanks largely to the internet and good old-fashioned organizing principles.

• Last February, in an unprecedented, decentralized action, millions around the world organized via the internet to join together on the same day to stand up and speak against the then impending attack on Iraq.
  
• MoveOn.org emerged this year as the most powerful political force in progressive politics by mobilizing many small internet voices into a unified powerful voice - and the results are amazing.
  
• It was internet organizing this year by Free Press (www.mediareform.net) which built a powerful new movement to reclaim our media - producing a major victory by forcing the overturning of FCC rule changes on media ownership.
  
• And it was the new powers of the internet which propelled the anti-war candidacies of Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich - bringing together hundreds of thousands of volunteers in community 'Meet-Ups' and as small contributors to overwhelm the influence of the few.
  
• And here, at Common Dreams, we overcame logistical nightmares and distributed via the internet over 400,000 blue & white "Attack Iraq? NO!" bumper stickers.

I believe the internet has matured just in time to provide the progressive community with the tool - and a much-needed new optimism - so that we can begin to stand up to the right-wing, corporate interests that have taken control of our democracy.

2004 will be a critical year for the progressive community and Common Dreams is committed to doing our part to keep moving forward.

But now, more than ever, Common Dreams needs your help.

In 2003 our readership has continued to soar - with well over a million 'unique' readers each month. And, for the 3rd year in a row, alexa.com ranked Common Dreams as the #1 progressive web site.

We are proud of what we've accomplished over the past seven years on a shoestring budget, a small staff of four -- and an amazing network of volunteers. But our less-than-aggressive fundraising hasn't kept pace with our rising overhead. We've realized that we need to ask our friends and readers for help. We don't ask for your help often but can we count on your help now?

You can donate online right now here. Or, you can print our form to mail back to us here.

Thanks so much. We couldn't do it without you.

Peace,

Craig Brown
Editor
CommonDreams.org

p.s.
If you aren't yet signed up to receive our Daily News & Views e-mails, you may do so here:
http://www.commondreams.org/email.htm