Dear rabble reader:

On April 18 rabble.ca will be one year old! A reason to celebrate, for sure. But the celebration would be sweeter if rabble’s funding were more secure. We want to make the site’s future more certain. An important way for that to happen comes from monthly donations. It will help make sure that rabble celebrates its second birthday in 2003.

Our goal is modest: we want to reach a total of $3,000 in monthly donations. While it’s modest, it’s also double what we receive now.

Click …

… and you can start your monthly contributions to rabble.ca Think of it as a voluntary subscription if you like. It’s true, you can read rabble every day for free. But there are real costs that go into putting a site like this together. Without your support, rabble’s news might not be free anymore: it simply might not be. A Globe and Mail subscription costs $22 a month. We’re hoping you can commit $20 a month. If you can’t afford that much, even $5 a month will make a difference. Help make sure that all that is rabble.ca can continue to be a part of your life.

Over the last year, rabble news has been able to bring you coverage of important Canadian and world events from the perspective of the rabble — people struggling for change. Our reporters brought you first-hand accounts from the fence in Quebec City. Just last week, we brought breaking news about Sudan’s civil war and the possible role a Canadian oil company plays in it. In the aftermath of September 11, rabble brought you information and opinion that bucked the status quo.

Our in cahoots partners have brought you the latest on in-the-street responses to the radical cutbacks in British Columbia. They’ve been a part of international struggle for human rights. From the latest threats to the environment to the campaign to save medicare, they’ve been there, and so have we.

As year two approaches, rabble has joined in partnership with Alternatives of Quebec to launch a new bilingual Website. To be launched in June of this year, OneWorld Canada will be our section of OneWorld International, the largest and most successful centre of electronic news from the world’s nongovernmental organizations and social justice groups. OneWorld Canada will greatly expand our in cahoots partnerships and bring a level of international coverage that we have not yet had.

With your voluntary subscription, rabble will be able to bring you important alternative news and commentary from around the world as well as news and views from Quebec.

You’ve laughed at Mike Constable’s edgy cartoons and been moved to anger or laughter by our irreverant auntie.com. You’ve found most of the progressive columnists across the country without having to give your money to Conrad Black, Izzy Asper or Lord Thomson. You’ve seen another side of activists through their first-person experiences; been challenged by provocative analysis; been surprised by reports you’ll never find in mainstream media. With your support, rabble.ca will be able to support more progressive cartoonists, writers and artists.

Almost 2,500 people have signed up for babble, our delightful discussion forum. In babble, our readers post the news they see as important and discuss the issues closest to their hearts. babble is a real online community based on common interests.

Your voluntary subscription to rabble.ca can help make sure this successful, progressive publication will not only continue but thrive. Help rabble enter its second year with solid support from you.

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick

Judy Rebick is one of Canada’s best-known feminists. She was the founding publisher of rabble.ca , wrote our advice column auntie.com and was co-host of one of our first podcasts called Reel Women....