March 20, 2009

Dear Friend of CommonDreams.org,

'Hope doesn't come from calculating whether the good news is winning over the bad. It's simply a choice to take action.'
- author Anne Lappé

CommonDreams.org has been bringing the good news and the bad news to the progressive community everyday for 12 years now.

And as you know, for too long now the bad news has won out over the good.

Some cynics have even suggested that we change our name to 'Common Nightmares.'

But what we hear far more often from our readers is that we give them hope. That we help show the world - and each other - that there are millions of progressive Americans who haven't given up in the fight for a just and sustainable future.

And, we hear over and over, that we have helped motivate people to get up from behind their computer screens and get politically active - either for the first time or after years of inactivity.

When my wife Lina and I launched CommonDreams.org 12 years ago our goal was simple: Use the Internet to build a new media model - providing the progressive community with breaking news & views, and encouraging our readers to take action.

I believe that this is work that will never be done - the need to publish the truth will always be urgent and compelling. And no matter who is in power - it will always take an informed public speaking up and taking political action.

From our offices in Portland, Maine, with a staff of eight and a team of dedicated volunteers, the CommonDreams.org team works diligently to publish the news and information that you rely on.

But we can't keep doing this work without you.

CommonDreams.org is 100-percent supported by our readers.

No advertising. No selling or renting of our email lists. No corporate sponsors.

Instead, we have always relied on the grassroots energy, inspiration and generous support of individuals like you.

We believe that our new media model - nonprofit, funded by thousands of small contributors - guarantees us the independence to speak truth to power.

We need to raise at least $50,000 in our Spring Appeal to move forward through the coming months. Can we count on your help?

Whatever amount you can afford would help us a lot.

You can make a secure, online donation right now here. Or you can print our donation form and mail it back to us with a check here.

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

In hope,

Craig Brown
for the whole CommonDreams.org team

CommonDreams.org is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Your online donation will be processed using our secure server.