We almost reached our 2011 fundraising goal thanks to the last-minute contributions from Colin Royle and Brandon Haleamau -- but we did not reach it in full. It is very disheartening, indeed. Anyway, many thanks to all who have generously supported our efforts. Best wishes for the New Year...and a special "thank-you note" to Louis Proyect for throwing Swans under the bus.
It's hard to imagine that 2011 is coming to a close. It's been a challenging year at Swans HQ, a difficult year, like for the vast majority of people all over the world. Deepening economic crisis, increased neoliberal inequities, austerity programs, dismantlement of social contracts, political gridlock, ideological paralysis, and an unending series of natural disasters. We'll be glad to turn the page and hope for the best.
Still, not everything has been negative. Lots of people have awoken to the blatant social injustices that ravage the entire world. Indignation, rebellions, dissent, and protests have pervaded the political paysage and become a threat to the corridors of power. Let's hope that it is the beginning of a long process to regain control of the human collective destiny. Then, at long last, American troops are out of Iraq, ending a war that was concocted on lies and imperial arrogance. It will take generations for the Iraqis to recoup from the devastation wreaked by the invaders (a majority of the Iraqi people longs for the times of Saddam Hussein... That says it all.) At least the invaders are out. Like all invaders in times past, they created a desert before losing and retrenching to their citadels, now in full social decomposition. History repeats itself.
One additional positive trend in 2011: Beginning in February, the number of "visitors" to Swans front page increased steadily and has more than doubled compared to 2010. But, do not worry, Swans will not take over the world -- only the people will do. Another hope of ours.
We are leaving you, dear readers, supporters, and all with our sincere and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful New Year. As always, this edition offers perspectives from Swans contributors. Gilles d'Aymery provides an introduction to the many diverse contributions.
We shall meet again next year. Be safe in the meantime and allow solidarity and loyalty to prevail.
# # # # #
Gilles d'Aymery: Introduction To Swans 2011 Perspectives
An overview of the wonderful variety of articles featured in Swans 2011 year-end review. More...
Jan Baughman: A Stormy Year
2011, from climate change to the end of the Iraq occupation and our support for the troops that served there. More...
Peter Byrne: A Writer's 2011
2011 will always belong to the Arab spring events that in their ramifications are an excellent lens through which to replay the year. More...
Manuel García, Jr.: A Personal Kaleidoscope Of Events In 2011
A look back on 2011, from the influence of nature, poverty, and war; to the Arab Spring; and notable passings. More...
Raju Peddada: Peripheral Vision And Blind Spots
A review of the events of 2011, the beginning of the Pacific century. More...
Fabio De Propris: The Words Of 2011
An overview of words that plausibly portray the year 2011. More...
Joel S. Hirschhorn: American Democracy's Faults And Fixes More Visible
2011 saw the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement, perhaps a step toward fixing America's broken and delusional democracy. More...
Michael DeLang: Not Enough Yet
There were signs in 2011 that the American populace is waking up to the economic disparities created by unregulated capitalism. More...
Kazue Daikoku: Living With Radioactive Contamination
The March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan engulfed 2011 for this author. More...
Harvey E. Whitney, Jr.: The Year Of Barren Economics And TechnoSaints
Barren economics and technosaints of the year 2011. More...
Marie Rennard: France 2011
A 2011 perspective from France: looking forward to 2012 and getting rid of Sarkozy and the image of France the French no longer recognize as their own. More...
Paul Buhle: Quite The Year
A perspective of 2011 from the streets of Wisconsin and the Occupy movement. More...
Michael Barker: Richard Branson's Year
A review of 2011 based on Richard Branson's blog. More...
Isidor Saslav: A Few Thoughts And Two Books
Two books that set history straight and shaped the author's year: Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States and Thomas DiLorenzo's Lincoln Unmasked. More...
Aleksandar Jokic & Tiphaine Dickson: A Year Of Living Lawlessly
2011: Yet another year of America's international lawlessness and extrajudicial assassinations under the Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning president. More...
Femi Akomolafe: What A Year!
2011 will go down as one of the most interesting years in contemporary history, particularly from an African perspective. More...
Jonah Raskin: Inside/Outside The Whale: Goodbye to Academia, at Least for Now
After 30 years of teaching, 2011 was the year that the author said goodbye to academia, an institution that swallowed him up like a whale. More...
Guido Monte & his students: We All Are Migrants
The students of Guido Monte try with their teacher to understand the migrants' long journey of life and death of this year, perpetuation of a path along people and centuries of pain, renunciation and negation of human dignity. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Atherosclerosis
2011 continued the trend of neoliberal utopia destroying the existing social-democratic system; militarism prevailed; ecological disasters were left unattended -- can we change the paradigm? More...
Strong disagreement on Manuel García Jr.'s suggestions for the Occupy Wall street movement; on Swans cogent material with thanks for Gilles d'Aymery's article on George Kennan's famous quote; a reader discovers plagiarism of a Swans article; and remembering Christopher Hitchens. More...
# # # # #
Let us know if you wish to receive an e-mail regarding each new edition (twice a month) with the Note from the Editors, and please become a subscriber. See our Donate page.
« Previous | Current Issue | Next »