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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
3 Decades & Counting: Taking the Review Into the Digital Age
In April of 1979 the
first issue The Review (then known as The Bay Area Bargain
Review) rolled off the presses with a limited circulation of 1,000
copies and a dream of becoming a pivotal force in shaping, defining, and
bringing the Tri-City region closer in touch with the resources and
talent percolating within it, while simultaneously exposing the
challenges and corruption that keep it from blossoming to its full
potential.
Today we have a circulation of 20,000 and are
entering the months of our 31st year at an unprecedented time
in our nation (and regions) history, with the global economic collapse
most certainly the story of our age – occupying center stage for not
only the past six months, but most likely the remaining duration of the
year.
Indeed, the feeling of déjà vu in publishing
The Review is (in the words of John Lennon) just like ‘starting
over’, with long deadlines, streamlining operations, keeping an eye
towards the future, while being ever mindful of turning out the best
product that we are capable of producing in the present.
With the acceleration of the digital age,
escalating print costs, and assuming a progressive stewardship when it
comes to protecting the environment The Review is pleased
to announce that we are accepting subscriptions for complete digital
delivery of this publication in PDF format from our office directly to
the hard drive of your computer.
Instead of driving to your favorite distribution
point, you can now have each complete issue delivered directly to your
computer for only $25.00 per year, retain each copy on your hard
drive for the ages, save a few trees in the process, all the while
helping support the tri-cities leading independent voice for in-depth
investigative reporting and fresh perspectives on arts, culture, and
movers & shakes within our community.
While we’ll continue to publish highlights from
each edition on our website, your support as a digital subscriber to
The Review is critical as we pilot this publication into the next
decade.
As a ‘free’ publication to the public at large,
advertisers form the backbone of our business – yet in this new economy,
it seems unrealistic to signal out commercial entities as the sole
avenue of our revenue stream – therefore, as we embark upon our 31st
year, I encourage each reader that has expressed fondness and respect to
our publication over the years to pledge your continued support with a
digital subscription.
You can register online at
www.review-mag.com or email
me at Robert.review@gmail.com
with your name and email address.
Payment of $25.00 for 23 issues can be
rendered via check, cash, or money order c/o Review Magazine, 318 S.
Hamilton St., Saginaw, MI 48602.
On other fronts, we have
several special 30th Anniversary editions planned in the
weeks and months ahead and encourage you to come celebrate with us at
our 2009 Review Music Awards Ceremony, which will be held on
Monday, May 11th at The Golden Glow Ballroom.
Watch for more details in our next edition!
Supporting Coal in 2009 is like Supporting Slavery in 1860
To the Editor of The Review:
Horrifying and
disgusting. That is what most of us think about the
small group of white slave holders who supported slavery and refused all
attempts to prevent our Civil War. And that is what
your grandchildren and great grandchildren will think of you for
supporting the use of coal for energy in 2009.
As bad as slavery was for the slaves at the time,
and as bad as the carnage wrought by the war was on the mostly young
white men who fought for both sides, the consequences for the rest of
the human race were minor compared to what the burning of fossil fuel
has in store for your children and their children.
In 1860 there were only 1.2 billion
people on the planet, now there are 6.7 billion and there will be
9 billion in 30 years. The energy needs of
nine billion people, if continued to be satisfied by burning fossil
fuels, will bring much more human suffering from Global Climate
Disruption (Global Warming is an inaccurate, unhelpful and outdated
term) than the estimated 200,000 who died in the last year alone.
Tens of millions of people are at risk from the
climate changes in play now. Drastic changes we
cannot slow without stopping the burning of fossil fuels now.
And, of course, we cannot stop burning coal and oil
today. How could we eat or keep from freezing to
death?
What citizens must do is get their elected
officials to actually acknowledge the problem. Most
leaders are looking to the oxymoronic “clean coal”
fantasy. That means that our political leadership
does not get it. The 88 coal plants we have
in Michigan must be replaced in ten years or less, which presents an
excellent opportunity for developing new manufacturing jobs in the
conservation, wind, solar and enhanced geothermal industries.
Yet our many of our business and political leaders
want to build more death machines that lock us into buying and importing
coal for another fifty years. What we need are
thousands of jobs to bring us clean and renewable energy at reasonable
prices. Jobs in industries that give your children
and grandchildren hope for a secure and decent life in a Michigan with
the kind of climate that we and most life have known for the last
hundreds of thousands of years.
Upton Sinclair
said “It is difficult for a man to understand
something when his job depends on not understanding it.” Citizens
are the employers of the elected leadership. Our
leaders seem to think that keeping big coal and big oil is the only
possibility, and apparently, that you are too timid to want, or fight
for a thousand jobs in clean energy.
You helped tell the world that the Bush-Cheney
Coal and Oil Society should be over, so start talking to your local
political leaders and let them know that you want thousands of jobs that
do not bring mercury, lead, and sulfur dioxide to our rivers and lakes.
Tell them you are done with the coal death machines (increasing Global
Climate Disruption is now bringing the extinction of many species), and
that you want them to stop supporting the Global Climate Disruption that
coal plants are bringing to your children and grandchildren.
Patrick A. Race
The Review welcomes your letters and comments. Please send all
correspondence to: Letters to the Editor, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw,
Mi 48602 or email Robert.review@gmail.com
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