November 2016
Dear Naclista,
This is a moment of disorienting change: just a few short years ago, Latin America seemed to be leading the way forward into a fairer and more just future, as leftist movements turned the tide on a neoliberal consensus that had wrought so much destruction around the world. But structures of power are not easily unseated. As I write, the right is resurgent: in Argentina with Mauricio Macri’s technocracy; in Brazil with Michel Temer’s parliamentary coup; in Colombia with Alvaro Uribe’s defeat of the historic peace deal; in the United States, with Donald Trump’s stunning election.
At this crucial moment, the research and analysis that NACLA provides is more necessary than ever. Will you donate to support our work today?
Of course, NACLA has long spoken truth to power: for fifty years, NACLA has brought the overlooked, the under-reported, and the covered-up to light. And we continue to do so today, recruiting new generations of writers, researchers, and activists from throughout the hemisphere to further our mission of providing research and analysis in the service of change. Today that mission is all the more pressing, and over the past year NACLA has renewed and deepened its commitment to social justice in the Americas in a variety of ways. Here are just some examples of what your support has helped us accomplish:
- Bringing Report on the Americas back to print: In March, we unveiled the first issue of the NACLA Report under a new partnership with Routledge. We have since published four crucial, in-depth issues, each with more articles than ever before, covering new solidarity movements; the economics of the drug war; the prospects for a hemispheric ‘free trade’ agenda; and our latest, on the resurgence of the Latin American right. In the year to come, we’ll bring you coverage of how Black Lives Matter has resonated in Latin America; what Trump will mean for the region; changes in policing and punishment in the hemisphere; and links between the Middle East and Latin America, among other topics.
- Fusing activism and scholarship: In May, at the annual Latin American Studies Association meeting held in New York, we hosted a conversation attended by more than 1,000 people between Naclista Christy Thornton, historian Greg Grandin, and long time NACLA supporter Noam Chomsky. It was an electrifying conversation, reflecting on the legacies of the Central American solidarity movement for today’s political moment, and it highlighted the necessity of political engagement among scholars of Latin America.
- Publishing on the web: In addition to the Report’s print re-launch, we have significantly boosted our online presence, publishing over 100 original articles and audio podcasts this year alone on our website, nacla.org. We’ve provided crucial and timely coverage of the international investigation into Ayotzinapa; the economic and diplomatic thaw between the U.S. and Cuba; the Colombian peace process; and the death of Fidel Castro.
- Promoting international solidarity: In response to Donald Trump’s election—which brought renewed attention to the grave problems of neoliberal ‘free’ trade by way of a racist, xenophobic nationalism, pitting U.S. workers against those in Mexico—we recently brought activists from Peru, Mexico, and the U.S. together in New York for an in-depth, public conversation on how we can stand in solidarity to fight free trade and xenophobic chauvinism. We continue to work to build ties across borders to further our fight for social justice in the Americas.
As you can see, NACLA has continued to provide crucial information and analysis to readers and activists throughout the country, and around the world—through the Report, our growing web presence, our events, and more. To continue this work, we need your support! Click here to donate.
All of this work is produced by a small but dedicated staff and a diverse group of volunteer editorial committee members. And while our partners at Routledge and NYU—which graciously hosts us with tremendous in-kind support—help to cover some of our costs, we can’t do this work without you. We rely on donations from our generous supporters to cover fully half of our expenses. And we want to continue to grow and build on the progress we’ve made, especially as we look to the New Year, and the new challenges we’ll face under a Trump administration. We have seen that right-wing forces throughout the hemisphere have refused to give up. We must do the same, and redouble our efforts to fight for justice and equality across borders. Can we count on you?
We deeply appreciate the gifts that our supporters have sent so far, and if you have already given, thank you. If you have not, please consider a donation today, so that we can keep up our fight.
In solidarity,
Alejandro Velasco
Executive Editor
PS: We’re still the independent, non-profit organization we have always been – so your donation is fully tax-deductible, and goes directly to support our work. Please click here to give generously today!