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The AISLING Magazine

'An Charraig', Mainistir, Inis Mór, Árainn, Contae na Gaillimhe, Éire

Editorial

This time our editorial is typed, not handwritten, as what we have to say is less casual than normal. We try to publish a selection of material in our magazine that shows the interconnectedness of all things. But, in this edition, that connectedness is particularly visible. The theme we chose for the front cover says it all ñ another world is possible.

In December 2002, the death took place of Ivan Illich, a man who had inspired so many people to look critically at todayís world, who called us to recognise its untenable assumptions and how the Christian ideal had been corrupted, and who invited us to envisage another way. Toni Flynn, our featured poet of this issue, has just been in jail for six months for her opposition to a particular instance of this ñ the foreign policy methods of her own government. She was released on January 10th 2003. These two people are our dear friends, as are some others who write in this issue, so what we present here is not only intellectual but also personal and immediate.

As we go to print, huge marches have taken place all over the world in opposition to a proposed war against Iraq. The people are speaking, rising up in a way they never did before. London has never seen a march of 1 million people before on any issue. Dublin had one of its largest marches ever when 100,000 people took to the streets. These are heady times we live in. The dominant forces of our age are being confronted by the sheer weight of numbers of ordinary people worldwide. The world stands on the brink with a choice between tranformation or destruction.

The word AISLING means vision or dream. All editions of the magazine until now have tried to express this vision. But this edition in particular shows how we can all pull together to make this vision or dream happen, whether we approach it from the angle of philosophy, politics, economics, religion, spirituality, culture, nature, poetry or art. We can bring about change by the way we live, by the words we say and by the actions we take, using whatever approach we feel most comfortable with.

Recognising who our allies are and joining with them is crucial. A force such as globalisation that works at a global level can be opposed only by an equal or greater force that works at a global level. Joining with our brothers and sisters across geographical, cultural, language and single issue divides is essential to make this happen. Those working on single issues must see the context of their particular issue in the bigger picture.

There is a role for everybody and every sort of person in opposing what is wrong with todayís world and in working to envision a new world and to make it happen. Let nobody feel powerless.

Tess and Dara