Over the past seven weeks, hundreds of working people and youth have responded generously to this special fund-raising effort, which will help make up the shortfall between sales income and the costs of publishing and distributing the paper. Receiving no backing from big-business investors or advertisers, the socialist press depends on such solidarity to stay in financial shape.

"We thank all those who contributed to the fund appeal and who helped raise contributions," said Perspectiva Mundial editor Martín Koppel.

Europe-based partisans of the Spanish-language monthly and English-language weekly helped to bring the drive home. "Supporters here contributed a total of $1,310 to the fund," wrote Erik Wils from Antwerp on June 18. "I hope you can list Belgium on the score–board."

Champions of the socialist press in France also sent in a contribution, while those in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, made or came very close to making their goals. In the United States, 21 of the 25 areas listed on the chart finished the drive in full and on time, while 10 exceeded their goals by 10 percent or more.

Bill Arth, the fund organizer in Atlanta, sent a note to the Militant office to say that "our fund event, held June 15, was attended by 20 people and resulted in a big collection--we took in $1,775, an amount that puts us 25 percent over our goal."

Militant staff writer Jack Willey, who spoke at the event, described it as a political success as well. "The discussion period was very lively and covered quite a breadth of issues," he said. "Participants were very interested in discussing the resistance in the working class today, including efforts by construction workers in the Carpenters union to organize the new levy of predominantly-immigrant workers.

"The 15-foot tall inflatable rats that accompany members of the carpenters and laborers unions on their picket lines at nonunion construction sites in New York are popular figures in the city’s labor movement," said Willey. "The rats also bring solidarity to other labor struggles, as well as to actions demanding equal rights for immigrants on the job and legal status for the undocumented."

Willey also spoke in Atlanta about his recent involvement in Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialists delegations to anniversary celebrations in north Korea and to a conference of young socialists and students in Haiti, and the expansion of work by socialists with revolutionary youth from other countries.  
 
Successful fund events
Participants in the May 17–18 Haiti event from the United States and Canada spoke at fund events in a number of cities. Across the United States, the fund meetings involved a variety of SWP and YS leaders speaking on major questions in politics and the class struggle. Everywhere they were organized these meetings proved to be a highlight of the drive. Supporters usually put on a meal to make the events more enjoyable and productive, donating the funds thereby raised to the local goal.

Like their counterparts in Atlanta, campaigners in Houston organized their public fund meeting on June 15. Young Socialists leader Olympia Newton, who had also joined the SWP/YS delegation to Korea, traveled from Los Angeles to speak on "Cuba and the Coming American Revolution." Supporters combined their building and preparation of the meeting with participation in the international drive to increase the number of longer-term readers of the Militant and PM.

In at least a couple of cases, fund organizers have commented that they could have done more to reach co-workers, new readers of the socialist press, and long-standing supporters. "This will be the big challenge for the next one," wrote Bill Arth in Atlanta.

Fund drive directors are encouraged to send in any outstanding checks. The shortfall between the local goals and amount received is almost $1,900.

Last-minute contributions are also welcome. Cappy Kidd, the organizer of the fund in Chicago, called the Militant on June 18 to report a $200 donation received the previous night. "The donation might not make it into the total," he said, "but I know the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial will put it to good use."  
 
 
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