....how it is that Planet Waves publishes megabytes of information on astrololgy, sexuality, the environment and important social and political issues, yet does not use advertising sponsorship? Have you noticed that there's not a single ad on this web site?
........Neither do we have foundation funding, nor a major benefactor. Till now, this Internet site has been an exclusively volunteer effort, with all of its operating expenses covered directly by me, as a gift to the world. It is a labor of love. I have always viewed my writing as a public service, always loved doing my best possible work, always taken a public advocacy position as a journalist, and long ago got used to prefabricated rejection letters from numerous "progressive" national media afraid to take on the issues that Planet Waves addresses on a daily basis. My own dedication to this project has attracted conscious, loving people from across the country, and from other countries, who have generously given their time, energy, talent, artwork, photography, ideas and sustained efforts to make sure that the project not just survives, but grows and thrives.
........And we have grown. The readers have come, and they -- you -- have stayed. This page was first posted Dec. 21, 1998, and since Jan. 1, 1999, we have had more than 1.3 million hits!
.......This Internet site will continue to be free from editorial influence by the larger corporate forces which are consuming consciousness, and free from insulting advertisements for things nobody really needs or wants. No Visa card banners. No credit check advertisements. No "free horoscope" ads. No links to porno sites with our articles on holistic sexuality, vacuuming time, love and money from people's lives. No watered-down coverage because something is too serious to take seriously. In short, none of the typical media nonsense we've grown so accustomed to -- just the information and news that you think of when you think of the freedom of the Internet. Just the online resources, links and essays that fill the cracks left by the mainstream media. Just the weekly, monthly and yearly horoscopes that you love to read, and that I love to write.
.......After long consideration, I have decided to ask my readers to support this project, in effect, to become part of what we are doing here. Your non-tax-deductible contribution to Planet Waves would help pay for the considerable reporting expenses involved in creating stories like Burning Man and our coverage of Mumia Abu-Jamal, or our coverage of the Aug. 11 Total Solar Eclipse. It would cover research expenses on our environmental articles on dioxin and genetic engineering, and long-distance phone calls to the experts around the country who inform the viewpoints that we take. It would help pay our Internet Service Provider for the hundreds of thousands of hits that he handles every month. It would create funds for editorial support, business support and research assistance for additional investigative stories. And trust me, I have ideas.
.......Your support would give me a chance to emphasize my writing as an increasingly full-time project, a goal that is near and dear to my heart. And most important, you will know you are taking part in sustaining and creating a fun and exciting Internet project, which is a new world within a new world, where at least it is possible to express what is on one's mind. So please consider making a contribution. It will have an immediate effect on our work, and help us build Planet Waves into a dependable, full-service venue for the next era of information exchange, as the Internet evolves into its next stages, and the people of the world increase in their thirst for reality.
.......Thank you!
peace & passion, Eric Francis Review of Planet Waves by the Mountain Astrologer Illustration above by Dommuniqué, based on Maria's photo at Millions for Mumia
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