The Voice of the Turtle

Although the opposing poles of the Dow Jones Index and The Voice of the Turtle usefully work to define the field of ideological struggle, they have in common the fact that both continue to soar ever upwards towards new peaks. Only one of the pair, however, is inexorably heading for a massive crash in the not-too-distant future. For February has been an exceptionally productive month for the Turtle, bounteous with fresh fruit and new understanding.

Over the past month the Turtle has overcome its residual tendencies towards parochialism, and fixed the entire world with its steely yet compassionate gaze; we are somewhat stunned to announce no fewer than eight substantial new additions to the site, covering almost every continent, and almost every conceivable subject.

From our base in America, we are pleased to present a two part harmony from the Presidential Primaries in New Hampshire. The first instalment of Martin O'Neill's Campaign Diary means to describe the trials and tribulations of the Bill Bradley campaign bandwagon, and its second instalment will grace our pages soon. We're also happy to publish Dominic Sandbrook's retraction of his previous article on the Democratic Presidential aspirants, now that he has met one of them in person. This strategy -- of writing an article and then repudiating it in print mere moments later -- has, of course, done marvels for his productivity, and so it is no surprise that Dominic has lifted the coveted First Anniversary Stakhanovite of the Month title for March 2000. We honour him on our Stakhanovite Page, with a fine picture and some moving words. Also concerning North America this Month, and with the teargas now almost completely out of his lungs, Raj Patel has written the best of the many articles that have recently been published under the title, "After Seattle", and we urge you all to study it with care.
We are consolidating our Asian Front, too, with three new pieces. A new Writer for the People's Turtle makes her debut, for Dia Mohan's ethnography of the (originally Brazilian) Janasanskriti Forum Theatre movement in rural Bengal spicily augments our international smorgasbord. Raj Patel has cast a glance towards the Tenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Conference in Bangkok, only to find The Third Way unfortunately got there first. From Sri Lanka, finally, comes a poem by Gamini Seneviratne, inaugurating our first father and son writing team at The Voice of the Turtle, and we welcome him to our contributing ranks.
In Africa, we extend our Salute to the People of Zimbabwe, and particularly to the seven-or-so hundred thousand of them who voted against Comrade Robert Mugabe's oppressive new constitution in the recent referendum.
And from Europe's northernmost fringe, we have deposited last year's Manifesto of the Scottish Socialist Party into the permanent exhibition in the Library of the Turtle.

It is especially fitting that this global and intergenerational achievement should fall on the anniversary of our Great Leap Forwards. As well as the Stakhanovite Hall of Fame and the Review of the Turtle Section, March 1999 inaugurated the present Look of the Turtle, which has proved to be a fine framework within which the Turtle has been able to thrive.

As the Turtle's subscription list swells definitively into triple figures and as ever-more visitors browse our many pages, the Turtle continues to seek new Articles, Reviews, Dictionary Entries and Salutes that aren't by the editors themselves. Our Stakhanovites have laboured mightily to generate the present and satisfactory State of the Turtle, and we always welcome original contributions from writers returning to our columns after a period of silence. It is most exciting, however, when brand new contributors come to dip their toes in the Turtle's warm and inviting paddling pool of literary activity, and we encourage you all to plan your next contribution over the coming month of March.

For the struggle, as ever, carries on -- but now we can say with confidence as never before that from the campuses of the Ivy League to the fields of rural South Asia, from the curryhouses of North London to the frontlines in Zimbabwe, the Voice of the Turtle is heard in the land!