Editor's Letter

Let's clarify a few claims on our cover. "100% Canadian Since 1982" is easy to understand; our magazine and website are owned and operated by Canadians, for the benefit of Canadians.

But what about the other tag line "Get the Big Picture"? We feel that the real "Big Picture" can only be perceived in a climate of honesty, transparency and a desire to know and speak the truth. This holds equally true for love and peace as it does for indifference and war. So we ask questions and search for answers not underwritten by big Pharma, religion or government.

We are independent media and our readers appreciate our out of the box, creative, eclectic approach to discovering and celebrating what is really going on. We are not owned by the corporations that control the majority of media's newspapers, radio, magazines and TV. If the government lies about WMD, we say so. If Health Canada makes a dumb move that will eliminate natural health products, we point it out.

Over the last 26 years, people have said many wonderful things about Common Ground (CG), lauding the magazine for taking on issues most other media ignores or obfuscates. "The Big Picture" evolves from connecting as many dots as possible to foster healthy people on a healthy planet. Distraction divides. Attention unites. Conversation and dialogue creates relationship, which nourishes spiritual growth, healthy communities and social justice.

CG embodies many interests, much as our readers do. To honour and protect the integrity of Canada, we begin by honouring and protecting ourselves. Twenty years ago, Robert Bly prophesized that, in 10 years, parents would have to protect their children from TV's violence. Well, we arrived at that point a decade ago and now there are other forms of entertaining ourselves to death, including death culture, violent video games.

Back in the early 1980s, CG created the Common Ground Fair and later, the Creative Living Expo, both of them precursors to great annual health and environment shows that are so popular today.

Common Ground was the first magazine to review Eckhart Tolle's astonishing book The Power of Now so it's truly thrilling to see Oprah's Book of the Month Club featuring Eckhart Tolle and his new book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose this month. Oprah's 10-week, interactive, worldwide web event begins March 3; register at www.Oprah.com/anewearth.

A New Earth is a profound guide for creating a better way of living and a better world to live in. At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that Eckhart Tolle sees as the next step in human evolution. This is a prerequisite not only to achieve personal happiness, but also to end the violent conflict endemic on our planet. Visit eckharttolle.com.

We invite you to take a journey through Common Ground's history; simply click on "Archives" at the top of our homepage, select a year, view the covers and select one to virtually visit that month.

Every edition of Common Ground has been an adventure with a unique theme evolving out of the very stuff of life ... the spirit of the times, focusing on issues that inform and inspire. We have published 200 editions and still have many new projects on the go; for example, rumour has it that a federal election is coming. Given that we would like to know which politicians we can trust, we are inviting the leaders of federal parties into a conversation with Common Ground so CG readers get a better sense of who they are as individuals and how they plan to lead Canada and spend our tax money. We will publish the first interview in our next issue.

We believe a more open dialogue with our elected representatives is healthy. And given that these folks will be passing laws and regulations that affect the quality of our lives and our planet, before we vote, we want to know what they will stand for.

In order to have healthy people, we need to have a healthy environment, In order to have a healthy, well-managed environment, we need to have thoughtful, dedicated and intelligent governance. This is also part of being 100 percent Canadian and, hopefully, getting the bigger picture.

So from organics to politics and from ecology to spirituality, we will continue to serve you with exciting Common Ground editions full of challenging and informative ideas. We are good for another 200 editions so please let us know the issues that are closest to your heart and what you would love to see us cover.

We thank you for supporting this adventure.

Warm regards,
Joseph Roberts, 
publisher and senior editor