This is an ardent and interesting activist newspaper that bills itself as providing “Resources for Self-Reliant Living”. Now what exactly “Self-Reliant Living” is they don’t say, but if the contents of the paper are any indication, as one might safely assume that “Self-Reliant Living” is concerned with preserving the environment through the use of organics, conservation and helping people to do their own thing their own way. So interesting — if perhaps slightly lengthy – – articles on everything from facilitating peace through non-violent intervention to whether or not vices such as tobacco and beer should be certified as organic products. The organic vices article was well articulated, but the violence article seemed self-indulgent and overly rhetorical. Articles on the herb garden and making your own coffee filter put the emphasis on facts and getting things done as opposed to examining particular issues. One thing about Natural Life is that it seems to shy away from giving a Canadian spin to things, and some of the articles they run are reprinted from the US. What Really Matters by John Taylor Gatto was probably the liveliest article in the newspaper, but its American anger made me feel — and wish — that he was talking about another planet.
newspaper / #41 / publisher: The Alternate Press / main creator: Wendy Priesnitz (editor) / $21 per year / The Alternate Press RR 1, St. George, Ontario, N0E 1N0