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Viewpoint
After 26 years
World Social Forum at a crossroads
03/2003
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After 26 years
After 26 years of editing D+C, Dieter Brauer retired in December 2002. Many readers from all over the world used the opportunity to thank him and express their respect for his work. We print a selection of the letters that reached Dieter Brauer and the new editors of D+C in the last few weeks.
First letter
I have just received my copy of D+C of November/December and I saw in the editorial that the editor is retiring. Please, allow me to add my voice, perhaps, to very many others who have expressed their thanks and gratitude for the very good work done by Mr. Brauer over the years. For me, I have received my copy for the last 10 years or so without fail and I am very grateful. I hope that Mr. Brauer will continue to render his expertise for the good and growth of D+C.
Rev. Sam L. Ruteikara, Church Human Services AIDS Program (CHUSA), Uganda
Awareness raising
Your farewell editorial was so surprising and stunning to me and all those who morally and mentally linked themselves with your pragmatic views, opinions, ideas, and objective analysis of world affairs and Third World issues. You have really succeeded in exposing the developing countries to the industrialised countries and vice versa, and all this you did in a genuine and transparent manner that deserves our appreciation and gratitude. You have enormously raised our awareness of our own problems and of what should be our priorities and served as our ambassador, representative, tongue and pen in informing the developed world to which you belong about the magnitude and the impacts of our constraints and problems, to which you have shown great concern and consideration. Wishing you all the success in your future projects, I hope that you are not forgetting the big multinational family which you have adopted and always cared for and who admittedly learned so much from you about development, cooperation, food security, poverty, environment and globalisation, WTO and all the debatable contemporary issues.
Galal Hamid Osman, Wad Medani, Sudan
High standard
This month’s D+C has upset us for the news of your retirement as editor of the most interesting news information bulletin which I am getting for the last 16 years. Under your able leadership the magazine has reached a very high standard and it is interesting to read all the articles, and above all it has become a think tank for the news activities all around the world. You have done a wonderful job as editor. On this occasion I convey my sincere good wishes for a happy retirement life along with your wife Gertraud, who was equally responsible for the quality of D+C.
Prof. R. Dasgupta, UNDP DST Project, Bhopal, India
Right stories at the right time
I just wanted to thank you for a great job you did as editor of this magazine which became popular because of your hard work and foresight in selecting the right stories at the right time and providing useful information to your readers. It was D+C which made us friends, and as I told you before, this is the only magazine I carefully save in my personal collection at home. I hope the magazine will continue to maintain the high standard you set for it.
Dr. Surendra Sharma, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria
Most informative and objective
Over the years, I have found D+C to be most informative and objective in its contents. It is true that you have tried to present the views of the developing countries and have often advanced their interests in your editorials. Your country reports, particularly those relating to South East Asia, have been balanced and reflected an understanding of the local situation. Globalisation needs to be handled properly and the input from the developing countries should be heeded. I am glad that this view was always reflected in your magazine.
R. Mohana Krishnan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A hallmark of right and good
Thank you for your farewell note in D+C of November/December 2002. We will definitely miss you; the strong leadership you have demonstrated as an editor is remarkable and constitutes a hallmark of right and good especially for the English speaking developing countries.
Prof. E. Lugujjo, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Ably edited
Thank you very much for this high quality magazine, so ably edited by you, and to which I had the opportunity to contribute a few articles.
Prof. Dr. Uwe Holtz, Bonn University, Germany
A ‘must-read’
In my view, D+C is the only serious, objective and independent magazine which addressed development issues in simple, straightforward and easily understandable language. From subject-matter specialists to interested lay persons, this was a ‘must-read’. I have enjoyed reading it over a quarter of a century, and the unfortunate decision to change its character signals the end of an era. We shall miss it very much.
Prof. Asit K. Biswas, President, Third World Centre for Water Management, Mexico City, Mexico
Great contribution to knowledge
I congratulate the management and editorial board of D+C for coming out with new layout and concept. Your magazine represents one of the best development policy materials in our resource centre for students, researchers, development workers, activists and other professionals. Let me use this opportunity to thank Dieter Brauer, former editor of D+C, and his lovely wife, Gertraud, for their great contribution to knowledge and development practice worldwide.
Chizor Wisdom Dike, Executive Director, Community Rights Initiative (CORI), Port Harcourt, Nigeria
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