Hello and Welcome to Nerve 3

We know it's long overdue, but it's a long story, largely related to money. If you've read previous issues and enjoyed it, then we think this is the best one so far and it's getting better. Both Nerve and Catalyst (our monthly News sheet) seem, by the responses we receive, to be not only touring the country but the world. With responses from people from as far away as Australia, Canada but mostly from America.

Our aim here at Catalyst, is not only to promote the fantastic often unseen artistic talent that exists in this city but also to attempt to be a voice, for those of us who often not listened too. We aim to cover issues more mainstream media won't touch, for fear of rattling or offending the establishment, or their funders. We know only too well that we are living in times when more and more dissenting voices are being silenced, if not by force, but by the legal threats to have their lives or livelihoods destroyed. The recent offshoot of the Hutton Inquiry is a good example of this. If you know anything about what happened during the McCarthy era in the USA, then that is a microcosm of what we are seeing now, on a global scale.

A large percentage of people in this country now believe that the excuses used to attack Afghanistan and Iraq were a sham. If you have followed anything on recent Middle Eastern history, you will know that both Bin Laden and Saddam were armed and trained for years by the CIA, to wreak horror on their fellow countryfolk, and maintain US interests in the region. Now suddenly we are expected to believe that the US and their friends are interested in the human rights of those they once funded the oppression of. One of the UK's finest journalists John Pilger believes that both the attack on Afghanistan and Iraq were quite simply an act to expand USA global interests, to expand their control over two of the worlds most important resources - Gas and Oil. The world famous political scientist, and American dissident, Noam Chomsky believes the USA policy in the Middle East is a simple case of removing from power those leaders or governments who do not serve the interests of the USA elite. In fact, recent research has shown that the vast majority of countries see the USA as the biggest threat to world peace. If we are truly sincere about building a better and more peaceful world then one of the questions we must ask is what are the policies that best suit the majority of world citizens? We believe it is now not the time for writers and artists to shy away from this truth, we must be involved in trying to achieve this peace, not just globally but locally. Anyway enough of my ranting.

Our News Sheet 'Catalyst' deals with more ongoing up to date activities within the arts scene of the city. This issue of Nerve, as with coming issues, will attempt to look at what effects us locally and culturally. We will attempt to prioritise both the positive and negative affects that ongoing changes will have on all of Liverpool's communities.

In this issue we do not shy away from critical debate. We are dedicated to serving the Liverpool people as best we can, and by using our writing, research, artistic and journalistic skills to inform people. Only through critical debate can we all move forward together.

Nerve magazine and the 'Catalyst' newsheet is open for anyone to contribute - we welcome letters, contributions, articles, short stories, poems, and information about artistic events and exhibitions. We cannot promise all will be published in 'Nerve' or 'Catalyst' - but we will certainly try to include you on our website.