Never has our message been so close to winning broad acceptance. From many quarters, the message that our workaholic, time-rushed culture is harmful to health, families, communities and the environment, is beginning to ring out more clearly.

A recently-released study compared health in the United States and in the United Kingdom, finding stark evidence that Americans are far sicker than the British, despite spending more than twice as much on health care each year. Even poor Brits were as healthy as the richest Americans.

In a New York Times op-ed ("Our Sick Society," 5/5/06) about the study, economist Paul Krugman asks what it is "about American society that makes us sicker than we should be?" Overwork, he suggests, is a leading culprit. Stress is another.

The study only compares the US with the UK, where working hours -- though far shorter than in the US -- are among the longest in Europe and health outcomes among the worst. A study comparing the US with the Scandinavian countries or many continental European countries would show an even wider gap between American health and theirs.

What we hear from you supports this. In our last newsletter we asked you to share your story of overwork and time poverty with us. The stories we received just wring the heart. We heard from:

• a mother who is being asked to put in more hours at work--time she simply cannot take away from her family-- and will face disciplinary action if she doesn't;
• a father who raised two children by himself while working two jobs in real estate and construction and who offered the sage advice that "having the time to enjoy the process of living is all that anyone can ask of life;"
• and a woman who works 40 + hours a week to support her family and whose wish is not extravagant: simply to be able to have weekends off - to spend some down time with her family.

Take Back Your Time is working for that change by asking hard questions about the personal, social, cultural, environmental, spiritual, and economic costs of the 24/7 lifestyle and offering concrete solutions about how we can regain balance. And over the past four years we have made real progress towards that end.

In a recent speech advocating for a flexible working hours bill being considered in the New Zealand Parliament, a Maori party representative cited Take Back Your Time as one of the positive working trends around the world.

We are excited by this recognition and by what we have been able to accomplish. In order to sustain the momentum we've gained, we need your support. If you believe in our message and the work we do, now is the time to make a donation.

At a time when many people are searching for a new vision for America, we believe Take Back Your Time offers a hopeful alternative. Please help us ensure that we can continue to promote this important message.

Whether it's $10, $50, $100 or $1,000, please make your tax-deductible donation today. You can make a one-time donation online, or sign up for an automatic, recurring monthly donation.

You can also send checks made out to CRESP/TAKE BACK YOUR TIME to:

Thank you for your support!!