Reading's Only Newspaper * RED RAG * Free * Fortnightly * June 27 - July 11th News: 61257 662302 666681 Events: 473205 Going out: 663083 Distribution: 666681 61257 - - - WOMEN DEMAND AUTONOMY! Three executive officers of the Reading University Students Union resigned after a union meeting voted to disband the university Women's group. Karen Talbot the Communications and Liaisons officer, Nick Hale, education Officer and Andrew Hardy, Buildings and Finance officer, felt that the decision was regressive, and that they could not remain in office to execute it. It is one of the functions of a university, of course, as part of the machinery of the state, to foster rigidity of the mind, but the effectiveness of the education system of Reading University is somewhat disturbing. The lads from Whiteknights and St. Pats (two all-male halls of residence) marched to the union meeting to support the motion to disband the women's group. At the meeting, 'our boys' shouted abuse at the women's group calling them 'slags' among ether things. Men speaking against the motion were greeted with cries of 'homo' or 'queer'! These heroes of the struggle for Freedom and Democracy had suddenly developed an overwhelming concern for the union constitution and decided that as the womens group technically contravened it by not admitting men to their meetings, they would use this to get one over on the women. The boys had apparently been peeved on several counts by the womens group - the disruption of the annual Whiteknights jerk-off to a specially imported stripper, and the women's less than enthusiastic attitude towards the lads' baby, Campus Watch, a special vigilante squad to ward off rapists and graffiti artists - the women, highly suspicious of fantasies of male protectiveness, blocked the issue of radios to Campus Watch who then proposed the motion to disband the women's group at the next union meeting. The disbanding of the women's group means that the women can no longer meet officially on campus and that they will no longer be funded by the union to publicise such women's campaigns as the nursery campaign, national abortion campaign, rape crisis line, etc. The Reading University Women's Group have explained their position on autonomous organisation in a leaflet; they believe there are very good reasons why women should be able to exclude men from their meetings: "We believe that for the liberation of Women to occur it is vital for women to be able to organise autonomously. This is not an anti-man decision, rather it is pro-women. Feminism is not the same as sexism. The purpose of anti-sexism is to liberate both sexes from restrictive stereotypes and fight against the oppression of women. We would welcome the setting up of an anti-sexist group but we have not the time or energy to devote to this since our main priority is the liberation of women. Men have far greater experience and confidence in dealing with public meetings, and we believe that women need to bolster their confidence and gain experience, by meeting in-women-only groups." The implications of the action taken by the RU boys' club (and their token women/girlfriends) where other Students Unions are concerned, are worrying. Already messages of support have been sent from other colleges, universities and polys' unions all over the country. The Reading University Women's Group have planned a day of action for Friday the 25th, as we go to press, including leafleting of halls and departments in the morning, a march round campus and a rally with speakers in the union hall. -- Laura Norder - - - Three hundred Health Service workers marched through Reading on June 23rd, from the Royal Berks to Great Western House in Station Rd. "What do we want?" "Twelve per cent!" "When do we want it?" "Now." The message was clear - but not so alas our ace photographer's pictures... Passers-by and even policemen were sympathetic - though there seems to be precious little concrete support from other Unions locally for the health workers. - - - OFFICES ON THE MOVE Local sources have told us that the arcade of shops next to the ABC Cinema on Cemetery Junction are the latest victims of the Reading malaise - office mania. The land was owned by the National Bus Company when the shopkeepers were informed by a new agent that their rent was being increased and their new lease would last for one year only. Apparently after this time the Crown Colonnade will be pulled down and offices put in its place. One shopkeeper is closing down immediately and emigrating (wise move). Watch this space for more details. - - - IMPROVING THE PLIGHT OF THE SINGLE HOMELESS OF READING Red Rag was delighted to see that the Borough's Housing Committee has given its approval to the new Code of Practice and Statutory Regulations for the Bed and Breakfast set up in this town. We feel that this is long overdue. Conditions in a number of these establishments are grim indeed. Certainly, nobody in this day and age should be expected to spend a winter's night in an unheated room with just a single blanket over them, and paying a high price for this at that. But these are the lucky ones. A number of men and women, because of physical or mental ailments, have to sleep in derelict houses or out in the open. At least two men are known to have frozen to death last winter. Mr Geoff Lander, Labour Spokesman on Housing, came out with the very positive idea of keeping a register of people refused accommodation. These people, bedwetters, epileptics,... find themselves thrown into the very depths of degradation. We strongly urge the Local Authorities to get something organized before the coming winter. At the very least, a NIGHT SHELTER should be set up in this town for these unfortunate people. - - - HOMES NOT OFFICES! Reading is slowly turning into a concrete city, with huge, ugly office blocks appearing all over the town centre. In fact, at the moment, it closely resembles a bomb site, so much rebuilding is going on. Not only that, but people are actually homeless while this process of bulldozing old houses to build offices goes on! Some of us who feel that people are more important than money are having a meeting to discuss direct action on this issue (see events guide) - be there.! - - - CIVIC SOCIETY and the Ten Year Plan On 16th June there was a public Civic Society meeting to discuss Reading Council's draft plan for the town centre, which defines sites and uses over the next 10 years. Not knowing much about this, I went along to hear representatives from the 3 parties on the Council and Mr Arden, the Assistant Borough Planning Officer, speak and answer questions. Councillors Fowles (Con), Rush (Lab) and Haydemann (Lib) seemed very much in agreement about the need for a plan, the first since the early '50s, to restrict the piecemeal race for development we have now. (19 tower cranes at once!). Cllr Fowles, describing the situation, echoed closely the last Rag article on the subject (maybe he read it too?). Reading is considered a "honeypot" (Cllr Fowles) by developers, which is why it such a mess for you and me. There are about 30 planning applications a week coming in, which is far more than the Development Control Sub-Committee can deal with. Those they refuse will appeal - and Heseltine (Fowles' own MP!) has seen fit to allow more than his constituent would like. He feels himself that "there is a limit to how many offices the town centre can hold." Yes. Facadism There's a little controversy between the parties over what constitutes the town centre, but they're agreed that the Festival site, earmarked for "leisure", is now included. I think Labour are less keen on offices than the Conservatives, though it's hard to tell. Cllr Rush did consider the amount of offices to be the "main gripe" of the ordinary person (and yes, he did say "man in the street"). There's also the question of allowing offices in listed buildings rather than have them fall down, or retaining them for residential use. The Liberals are "flexible" on that one. Cllr Haydemann also maintained that Reading hasn't lost its original street layout - he can tell that to whoever used to live between the Butts and the Oxford Road. He received some stick for referring to conservation areas as "museums of what a town should be like", and implied that the alternative to concrete and motorways is building offices behind old facades (or "facadism" - new word! I also discovered "environmental disbenefit".) Other issues: the pedestrianisation of Broad St, which Cllr Fowles would like and Cllr Haydemann could contemplate between West St and Queen Victoria St; Cllr Rush maintained it's officially "semi-pedestrian" anyway, though he can't reconcile that with the existence of a zebra crossing. The concept of "planning gain." Someone asked a very intelligent-sounding question about Section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act. I think this is what it means: Planning gain is when you get the developer to do something for the town, e.g. improve a road affected by the development in return for planning permission. Cllr Fowles kept saying some people might find it unethical, but didn't actually say why. Apparently more of this is envisaged, so get ready with moral outrage and charges of bribery and corruption. If you reckon you can understand it all. Consultation An important question from the floor concerned just how this much-vaunted public consultation is to happen. Meetings? Cheap summaries of the plan? Exhibitions? It's not been worked out yet (yet?): possibly an insert in the Evening Post, maybe exhibitions. But the Ministry recommends 6 weeks, so we're very lucky. The plan is open to objections up to the end of September, goes to Committees in October, and to the full Council on 16th Nov. The point was made from the floor that it's hard to get anything done over the summer holidays, The Council's sorry abort that. "Historical reasons." The meeting wasn't representative of the town at all, but at least some people got their say. (No mention of bikes.) What depressed me was the lack of any real choice. Liz - - - FoE / CYCLING ACTION GROUP Our last meeting discussed the likely provision for cyclists in the Central Reading District Plan. The main comments: 1. Cycling should be promoted as a part of a general effort to reduce motor traffic levels. 2. A given proportion of Reading highways should be devoted to cycling. 3. Pedestrianisation proposals should make provision for cycle access. 4. Improved cycle parking stands are needed in various places, including the railway station and Old Town Hall. 5. Any major highway construction should also provide segregated facilities for cyclists.' 6. A Kennetside cycle route is supported but should extend to Duke St. The plan is likely to be published at the end of July, with consultations until the end of September. We will meet, again on Sept 14, 8pm, the Crown, Crown St. to finalise our comments. Come along! Bracknell spin-off: Anyone interested in cycling facilities in Bracknell should contact Richard Dimelow, 61 Appledore, Great Hollands, Bracknell. Potholes: Write to the Borough Council to complain about unfilled potholes! The Borough is responsible if you damage your bike on poor road surfaces. Write to: Mr Dilley, Technical Services Dept, Civic Offices, Reading. Or get some special pothole complaint cards from: Simon Watkins, 19 Filey Road, Reading. - - - RED RAG OUTLETS Get your Rag from: Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St. Central Library, Blagrave St., and branch libraries too. Pop Records, 172 King's Road. Our Price Records, Butts Centre. Quicksilver Records, Butts Centre. Centre for the Unemployed, East St. - - - RED RAG EVENTS DIARY Sun 27 Youth CND Southern Region meeting 3pm AUEW Hall, 121 Oxford Road. Wokingham Peace Group meeting. 8pm Wokingham Town Hall. Mon 28 Anarchists weekly meeting, 8pm. Ring James 473205 for venue. Who? Tue 29 Woodley Peace Group meeting at Methodist Hall, Crockhamwell Rd, Woodley. Sir John had a prior engagement with his auctioneer, so it's Dr D Hughes, chairman of Reading Utd Nations Assoc instead. Wed 30 Earley BANC Group meeting, 8pm, St Nicholas Church Hall, Sutcliffe Ave, Earley. The War Game plus Hiroshima slide and tape show. Socialist Workers' Party weekly meeting, 8pm the Red Lion, Southampton St. This week: Marxist Economics. For babysitter phone 661914. Thu 1 First of the Month meeting of Reading Women's Centre and groups 7.30 at the Women's Centre, basement of Old Shire Hall, Abbey St. Only 7 came last month. Does anyone want a women's centre in Reading? Are we putting our energies in the right place? Discussion of aims, funding etc. All women welcome. Cosmic Counter Cruise Carnival at Greenham Common. Other sources suggest this may be on the 3rd. Check with Festival Welfare Services 01-226-2759. Bongs not Bombs? Keep fit at the unemployment centre, East St, 1.30 - 3.30pm. "Keeping in trim' + 'Intro to weightlifting' + Fun Bus for the under 5s. Wear loose clothes. Fri 2 Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign jazz evening. Symbiosis at the Griffin Church St, Caversham 8pm £1 (60p) Sat 3 Sonning Common Peace Group march to mark the end of the UN special wossname. Assemble 10am in Christ the King Ch car park, Sedgwell Rd Conference on the 'Gov't's new initiatives for youth' at the Unemployed Centre, East St. Free to unemployed, or £1. Celebratory Event with dance, music, speakers. Planetary Initiative for the World we Choose. Reading. (Haven't been able to) contact: Corinne Leigh, Littlewick Green 4329. Sun 4 Youth CND meeting. 3pm AUEW Hall 121 Oxford Rd. Cont. Dave 416536. Mon 5 BANC TU/Labour group meeting, 56 Hamilton Rd, 8pm. Contact Andrew Harrison 665332. Women's Media Workshop at South Hill Park, Bracknell, 7.30pm. Inaugural meeting to discuss future programme of speakers films etc. Tue 6 Rape Crisis Line open meeting to try to get more women involved. St Mary's Centre in the Butts 8pm El Salvador Solidarity Campaign meeting 8pm 106 London Rd (side entrance by garage) Clive 666681 Wed 7 East Reading BANC group meeting 8pm 71 Hamilton Rd. To discuss the group's objectives. Thu 8 Amnesty A.G.M. 8pm St Mary's Centre, behind St Mary's in the Butts Talk on GDR 'perspectives on unemployment' unemployed centre, East St. 7.30, at a guess. Sat 10 Amnesty: garden party. Tickets Steve Mills 88 Addison Rd . 588433 London conf: Training & Education for Women and Girls. 10-4 at Community & TU Centre, 2a Brabant Rd Wood Green, N22. Organised by Haringey Women's Emplmnt Project Sun 11 Reading & Dist Vegans: discussion and social 2.30pm 72 Curzon St. Contact Lis Howlett 581805. Imperialism day school. 10.30 - 4 AUEW Cttee Room, 121 Oxford Rd Mon 12 'Homes not Offices': open meeting to discuss direct action on homelessness. 24 Norwood Road, 8pm. Tue 13 BANC General Meeting. 8pm Friends' Meeting House, Church St. To elect a new monarch. Also video of Helen Caldecott speaking. Thu 15 Workers' Education Assoc meeting to form an industrial branch. 7.30, Unemployed Centre, East St Any interested group or person welcome. Woodley Peace Group 8pm Methodist Hall, Crockhamwell Rd, Woodley. Sir John Figgess on 'Non-nuclear defence'... Sat 16 Youth CND Southern Region conf. At the Unemployed Centre, East St Contact Emma Bartlett 479406. Sun 18 RED RAG "Collective" meeting. 4pm in Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St. All those involved or interested very welcome. It is your paper, in theory. - - - NOT A RAW POTATO SALAD! Coriander spiced vegetables: revealed at last: what to do with all those ingredients you gathered a fortnight ago. (Sorry folks.) Melt the butter and oil, and add chopped garlic and ginger, then all the spices. Put the potatoes in until they're soft. Add the onions, and 3 minutes later the courgettes. When the courgettes are cooked, add the lettuce. Stir everything well. Add the milk, and allow to simmer. In a cup beat the eggs and add the chopped herbs. Pour into the pan. Stir until the eggs are cooked and form a rather grainy sauce. Serve with brown rice. Grublust - - - GUITAR FOR SALE Marlin Acoustic Guitar, padded case, pitch pipes. Full working order. (ie 6 complete strings etc) Nice tone. £60 or would haggle a bit. R. 477073 - - - MAY DAY 1983 The May meeting of Reading Trades Union Council reviewed May Day 1982, and reviewed some of the organisational arrangements for Reading May Day Festival. Council committed themselves to, at least, holding a May Day Rally in 1983, on Saturday 30 April. Council also accepted that events other than a rally depended partly on whether there were people available to take on a share, of the work organising the events and necessary fund-raising. Some delegates offered to help. Council also recognised that while RTUC sponsor the whole day, involvement comes from the whole spread of the labour movement in Reading. It was thought it would be a shame to scrap what we have all successfully built up in recent years. There are, therefore, 2 basic questions about May Day 1983: Do people want some or all of the other events to continue - the march, the afternoon festival, some form of evening social function? Are there the people around to take on a share of the work needed? There will be a meeting on Wednesday 21 July 1982 at 8pm to discuss and answer these questions. The venue has to be arranged, and will be announced in Red Rag, the July RTUC mailing, or ring me. Everyone is cordially invited to attend, as representatives of organisations, or in an individual capacity. The people who did a lot of work for the 1981 & 1982 want to reduce their commitment, so there could be jobs to suit everyone's special talents readily available. 10 June 1982. CC Borgars-RDG 477073 - - - RED RAG Next issue: Deadline for copy: Thurs 8th July. Send copy to: Red Rag c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. If you'd like to help producing the next issue, get in touch with Chris on Reading 61257. Distribution: Summertime is always crisis time. If you are a distributor and are going away PLEASE let us know in plenty of time. Better still, find someone else who can do it for you. Contributions: If you've ever wondered why such-and-such isn't covered by the Rag, the answer is simply that you haven't written anything about it. So get your shit together. - - - "SEE HERE IT'S TRUE" A JOB TO SUIT YOU. One of Reading's umpteen unemployed was recently given a list of charity shops and told to get himself a suit to go for job interviews. At last someone has found the solution to unemployment. All Red Rag readers are urged to get on their bikes and cycle down to the nearest Moss Bros, and hire a suit. Then employers are bound to want to hire them and we'll soon have the country back on its feet. WAR IS GOOD BUSINESS. Most Rag readers probably don't bother with the financial pages, so you'll have missed what has been happening to the pound recently. Prior to the start of the South Atlantic war the pound was worth about $1.79. As things warmed up in the South Atlantic it rose reaching $1.84 when people started to get killed. It started to fall again as hostilities came to a halt. However since the British army captured Port Stanley it has plummeted to its lowest for a very long time at $1.72 a figure which would be front page news without the timely intervention of a royal birth. COMMUNIST PLOTTING? Those of you who read the Chronicle may have noticed several letters from Professor Flew of Reading University which suggest that CND is a communist plot funded by Moscow. In his latest he calls on CND to produce audited books to prove where their money comes from. Surely he can't expect them to walk naked into the debating chamber. Until he and his allies produce books to show they aren't funded by the CIA (or the Bavarian Illuminati or whoever) he can hardly expect a unilateral display of accounts by CND. Perhaps they could negotiate disclosures of funding on a cheque by cheque basis or start by disclosing all funds based in Europe or only long range funds. Slightly more seriously it's funny how people only start to worry about these things when they are in danger of losing the argument. Recently someone paid for a plane to fly over the Glastonbury Festival with a banner bearing the same smear about Moscow influence. HEMP-GARDENER'S QUESTION TIME Green-fingered addicts of the killer weed may want to note that now the nights are getting longer those lush specimens behind your row of tomatoes (or wherever) are about to come into flower. Don't forget to follow George Washington's time-honoured practice and smoke the male plants before they get a chance to pollinate the female. From our legal correspondent, first the bad news. As of April 22, 'traces' has stopped being an acceptable defence. Even if the quantity you're busted for is detectable only by microscopic analysis, you can still be done for it. However, the prosecution still has to prove that you knew you had a controlled drug in your possession; under these circumstances it's often what you say ("verbals") that determines the outcome of the case.("Oh yeah, that's mine. You should've been here earlier though, I had a whole quarter..") You do not have to say anything to the police. Don't. Now for the good news. Someone from Festival Aid has just taken the police to court over a series of stop'n'searches. He won £250 off them. So if you've been stopped for no good reason (going to a festival, what you wear & how you look aren't good reasons) and they didn't find anything and if you fancy some fun with Old Bill, contact Festival Aid (01-960-5599/0) or Release (01-289-1123). Stay hi.......PERCY BEAR DEFEND THE OXFORD ST. 48! About 48 anarchists (including one from Reading) were arrested on June 6th during the CND rally in London, when SPG police thugs attacked a peaceful march down Oxford Street. The charges are the usual catch-alls: abusive language, behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace, offensive weapons. In fact in most cases people were arrested just because they looked conspicuous; some didn't even have anything to do with the demonstration. 25 or so appeared at Marlborough St. Court on June 23rd. All pleaded not guilty. Their cases have been adjourned until Sept and Oct. Support the campaign for their defence and send a donation to: Oxford St Defence Campaign, Box 48, 84b Whitechapel High St, London El. - - - NEWS OVER THE SEA JAPAN: 200,000 Japanese took part at a anti-nuclear demonstration in Hiroshima and Tokyo. WEST-GERMANY: 450,000 people took part at the anti-Reagan and anti-Nato summit demonstration and festival in the West-German capital Bonn. On the other side of the river Rhine 17,000 policemen had their little festival, when 6 radio-operated sirens started to sound around the German parliament building during Reagan's speech. West-Berlin had two demonstrations against the visit of Mr President: a non violent demo attended by 60,000 people and a banned, violent demo attended by 3,000 people, which had much more publicity in the mass media. ITALY: Anti-nuclear demonstrators occupied the town-hall in Comiso/Sicily and went into a hunger strike to protest against the building of a nuclear base to site 112 Cruise Missiles. The Communist Party Regional Secretary Mr Pio La Torre, who was also against the stationing of the atomic weapons, was murdered; probably by the Mafia, who controls not only the Sicilian drug market but also the building industry. U.S.A.: Nearly a million people took part in the biggest Peace demonstration in the history of the United States. They blockaded all the embassies of the states possessing nuclear weapons. and also GDR: A new phenomenon is frightening the communist regime in East-Germany: After the growing of the unofficial church and hippie-peace-movement (slogan: Swords Into Ploughshares - bible quote), the state fears the growing number of punks (slogan: Piss Off - Sid Vicious quote) - - - RED RAG'S FAMOUS GOING OUT GUIDE Sun 27 Hex-End of festival ceilidh 8pm £2.50 including fireworks Folk Festival Emmer Green-All day £4.50 kids £2.25 + part day tickets Forbury Gardens-Yarnton Band 3pm The Eagle Baker Street-Jazz 8pm free Fives-Against the Grain free lunchtime The Allied Arms St. Mary's Butts- Readifolk (not only folk-any type of performer welcome + audience of course) Angie's Milton Road Wokingham- Juvessence £1+ £1.50 membership 9.30 South Hill Park(SHP)-Grand Family Festival afternoon-early evening Adults 75p Kids 25p Under 5's free Mon 28 Hex-It Ain't Half Hot,Mum 7.30 £3- £5 Matinee Fri+ Sat 6pm 3.50,£2.50 unwaged.Fri + Sat evening performance 8.30. To July 3rd. St.Peter's Church St.Peter's Hill C'sham-Arion Orchestra .8pm 1.50-2.50 University-Council Room,Gay Soc party 8pm Bring food and drink University-Palmer Building,Room G10 Kentucky Fried Movie 90p 7.30 University-Library.Exhibition of photographs by Alun Langdon Coburn To Aug 14th. The Plough Winnersh-Kennet Jazz Band Free 8pm Progress Theatre-Outside Edge (comedy) 7.45 £1.50 + concessions.To July 3rd Caversham Court Csham-Medieval Mystery Plays 2.30 £l,kids 50p. To 29th Playhouse Oxford-The Servant of Two Masters 8pm £3.90 Sat matinee 4pm £2.45 Sat evening £4.90.To July 3rd Tue 29 University-Pyramid (band) + disco £1.25 8pm till 1 Tudor Arms Greyfriers Road-Gay disco The Pheasant Winnersh-Jazz 8pm free University Great Hall London Road-End of session concert 7.30 free SHP--Atlantic City(AA) 7.30 £1.90 + conc. To 1st. Wed 30 Reading Film Theatre Palmer Building University-Orphee + Le Sang d'un poete (both A)£1.40 90p members. Grosvenor House Kidmore Road C'sham- Denny Ilett Jazz Band 0pm free SHP-Desire Caught by The Tail + The Four Little Girls (Picasso plays) 7.30 50p/60p Thu 1 Prince of Wales Csham-High Society Jazz Band 8pm free Four Horseshoes B'stoke Road-Jazz Faculty 6pm free Fri 2 Roebuck Oxford Road-60's and Northern Soul Night 7.30 till late 1.50 £1.75 on door University-Soul/reggae/funk/ disco 7.30-12 £1 Tudor Arms-Gay disco Caribbean Club London Street-The Brothers of Beat 10.30 £1.50ish SHP-Eighth Jazz Festival-Pigbag, Jazz Afrika,Rico + others 7-llpm 4.50, £5 on day.Tickets from Hexagon. Sat 3 Hex-Wayland Smithy (folk) 12.15 free Central Club London Street-Junior Delgado,sounds by Sir Coxsone Cuternational.6 till dawn £5 Four Horseshoes B'stoke Road-singer 8pm free (usually country + western,M0R stuff) Methodist Hall School Road Tilehurst- An Entertainment for a Summer Evening 7.45 80p kids + OAPs 40p SHP-Jazz festival-Hip Rig and Panic, Lester Bowie Ensemble,Keith Tippett/ Louis Moholo + lots more. l2-ll.30pm. £6.£6.50 on day. Sun 4 Hex-Independence Day Lunch + Kennet Jazz Band 12-2pm £4 Forbury Gardens-Woodley Concert Band 3pm The Eagle Baker Street-Jazz 8pm free Allied Arms.St.Mary's Butts-Readifolk (see last Sunday) 8pm free.If fine in garden SHP-Jazz Festival-Barbara Thompson, Elvin Jones/McCoy Turner + lots more. 12-10.30pm £6.£6.50 on day.Weekend tickets available-Sat + Sun only,£11 or £12.50 on day,Fri Sat + Sun £13.50 or 16 on day.Free camping available. Mon 5 Hex-Exhibition-Transitions by Pat Clark.To July-17th. The Plough Winnersh-Kennet Jazz Band 8pm free. Playhouse Oxford-Basic Space Dance Theatre,Programme One (till Wed) 8pm £3.90 + concessions. SHP-Don's Party(X) + A Personal History of the Australian Surf 7.30 1.90 + concessions. Tue 6 Hex-Grease(musical) 7.30 £2-£3 + conc. Sat matinee 2.30pm.To 10th The Pheasant Winnersh-Jazz 8pm free Tudor Arms-Gay disco Watermill Theatre Newbury-The Killing of Sister George 7.30 2.50-£6.To 24th SHP-Heavy Metal(A) + Honky Tonk Freeway (AA) 7.30 £1.90 + conc.To 8th Grosvenor House Kidmore Road C'sham- Denny Ilett Jazz Band 8pm free Hex-l-2pm Kennet Morriss Men + La Espelido free Prince Of Wales C'sham-High Society Jazz Band 8pm free Four Horseshoes B'stoke Road-Jazz 8pm free Playhouse Oxford-Basic Space Dance Theatre Programme 2,8pm to Sat.£3.90 Sat matinee 4pm £2.45,evening £4.90 + conc SHP-Alexei Sayle 8pm £2.25-£2.50,£2.75 on door Fri 9 University-Disco 7.30-12 £1 Tudor Arms-Gay disco SHP-Eighth Folk Festival-Maddy Prior Band,Dead Sea Surfers + others 3.75, £4.25 on day.Weekend ticket £10.50, £12 on day.Free camping. Sat 10 Hex-12.15 Montreau Jazz Band free Central-Michael Profit,sounds by Jah Shake (London),King Alpha (Coventry) + People Sounds. 10 till dawn, £4 Ital food and drink available Four Horseshoes B'stoke Road-singer Bpm free (C + W) SHP-Folk Festival-Aldbrickham Band, Everlasting Circle,Hoager Watson + many others £5.50,£6,50 on day. Mon 11 Hex-Reading Youth Orchestra 7.30 Forbury Gardens-Reading Spring Gardens Band 3pm The Eagle Baker Street-Jazz 8pm free The Allied Arms St. Mary's Butts- Readifolk See 27th SHP-Folk Festival-Albion Band Mike Maran + David Shephard,Old Swan Band + others.£5.50 or £6.50 on day. Mon 12 Hex-Getting Married (Shaw) £2.50-£4 + concessions.Mon-Fri 7.30,Sat 3.30 + 8pm The Plough-Winnersh-Kennet Jazz Band 8pm free Progress Theatre-Youth Drama Festival 7.45 £1.50 + concessions. To 17th SHP-The Competition (A) 7.30 £1.90 + concessions.To 15th Tue 13 The Pheasant Winnersh-Jazz 8pm free Tudor Arms-Gay disco Cinema for one week beginning June 27th: Odeon Cheapside Reading (57887)-1)Emmanuelle 3(X),Emmanuelle in Tokyo(X),Young Lady Chatterley(X). 2)0ne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (A) ABC Friar Street Reading (53931) l)Midnight Express (A) + The elephant Man(AA) 2)Erotic Passion(X) + Sexophobia(X) 3)Quadrophenia(X) + Southern Comfort(X) (Tickets now £1.50 adults before 6pm) ABC London Road Reading(61465) Friday 13th(X) + Friday 13th Part 2 (X) ABC Bracknell (20072) 1)Friday 13th(X) + Friday 13th Part 2(X) 2)History of the World Part l(AA) + Blazing Saddles (AA) - - - SOUTH HILL PARK As often advertised in Red Rag things happen at South Hill Park. Arty things for sure but still things. If like most people you don't have a car, the best way to get there is by train and bike. It will cost 1.40 day return (70p with railcard). Trains run every hour and keep going until about midnight. (South Hill Park is in Bracknell.) Buses from Reading are slightly cheaper but more irregular and only go to the Station anyway, so you still have to catch another bus (30p each way) or walk 20 - 25 minutes. From the station turn right and follow signs to SHP; but if going by bike or walking turn right at 2nd roundabout (next to sports centre) rather than following the SHP signs which are for car drivers. Things coming up: Women's Media Workshop - inaugural meeting 7.30pm July 5 to discuss future programme of speeches films practicals etc. Film Animation Course - every Sat in August, 10.30 - 12.30 (17 pounds, reduced for SHP members and claimants, as is the case with most SHP events.) Further details of these and many other events obtainable from SHP or ring Bracknell 27272.) by our Art Correspondent - - - ACORN'S BIT People have been asking about the non-bookselling side of Acorn lately, so here goes: If you've been wondering why Red Rag looks so different it's because Acorn now has a press. We can print up to A3. The duplicators still work, though, as does the electrostencil cutter (that's a weird contraption that cuts stencils on a roller so you can duplicate line drawings and maps as well as typing. 50p a stencil.) The photocopier's available at 4p a copy and the badge machine's working overtime at 20p a badge. (The cost comes down for larger runs.) Rates for printing on the press depend very much on things like what kind of paper & ink you want, whether you want the chance of a re-run later, and so on. Come and talk if you're interested. - - - RAPE CRISIS GIG LETTERS Dear Red Rag, in reply to "Undesirable Element's" letter about the Rape Crisis Benefit at the University, we feel that it is necessary to enlighten her/his profound ignorance about what we're doing. It appears that Undesirable is under the impression that only "elitist" students have access to the gig. We would like to make clear that we distributed 2/3 of our tickets to record shops in the town, where anyone can buy them. Non-students who wish to pay on the door can be signed in. Needless to say, we have given no instructions that tickets are to be sold only to white people, so Undesirable's accusation of racism doesn't seem especially appropriate. It is true that the proportion of Black students at the University is nowhere near representative of the population as a whole - which we deplore - but we feel it would be unwise to postpone this gig until that situation is remedied. We thoroughly agree that the University is too-student oriented and that more community involvement would be great. This gig is an attempt to try to change this student bias, and seems more constructive than advising members of the community to stay at home. We'd also like to point out that "all these people who know each other" is actually a group of 6,000 students - that is, 6,000 individuals, not a huge clique. We also agree with Undesirable that the use of bouncers, particularly for a benefit of this kind, is self-contradictory .However, as s/he is aware, this is a rule of the Student's Union - and of the vast majority of other venues. If Undesirable could tell us of another licensed, free venue in Reading that doesn't require such security and admits under-18's, we will be delighted to use it. Above all, we wish to raise money for the Rape Crisis Line. We're aware that we're doing it in an imperfect way in an imperfect world. But that isn't sufficient reason for not doing it at all. Love from Reading University Women's Group - - - Dear Red Rag, As a member of the Reading Rape Crisis Group I was particularly interested in the letter you printed attacking the group's use of the University as a venue for a benefit gig. I would like to reply to it on two levels, first to set the record straight on the Rape Crisis Group's involvement in the benefit and second to extend the discussion on the politics of fundraising. The Rape Crisis Group did not organise a benefit at the University on the 18th. A group of women at the University got the Students' Union to financially back a benefit for the Rape Crisis Group. In other words, we were offered the proceeds of a benefit put on for us - not by us. It would seem logical, then, that if a student body organises a fundraising event, likely to attract students, that they do it on their own premises. I knew that the Union was "organising security". I did not know what that implied until I heard that Acorn would not sell tickets because of the heavy bouncers employed by the University, and I respect that decision. I agree with the writer of the letter, that were I, as part of an autonomous organisation, organising a benefit, I would seek a venue which did not have such oppressive restrictions on security and age. I do not feel, however, that it is possible or practical to examine in depth the politics of every organisation or individual that offers you money, and only accept it if you see eye to eye on everything. Certainly there are some organisations whose money I would feel very odd about accepting, but where do you draw the line? Radical Fundraisers Quick Quiz (Please tick yes or no to each question) 1.) Do you accept money from a student body, when elitism, racism and sexism is built into our education system? Yes/No 2.) The trade union and Labour movement is also shown to be riddled with elitism, racism and sexism, so do you accept any money or support they offer? Yes/No 3.) Should you accept money from businesses who make donations for tax purposes, and/or sell or use products from South Africa? Yes/No 4.) Should you demand that the government accepts its responsibilities and funds you if you disagree with their attitudes and policies, and run the risk of them trying to dictate your method of operation? Yes/No 5.) Should you become a charity, when that limits your political activities? Yes/No These are all serious questions. If your answer to all is no, then you are an ideologically sound, politically aware and penniless organisation. There is another option of course, organising your own benefits, jumble sales, sponsored jogs etc., completely unaided. This method is very time-consuming and tiring, and tends to raise very small amounts, therefore severely limiting the extent of the organisation's activities. So, any serious, practical suggestions as to how to raise reasonable sums of money, by a method which is politically irreproachable (preferably from someone who has put their theory into practice) on a postcard please to Red Rag. A member of the Rape Crisis Collective. - - - Dear Red Rag, I would like to reply to the unwarranted and unsubstantiated attack on the Reading Rape Crisis Line by 'Undesirable Element' in your last issue. I was angered not only by the fact that the letter was totally negative and had no constructive suggestions to make, but also by its highly patronising tone and strongly anti-feminist overtones. But first of all I must admit that I too am in total agreement with UE's two main theses, i.e. that a) the Union shouldn't be an elitist club and b) that 'you can't have bouncers all your life'. As a former student organizer of 'radical gigs' I strongly objected to the system of apartheid at the University Students' Union, which reinforces the division between privileged 'students' and those 'other' people who sometimes turn up at gigs, 'townies'. We used to make sure our gigs were well advertised in town and that anybody and everybody who turned up got in - even prices were flexible. I know for sure this also happened at the Raw Crisis benefit. Here it is necessary to make a point of clarification - it was the University Women's Group who put on the benefit for the Rape Crisis Line - i.e. it was a student society who, with backing from the Union to the tune of 200 pounds, wanted to give support to the Rape Crisis Line. This raises a dilemma for any radical/worthwhile organisation in need of funds - should the RCL have refused the RUWG's offer of a benefit until the licensing laws had been changed and under-18s were allowed into bars, until society had changed and universities (if they still existed) were open to all? And what do students like the WG do, especially in the political climate of the university as it is? There will no doubt be other benefits for the RC Line in other slightly less elitist venues (perhaps with 'no-under-18s' rules the only snag). 'UE' himself admits there is a lack of good venues in Reading (especially ones willing to do benefits), and obviously has no answers himself. I would like to point out that racism doesn't spontaneously occur with the use of the NUS card system - how many black faces were there at the Amazulu gig in the Town Hall? No system of apartheid there - but black people have their own interests and their own space and aren't necessarily into (even unintentionally) 'white' gigs. It seems ironic that all these explanations of the RCL's political credentials should have been precipitated by someone whose own credentials are very much in question - if his letter is anything to go by. All these throwaway lines about drinking Distillers whiskey (all the feminists I know of course drink nothing else, especially at benefits?!? What does 'UE' drink socially? Does it matter?), "feminist euphoria" (induced by all that whiskv?) and the nice patronising little offer of a whip-round for the RCL 'at the end. 'UE' certainly does 'warm' to his subject - he should realise that all 'feminists' are individuals with varying views. Hence the willingness of some women to talk to the police as opposed to the absolute refusal of others to do the same. As a sympathiser of the latter category, even I can see that if we can get the police to give the number of the race crisis line to the assaulted women who report to them, it might be a good thing. The police may say nice things about the RCL. What they actually think may be very different. Does 'UE' believe everything he reads in the papers? I just hope, as 'UE' obviously feels so strongly about Union policy on NUS cards and bouncers, that he fulfils his own standards of political purism and never goes near the place, never mind try to make money out of the students to redistribute to worthwhile projects around the town. Basically, I agree with 'UE's complaint, but would welcome a more constructive approach (why single out the RCL in particular?), and less of the purely anti-feminist prejudice underlying much of his discussion of the problem. Laura Necchi-Ghiri - - - LETTER - CND and the Labour Party A recent issue of Red Rag contained a letter by a "Shoddy Journalist" referring to the relationship between BANC/Reading CND and the Labour Party. It stated: "No-one has seen fit to distance BANC/CND from the Labour Party, a fact which must raise doubts in the minds of those who remember the cynical way in which the Labour Party behaved towards CND in the early 60s." The letter raises several issues; however I will confine myself to those raised by the sentence quoted above. First, to clarify, the local CLPs are affiliated to BANC/Reading CND, a positive development to be welcomed. Affiliations from other parties would also be welcomed - when the Conservative Party affiliate, the battle will be as good as won. Nationally there is Labour CND, Liberal CND and a recently-formed SDP-CND group. Other areas of activity include Christian CND, Youth CND, Green CND - every effort is made to gain support throughout all sections of society. The activities in political parties do not compromise CND or place it under the influence of any political group. In the Party sense CND is strictly non-political, but obviously the call for nuclear disarmament is a very political demand. Let us consider what happened in the early 60s as there are lessons to be learned both for CND, the Labour Party and the Trade Union Movement. It was at the Scarborough conference of the Labour Party in 1960 that Gaitskell, faced with defeat on nuclear disarmament, made his famous "...some of us... will fight, fight and fight again to save the Party we love" speech. Of course what he meant was that despite the Transport Union's resolution for nuclear disarmament being carried by 3,282,000 to 3,239,000 votes he would do "everything in his power to disregard and overturn the democratic conference decision of the Party he loved. Ten days after Scarborough a pro-Gaitskell group was formed with the object of launching a national campaign in the Labour movement to fight the CND. In Oct 1960 Bill Rodgers, supported by Roy Jenkins, Crosland and Jay released a manifesto, "Victory for Sanity" in which they appealed to party members to rally behind Gaitskell. On 18th Oct Bill Rodgers formally launched the pro-Gaitskell group as the Campaign for Democratic Socialism. By Nov, CDS had received numerous small donations and a very large sum from a source which wished to remain anonymous. This windfall enabled Rodgers to set up a London office and appoint paid staff. Pamphlets etc were distributed, plus a regular bulletin, 'Campaign', circulated free of charge to a large mailing list within the movement. All this was produced without a single subscription-paying member. (For further information see: "How CIA money took the teeth out of British Socialism" by Richard Fletcher.) It is worth noting some of the other politicians who played a role in assisting the CDS: Denis Howell, Reg Prentice, George Brown, Charles Pannell and Philip Noel-Baker. Also, not surprisingly, virtually every national newspaper supported CDS and the Rodgers gang. The Campaign achieved its objective - the success of its subversion of the Labour Party can be judged by the rejection of the TGWU's anti-Bomb motion by 4,309,000 to 1,891,000 at the 1961 Blackpool conference. The Right wing and their mysterious backers had won: they had succeeded in distancing the Labour Party from CND, thus ensuring that the country would remain secure for the continued manufacture and deployment of nuclear weapons. Brian Revell June 23rd - - - BURGHFIELD NEWSLETTER Depressed at the state of the world, the mushrooming arms trade, the constant threat of extinction, the steady erosion of our environment, the lack of funds to create and maintain socially useful work, while nuclear arms expenditure is set to rocket next year with the commitment of 8000 million pounds on the spanking new mind bogglingly destructive TRIDENT missile system? Well, don't sit at home and mope! Here is your chance to take positive action to counter the lunatic march of nuclear (an)nihilism. Peace Camping this year has already seen an astonishing growth in the number of people willing to give some or all of their time to work for peace and unity and against divisions and the governmental steam-roller tactics which threaten this green and pleasant planet. Peace camps are unique as each one is autonomous - no single political or public body is behind their formation, though there are of course links based on a common aim - to take non-violent direct action to stop the manufacture of even more deadly nuclear weaponry, and to excite public opinion to bring about the abandonment of the illusion of nuclear deterrence. The establishment of Burghfield Peace Camp two months ago is a local example of this development (hands up those who still don't know where Burghfield is!). The Royal Ordnance Factory at Burghfield tests the trigger components and completes the assembly of all nuclear warheads produced in this country, and the Peace Camp aims to publicise this fact and carry out a study of goings on at the factory. Organisation at the camp is informal and spontaneous the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly - but a Peace Camp is not a holiday camp, despite occasional appearances and sporadic fun and games. Here, plotting, research, initiative, cooperation, awareness and consideration are the order of the day - no moping around with hang-dog "the bums are going to nuke us anyway, so what's the point in thinking about it" expressions. If the threat to our future bugs you then you can go up to the factory and concentrate your energies on where it all happens. Placard the workers morning and evening. Keep a vigil at the factory entrances. Annoy the MOD police (some of whom are OK!) by sketching or taking photos of the factory. Help us to sway local opinion towards the idea that it is possible to do something about this invisible ink blot on the landscape. Take part in Street theatre, walks around the factory etc. Experience the rare thrill of feeling that your opinions and actions do count for something after all! Don't just sit there - do something!! Visit us at the ROF main gates 2.30pm every Sunday for photographic/sketching expeditions or call in anytime and visit us at the Peace Camp itself. From Monday 12th July we will be mounting a permanent vigil at all three gates of the factory to enable us to take a census of all incoming and outgoing traffic. We hope to continue this for 5-7 days but for it to succeed we need volunteers who are willing to man (wot abat wimmin-typist) the census points. If you will be available at a definite time or times during the week, please contact us so that we can draw up a rota as soon as possible. Contacts: Postal - Box 17, Acorn Bookhop, 17 Chatham St Phone - Burghfield Common 3732 - - - "BEAT BEAT FLIP" INTERVIEW - HIP LIP FROM THE FLIP Beat Beat Flip are a university band who recently supported 2 excellent reggae bands Amazulu and Abacush at the Rape Crisis benefit. They are essentially a 'fun' band - the set they played in the union hall was really lively (I couldn't see anyone standing still). RR- Who's in the band? N - Me (Nick) on guitar, John on bass, Buzz on sax, Tina on sax, Vanessa on vocals, Mark on synth-, Erica the drum machine on percussion. RR- How long have you been together? N - 6 months. RR- How did you get together? N&J- It happened gradually over a period of 6 months. It started at a party when some of us got together and jammed, and things developed from there. RR- How about the musical development of the band? N - The music's constantly changing, we work within a framework, but it's a flexible system af shifting values and sounds. We want the music to be accessible, but see it as a kind of permanent revolution, constructive, not destructive. RR- Yes, you seem really to be a 'fun' band. N - Yeah, we play most of our songs in a minor key but still manage to sound happy! But I don't see fun as being escapist. J - The Rape Crisis benefit was fun, although the point of the evening was serious, it's a serious issue. We like to be happy without being flippant! RR- Yeah, the American Russian Jewish anarchist Emma Goldman said something like "I won't join your revolution if I can't dance at it". N - That seems a wholesome point of view. J - When was she around? RR- Before and after the Russian Revolution. J - Wow, and she was into dancing even then! RR- Are you into fame, money, the spectacle? N - It's nice to know that what you do is appreciated! J - We're not doing it purely for the money, but it would be nice to make a living out of it. RR- But what about the whole star trip? N - John's really into that, but the rest of us are rather more self- effacing. RR- Would Buzz like to say anything? B - No. N - Buzz doesn't talk to the press. Tina would have done, she's far more radical than us. RR- Do you like doing benefits? J - We like to do benefit gigs, but we don't want to turn into the pop version of CRASS. RR- You have quite an 'arty' image, with spraycan artists at work during 'Summery Tune' and splashy bright backdrops etc. J - We like to associate bright pictures and images with the music. N - There's nothing wrong with being arty anyway! RR- OK, thanks, 'bye! - - - RED RAG, THE FUTURE AND YOU Currently the Rag costs about £45 an issue (for 800+ copies). Before this one we had £6.82 in the bank... In the last issue there was no appeal for money, which May explain this. The social in the Crown didn't make any money 'cos people didn't give their 40ps... If we don't get lots of money soon we'll be back to Reading's worst-printed newspaper. We'd like anything you can afford really. There's a box in Acorn. Cheques should be made out to 'Red Rag' and sent to us c/o Sue Clarke, 181 Shinfield Road, Reading. Any ideas for fundraising? Tell us. Several of us contribute one per cent of our income by standing order (not much - work it out!) This means there is some regular income we can count on. It's not enough though, and we'd really like more people doing this. Fill in the form opposite, and send it to us (NOT your bank) c/o Sue Clarke as above. To (your bank's name & address): ________________________________ ________________________________ Please pay to the account of Red Rag, Co-operative Bank, Reading (08-90-16, account no 50148637) the sum of:___________________ _______ (words), £_____ (figs) on_________________(date) and on the same date every month/3 months until further notice. Signed______________________ Date________________________ Your account no:_________________ Your name:_______________________ Your address:____________________ _________________________________ - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1982/1982-06-27.txt#3 $