"Let your fingers do the talking" Red Rag's (provisional) one and only RED PAGES Red Rag's Provisional Alternative Directory to the Reading Area! The idea of a directory to Reading has been floating around the Red Rag Collective for well over a year, and there have been several tentative attempts to get people to submit entries. In the end it was the questionnaire that got things going (the idea, and the title, from First Of May in Edinburgh), in Sept 82. Most of the entries came on the form we printed. In practice the directory has been almost entirely the work of one Collective member. This has meant that a) it has been produced in a format to minimise the amount of work and more important b) the content has had a minimum of planning. We did say the directory was basically for anyone who wanted to be in it: those who submitted entries are in and those who didn't aren't. I simply did not feel in a position to make decisions about which things were so important they could not be left out, but just left them out. (Acorn? the Women's Centre? Gay switchboard? Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign? Etc. Or whole areas I don't know about, like housing or culture.) We started off with a list of about 70 groups; here are about 35, a third of them not on that list (e.g. because we'd not known about them). Some fairly haphazard hassling (giving people forms and asking them to fill them in) was quite successful (but a lot of work): with more planning and more people a much better directory could be produced... I did leave out most of a list of Branch Secretaries attached to the Labour Party entry - and most of the one from the University Labour Club. But again, I couldn't take a decision on whether the Labour Party (eg) had any right to appear at all. So this directory makes no claim to be comprehensive (or much use as a directory!) or consistent. If (and only if!) other people are interested we may try to bring out a stupendous revised edition sometime in the New Year. At any rate we'll try to publish late entries as supplements in Red Rag. (Send them, together with correction, criticisms, complaints and offers of help to Red Rag Red Pages c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading.) There were some problems in converting replies to the questionnaire into entries. We haven't been consistent. The questions on the form are reproduced below: they have been abbreviated and run together to make the sub-headings in the entries. How we did this depended on how people had replied to any particular question: so it couldn't be standardised... Anyway, I hope we haven't offended anyone too much by what we've done. (I say "we": I managed to discuss most things with someone before doing them!) Two groups made suggestions for a different title: "Red Rag Times", and "Left Out" - which seems rather good, but only appeared at the last minute. Three groups contributed £10 between then specifically for the directory. It will probably cost more like £40. Send us money! (c/o 31b Milman Road, Reading, cheques to 'Red Rag') James The questionnaire ----------------- Most of the entries that follow came on a form which asked the following questions: Name of organisation: Postal address: Contact phone no: Aims : Under what heading would you like to appear? How many members? How to join or get involved? Structure (who makes the decisions and how?): Current activities: Meetings: Past activities: Services, info, provided: Publications: Are you a local branch of a national organisation? How are you funded? Other details: PUBLICATIONS RED RAG ------- c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading. News: 599804 666681 61257 Going out: 663063 Events: 666681 Distribution: 61257 666681 Red Rag is Reading's Only Newspaper (no longer Reading's Worst-printed Newspaper), is free, and has appeared fortnightly (except August and Christmas) since 1979. The print run is currently 1000. A quarter of these go to various outlets in town; the rest are delivered to people's doors by our wonderful distribution system. The paper aims to provide a decent alternative coverage of local news and issues from a radical non-aligned position; to promote subversive and creative initiatives; to provide a forum for unorthodox views; to allow some sort of co-existence between a huge variety of interests. Maybe 30 people are regularly involved (mainly as distributors); half a dozen do the bulk of production work, in two groups doing alternate issues. The Rag prints pretty well everything it gets sent ("unless the Collective judges it racist sexist right wing or supportive of oppressive religions"). If it doesn't print what you'd like it to that's because you haven't written it down and sent it in. Help is badly needed, especially in production (typing, graphics, paste-up; collation and labelling). It's proving a problem getting new people involved. Write or ring up or come to a Collective meeting, which is open to anyone (every 6 weeks or so, usually on Sunday at 4). Wider decisions are made by consensus at Collective meetings: practical decisions as they occur by the production group concerned. Red Rag is supported entirely by readers' donations. We get nearly £50 a month in standing orders: about a third of what we need in all. Send donations - cheques to 'Red Rag' - to us o/o Sue Clarke, 31b Milman Road, Reading, or use the collecting box in Acorn Bookshop. (By the way, though the Rag is printed at Acorn and had an address there, they are not the same thing.) Drat ---- Free irregular paper for Anarcho-Nihilist nutheads. Next edition out before Christmas can be found in telephone booths, on park benches and maybe even in Acorn. Produced by the Wessex Nihilist Underground (responsible for recent town centre stink bomb commando raids). POLITICS Reading Anarchist Group ----------------------- Box 19, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. Tel: Reading 666681. Aims: The establishment of a self-managed society based on trust and mutual aid, without authority or coercion, religion or law, dominance or submission! To plan and carry out actions and produce propaganda to further this aim. To provide a supportive meeting-place for otherwise isolated anarchists. Membership: No such thing. Maybe 10 at any one meeting. Come along! Decisions: Things are decided by consensus at meetings - or done on individual initiative. Activities: Depend on what people want to do! Weekly meeting on Mondays at 8pm - ring 666681 for the venue. Series of wallposters in Reading; leaflets; bookstall; involvement in variety of issues and campaigns... Regionally: Thames Valley contact network set up Nov 82 Funds: Collections at meetings. Reading Branch. Communist Party of Great Britain ------------------------------------------------ 16 Priory Avenue, Caversham, Reading. Tel: Reading 477913 Aims: The revolutionary transformation of society, ending capitalism and replacing it with socialism, in accordance with Marxist-Leninist principles and our programme "The British Road to Socialism" (available in all good bookshops). Membership: 40. Contact the above address. Structure: Democratic Centralism. Activities: Monthly branch meetings, second Thursday of the month, AUEW, 121 Oxford Road. Marxist education classes and day schools, locally and nationally. Sale of paper. Wide support and involvement in local Labour Movement activities. Selected election work. Public meetings. Past activities: How far past? There's been a branch of the Party in Reading since the late 20s. Activities might include anti-fascism 30s. Aid to Spain. Sent 3 people to the International Brigade, one a woman, one was killed, 40s Second Front and Aid to Russia campaigns, weekly meetings, Michael Foot spoke at one in '42. Whitley rent strike also occupation of vacated army barracks by homeless in 40s. Local election candidates from 30s till now... (This is just conversation, not necessarily copy, if you want clarification phone Eileen 477913) Publications: Morning Star and Marxism Today, nationally. Funds: Subscriptions, quota, events. (Still waiting for the Moscow gold.) Reading South Ecology Party --------------------------- 25 De Beauvoir Road, Reading. RG1 5NS Tel: Reading 663195 Aims: To encourage thought and action in support of the green perspective in political life, in order to achieve a shift towards a sustainable society based on the needs of the person and the planet. Membership: 40. Contact Maria Callies on 663195. Decisions: Consensus at meetings. Activities: Discussion, fundraising, preparation for elections. Put up a candidate for 1979 General Election and for local elections since. Meetings: First and third Mondays of the month. Services, info: Leaflets, literature, advice, speakers. Branch of a national organisation? Yes. Funds: Membership fees, jumble sales etc. All enquiries very welcome. Labour Party ------------ (Membership and election and other activity takes place at ward level and the wards affiliate to Parliamentary Constituency Parties, which in turn affiliate to the Reading District LP (for Borough matters) and the Berkshire County LP (for County matters).) Reading North: Sec: Chris Cannon, c/o 121 Oxford Rd, Reading. (53756) Heading South: Sec: John Cantwell, 37 Windermere Road Reading. (862453) Reading District: Sec: Pete Ruhemann, 897 Oxford Road Reading. (23340) Berkshire County: Sec: Val Price, 61 Alma Road, Winds Berks. (Windsor 67776) Aims: To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service. Membership: About 1000 in Greater Reading. Contact your branch secretary. Structure: The basic democratic unit is the Branch which sends delegates to a Constituency Party General Management Committee. The Constituencies in turn sends delegates to the Rg Dist LP and Berks County LP. Activities: Working for a Labour Reading in a Labour Britain. The Labour Party in Reading contributed an M.P. to support every Labour Govt from 1924 to 1966 and was responsible for major parts of the housing, education and social services achievements of Reading as a County Borough. In recent years we've been at the forefront of campaigns to preserve and extend services in Reading and in Berkshire. Funds: Subscriptions, affiliations, bingo and other fund-raising schemes. Reading University Labour Club ------------------------------ We can't see much point in printing an entry from this as it's not likely to be of much interest to non-students. Contact c/o Student Union, Whiteknights (860222). They meet Tues 8pm in the Palmer Building in term time. Reading Socialist Workers Party ------------------------------- Tel: 666660 Aims: For workers power and international socialism! Contact by phone or paper sellers. Meetings: Weekly, 8pm Wednesdays, Red Lion, Southampton Street. Open to supporters and sympathisers. Publications: Socialist Worker. Branch of a national organisation? Yes. FOOD Berkshire Organic Gardeners --------------------------- No address by request Tel: Reading 476317 (secretary) Aims: To encourage production of wholesome food, free from additives, and to encourage a healthier diet in the nation. Activities: Monthly meetings at St Mary's Centre with talks from outside speakers. Garden meetings in summer. Publications: newsletter. Nationally: affiliated to the Henry Doubleday Research Association. Funds: subscriptions (£2) and plant sales. Our committee is well qualified to answer queries on general horticulture and organic gardening. ENVIRONMENT Reading Friends of the Earth ---------------------------- 21 Lind Close, Earley. Tel: 868314 or 868260 Aims: Environmental campaigning and education for equitable and sustainable lifestyles. Membership: c20 "active", mailing list c150. Come and see us! Small subscription to cover mailing welcomed. Decisions: consensus of active members at meetings. Current activities: Cycle campaign. Critique of Central Reading District Plan. Endangered species petition. Opposition to nuclear power. Past activities: Windscale. Save the Whale. Meetings: Irregular. Some with invited speakers, others for actions or business. Services, info: Speakers and leaflets on relevant topics. Waste paper collected for recycling for funds. Publications: Programme/news sheet 2-4 monthly. Branch of a national organisation? Yes, effectively. Technically we are an autonomous group licensed to use the name. Funds: Donations and paper collections, sale of badges goods etc. Active members wanted to research aid campaign on local issues. Reading (Friends of the Earth) Cycle Campaign --------------------------------------------- c/o 5 Manchester Road, Reading. No tel. Aims: To improve conditions for cyclists in the Reading area and encourage consideration of cycling as a serious mode of transport. Membership: c40. Contact Simon Watkins, 5 Manchester Road. Structure: informal/anarchistic, i.e. decisions made at meetings. Current activities: 1. Submissions to Central Reading District Plan. 2. Proposals for cycle routes in South and East Reading. 3. Trying to get more consideration from British Rail over parking and carriage of cycles. Meetings: Variable, c once a month, 8pm Wed/Thurs at the Crown pub (Crown St), Old Town Hall or Newtown Community Centre (Cumberland Road). Services, info: Cheap insurance through the Cycle Campaign Network; literature on cycle planning avail- able. Nationally: affiliated to Friends of the Earth, Cyclists' Touring Club, Cycle Campaign Network. Funds: collections at meetings. Started around summer 1981. Waiting for response to 1. and 2. above. What next? Need members interested in preparing -proposals for West Reading and Caversham. Possible future social events? All cyclists welcome. Possible 'Guide to Cycling in Reading' publication. Berkshire Conservation Volunteers --------------------------------- Venture Fair, Lower Padworth, Reading RG7 4JR. Tel. David Morphew (chairman) Reading 478882. Aims: To protect and improve parts of the local environment by undertaking practical work on nature reserves, country parks, areas of woodland and public amenity sites. Membership: about 100. Phone Lin Carter (Rg 478625). Membership fee is £1 p.a. Structure: Elected committee, but meetings are open to any member. Activities: Winter programme of fencing, coppicing, scrub clearance and tree planting on various sites in and around Reading. Every Sunday leave 9am from Reading Station. A few social events each year - Xmas party, educational talks on wider aspects of conservation, summer walks, training courses. Publications: bimonthly newsletter to members and interested bodies. Nationally: affiliated to British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, 36 St Mary's St, Wallingford. Funds: Grants from various local councils, plus payment for work done on Sundays (see above). BeC is one of the few environmental groups where members actually get down to practical work. It is not connected to any political party (but this does not prevent its members as individuals from holding their own strong political views), and it is not a pressure group. (Compiled from two different forms submitted for BeC) Pagans Against Nukes -------------------- 69 Cranbury Road, Reading. Tel: Sorry - Buzby zapped us. Aims: To unite all those who follow the traditional ways of love for Mother Earth in political and magical action, that the evil of nuclear technology be banished, and the reestablishment of a culture living in harmony with the Earth. Membership: 400+ internationally, about 10 locally. (Reading is the coordinating centre for organisation.) Write or visit us. Who makes decisions: those actively involved. Activities: Involvement in most CND etc work, also very interested in Animal Liberation. Magazine. Magical work as thought suitable. At Lughnasadh (Aug 1) this year we organised the first public Grand Sabbat for over 500 years in our land. Publications: "The Pipes of Pan", quarterly at the fire festivals. How funded: by treasurer's overdraft/ with great difficulty, mainly by magazine subscriptions. WOMEN'S ISSUES Reading Rape Crisis Line ------------------------ Box 9, 17 Chatham St, Reading. Tel: 55577, 24 hr answerphone service on weekdays, crisis line Sunday 7.30-10.30. Membership: Steadily increasing. Meeting fortnightly on Wednesday at Women's Centre, Abbey St, Reading. Structure: Collective, everybody makes the decisions. Activities: Operating Rape Crisis Line, fundraising, seeking charitable status, public relations. Services: Emotional support and practical advice for women and girls who have been sexually assaulted or abused. Nationally: Part of a network of collectives all over the country. Funded by donations. Free Pregnancy Testing and Advice Service ----------------------------------------- Women's Centre, Basement, Old Shire Hall, Abbey St, Reading. How to join or get involved: Contact Women's Centre on Tuesday evenings. Structure: Collective, everybody makes the decisions. Activities: Free pregnancy testing , Tuesday evenings Services: Advice on pregnancy, contraception, abortion and related issues. Other details: Funded by donations. We need more women to help run the service so that we can open on other evening? and at other hours. Unemployed Women's Group ------------------------ Contact Margaret, Reading 872464 ORGANISATIONS Reading Centre for the Unemployed --------------------------------- 4-6 East St, Reading, Tel: 596639 Users: Potentially 10 000 How to join or get involved: Drop in. Structure: Committee structure comprising management committee, urgency committee, users' committee; two full-time workers, newly-appointed coordinator. Activities: Day trips, gig at the Old Town Hall, drama group, arts and crafts, remedial reading, bike repairs, etc. Users' committee meeting: Usually Fridays in the afternoon. Services: Welfare Rights advice. Publications: East St. Echo. Branch of national organisation? Yes. Funded by central government, Trade Unions, local authority. Samaritans ---------- 154 Southampton St, Reading. Tel: 54845. Aims: To help anyone in distress by listening and caring. Membership: About 140 volunteers. Phone Samaritans 54845 to get involved. Structure: Director and management committee. Activities: National Samaritan Sponsored Walk on the Ridgeway, 1982; we are open from 9am to 10pm for visitors. No appointment required. The phone is manned 24 hrs a day, every day. (Women operate the line too- typist's comment.) Services: Helping anyone in distress. Branch of a national organisation? Yes, Samaritans Inc. Other details: Funded by voluntary contributions. We have a supporting organisation, the Friends of the Samaritans, who need more members to help with fund-raising activities. COMMUNITY GROUPS Katesgrove Residents Association -------------------------------- 51 Alpine St, Katesgrove, Reading. RG1 2PY Tel: 580214 867101 54787 586751 598401 Aims: "To support the rights and interests of everyone living in the Katesgrove area." Membership: About 500. Contact any active member. Structure: General committee elected annually (15 members); Executive (usually 5 people); 4-5 Sub-committees Activities: Lobbying, Play development, Tree planting, River rights, Landlord/tenant cases, Council house tenants rights, Community policing issues, Environmental planning issue's (Traffic, Roads, Transport, Development control), Public participation in education, Youth provision, etc. Meetings: General committee meetings are open to everyone and are held each month around the 20th. Occasional Public Meetings and AGM for which notices are sent to all 4000 houses in the area. Publications: Katesgrove Clarion, Newsletters both published occasionally. Funds: Donations, Grants (e.g. Urban Programme) and a few fund raisers. Reading City Farm ----------------- A group aiming to set up a City Farm on land leased from Reading Borough Council, to the rear of John Rabson's Recreation Ground on the Whitley Wood Estate. Work on the site should start in the near future and a lot of help is needed, particularly from people who live near the site, but all are welcome. Anyone interested in helping should contact Helen Tranter on Reading 64907. HEALTH Thames Valley Natural Health Centre ----------------------------------- 4 Gage Close, Maidenhead, Berks. Tel: Maidenhead 24083 (Corrie). Bracknell 25343 (Jan). Pangbourne 2371 (Elaine & John). Aims: 1. To provide information on locally available therapies. 2. Educational - through workshops, lectures, discussion groups to help people take responsibility for their own health. Membership: around 110. Membership is £4 p.a. or just come along. Structure: Non-hierarchical Core Group plus feedback from members. Activities: Workshops: Handling emotions; sacred dance; biofeedback; astrology; Alexander technique. Lectures: co-counselling; veganism; visualisation; mid-life crisis. Meetings: every other Thurs in Friends' Meeting House, Reading or Wokingham. Publications: newsletter 3 times p.a. Brochure. Nationally: Natural Health Network. Funds: Membership; donations; trying to make workshops self-financing. EDUCATION Workers' Educational Association, Reading Branch ------------------------------------------------ Sec. Mrs E Worsley, 75 Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HG Tel: Reading 862887 Aims: A voluntary, democratic "body which aims to interest and involve adults in their own continuing education and in education generally, to lead to greater social and political awareness as well as intellectual enlightenment. Membership: Variable.about 500 at present. Pay £1 subscription to become an individual member, or join a class and become a student member. Structure: Executive Committee elected at AGM. Activities: Provider of recognised classes for adults in a wide variety of subjects. Some are provided jointly with Reading University, others by the WEA entirely. Meetings: AGM on 22 October 1982. Publications: WEA Courses 1982/3: contains outlines of courses planned. Funds: Partly direct Govt grant, class fees, subscriptions. The WEA movement has no party political or sectarian ties, and consists of hundreds of individual branches throughout the country. Reading was the first branch, established in 1904. It is run by its members, individuals, students and affiliated organisations, who plan future courses and activities. The Reading Branch works closely with the Reading Adult College and Reading University, and has links with the Town Centre and Centre for the Unemployed and other agencies and groups involved in education. W.E.A. - Reading Industrial Branch ---------------------------------- 897 Oxford Road, Reading, Berks. RG3 6TR Tel: 23540 Aims: To promote the interests of workers education by providing educational activities (teach-ins, day-schools and longer courses) and creating educational links between trade union, labour and community movements. Membership: The Branch was only inaugurated in Sept 82 but has a growing affiliate and individual membership. Contact Pete Ruhemann at the above address. Structure: The governing body is the Branch Meeting comprising individual members, two delegates from each affiliated organisation, and class secretaries elected by the students. Activities: Evening teach-ins on key issues (NHS, Women and Work) and a day-school on handling the media are planned for 1982. Watch Red Rag for details. The first teach-in (29.9.82) was on the Local Economy. Meetings: The Branch will meet at least quarterly. Services, info: The principle of the Branch is that teach-ins, day-schools and courses will be laid on in response to demand and that longer courses in particular will be guided by the students attending them. Nationally: We are awaiting confirmation by WEA (Berks, Bucks & Oxon) which in turn is affiliated to WEA nationally. Funds: Pees, affiliations, membership and grants. World Education, Berkshire (WEB) A network of individuals and groups centred mainly on Bracknell although contacts in the whole county. Holds an annual conference and sets up "working parties" on topics requested by the network (mainly development and peace education). Many resources available for use. Contact for further information: Anne Yarwood, Ascot 21167. Socialist Educational Association - Reading & District Branch ------------------------------------------------------------- St Agnes, Grove Hill, Caversham, Reading, Berks. Tel: 475467 Aims: SEA is the affiliated education body of the Labour Party and is open to all who are eligible for Labour Party membership, who have a special interest in education and who share a socialist perspective. It debates education issues and contributes to the creation and implementation of Labour's education programme locally and nationally. Membership: Accurate information not yet available. Contact Geoff Mander at the above address. Structure: The Branch is the decision-making body. Activities: A major meeting for Governers, teachers and others interested in education is planned for later this term. A proper cycle of meetings will be organised in the New Year. The Branch is only now being reformed. Back when Reading was a County Borough and had education responsibilities, the then Reading Branch had a major input to Labour Party policy on the Council and was also much involved in the reorganisation when Berkshire took over responsibility. The Branch will debate issues and initiate or support campaigns as required. Nationally: SEA is affiliated to the Labour Party and sends a delegate to its Annual Conference. Publishes 'Socialism & Education' (termly), 'Handbook for Governers' etc. How funded? By subsription. TRADE UNION Reading Trades Union Council ---------------------------- c/o 6 Belgravia Court, 53 Bath Road, Reading,, Tel: Ruth Berkeley (secretary): home 582051, office 596466. Aims: Local contact, co-ordination, and joint action between local trade union Branches on issues of local concern and/or concerning local t.u. Branches. Members: Branches affiliate in respect of a bit under 10,000 members; there are over 100 elected delegates. Get your Trade Union Branch to affiliate if it isn't already and get yourself elected as a delegate. Structure: Policy is made monthly by meetings of Council. Branches may submit motions to set policy, other business arises from correspondence from appropriate quarters. Current activities: Numerous. Sponsors and part-organisers of May Day. Represented on Unemployed Centre Management Committee. Campaigning against Tebbit. Supporting NHS workers in pay dispute, and British Telecom unions against privatisation. Trying to investigate overtime working. Setting up Reading Public Sector Liaison Committee. Initiative to form Reading Industrial WEA Branch. Etc. Past activities: Excessively numerous. Meetings: monthly, 4th Tuesday, 7.30 - 9.30. Services, info: Publicity etc to other unions about disputes in which affiliated Branches are involved if the Branches involved so wish. Reports on activities of interest by other levels of the TUC hierarchy. Advice on appropriate subjects on request. Miscellaneous publicity/support. Publications: Minutes, agenda, ad hoc circulars, annual report. Branch of national organisation? Yes, sort of. Funds: Affiliation fees from affiliated Branches (currently 6p per annum per Branch member affiliated.) Delegate entitlement: one per 50 members affiliated, or part thereof, max 8 delegates. Constitutionally restricted from liaison with any political party except the Labour Party; constitutionally restricted from supplying any funds to the Labour Party. The voice of the trade union movement in Reading. SPIRITUAL Centre of Cernunnos and Ceridwen -------------------------------- 69 Cranbury Road, Reading. Tel: Sorry! Aims: To be a centre where all those who follow the old religion of the Great Goddess may meet in worship and celebration, and where those who seek the Mysteries may train and work together. Membership: not many! Write or visit us. Decisions: The (initiated) elders of the Centre tend to take the decisions, but we'd only be too pleased for more to be involved. Activities: Celebration of the seasonal festivals, meditations and other magical work. Past activities: Rather not admit! Meetings: Irregular at present (8 seasonal festivals per year) but the more members the merrier. Services: Training in the magical traditions, for those truly committed to such a path. Internationally: We are a sister centre of the Fellowship of Isis, which has about 3000 members internationally. How funded: Hardly at all! We have a permanent temple for use of Centre members at the above address. PEACE MOVEMENT Burghfield Peace Campaign ------------------------- Box 17, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading. Tel: varies from project to project. Aims: To publicise the existence and function of ROF Burghfield, nuclear weapons factory. To encourage others to approach life's problems nonviolently, to support those who take nonviolent action against nuclear weapons in particular, militarism in general. Membership: No formal membership, less than a dozen people are frequently involved. Write to the contact address with any questions comments or offers of support about our previous or present projects; or suggestions for future activities. Structure: On the peace camp decisions required unanimous support: much time and care given to developing a consensus. Now becoming rapidly less structured: we see each other socially and react to support each others' individual initiatives. Activities: Flyposting; distribution of postcards; preparation of booklet; planning Christmas fast to draw attention to links between 3rd World starvation and Western arms spending. Past activities: Burghfield Peace Camp; Hiroshima/Nagasaki fast; participation in international peace marches Meetings: Fluid, informal, frequent and generally very irregular! Services, info: Speakers/articles about ROF Burghfield: its location, function, significance, threat. Speakers/ facilitators for nonviolent action workshops. Publications: Postcards/posters: "ROF...RIP" Nationally: We like to think we are the local manifestation of an international movement. How funded: Very badly. Private donations. Beekeepers Against Nasty Killers -------------------------------- Box 158, 17 Chatham St, Reading. Tel: - Aims: To eradicate militarism, sexism and unharmonious exploitative relations (especially between bees and humans} Under what heading would you like to appear? Saints. Members: Half of the Famous Five and Half a dozen others. When you feel motivated to change the world, write us a note. Structure: The leader suggests you want to do it, you agree, and they do it! Activities: Dispersed subversion of other people's lives. Meetings: The first and last dragged on and on and was painful, so we have not had another yet. Past activities: Leafletting the Reading Show; washing bee-keeping suits. Services, info: We serve only ourselves, and are not yet informed. Funds: We write to Brezhnev occasionally, but no luck so far. We'll try the CIA soon. We don't wear funny hats or gloves, and very few of us actually keep bees. But we do think killers are nasty. GAY Gay Soc Students' Union, Whiteknights, Reading.RG6 2AZ. Tel S.U. (messages) Reading 860222. Gaysoc aims to be for everyone who doesn't think s/he is 100% heterosexual. Though University-based and Union-funded non-students are welcome and currently make up almost half the membership. A social and campaigning group and a resource for gay people. Membership: around 30 (though fewer take part). Come to meeting/event; write or phone. Who makes decisions: everyone who takes part. Activities: Discussions, films, social events, producing magazine, and anything members want to do. Meetings: usually every Monday during term-time, 8pm Students' Union Council Room. Publications: "Breakout" - free little magazine, with features and info. Funds: Grant from S.U. and own fundraising. ANIMAL RIGHTS Animal Rights Contact Group --------------------------- Richard Teed, 1 Aggisters Lane, Wokingham, Berks. Tel: Richard (0734) 785766. Roz Bracknell 56940. Aims: To form a "tree" contact group using the telephone as a means of contact. We wish to inform and be informed of animal rights activities in the area, we hope to become part of a wider tree encompassing London activties. Nationally: connections with B.U.A.V., Hunt Sabouteurs. Funds: Russians! If such a group already exists please contact us. Animal Liberation & Hunt Sabouteurs Association ----------------------------------------------- 23 Brook Street, Twyford Tel: Reading 341683 (Gary) or 589327 (Joe) Aims: total ban on animal vivisection and cruelty. Membership: 20 (recently formed) Activities: Saboutage of Hunt. Anti-vivisection. Meetings: Weekly on Tuesdays at the Bell, Maidenhead. A multitude of information is available on all forms of animal welfare. A local group of national organisations. Funds: self-sufficient. Other details: no restrictions! HUMAN RIGHTS Reading Group, Amnesty International ------------------------------------ c/o Caroline Bott (secretary), 61 Donnington Gardens, Reading RG1 5LZ. Tel: 0734 662874. Aims: Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights movement which is independent of any government, political faction, ideology, economic interest or religious creed. We work for the release or improvement in condition of prisoners of conscience. We also publicise the work of the organisation. Membership: 30 members, plus associate members. Contact secretary or come to a meeting. Decisions: Made by the group at monthly business meetings. Activities: Work on behalf of adopted prisoners in the Ukraine and Gabon, Meetings 2nd Thursday of each month, St Mary's Centre, the Butts, Reading. Past activities: Work for prisoners, e.g. in Sao Tome, Argentina. Public letter writing session. Poetry writing competition for schools. Garden party attended by Janet Johnstone, director of British section. Publications: Quarterly newsletter, prisoner information. Funds: Fund raising and donations. Speakers and films at monthly meetings. Also provide speakers on Amnesty International's work for other local organisations. CAMPAIGNS Reading Campaign against Berufsverbot 79 Baker Street, Reading RG1 7XY. Tel: 55415 Aims: To combat political repression in the Federal Republic of Germany directed at legal left wing activists and active trade unionists. Membership: 10. Get in touch at the above address. Structure: Collective. Activities: Thinking of getting together materials (suitable) for an English audience - not many know about that side of W.Germany. Past activities: Organising meetings (public and trade union) with victims of Berufsverbot (teachers, post office workers etc). Information provided: Masses in German, grass roots and prestigious; pamphlets in English, Branch of a national organisation? Yes. Funds: Donations. We would like committed persons to help us develop new (and successful) ways of Increasing awareness about Berufsverbot amongst the British public. Reading Legalise Cannabis Campaign (LCC) ---------------------------------------- Box 23, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. Nationally: c/o 1 Elgin Avenue, London W9 (01-289-3883) Aims: People should be able to get, grow and smoke the herb without being hassled by pigs courts and other agents of destruction. The UK is one of the worst places in Europe to be busted. (Why? We aim to change this. Membership: 5 (ish) locally. Write to contact address. Activities: Currently dormant - too few people with time to spare. Could be revived if anyone thinks it's worth doing. Used to meet every fortnight at someone's house. Leafletted Reading Festival. Benefit gig in '81 raised £300. Nationally: LCC has about 1000 members, an office in London and one full time worker. It's been contracting for some time. Priorities have been cut back to hassling HM Govt, court protests and lobbying. On a local level we could add to this fundraising and informing the general public. All ideas help contributions etc welcome. THIRD WORLD Development Society (University) -------------------------------- Students' Union, Whiteknights, Reading. Tel: Reading 664896 Aims: For members, past and proto-development workers in the Third World, to educate ourselves. Membership: 40. Write phone or preferably come to a meeting. Structure: Constitutional Anarchy. Activities: Meetings (8pm Palmer Building, Whiteknights (room 104), Tuesdays) on mainly practical topics. High technical content, (intercropping; Indian land reforms; Development workers and the authoritarian memtality; a swampland development project in Sierra Leone; Biogas; Appropriate Technology; village chemical industries; etc etc) Funds: Membership fees (£1) and Union grant. Returned Volunteer Action (RVA) ------------------------------- A national membership organisation made up mainly of "returned volunteers". Our local group meets about once a month at a home or pub. We aim to use our overseas experience to "educate" the public here about the real issues of development, i.e. power shading. We take on small local initiatives of our own or projects passed onto us by other sympathetic groups or individuals. For further information contact Colin Date, tel. Reading 666599. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1982/red-pages.txt#4 $