RED RAG Fortnightly April 21 1986 Reading's Only Newspaper Next coordinator Mark 868488 Copy date WED 30th April Paste up Friday 2nd May Folding party Sat 3rd May Going Out Paul 869157 Events Paul 481081 Free! Many thanks to all those who put their muscles and/or brains into this issue Chris de B. - - - YE OLDE RAGGE Red Rag has been produced for nearly 6 years by an ever-changing group of people - the Red Rag Collective - and anyone can join in. The possibilities for helping produce your very own newspaper are endless, no offer of help is ever refused. The Collective Is everyone who helps on the Bag but in practice it's the people who go to collective meetings held once every 6 weeks or so on a Sunday afternoon on an alternate w/e to the Rag. It should be announced in the Events Guide. The minutes of these meetings are available, if you are interested you should ask for them to be delivered with the Rag. Articles for the Rag 12cm wide single spaced if typed (the prod, team reduce). Please state if you don't mind editorial scissor work or if you want the article to remain untouched. Articles should be signed in some way. Without a contact phone no. or address then the editorial group can't discuss changes etc. Beware! Copy deadline is usually the Thurs. before publication. P.S. There is a collective policy of no poetry. The "Box at Acorn" Red Rag lives in a vegetable tray at Acorn Bookshop. Articles, letters and small ads. (free) can be deposited here or sent by post. - - - READING NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY GROUP (FSLN) Dear Red Rag, I would like to appeal to all your readers to come along to the Beading Nicaragua Solidarity Group stall on May Day (May 3rd) and join the Group. It doesn't cost much (£1 unwaged, £2 waged), and it is essential to build up as much support as possible in Europe for the Sandinistas before Loony Tune Reagan goes for his gun. More and more people believe that Reagan plans to invade Nicaragua in 1987 (assuming that the Contras continue to suffer military defeats). Already the US Defense Department has estimated that they would need an invasion force of between 100,000 and 125,000, and that they would have to expect between 3000 and 8000 US troop deaths. That won't bother Ronbo. Already Fidel Castro is advising the Sandinistas to plan for a withdrawal to the jungles and the mountains while the Americans destroy Managua. Even the obvious echoes of Vietnam don't seem to deter the US. It is said that every American President is either a knave or a fool (with Nixon as the arch-knave and Ford as the Arch-fool). The problem with Reagan is that he seems to be both. He is very very dangerous. This is not the time for the sort of theoretical posturing we've seen in some of the "far left" press - criticising the Sandinistas for not nationalising the coffee plantations etc. Whatever mistakes have been made in the course of the revolution, the first and only consideration at the moment has to be the defense of that revolution against the maniacs in Washington. European pressure will be vital. Come along to May Day afternoon at RCU and start to do your bit! Comradely greetings. Dave - - - READING MAY DAY FESTIVAL SAT 3 MAY 1986 1200 Assemble for May Day March at Old Shire Hall. Bring your Banners. 1215 March Round Reading 1300 Arrive RCU to be welcomed by Workers' Music Association Choir. 1315 May Day Rally outside RCU Speakers: Joan Maynard MP African National Congress (SA) Spanish Civil War Printworker (probably) 1400 May Day Festival in RCU - 1700 Stalls from every organisation (including yours ?) Food and drink for sale Entertainment by WMA Choir, Asian dancers and Break dancers Videos: Cartoons for the children TU films, including a new one from Wapping. ** To book stalls phone Jane Carter tel 861305 ** Creche available all afternoon Collapse, or get second wind for Part Two - is this the other Reading Marathon? 1945 May Day supper and social in RCU - ??? (Bring your own wine) 1945 Cuban Music and slide show 2015 The first ever Reading Cuban Vegan nosh (I think) - cooked by Reading Vegans 2115 Guest Speaker: Colin Groves, Britain-Cuba Resources Centre 2145 Socialist Conjuror: Ian Saville He'll make capitalism disappear! 2230 Local music makers followed by disco All times subject to slippage! Evening tickets: With Supper £4 waged, £2:50 Unwaged Social only £2 waged, £l:00 Unwaged from: Acorn, May Day Committee or at the Festival MAY DAY is workers' day, probably the most widely celebrated Festival in the world. It is the day when all members of the working class, employed and unemployed, women and men, black and white, whatever political or non-political organisation, can join together in unity. We can join together and declare that we are the producers of the wealth of the world and we are working in a variety of ways to ensure that one day it will be ours. In Reading we have developed our own special way of celebrating May Day. Under the sponsorship of Reading Trades Council a wide variety of organisations come together with a common aim. Vegans, Communists, Christians and Ethnic minority groups (as well as straight trade unionists !) jostle each other for positions in the Festival which is the centre-piece of the day. The full programme is set out on this page. Join in; it's our day. Let us make it a day to remember. Ted - - - SIGN LANGUAGE COURSE Mondays at Reading Centre for the Unemployed 1-3 p.m. - - - EVENTS Below are listed some activities which do not involve loud mechanical behaviour. Mon 21st - Ecology party 252 Tilehurst Rd 8pm - University Gay and Lesbian society. Upstairs in student union. 8.30pm - Sign language. 1-3. RCU (for 10 weeks) - Voice workshop (women only) Women's Centre. 8pm - Fireside Club. 7pm - mainly for elderly people to meet and char over coffee, cakes and games. Newtown Community Centre - 117 Cumberland Rd Tue 22nd - storytime for under 5s - 2.30 Palmer Park Library - Art and Design workshops. RCU. 1-4 (for 10 weeks) - Key English. RCU. 10-12 - Cake making and icing. 10.30-1230 (for 5 weeks) at the Indian Community Centre, Norris Road, Reading - Women's Dance Group. 10.15-11.45 Central Club - Funbus Playgroup for babies and toddlers up to 5 at Newtown Community House, 117 Cumberland Rd. 10-11.30am. - Asian Women's Group. 1-3 Newtown Community House Wed 23rd - National Trust Outing: Blenheim Palace and Rycote chapel. £6:50. 9.30-5.30. Mr P Foulds: 545859 - Labour Party Young Socialists. Fairview Community Centre. 8pm, 883760 - Fabric and Yarn Craft. RCU. 10-3 - Carpentry. Wilson Road - 1.30-3.30 (10 weeks) - Childminders club coming soon to Newtown Community House for childminders to get together. - Hindi Language class: Newtown Community Centre. 7pm Thur 24th - Reading urban wildlife group. Illustrated talk on wildlife in Reading including the fox survey 7.30 Abbey room, Central library - "Whitely Street against Fowler." Public meeting of Reading Campaign against Benefit Cuts. All welcome. 7.30pm Methodist Church Hall - Pre and post-natal Yoga & Relaxation class. Abbey room - SWP Wellington Arms. Whitely Street 8pm. 596724 - Communication skills 1-3 RCU (for 5 weeks) - Black and white photography RCU (for 10 weeks) 1-3 - Savoury snacks 2-4 (5 weeks) Indian Community Centre at Norris Rd. Reading - Indian dance class for all ages. 6-7pm Newtown Community Centre - Pangbourne Peace group meeting: 1 Short St. Pangbourne 8pm Fri 25th - Colour photography 1-3 RCU (for 10 weeks) - Needlework and craft group 10-12 Newtown Community Centre, 117 Cumberland Rd. Creche provided Sat 26th - Women's Project Conference - open to men and women interested in issues surrounding women and work, locally and globally. Contact Ann of World Education Berkshire for details - Burnham 67401 - Haymill Centre, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berks - Parents for peace event, Abbey room, central library 2.30-4. Penny Auty speaking. Children welcome. - 10-12 Saturday club for all children in Newtown area. 117 Cumberland Rd - 6.30 Bible study meeting - 117 Cumberland Rd - Newtown Community House Sun 27th - Women's Project Conference as Sat 26 - Hindu Temple 2-4 Newtown Community House - anyone wanting to learn about the Indian way of life, festivals and celebrations would be made very welcome - National Trust outing to Lanhydrock, Cornwall. £7:70 Contact Mr S.M. Gould 51188 - Co-operative games: "A lark in the park." All ages welcome. Meet outside Palmer Park adventure playground 3.30pm. Free - Red Rag Collective meeting 5pm 39 Coventry Rd. - 6.30 RCU Reading Campaign against Benefit Cuts. Special meeting to plan summer and autumn campaigns Mon 28th - University Gay and Lesbian Society. Upstairs in union, 8.30 - Sign language. RCU 1-3 - Silk screen printing RCU 2-4 (10 weeks) - Voice workshop (women only) Women's Centre 8pm - One World group meeting. Bulmershe College, Woodley. 7.15pm Showing of C4 film "Revolution in a rice bowl" - Fireside Club. 7pm. Newtown Community House, 117 Cumberland Rd Tue 29th - Storytime for under 5s 2.30 Palmer Park library - Art and Design workshops RCU 1-4 - Key English RCU 10-12 - Women's Dance group 10.15-11.45 Central Club - Cake making and icing 10.30-12.30 Indian Community Centre, Norris Rd - Funbus playgroup, Newtown Community House, 117 Cumberland Rd at 10-11.30am - Asian Women's Group 1-3 Newtown Community House - Greenham support group (women only) Women's Centre, Abbey St. 8pm Wed 30th Labour Party Young Socialists. Fairview Community Centre. 8pm Fabric and Yarn Craft. RCU. 10-3 Carpentry. Wilson Road. 1.30-3.30 Hindi Language class. Newtown Community Centre 7pm Thur 1st Pre and post natal Yoga & Relaxation class. Abbey room. Central library £2:50 1-2.30 SWP Wellington Arms. Whitely Street. 8pm Communication skills 1-3 RCU Black and white photography 1-3 RCU Savoury snacks. 2-4. Indian Community Centre, Norris Rd Reading Urban wildlife group. Wildlife walk at Sandford Mill area Woodley. Meet at car park on Mohawk Way 7pm Indian dance class for all ages. 6-7pm. Newtown Community House Fri 2 Colour photography 1-3 RCU Needlework and craft group 10-12 Newtown Community House Sat 3 Mayday event (see elsewhere) Slough Green Group May Gathering. 10am-10pm. Langkey Country Park, Slough. Price £2. All welcome. Contac Sarah / Steve Slough 23226 10-12 Saturday club for all children in Newtown area - 117 Cumberland Rd 6.30 Bible study meeting - 117 Cumberland Rd Meeting places: RCU - Reading Centre for the Unemployed. East Street, Reading Newtown Community House - 117 Cumberland Rd, Reading - - - The amazing and very famous... GOING OUT "Put 'em in a sieve, And when the night comes You didn't have t'go out and get 'em - They'll glow with you, They'll go with you, They'll show with you, Ain't no losing us: Cos we're on the right track..." Monday 21 April: Bull, Nettlebed - folk with superstar Bernard Wrigley, 8pm, free. Cap & Gown, Kings Rd - Copperfield: country / rock. Silks, Thatcham - rock night. Kennet Arms, Elgar Rd / Pell St - my personal pick of the evening - Irish folk in the bar, 9ish if not earlier. Free. Guinness £1 a pint. With music like this who needs promoters? Thatchers, Woodley - jazz / funk / soul in period thatched taverne. Avoid. Albion Hotel, Oxford Rd - hectic jazz Pete James band 8pm. SHP "Mishima - a Life in 4 Parts" (15) 7.45pm £2:50: Paul Schrader (Mean Streets, Cat People) does Samauri / macho writer Mishima's life. He commits Hari-Kiri... "Goes to show you / what a man can do / Moonlight on Vermont..." Univ Palmer Bldg - lecture on animal powered machines at 7.30, 50p. Does it include Reading Centre for the Unemployed. "Gimme that old time religion / it's good enough for me / without your new affliction / Moonlight on Vermont..." Hex - Wrestling. Martin Salter top of t'bill. Tuesday 22 April: Paradise - benefit for Torpedo Town Peace Festival (also known as Brambles Farm) - 3 out of town bands: The Flying Patrol Group (rough terrain band) & the Rivers St. Band (jazzy) & A New Depth (poppy!) 9-1am, £2. Another wacky Conspiracy evenin'. Jericho Tavern, Oxford - Improvisers Co-op - well improvised music!! SHP - Swing jazz, 8pm, 50p. SHP - "Mishima" as last night. Tudor Arms, Greyfriars Rd - gay disco, free, 8om, mainly men. Keith James picks his lonesome gee-far and howls at the BJ Moon, Kings Rd, 8pm, free. Folk @ Studio Bistro, London Rd. 8pm, free. Hex - food fight!! Wine & dine around the world - 7.30pm. "Big Eyed Beans from Venus": British Gas Southern (final demand specialists) & unright-on retailers Marks & Sparks. £1:50. Veggie Dining or some chips is better value. Bulmershe College film- Taps - 7.30ish? Wednesday 23 April: SHP - more Yukio Mishima Cap & Gown, Kings Rd - Killing Time. Very apt for a Wednesday in Reading. Hex - "Neon meate dream of an octofish"... in jest, in just... 1.10pm Jonathan Rees (violin) free. - Joe Dolan "Tra la" singing Irish patriarch St Mary's Centre, Chain St - "Illnes in Childhood" A Steiner ta'k at 8pm, free. "I didn't want to kill / my China pig / a man's got to live / a man's got to eat." As have women, children & pigs, Mr Beefheart. And others... too numerous... Thursday 24 April: SHP - Zebras: a "mod" band 8-11 £1:50 / 75p. Folk at the Rose, Maidenhead, 8ish & free. Angies, Wokingham: Leading Edge: Roxy Music clones? X-ray Gingham dress night: dire country music at the Sportsman & Cross Keys. And wanna bet the Boars Head have a Libyan war display by now? SHP - video screening 7.45pm, free: tapes by Skip Blumberg, incl. elephant racing in Thailand!! Hex - Incantation. Diddley Diddley from the Andes. 8pm. Friday 25 April: Paradise - Some Like It Hot (as was). Veggie Dining at the Unemployable Centre, 4-6 East St. 8pm. Bring booze. A mere £2 (£2:50 for waged slaves) gets you a 3 course vegan meal with free candlelight. This is not a restaurant: you can take your turn to cook too... Folk at the Lamb, Eversley: phone Bryan 933 33193. Cap & Gown, Kings Rd - Beat Back Band. Large soul / r'n'b band: worth seeing: toot toot. 8pm, £1. Live music(?) at Angies, Wokingham. Loddon Hall, Twyford - 8pm, farce: The Community Copper? No!! "Pull the other one" it's called. £1:50. Purley Memorial Hall - "Yeoman of the Guard" (Gilbert & Sullivan) 8pm £1:50. Tel Pangbourne 5404. Tudor Arms - gay disco, 8ish, free: mainly men. Afternoon discount for UB40 holders at the Odeon Cinema, Cheapside. SHP recital: Bruce Duo (2 women on piano & cello): 8pm £2:50. Beethoven. SHP - "Mad Max 3 - Beyond the Thunderdrome" (15) 7.45 £2:50 Angies - "live" music: tel 789712. 4 Aces, Brixton - Unity Hi-Power, all night out. Classes all the above! Saturday 26 April: Well... Mayday benefit at Reading Centre for ye Unemployed, 4-6 East St: Beat & The Devil (funk) & L'Affaire Discrete & One Love Duo. £1:50 /£2 if you're waged. Tickets from Acorn Books. Hop. Paradise - Miss St Vincent (UK). Hurricane Force Steel Band & Wycombe Soul & Reggae Sound Stereophonic: £3:50 advance / £4 door. Cap & Gown, Kings Rd - Waves of Apathy. A band. £1. Angies, Wokingham - No Escape... prophetic. (Chance tape to Unity). Dedicated to Deadstock... SHP - Come All Ye folk night £1:80, 8pm - Mad Max 3 7.45 / 10.30pm; £2:50 - Jazz? Pete Allen Band & guests including the nauseating Tommy Burton (use to be Pebble Mill at One's resident Honky Tonk pianist). Hex - Catch 'em Young: model engineering exhibition, from 11-6. Loddon Hall, Twyford & Purley Hall - as 25th Sunday 27 April: Mighty tenor saw continually seen?... Unfortunately no decent reggae in town this weekend. The spectacle serves up... George, Broad St - folk - singers night 8pm. Butler, Chatham St - modern jazz or old records, 8pm, free. "The place to be." Model engineers at Hex 10-5pm. SHP - Mad Max 3, (15) 7.45pm £2:50. Slick Serenaders, Studio Bistro, London Rd. Coley Nursery (Wensley Rd) open 2.30-6, free. Cooperative Games for all ages! 3.30 at Palmer Park. Red Rag Collective Meet - 5pm. 29 Coventry Road. Monday 28 April: Paradise - there's meant to be a Conspiracy gig... Rippity - Bong - Rippy - Bong - Skeng... Same as last Monday: Silks / Thatchers / Albion Kennet Arms Irish folk still recommended. Bull, Nettlebed - folk / comedy supa: Shep Wooley, 8pm. Cap & Gown - jazz / rock with Mission Impossible, 8ish. Hex - Lion, Witch & Wardrobe: well known Christian allegory portrayed a kid's fantasy. 7pm. SHP - Mad Max 3, 7.45pm Tuesday 29 April: Hex - Lion / Witch / Ward -robe 10:30am / 2pm Digital we digital / Crucial we crucial! Gay disco at Sloppy Joe's (opposite BR Reading) 9-2am, £1:50 with Helpline card. Studio Bistro, London Rd - folk, 8pm. Bullmershe College: "Dead men don't wear plaid" - very good pastiche of gumshoe detective films with Steve Martin, using lots of old footage (Bogart, Cagney, Robertson Justice, etc). One year ago the DHSS decided to fuck up loads of unemployed people living in lodgings by cutting their money rather than by getting at landlords / landladies who make the real profit... SHP jazz special - Cayenne (Latin / funk) 8pm £3. SHP more Mad Max 3 at 7.45pm. Tudor Arms - gay disco, 8pm free: mainly men. BJ Moons as last week. Wednesday 30 April: Sign on (reminder). "This is how you sting / And this is how you shock" Red Rag Editorial, 8pm, phone 868488 for where. Everyone who reads the Rag is welcome to come. If you think the collective's a clique, it's only 'cos you want it to be. I don't. SHP Mad Max 3 again, 7.45pm, £2:50 SHP - The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart & social comment). 7.30pm. Preview night. "Sweet reggae music / All round / People Play / C'mon now..." But not in Reading... Settle! Leighton Park School - organised by Crus ( tel 588123). 7.30. £1:50. Hex - Lions, Witches & Wardrobes - flash it!! 10.30am / 2pm. Thursday 1 May: Remember Haymarket, Chicago, 1905? Demos in London at Elephant & Castle (noon, DHSS) & Wapping (8ish). SHP - Carousel (rock) 8-11pm, £1.50 / 75p UB40. Folk - Rose, King St, Maidenhead, 8pm, free. Usual at Sportsman / Cross Keys / Boars Head. Avoid. SHP - Marriage of Figaro (opera). 7.30 £4-6. SHP music video screenings - 7.45pm £2:50(?) to get in: Paul Young, Q-tips etc. Arthritis Sound... Y'know, if you fe mix down microphone you fe mix down mix microphone, seen? Progress Theatre, The Mount, Christchurch Rd - Willy Russel's "One for the Road", 7.45. Box office tel 477594. Friday 2 May: Have a good interview with William (charming man). Red Rag pasteup phone 868488 for details. Cap & Gown - City Limits (a band) 8pm £1. Lamb, Eversley - folk 8pm. Tel Bryan 933 33193. Paradise - again the Conspiracy have got the date, but what will they put on... watch out for posters!! Tudor Arms - gay disco, 8pm free, mainly men. Odeon Cinema - UB40 discount this afternoon. "Cocaine is a thing when sniffed by anybody Rot out your brain, scale up your artery - Say - after a sniff if make you feel dizzy Later on in life you're gonna lose your memory - Cocaine ain't no scene - no bother check it: Cocaine ain't no scene - no bother sniff it - Oh Cocaine man it really gonna get you - It's a hype, a con - no bother sniff it..." Red Rag Printing - who does it? do you every wonder? Progress Theatre - as 1st Saturday 3 May: Mayday '86 at Unemployment Centre: afternoon includes live Red Rag folding & distribution; also "Wapping Lies" video & "Learning on the line" (a miners strike tape, recommended), put on by the Real Time Collective. Also an evening of food, music & ideology at the RCU - see elsewhere. Come on down!! Red Rag folding - all help welcome: to volunteer phone Simon on Wargrave 2788. Cap & Gown - Burning Tears, 8pm £1. A rock band. Save Waste & Gain 9.30 - 12.30: various dumping points for waste paper which is then sold to give money to local groups eg Well Woman Assoc, Newtown Community Assoc... Coming Soon: Lots and lots of video workshops & screenings from the Real Time Collective - see elsewhere. Who knows what early May will bring? 20/5/86: Paradise - Trustereo System (Tim Hill - sax & Mike Cooper - guitar & Pat Thomas - piano) & The four Corners Sax Group & performance groups & video screenings & video scratching - a Real Time Video Collective benefit, put on with the help of the Conspiracy. 27/5/86 - The Conspiracy strikes again with a benefit at the Paradise Club for Start Community Arts Magazine: Beat & the Devil * Hot Tempa (ex Hot Steel) £1:50! 10/5/86: Reading's Gay Collective party at the Unemployment Centre, 4-6 East St. 11/5/86: Unemployed Centre - video: uses & possibilities, 11am - 4pm, £1:50 / 75p UB40. Local elections... Key: Paradise: Paradise Club, 112 London St SHP - South Hill Park, Bracknell tel B. 484123. Hex - Hexagon Theatre, Queens Walk tel 591591. Video in Reading May/June: tel 475909 Angies, Wokingham. N.B. Veggie Dining is on Fri 25th at Centre for the Unemployed, East Street. 8pm. Bring a drink? Stop press: Robert Calvert (ex Hawkwind) @ the Paradise 10/5/86. Plus support! Just for next time, please send info to Paul on 869157: in good time, so he can type it. Love of love, Mark xxx - - - STONEHENGE / WORLD CUP VENUE? I'm sure that all readers of the "Rag" are well aware of how governments try to maintain popular support for their often repressive policies by trying to engender nationalistic fervour amongst people. Can it really be true therefore that CND intend to show coverage of the World Cup on one of the giant screens at the Glastonbury Festival only if England's football team is still in the World Cup at the quarter final stage? See you at Stonehenge. See you at Stonehenge. Regards, Chris. - - - IT'S ACID RAIN WEEK At last! On 19th March William Waldegrave (environment minister) conceded to the Norwegian Government that much of the damage to Norwegian lakes was caused by UK emissions. The CEGB, however, is continuing to distribute and offer on free loan its scandalous video on Acid Rain. This film has come close to causing a diplomatic rift between Britain and Norway & Sweden. In Dec. 1985 the DOE was forced to issue a statement regretting that the video had been produced and that it contained "a selective account of the scientific arguments". There will be various activities around the world in International Acid Rain Week(April 21-26). In some countries, the tourist boycott of the UK will be the theme for Monday. (This is due to our refusal to join with other nations and reduce emissions by 30% by 1990) FoE in London will be taking MPs and journalists to the New Forest to look at tree die back. In FoE's tree die-back survey last year, 11 sites in Berkshire were looked at, 86% of yew and beech trees showed some die-back. In response to the publication of this survey - the first of its kind, William Waldegrave announced that the Forestry Commission and the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology would carry out a major tree survey this year. If you have seen the CEGB video on acid rain and would like a written critique of it: by FoE, please contact: Reading Friends of the Earth, 27 Instow Rd. Earley. - - - WILDLIFE GARDEN AT THE CENTRE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED (East Street) Now that spring is just about here, the Wildlife Garden in East Street is really taking off. A group of us meet at least once a week (Thursdays at 1 o'clock) at the Centre and go out to the garden to clear and plant and plan. Everything that we notice is listed in our 'log' - bird and insect life, plants appearing or coming into flower, stages of growth - as well as what we get up to. We're not trying to make it neat and tidy but to encourage a wider range of plants and habitats to support more wildlife. For instance, we should get a lot of butterflies there this summer. The site isn't large, squeezed as it is between Printspot, East Street and the back of William Smith's bookshop, but there's plenty to do there. So if you're unemployed and interested in plants and wildlife do come along on Thursdays at l o'clock. If you can't come then leave a message, at the Centre (4-6 East St., tel 596639) or ring Liz on 867955. - - - ENGLISH AS SHE IS OVERLOOKED Or: He - the all embracing maskuline If for no other good reason than some of us are unhappy with the way 'he' is used at present, the English Language needs overhauling. The problem can be sidestepped if you know it's there. Example "All men are equal" becomes "Everyone is equal" or even "Each and every one of us is equal". Of course rephrasing like that still leaves us open to the charge of Gross Generalization, but that too can be sidestepped. Don't be vague, be specific. How about "You, me and the others are equally alive"? It's our language. Not "The queens english", so use it, wisely, use it creatively and don't stab anyone in the back with it; we've got problems enough already. This cloying conspiracy of silence must cease. Got a Message? say it, write it, do it. - - - S.U.N. SHINE The Southern Unwaged Network met for the first time at RCU on Friday 4th April, with about 60 people from all over the region coming together for the day. The conference, funded by the Rational Institute for Adult Continuing Education, consisted largely of four workshops. These were subjects all related to the central theme of how unwaged people can work effectively together to make demands successfully. The schedule was a fairly hectic one and at best people could only attend two of the four workshops -- which were:- Campaigning (Sue Bradley of Labour Movement Services) i.e. organising effectively. Topics covered included press & publicity and raising money. Magazines (Carol from Spare Rib and Nigel from City Limits) The possibility of a high quality regional magazine produced by unemployed people. Networking (Keith Spurgin of the Cornwall and Devon Unemployed network) Training (Richard Cottle , Newbury Center) The training needs of unwaged people. A lot of information was passed on but a lot of people felt this was mainly a one way process (from 'expert' to 'unemployed') , at a forced pace. Yes the 'speakers/facilitators' had a lot of knowledge to pass on, which undoubtedly would be of value to a campaigning group of unwaged people. However the strong feeling was that the people from the various areas didn't know each other at all and hadn't had the chance during the day to build up contact and confidence. Information channelling took priority over sharing experiences, it was said. These feelings came out especially in the plenary session at the end of the day. However it was pointed out by the people who had set up the conference - some unwaged, some working at Unemployment Centers - that although the day may have been (partly) organised by waged people "for the Unemployed" the group came together and unemployed people are in a position to decide what happens from here on. The best thing to come from the day was the energy and anger of unemployed people, which means that the Network will continue, with local meetings for people to get to know each other and discuss issues, before a larger convention in Reading in mid June. Joe Stalin - - - SMALL ADS Wanted: Drum & guitar lessons. Phone Reading 665332 Flat wanted: Flat, for young couple, l/2 bed rooms, or studio type considered. Up to £275 p.c.m. Suitable for travel to Wokingham, e.g. Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham areas. Contact: David Wade, c/o General Data Comms Ltd., Molly Millers Close,Wokingham. Issue 12 of the worlds premier pop music fanzine, The Mighty Utterance available now from Acorn, Listen & Pop Records. Interviews, reviews, songwords, competitions! 30 pence worth of pure inspiration! Wed. 30th April: Shall we have a wake for Simon de Beauvoir & Jean Genet? Phone Tim on 669694 Wanted! 000 Reward, for home for 4/5 of us. Entire house preferred, but would consider half built nissen huts. Must be in Reading. Send your info to Rdg. 868488.Ta! Do you live in east Reading? Are you interested in a skills/work exchange scheme? ie: someone fixes your bike in exchange for some weeding or someone looks after your children in exchange for some decorating. Get the picture? Phone Paul to add your name to a list, which will be available to all concerned, ideas, inquiries welcome. Tel:667085. Grown Ups Bike: it's got a crossbar! Immaculate condition 3 speed, £40 o.n.o. Swop/exchange ideas welcome! Phone 667O85. For Sale: Drum kit "Premier" Bass drum, snare, Hi hat, cymbal, 2 Toms Phone 665332. Wanted, Company. Man, 29, quietly eccentric, needs people for conversation, sharing, learning & fun. Likes people, natural things, rivers, progressive music, Zen & the art of motorcycle maintenance and Richard Bach. Dislikes superficiality, intolerance, dishonesty, violence, excess T.V. And heavy politics. Ring Steve on Rdg.589644 evenings. - - - YOU CAN LAUGH AT THE GOVERNMENT BUT THEY'RE NOT JOKING Spikey Dodds is an out of touch government's idea of a typical British sixteen year old, leaving school this year. But to Japan, and our other international competitors, he's a big joke. That's because this year he'll be starting 2 years of being ripped off on the new YTS. He'll begin by trying out several different skills before he chooses the one he'll train for through to the end of the second year. By then his employers will have made even bigger profits than usual, and will still have no intention of giving him a proper job because they can get another sucker on YTS a lot cheaper. Our competitors in the Far East have been ripping off their young people like this for years... so it must be alright. It's made their rich even richer and it's helped them take trade away from us. But from now on they're going to have to watch out. Spikey will be spending the next two years helping Britain's rich stay as rich as everywhere else's rich. Along with about 30,000 other ambitious school leavers who will have to learn to forget their ambitions and knuckle down to two years pure exploitation, probably followed by a lifetime on the dole. Working for a pittance. The new 2 year YTS. Now 16 and 17 year old school leavers can be ripped off even more. - - - CONSPIRACY NEWS Just a quick thank you to everyone who helped at the 3 John benefit for anti apartheid / direct action movement. And an equally big thanks to all who came along (230!). Watch out for more benefits from the Conspiracy Collective including: Robert Calvert Band / Military Surplus / The Fab, furry Escapists * May 10 @ Paradise, Trustereo System / 4 Corners Sax Group / Real Time Video Collective / performance groups * May 20 @ Paradise & Beat & the Devil / Hot Tempa playing a stART benefit on May 27th @ Paradise again. Don't forget the Conspiracy is open to anyone who wants to get involved - contact via Box 1, Acorn, 17 Chatham St., Rdg. See you soon! Mark R. - - - MAY DAY DEMO Rather than choosing the first convenient Saturday in May to celebrate the May festival, unions are organising demonstrations for Thursday 1st May - when the Haymarket martyrs died. South East Region T.U.C are in the middle of a campaign against the Fowler review of the Social Security, which if it becomes law will drastically reduce the resources of people claiming all sorts of benefits - anything from disabled peoples' benefits to single payments. London Unions, helped by SERTUC are having monthly demos outside Alexander Flemings House (nr Elephant & Castle), the DBSS HQ; there will be one there on Mayday 11am - 12am followed by a rally at 1pm at Clerkwell Green. It's worth noting that apart from everything else, the proposed changes make a racist DHSS system even more racist. Ideas such as haying to satisfy a 'presence test' (ie length of stay in this country) before you get benefit, or the DHSS officials asking to see your passport as a matter of course, or only being allowed into the country if you promise not to 'have access to public funds' for a year are totally unacceptable. SERTUC stars as co promoter later in the evening when it assists the joint Mayday committee with a do at Wapping. Anyone who wants to find out what's really going on in these parts at the moment is very welcome along: meet at the Tower Hill tube at 8pm (nr the X1 stop from Reading too!) So if you fancy an ideologically sound day out... never mind you could go to the DHSS &/or the Wapping demos anyway. Is it perhaps needless to point out that if the Public Order Bill were law now, the police would have banned this type of legitimate protest straight off? Maybe it has to be pointed out again and again!! - - - SAY NO TO KILLER BUS LANE If you shop, eat, go to school, the pub, drive or walk along the road in this area this affects you. The Council plans to put a contra-flow bus lane down London Road, outside shops, restaurants, a pub and a school. These lanes, when stuck along busy pavements, are proven killers. The Council is refusing to re-route the buses up Silver St. or put the bus lane on the other side of the London Road. Why? Bus lanes kill business too. Six months with a contra-flow, the shops will go bust and the bulldozers move in. Is that what they want? Why? We urge you to come and sign our petition, before it is too late. Petitions at Reading Wholefoods, The Grog Shop, Spar Eight 'til late - 7-15 London Road. - - - YEAH WALLY RAVE Its the same old story if U were there then U know wot i am going to rave about thats right all the stodgy old farts who didn't/couldn't/wouldn't make any sort of effort to go out and enjoy ones self and help make money for a local or international group so far the conspiracy has raised money for the Rag the ANC, DAM, AAM keep up on those trendy initials As far as the music is concerned The 3 Johns nice people everyone seemed to enjoy the evening ABly supported by local lads Lifecan and the Gathering next night Stonehenge 86 campaign made some pennies courtesy of the Master of Disaster, the Byopic Buldonis and those new age wonders the Ozrick Tentacles So ccme along and help out Brambles Farm on Tuesday 22nd with bands all new to reading 2 from Pompey and one fron Linconshire. Anyhow i really enjoy writing all about de gig maaaan love U all Wally da Wombat - - - JTC INTERNATIONAL ARTS & GIFTS Alex & Jean invite you to browse... Oil paintings Textiles Leather China Bongs Baskets Pipes Carvings Lighters Jewellry Brassware Unit 20 in Traders. - - - READING URBAN WILDLIFE GROUP HAVING A WILDER TIME Have you ever thought that Reading could benefit from a bit more wildness, as you sit stagnating in front of the TV. What you're really longing to do is burst forth and run wild, no I don't mean down to the disco, but out into the wilderness. What, in Reading? Not much chance of that - you'll encounter more sprouting office blocks than sprouting trees. Wild areas and open spaces are rapidly being gobbled up in Reading as more developments take place and more houses are packed into increasingly small spaces. Fair enough we all need somewhere to live, but as our habits increasingly encroach on the countryside, where is the wildlife supposed to go? Unfortunately, choices are minimal; staying in the countryside and suffering whatever developments take place; dying out - pretty drastic; or it makes the most of a bad lot and moves into the pockets of habitable land in towns and cities. A pitiful dilemma, some of the more adaptable wildlife has already made the move. Many of you may have come face to face with a town fox as you wend your merry way back from pubs, those hotspots of human wildlife. Other noticeable examples include the increasing numbers of birds in our parks and gardens, or the more subtle colonisation of waste ground by plants quick to exploit any nook or cranny. The gradual colonisation of our urban landscapes by refugee wildlife prompted the establishment of many urban wildlife groups throughout the country. Recognition is being given to groups and communities which are giving conservation a real boost by establishing wildlife parks and gardens in the urban environment. Establishment of such areas not only provides refuges for wildlife, they also demonstrate the role that environmental improvements can play in urban regeneration. A Reading Urban Wildlife Group is now firmly established in Reading, its aim is to encourage widespread support for creative conservation through a community based approach. Already after the launch of the Reading fox survey, the group has received reports of over 150 sightings in the town (keep them coming in!) Reading Borough Council are making encouraging noises in support of the greening of Reading. We hope to establish Urban nature reserves; one site has already been acquired, known as Devil's dip, the old clay pit at the junction of Circuit Lane and Bath Road. If you would like to obtain more information about the work of the group, or would like to become involved, there will be a public meeting on Thursday 24 April - information in the events guide. Charlotte Deason-Barrow tel 868488 Reading Urban Wildlife Croup Dinton Pastures Country Park Hurst Wokingham Berks - - - GREENHAM '86 Mass publicity of events at Greenham has died considerably over the last year. With the dwindling of coverage, numbers of women at Greenham have dwindled. I for one have done nothing for some time. This weekend conscience pricked, I realised that a visit was long overdue. Having received the Greenham Chain Letter in January, describing the conditions and problems, I didn't expect it to be a picnic. However I wasn't prepared for the grim reality. I visited only two gates, Blue and Green. Blue was a dismal sight, less than a handful of women are now living where there was once a thriving community of long term inhabitants. The benders and communal kitchen are now gone. The women that are still there seem disillusioned. The Bailiffs come daily and move them off the site. At night there is always the threat of further vigilante attacks. With the obvious lack of support disillusionment is not exactly surprising. I left Blue and headed towards Green, the gate I'd camped at in the past. I felt I'd walked onto the 1984 set after curfew. The base was silent, there was no sign of a soldier anywhere. The silence was more frightening than the previous high security, with large police and military presence. I felt as though I was being watched and yet I knew not where from or by whom. The horror was intensified when I finally stumbled across a soldier. There he was, armed, calmly standing eyeing me through the fence. Although tempted to ask him what made him do it, I knew my nerve would fail me. A man was walking his dog between Blue and Green gates, in the woods. He seemed oblivious to what was sited only yards away. I wondered whether he ever thought about the destructive force that is sited so obviously within a few miles of his home. Green gate was less depressing than Blue; only in the sense that spirits seemed slightly higher. Green seems to have more short term inhabitants than any other gate, so this probably accounts for the women being more cheerful, nobody stays long enough to get overly down. Those that remain at Greenham have the same determination as when the camp was first set up. There is a strong spirit between the women, a closeness that cannot be explained. (If you've lived in an all woman house you'll know what I mean.) Along with the spirit comes a great strength. It's this strength and bonding that would be destroyed by bringing men into Greenham. I can't pretend that I intend to throw in my job and spend months or years at Greenham, I cannot be that dedicated. I admire those who can. However I do intend to spend more time there, and support the women as best I can. As I left I asked what wanted bringing next time I came. The reply wasn't food or clothing but '..more women..' The women are tired and some need a break and to get away for a while; however they won't leave. Greenham cannot be left unattended. The camps cannot be struck for good. We are now grown women, the mothers of society. We cannot leave it to other mothers to fight our battles for us. Some of us cannot or are not prepared to move to Greenham permanently; but maybe we can spend a few days there in order to ease the pressure from the long term inhabitants and allow some of them the break they deserve. - - - MONEY You've got it, we need it. Seriously, though, the Rag is presently far too dependent on benefit gigs and paid ads, and we seem to go from cash crisis to cash crisis. Really the best way to support the Bag financially is to simply fill in a standing order form - even £1 per month or per 3 months would constitute some kind of regular income, which would really keep us afloat! It's not a lot of money, and a hundred standing order forms filled out and sent in would really sort us out financially. Come on everybody, - - - STANDING ORDER MANDATE To (your bank's name and address). Please pay to the account of RED RAG, Co-operative Bank, Reading (08-90-16), a/c no. 50148637, the sum of.........................(words), £........(figs) on.....................(date), and on the same date every month / 3 months until further notice. Signed.......;.......................Date......... Your name......................................... Address............................. ............. Your a/c number................................... Please send this form to Red Rag, c/o Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. Not to your bank. - - - RED RAG PAID ADS Are always welcome. £7 per 1/4 page, £12 per 1/2 page. - - - (paid ad) The Conspiracy Presents A "South Coast Special" BREAD NOT BOMBS River Street Band A New Depth The Flying Patrol Group Appearing at The Paradise Club, London Street, Reading Tues. April 22nd 9 'til late £2 tickets from Acorn, Chatham St, Reading - or on door. A Free Festival Benefit For Torpedo Town Peace Festival, Waterlooville, Hants. Aug 8-10. Stop Spearfish Stop stingray Stop tigerfish - - - ACORN BOOKSHOP Reading's Alternative bookshop and community press - Purveyors of radical literature to the whole of Berkshire since 1976! 17, Chatham Street, Reading - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1986/1986-04-20.txt#4 $