RED RAG April 22nd - 5th May - - - WORKED TO DEATH? In case you hadn't noticed, computer scientists and others working in the armaments industries have been dying like flies recently. Unlike flies, they've been devising grotesque methods of suicide for themselves - if, that is, they are not being assisted. Robert Greenhalgh, the latest victim and the most 'local', is not dead yet. He is still 'critical but stable' in intensive care at the Royal Berks Hospital in Reading. He allegedly jumped off the Bath Road bridge onto the railway line in the Sonning Cutting. The Evening Post claimed he cut his wrists first, which would be very odd; but nobody we spoke to would confirm this, and we could find no sign of a sea of blood or a massive cleaning up operation there. The incident was at about 12 noon on Friday 10th April; the Evening Post reported it on the following Wednesday. Mr Greenhalgh apparently comes from Maidenhead, is 46, and has worked for 15 years as a salesman for NATO computer defence systems at ICL's defence regional headquarters at Eskdale Road, Winnersh. The big question is whether this case is linked to a series of extraordinary deaths and disappearances connected with anti-submarine warfare research at Marconi: - On March 30th David Sands, 36, a computer expert on a radar project called UK Air at Marconi subsidiary Easam's in Camberley set off for work as usual and, with a car filled with petrol, drove straight into a derelict Little Chef restaurant off the A3 at Popham near Basingstoke. - In January, Aytar Singh Gida, 26, studying underwater acoustics at Loughborough University on an MoD grant, disappeared near a reservoir in Derby. - In October, Arshad Sharif, 26, a programmer for Marconi Defence in Stanford, working on underwater simulation systems, drove for some reason from London to Bristol. There he tied a rope to a tree and to his neck, got in his car and drove off. There was said to be a tape recording 'tantamount to a suicide note'. The inquest verdict was suicide but details of the inquest were kept secret. - In August, Vimal Dajibhai, 24, a programmer for Marconi Underwater Systems in Watford and a friend of Singh Gida's, was found hanging from the Clifton suspension bridge. An open verdict was recorded, but the details were kept secret. The UK has apparently led the world in underwater military research since World War Two (hurrah!) and the field has possible links with Star Wars (it's easier to find a satellite than a submarine). Marconi has various SDI projects. Opinions canvassed in Computer Talk for 13 April differ only in whether it is the KGB or the CIA responsible for these deaths. Other cases, possibly connected, include: February: Peter Peapell, metals expert and lecturer at the Royal Military College of Science, was found dead under his car. February: Victor Moore, design engineer at Marconi Space and Defence Systems in Portsmouth took a drugs overdose. Verdict: suicide. January: Richard Pugh, MoD computer consultant, was found dead at home in Essex with a plastic bag over his head. Verdict: accidental death. January: Dr John Brittan, computer expert at the Royal Armaments Research Establishment, died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Inquest verdict: accidental death. However, contrary to press reports, the local police are treating Mr Greenhalgh's death as an insignificant suicide attempt. Chief Inspector Humber seemed bemused by the 'media hype'. Mr Greenhalgh was not a computer scientist and certainly had 'nothing to do with torpedoes'. Detectives were not waiting by his bedside to question him. The Thames Valley Police were not 'liaising with other forces in a major probe' as has been said. In fact they weren't dealing with the case at all. That would be the Transport Police. DC Ryan of the Transport Police (they're the ones who arrest you if you trespass on the railway line) seemed equally forthcoming and equally unconcerned. He said it was a member of the public who saw Mr Greenhalgh jump, where the police version had a train driver finding him injured on the line and being forced to stop. But no cut wrists, and no waiting at the bedside. So what are we to make of it all? There certainly would seem to be something extremely unpleasant going on, involving spy networks and mass murders. But there is no reason why all these cases should be connected. What is even more unpleasant - let's call it evil, since that seems to be the fashionable word - is the armaments industries themselves. Not all hi-tech workers are moral zombies. This is what Victor Moore's widow said at his recent inquest: "He was a creative man. He liked to think he was working on projects that were of some benefit. As a design engineer he hated being told to work on weapons. Victor was perfectly happy working on weather satellites. But he told me it bothered him to help design a night vision sight for the army." - - - PUBLIC ORDER BILL What you can do... and wot you can be done for. How the Public Order Bill affects your right to protest. Enforced on 1st January 1987: Section 11: Notice For Processions (this applies to marches but not to static pickets or customarily held processions) * Six days written notice must be sent by recorded delivery to the police station where the march begins. If this is not reasonably practicable, the notice must be hand delivered as soon as possible. The notice must state the date, starting tine and route of the march and include the name and address of one person who takes on responsibility of organiser. If information given on the notice is deliberately false, or if insufficient notice is given, the organiser(s) may face a fine of up to £400. Section 33: Contamination Of Goods It is an offence for a person, intending to cause alarm, anxiety, injury or economic loss to anyone, to contaminate or interfere with goods, or make it appear that this has been done, or to place contaminated or apparently contaminated goods in a place where they are consumed, used, sold or supplied. It is also an offence to threaten to do this. Penalty: up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine (if convicted in a magistrates court); up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine (if convicted in a crown court). Enforced on 1st April 1987: Sections 12 & 14: Conditions On Processions And Assemblies (this does apply to static pickets and customarily held processions) If the senior officer present believes the demonstration may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to community life, he may dictate: * How long the demonstration lasts * Where it is situated * The number of people attending it Any person who knowingly fails to obey these conditions may face a fine of up to £400. Any person who incites others to disobey these conditions may face a fine of up to £1000 and/or a 3 month prison sentence. (Note: an "assembly" is defined as 20 or more people) Section 13: Bans On Processions (this does not apply to static pickets) The police can apply to the council where a march is planned to take place (or in London to the Secretary of State) for an order banning all processions in the area for up to three months. They can do this where they think imposing conditions would be insufficient to prevent "serious public disorder". Below are the new offences created by this act (old offences of riot, unlawful assembly and affray being abolished). Section 1: Riot If 12 or more people use or threaten to use "unlawful violence", for a common purpose in such a way that might cause someone to fear for their safety, each is guilty of "riot". The action can be in a private place, the 12 people need not be acting simultaneously, and the person who might be in fear need not actually be present. Penalty: up to 10-years imprisonment and/or a fine. Section 2: Violent Disorder This is basically the same as riot but applies to groups of three or more people. Penalty: up to 5 months imprisonment (magistrates court) or up to 5 years imprisonment (crown court) and/or a fine. Section 3: Affray As riot but applies to one or two people. Penalty: up to 5 months imprisonment (magistrates court) or up to 3 years imprisonment (crown court) and/or a fine. Section 4: Fear Or Provocation Of Violence It is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words, behaviour, writing or images towards someone in such a way that they think violence will he used against them or someone else. Penalty: up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine. Section 5: Harassment, Alarm or Distress It is an offence to use behaviour, words, writing or images in such a way as sight cause someone harassment, alarm or distress (it is not an offence if both people concerned are inside the same house). Penalty: a fine of up to £400. Sections 1-5: except in affray, "violence" includes violence towards property as well as people. Section 39: Trespass If a police officer reasonably believes that: * two or more people have entered land as trespassers and are intending to reside there for "any period" * reasonable steps have been taken by the occupier to ask them to leave and * any of those people have caused damage to property on the land or used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards the occupier or his associates or * they have brought more than twelve vehicles onto the land he may order them to leave the land. If they fail to leave as soon as reasonably practicable or if any of them return within three months they can face up to 3 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1000. This act also includes sections on incitement to racial hatred and football 'hooliganism'. For further information about the Act and opposition to it contact: * Campaign Against the Public Order Act, c/o Box BM 73, London WCIN 3XX * Campaign Against Police Repression, 83, Blackstock Road, London, or phone 01 891 2938 * London Strategy Policy Unit, 20, Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1 or phone 01 633 5944. Since the demise of the GLC the LSPU now produce the excellent 'Policing London' - - - CND TO DEFY POLICE? It appears that the CND / Friends of the Earth demonstration on the 25 April will be a little more then the usual amble through Central London. The Metropolitan Police have threatened to change the route of the march, under the new public order laws. CND have told the Met that they will not, but there is still a risk that the campaign will acquiesce because many of CND's supporters would not join an illegal march. Effective opposition to the Act must mean ignoring the police request. What could the police so to a march as large as the previous CND demonstrations have been? There should be no question of CND backing down; the public order bill has already been successfully defied several times, the laws must be made unworkable. The march is on April 25th, assemble 11am on Victoria Embankment, march to Hyde Park for a rally at 2.00pm. Phone Steve on Rdg. 591541 for further details. - - - CAMPAIGN TO LIMIT AGENTS SIGNS AND HOARDINGS We are a pressure group set up to encourage councils to enforce the laws concerning advertising houses for sale and ultimately to get them changed by parliament, so that they become easier to understand, and therefore easier to comply with and to enforce. If all it took was a sign to sell your house, estate agents would soon become a thing of the past, however it's not that simple. If your are selling your house and they convince you that a board will speed up the sale of your house make sure that it advertises the property and not just the agent, also make sure that you are not breaking the law by having an illegal sign on your property. All advertising falls und under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Act 1984 and as the owner of the property you have a duty to ensure that any advertising of your property complies with these laws, contravention of which carries a fine of £200 fine and a further £20 for each day the offence continues. The display of estate agents boards is controlled by the same law as other advertising, and while the local town halls planning dept. is responsible for seeing that the provisions of the act are complied with, local people are often unaware of what the law says and do not know if it is being broken. The law says firstly, it is strictly illegal to erect a board on a property without the owners consent, it is also illegal to advertise a property which is not for sale. Quite often a board is fixed on public lawns or main roads some distance from the property it advertises. This is illegal, a board mist be fixed on the property it advertises. Furthermore a board fixed on public land or property is a form of trespass and any damage should be reported to the Council Works dept. immediately. An illuminated requires planning permission and if you see one, ask your Planning authority if this has been obtained (more than likely it hasn't). A board mist be fixed as close as possible to that part of the building which it advertises, and it is illegal to display a board higher than 4.6m (15'2") if it relates to premises below this level. A board nailed to a tree is not only unsightly but may also seriously damage the tree. However carefully a board is fixed to a property, it is always liable to damage it. A badly fixed board is a danger to passers by and if it causes injury or damage the owner of the property can be held liable (even if the board were fixed without his/her consent). A collection of boards causes visual pollution which devalues the whole area and gives an aura of neglect and untidiness, let alone concealing the property which it is supposed to be a advertising. Use this law, if they won't let us do things we want to do, don't let capitalist parasites get away with anything. Contact - 41 St. Gabriels Rd. London SH2 4DT This article and graphics originally appeared in Grapevine. - - - LAURA ASHLEY - MADE IN A SWEATSHOP Twenty-one women from Ardbride Products in Ardrossan, Scotland, have been on strike since September last. In the lampshade and pottery factory, the conditions are terrible for the women and YTS trainees. Their top wages are £1:70 an hour. There are no safety guards on the machinery, dust levels are twelve times the permitted level; workers have fainted because of glue fumes. They decided to join a union and so a minor pay rise was stopped in revenge. The TGWU called in the Health and Safety Executive who did not know of the factory's existence, though it was started largely by public money for this 'model entrepreneur'. On Sept 15 the workers went on strike demanding an hourly rate of £2:50, the right to join a union, and for safer conditions. Two days later they were sacked. The DHSS refused them benefit, the TGWU gave some support at first but as they had only been in the union for 26 weeks and not the required 32 they were refused strike pay. Two have already lost their homes. Result: they organised their own pickets despite harassment from the boss and police. The Achilles heel for the firm is the major retail customer is Laura Ashley, who sells their 'handmade' lampshades for between £15 and £80 a piece. Pickets are being mounted Laura Ashley shops, calling for a boycott of Ardbride Products. Help them win the struggle. Boycott Laura Ashley. Support to: Anna Druggen, 28d Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan KA22 8EQ Scotland. Edinburgh DAM is helping in the boycott. Contact Box 83, 43 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh. - - - CAN U BELIEVE IT? Military Prayer Breakfast 33rd World Convention Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Saturday July 12, 1987 at 0800 Marriott Orlando World Center - - - DID YOU KNOW THAT... There is an investigation going on in FTAT into financial irregularities in the Silentnight dispute. Apparently some officials have been claiming money for some time on behalf of strikers who'd already found other jobs! Along with Yuppies, Young Upwardly Mobile Persons and Dinkies, Dual Income No Kids there are now Yummies, Young Upwardly Mobile Marxists. - - - FULL MOON FUTONS We make Japanese style mattresses (single, double, king size, cot size), cushions, pillows, yoga/massage/Shiatsu mats, to individual orders. All 100% cotton, range of colours. Pine bases. Deliveries arranged. Competitive prices. Send sae for leaflet and swatches to: 20 Bulmershe Road, Reading RG1 5RJ. Reading (0734) 65648. - - - CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY The Centre for Alternative Technology was founded in 1974 as an educational charity. Set in a 40 acre site in a disused slate quarry in mid-Wales, the Centre has working displays of small-scale solar, wind and water power, low energy buildings, organic growing and nature conservation. The displays are designed to give practical ideas on how people can reduce the impact of their every-day lives on the environment. The Centre is open to the public every day and receives about 55,000 visitors each year, making it one of the largest attractions in mid-Wales. About a dozen staff live at the Centre, making it very much a working example of alternative technology. There is no mains electricity, power being generated mainly by the water turbines and wind generators on display. The Centre is in a unique position to offer courses. The staff have many years of 'hands on' experience, often backed up by academic expertise in their subjects. Their renewable energy hardware and gardens are ideal for practical sessions, and the holistic approach of the Centre enables topics to be examined in a broad environmental context. They have been running courses for the public since 1979, and for academic establishments since 1981. Each course provides a good theoretical and practical foundation which participants can use to put ideas into practice, but the courses are equally suitable for people with a general interest in the subject. They are led by Centre staff and outside speakers, prominent in their fields, and apart from the main core of lectures workshops and practical work, ample time is allowed for discussion, and participants are given the chance to get advice on their own projects. If our look at windpower has interested you, you may wish to attend their course 'Windpower' which is over the weekend of April 13-15. The course is suitable for those interested, in buying or building an aerogenerator as well as those with a general interest in the subject. There are a number of turbines at the Centre, ranging from a 50W Rutland to a 15kW Polenko, and practical sessions will be arranged involving some of these machines. Lectures and slide shows will cover wind energy, rotors, power transmission, yaw control, towers, windpumps, and electrical systems. There will be an opportunity to discuss your own project with the lecturers. If you would like further information about the Centre, and the courses they are running this year, which include organic gardening, self-building, healing herbs, and environmental education, or would just like to visit, send an s.a.e. to Lesley Bradnaa, Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Powys, Wales SY20 9AZ, or phone 0654 2400. - - - FOR FOX SAKE Hunt Saboteurs Association Although the season is nearly at its end the HSA badly need you help and support, this last season the hunt supporters have been more violent than ever and a lot of sabs have been injured and a lot more have been brought up to court and fined, for pitiful offences such as trespass, and breach of the peace, while the hunt supporters get away with crimes such as GBH and malicious wounding. If you're willing to sabotage hunts or can help in fundraising, getting people interested etc. they would be glad to hear from you HSA PO Box 87 Exeter EX4 3TX. - - - STOP THE ARMS RACE May 12/13/14 see the Brighton Arms Trade Fair being held at the Metropole Hotel, if you want to have a spot of fun write as soon as possible c/o Unemployed Centre or phone Duncan 0273 602289 before the state cuts it off. They know you're out there, they want to hear from you. They are other squatters and other squatters groups. Contact: National Squatters Network, c/o Manchester Housing Action, Raven Press, 75 Piccadilly Manchester. Please send s.a.e. Brighton Housing Action Group are holding the National Squatters Conference on May 16/17th at the Brighton unemployed centre. Plans include a social, workshops, food, creche (write and tell them how many kids are coming with you), videos (bring any videos you want to show), accommodation (bring a sleeping bag). If you want any information or have any ideas for workshops, know any bands who might like to play, or any transport that can be used write to Brighton Housing Action Group c/o Brighton Unemployed Centre 6 Tilbury Place Brighton. Or just turn up at Tilbury Place on Friday evening or Saturday. See map for how to get there. On the subject of squatting don't forget that Crowbar the national squatting newspaper is available from the Acorn Bookshop price 25p. Seems the B.U.C is a lot more suss and better run than the cess pit in East St. which appears to be run by politicians for politicians and their cronies. Some people still think it's there to provide support and advice for the unemployed people of Reading! Seems to me that these politicians (power seekers) have gotten themselves into the Skills Gap. - - - SPRING EQUINOX 21st March We set off to Stonehenge after the Hungerford showcase gig, feeling showcased. We arrived at the stones Just as sun was rising, we ran to the circle, greeted by all these familiar faces singing and chanting. We happily joined in, pausing to stand watch, think and smile. Faces grinning joyfully, we all joined hands and danced in the other direction to the Winter Solstice, then all leaping at once into the circle, everyone letting of energy, a mass hug. Sitting on the edge was mellow, watching the security guards trying to wear down their own little pathway as they walk round and round and round again, almost clockwork. Slowly everyone moved back to their vehicles Will we need a ticket in June. Ha I thought I hope not. luv Frozen foot posse - - - DIY HEALTH If any of you are troubled by warts, here is a miraculous cure. It's even supposed to work on Planters Warts (Verucas). Take 2 handfuls of 'Tree Ivy' not the sort that creeps along the ground known as 'Ground Ivy', bruise the leaves in a pestle and mortar, pour 1/2 pint of boiling water over the bruised leaves and let stand for 10 mins. Strain infusion into a clearly marked container, dab cotton wool into the liquid and apply to warts with sticky plasters, repeat 5 times a day or as often as you remember. Within a matter of days the warts will be on the retreat leaving no blemishes on your skin. Another herbal remedy, this time to save you and your wallet from excessive expenditure on overpriced/duff hash. From the Polynesian islands of the Pacific Ocean comes a herb called Kava Kava, legal and obtainable from (among other places) Occultique 73 Kettering Road Northampton. Take 1/2 oz. and simmer in 2 mugfulls of milk (preferably coconut milk) for 15 mins. Let cool for a while and swallow as quickly as possible after removing the Kava Kava. The effect is somewhat trippy and is safe for use with alcohol although this should never be taken in excess. If taken as prescribed above it is quite safe, not to be taken too often as it is chemically similar to cocaine and may drain you as does that. - - - Welcome welcome... to the Conspiracy Stonehenge Pilgrimage benefit on Wednesday 13th May WEBCORE The Time Flies plus Moonchild at the Paradise Club 112 London St Reading £3:50 waged £2:50 UB40 - - - GOVERNMENT RULES Reality Now PO Box 6326 Stn. A . Toronto Ontario. Canada M5W 1P7 - - - COMMUNICATE Sat 9 Sun 10 May 87 A weekend of workshops on producing community newsletters & newspapers 11.00-1.00 2.00-3.00 3.30-4.30 Sat: Collective working Printing & duplication ...contd Paste-up Writing a press release ...contd Sun: Distribution and Paste-up session & ...contd Advertising Fundraising Publicity Only 50p/day Food & refreshments available Sorry - no creche facility Reading Centre for the Unemployed, 4/6 East St - - - LIVE & DIRECT Well, here we go again with live and direct selections, plus local folk info too - Music For Folk has been brought back within the broad Live & Direct heading but is still compiled by Liz. I apologize for any offence caused by references to space cadets in recent listings. I have too many bad memories of festivals and wacky evenings to take the current upsurge of enthusiasm for all things spacey... Weds 22: * Freebies at Cartoons and Ninas, 8pm. Thurs 23: * Level Vibes soul night at the otherwise deadstock Majestic. * Sorry about the typewriter... * Pressgang Club at the Cap & Gown - Attaco Decente. £2 adv from Pop Records. Acoustic trio using their own songs with guitars, zither, dulcimer and tongue drums. Very powerful. Fri 24: * Cap & Gown - Beyond The River £2, 10.30 last entry. Sat 25: * SHP - Jim Couza on hammer dulcimer. Excellent. * Henley Youth Centre - Shush & Mugshots - hi power rock/pop/punk. * Cap & Gown - Strangers, £2, 10.30 last entry Sun 26: * Readifolk at the George, Broad Street: A St Georges night, with English material for once. * Also - Farnham Folk Festival, all day at Farnhan Maltings. £9 (kids under 12 free) Lots of acts incl. Oyster Band, Camblan Kora players, Rory McLoed, Dick Gaughan, Andy White, Maggie Holland, Pete Webb, Hassara Erraji. Not yer typical folk festival. Tel 95/724638. Mon 27: * Paradise - After Dark All Stars in a dance jam session, plus local bands. Anyone wanting to play contact Declan on 580949. * Majestic - Vow Wow, Horrendous Japanese / evvy metal, recently seen on the Tube. * The Bull, High St Nettlebed - folk with John Kirkpatrick and Roger Watson, melodeon wizards. Tues 28: * Majestic - Mental As Anything. Wow * Cartoons - Robbed In Rome, 8pm and free. * Cap & Gown - Turks Bottom Folk Club - Ian Hain, Scots singer/guitarist, relaxed & polished. * Turks Head free Jazz amongst the usual rich pageantry of Reading.... Weds 29: * Cartoons - jazz funk with Crosstown Traffic 8pm and free. Also live bands at Ninos at 8pm and free. * SHP - La Bouche. Dance and performance group who use synthesised music built up from treated human voice sounds. Oral electro, really, but very dramatic and perceptive. Lots of pieces about phone tapping, TV, images etc.8pm. Thurs 30: * More soul at the Majestic - building up to a regular club scene. Fri lst May: * Shirkers of the world - Unite! * Bye Bye safia..., good luck in the future * Polish Club - Sonny Blacks Blues Band & The Larkins (r'n'r). 9pm approx start, £2. * Cap & Gown - Airdance. £2, 10.30 last entry. Sat 2 May: * Mayday 87 bash at the Unemployment Centre 4/6 East Street. African band, a 3 course veggie dining extravaganza and a disco have been suggested. * Red Rag Copy deadline. The Rag does not get written by magic... * Basingstoke - Caribbean Assoc. Priestley Rd. Strontium Dog & Condemned 84. Very punky. A joint promotion. * SHP Cellar Bar - Roger Wilson - up & coming guitarist/songwriter. Sun 3 May: Vow Wow at the Clarendon, Hammersmith. - Part of national tour put together with local promoters Big Brute. Should be fun to see the psychobillies down the front, trying to chickendance to VW's Deep Purple Impressions. * Readifoik - Martin Carthy. The Biz Archetypal man-with-guitar, model for thousands, but he can do it! Be early. Also at Farnham Maltings, Andy Irvine, Irish maestro with Dembo Konte and Kusu Kuyateh, 2 master kora players from Gambia. Tel 95/724638. Mon 4 May: * Paradise- After Dark all Stars & guests, plus local bands. See last weeks entry for contact. Tues 5 May: * Turks Bottom at the Cap & Gown - Rory McLoed. Could be crowded. A very special singer and songwriter, personal, political, powerful. * Cartoons - Reel To Reel, 8pm, free. * University - video disco. Avoid. * SHP - jazz with Lenny Best quartet, featuring Kathy Stobart. 8pm Weds 6 May: * Next Red Rag out. Have you ever wondered how it all happened? Anyone can find out and get involved in producing the Rag .For example, folding of the printed copies is at 5pm tonight, upstairs in Acorn. See you there? * Freebles at Cartoons and Nino's, both 8pm . * Paradise - Ring (spacey people from Croydon) & support play a Conspiracy benefit for The Campaign for Independence From America £3/2 on the door. Paradise-goers please note that the loony "Non-members get in by 10" rule has been abandoned. Thurs 7 May: * Paradise - El Sonido De Londres, a top salsa band from London, play a rare provincial gig £3:50 entry, well worth supporting. * Majestic - regular soul scene with PAs, roadshows etc. Fri 8 May: * Cap & Gown - Raildogs. £2.10.30 last entry. * Paradise - The Complaints & TV Smith. TV recently played a Conspiracy gig and from all accounts people had a good time. Sat 9 May: * First of two days of workshops at the East St Centre for the Unemployed, covering skills for producing community newspapers and newsletters. Today - paste up, collective working , printing, and writing (including press releases). Only £0:50 a day, open to all people of all abilities/degrees of involvement. Starts at 11.00am. Food on sale. * University - Conspiracy benefit for World Education Berkshire, with The Mudcats (wild garage-o-billy), Majestic (creation rockers reggae), black poet Reuben Oban and sounds from Turbo Charged. £2 advance ticket only. 8pm prompt start, to finish at 11-11.30. Tickets from Ents/Community Action at the university. * Cap & Gown - Running the Gauntlet. £2. * Basingstoke - Ozric Tentacles have pulled out to be replaced by Milisurp RDF, now on the bill with Webcore ("coming to get youoooo") and Another Green World. At the Priestley Rd Caribbean Assoc. I say no more. * Brixton Academy - Cuba's top salsa band Los Van Van, 7.30, £7 at the door - a Nicaragua Solidarity event. Sun 10 May: * Day 2 of the weekend of workshops at the East St Centre for the Unemployed. Areas covered today are: distribution, publicity advertising, pasteup, getting funding and eating the delicious foods prepared by Veggie Dining. Workshops are 50p per day. 11.00 start. * Hex - well sincerely friends, it's Hank Wangford playing Good Loud Country. 8pm, £5/4. Tues 12: * Live music at Cartoons, 8pm and free. * SHP - jazz with the SHP Swing Band and special guest on saxophone, Art Themen.8pm. Weds 13: * Happy Birthday to Robert xxx * Cartoons - Sometimes Sartre, 8pm, free, trendy. * Nino's - live bands, 8pm, free. * Paradise - another Conspiracy stoners evening with Webcore, Time Flies and someone else, perhaps Culture Shock (punk/reggae). £3:50 or £2:50. Grobblies to Stonehenge Pilgrimage. Thurs 14: * Soul at the Majestic. * Paradise - Zoot A La Root, (soul r'n b), recently toured with Percy Sledge. Fri 15: * Cap & Gown - Push To Enter, £2, 10.30 last ent * Paradise - the Jack Rubies and the Gathering. Sat 16: * Farnborough Sports centre... the reformed Here & Now (new drummer, that's all) do a gig with Milisurp RDF, Blyth Power, 2 other bands and the usual lightshows etc. £5 in advance, £7 including coach travel from Reading. Live and Direct additions XXXXX Fri 24 April: * Paradise Club: Friday nights roll on at the Paradise, this time with up and coning bright young things, Jim Jiminee, with Next Years Big Thing and the Smithsy Home and Abroad. Tickets are £2:50/£3:50 after 10pm. Fri 1 May: * Paradise Club: Rainbow music from the legendary Ozric Tentacles with support from Psy and Hungerford's Cosmic Cupboard. - - - AFTER DARK AT THE PARADISE Fri 24 April: Jim Jiminee / Next Year's Big Thing / Barbel Bros. May dates: Fri 1: Ozric Tentacles / Psy / Cosmic Cupboard Thur 2: El Sonido de Londres / After Dark All Stars Fri 8: Complaints / TV Smith Fri 15: Jack Rubies / Gathering Admission on door 9.30-late, last band 11.30 112 London St. Reading - - - HERE & NOW Saturday 16th May, 7.00pm til late Farnborough Recreation Centre. Blyth Power + Military Surplus R.D.F plus two extra special guests + lasers Coaches will be laid on from Oxford, Henley, Newbury, Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell, Basingstoke, Southampton, Guildford, Fareham, Farnhan, and Winchester! Tickets will be pricey but value for £5:00 in advance, £6:00 on door, and £7:00 including return coach ticket. Acorn Bookshop has latest information. - - - CHIPPEWA DRUM DESIGN representing the universe. - - - The Conspiracy Presents A World Education Berkshire Benefit With MAJESTIC The Mudcats Rueben Oban and sounds from Turbo Charged 8pm till 11.30pm Saturday 9th May Coffee Lounge Reading University Whiteknights Park £2 advance tickets from Ents and Community Action Group at the Students Union £3 on the door for students and guests with union card We have been funded by a Reading Borough Council community grant - - - The Conspiracy RING & Support Wednesday May 6th 9 till late... £2 UB40 £3 waged Live at... The Paradise Club 112 London St Reading Benefit for Campaign for Independence from America Remember Libya! - - - READIFOLK Folk song club present MARTIN CARTHY May 3rd 1987 8.00 pm Sunday at the George Hotel Reading For more info on Readifolk ring Phil on Reading 597632, Dennis on Reading 597384 Tickets: £2:00 / £2:50 - - - Harris Arcade, Station Road, Reading 588425 , Designer Knitwear, Fashion Jewellery, T-Shirt Printing FOR SOCIALLY UNADJUSTED PEOPLE - - - THEATRE GUIDE Wokingham Theatre Oxford Playhouse Co. present The Rivals, by Sheridan. 24th April - 2nd May, 7.45pm tickets £2:50/3:00 Wilde Theatre South Hill Park The Natural Theatre company of Bath present Her Majestys Pleasure 30th April - 2nd May, 7.30pm, tickets £2:00-£5:00. Music hall entertainment on the theme of Queen Vic's 150th anniversary. Loddon Hall Twyford Twyford and Ruscombe theatre group present Murder On Arrival by P. Hoar & G. Grainger. May 1st & 2nd. 8.00pm tickets £1/1:75 from Mrs S. Stephensen Twyford 345600. Wilde Theatre S.H.P. East Berkshire Operatic Society presents Carousel by Rogers & Hammerstein. 5th - 9th May, 7.30pm and various matinees, tickets £2:50-£5:00. Shinfield Park: Shinfield Players Theatre present The Pajama Game 8/9th May and 14/16th May, 7.45 tickets available phoning Rdg. 883315 or 883025. Studio Theatre S.H.P. Attic Theatre Co. present Standing Start 9th May only 7.30pm, tickets £2/3:00, slapstick comedy with meaning. - - - THEATRE REVIEW Daisy pulls it off Hexagon 13-18th April. Yet again, the Hexagon provides us with top class entertainment and at only £4 (that is with restricted view seats). Piedro Philias' classic play was performed with adult power and subtlety. An allegory of the legend of the Caversham Rhinoceros Plague, it follows the early life and influences of the lesser known Daisy Bronte, up to her revelation of George V's alopecia (medical note, rapid hair loss). The topical political media concern highlights the social relevance of the play. An Absolute Play Members of the press impressed with phrases like "An absolute hoot, and a scream" and "perfectly ripping, absolutely spiffing" in 1983. The show is exemplary in its production, from initial funding from the private sector, to holding its own in the ever competitive theatre market place. It surely ranks as another piece of brilliant artistic genius by Andrew Lloyd Webber. You to can own part of a work of art, shares in the Really Useful Group available from the Stock Exchange London. Ian - - - PERCUSSION WORKSHOP Plans are afoot to hold a workshop for percussion players be they old new, no experience or some or even lots. If you are interested or want to know more see Mark in the Acorn. More details in the next Red Rag. - - - FOR SALE Speed Racer £50 28" new forks, chain, tyres, excellent working condition. Rob 16 Manchester Rd. Newtown. - - - ASTROLOGY: have your birthchart accurately calculated and described in a detailed personal report. Simply send your date, place and time of birth (if known), with £4:99 to S. Sherratt, 15 West Hill Reading. - - - All people who are interested in Readings local music must have heard of the MIGHTY UTTERANCE. Well did you know it was still publishing? It's now one of the most respected fanzines in the country. The latest Issue no. 15 has just hit the streets and is well worth a read even if it's not as local as it used to be. This ish features The Waltones, 16 Tambourines and the New English who come from all over the country. Both Peel & Andy Kershaw give it regular plugs, as a popular music fanzine. If you and your band want to talk to the man who does the writing get in touch with Phil on 0734 696728 or write to 31 Selcourt Close Woodley, Reading RG5 3AS. It's currently available from Acorn Bookshop and Pop Records or by post from the above address. This issue is worth buying at 30p if only for the Smiths cartoon. - - - JAZZOVA SEKCE The 700 strong Czechoslovak Jazz Section has been since its foundation in 1971, a focus for independent cultural activity in the country. It has organised music festivals and photographic exhibitions, published information on cultural events and has been since 1983 in dialogue with the western peace movement. In August and September of last year Jazz Section activist Vlastimil Marek and 7 members of the sections committee were arrested, 800 books and several hundred magazines belonging to the section were confiscated and its premises sealed. If the cold war is to be overcome, dialogue between ordinary people must take place at all levels, including at that of the Jazz Section's contacts with the western peace movement. The arrests are a direct blow both to this growing dialogue between citizens East and West and to independent culture in Czechoslovakia. If you wish to send a card protesting / appealing about the treatment of these musicians and activists send a postcard with a 22p stamp to President Husak at: Ju Dr Gustav Husak President of Czechoslovakia 11 908 Praha-Hrad Czechoslovakia. "We consider music as a universal language, as a way to mutual understanding both between people and nations. We believe people searching spontaneously for a common language are as important for peace as professional diplomats negotiating at disarmament conferences." Jazz Section. Taken from a post card produced by END - - - STEINER CONFERENCE Steiner (Waldorf) Education You are invited to a one day conference with workshops on Steiner (Waldorf) Education, to be held on Saturday 27th June from 10.30am-4.30pm at South Reading Community Centre, Northumberland Avenue. After a talk introducing this education, workshops will be held on subjects including an example Class main lesson, painting, music, eurythmy (movement to speech and music) and science. A plenary session will take place the end of the afternoon. There will be a kindergaten for children aged 4-6 and also an exhibition of children's work from established Steiner schools. The cost will be: High waged £7:00 Low waged £5:00 Unwaged, senior citizens and students £3:00. For further information and booking please contact Alison Coe on Reading 868850. - - - YOUR CONTINUING WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW LEADERS IS GETTING US NOWHERE Spain Grinds To A Halt The example of the mass student protests has not been lost on many Spanish workers. Growing demonstrations and mass strikes have gained in intensity in March to the point at which the slick media messages of Felipe Gonzales' "Socialist" Government are no longer swallowed. As with the student demonstrations which gained concessions in January, the Civil Guards are used to attack the protestors. In the steel town of Reinosa in northern Spain they got a taste of their own medicine on March 12th when they were overpowered in fierce street fighting after the rubber bullets had run out. This had erupted after militant protests against job cuts led to the workers holding Company executives hostage, demanding guarantees that the 400 redundancies would not be implemented. The police had been marched out of town with hands above heads! The widespread strikes in 40 cities signal growing resistance to job losses in a country of 22% unemployment. Such resistance is not easily channelled by Unions or Parties and the potential exists for more radical disruption unless the Government 'buys time' through selective concessions. Taxes For Murder The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) published in 1986 a 53-page report "Nicaragua: the Human Tragedy of the War", cataloguing violent attacks on civilians in Nicaragua. WOLA sent a six-strong team of investigators, in order that US citizens should have accurate information on the human misery inflicted on Nicaraguan civilians by the contras - whom US citizens are paying for with their taxes. The atrocities - the vast majority of which are firmly attributed to the contras - are recorded in chronological order and make harrowing reading. A Human Rights Commission in the North of Ireland which was set up by the British Government criticises the administration of justice and civil rights. The commission recommends that all 'terrorist trials' should be heard by three, rather than one, judges. Here We Go!! From our Yorks correspondent: North Yorkshire's miners are regularly on strike. British Coal [B.C.] attempts to curb the "Wildcat" have failed. Now that miners realise that a day's lost production costs them a week's production bonus the one day stoppage has given way to the one week stoppage! Pits are popping out for a week all over: Selby (all the six pits in the development came out) and Keilingley (over bonus payments). Only 15 out of 125 pits owned by B.C. have avoided strike action since the 1984-85 strike. S. Africa - Shell Shocked The Anti-Apartheid Movement began its latest campaign - against Shell - by releasing balloons over Britain's cities, covered with pious slogans and full of hot air. Fortunately more meaningful solidarity has been shown elsewhere. Ford U.K.: Assembly lines at Dagenham were hit by a series of wildcat stoppages during 1986 when workers refused to handle parts made in S. Africa. In January 1987, a mass meeting decided to block supplies to the Ford export plant until trade with S. Africa was stopped. In mid-February the company conceded. Workers threatened to spread the action if Ford supplied S. Africa from any other plant in Europe. Holland: The Dutch firm SHV Holdings, decided to stop profiting from apartheid on 19th Jan. 1987. They are unable to obtain insurance cover after 4 arson attacks in 16 months on their 'Makri' stores, destroying property worth over £30M. At 4 a.m. the same day, squatters occupied Shell offices in Nijmegen. Oil drums were placed on the roof to prevent helicopter attacks. It took police, with bulldozers, till 11 a.m. to break through a barricade of burning Shell office equipment. 12 occupiers were arrested. At lpm another burning barricade appeared in a main street. Mass shoplifting and 'sticker actions' occurred at V and D stores which sell S. African goods. Australia: Dockers have imposed 24-hour bans on handling ships carrying cargo to or from S. Africa. London School of Economics: Students occupied the administration block during the last week in February to protest against the school's investments in firms with S. African links. Resistance 400 women and men picketed Maghaberry Jail on Sunday 8th March, including 100 women from England, Wales and Scotland. Though it is Europe's newest and highest security prison, Irish republican women prisoners there are regularly subjected to the state sexual violence of strip-searching. In their statement to the picket, the 15 Maghaberry prisoners condemned the strip-searching policy as "a grossly demoralising and demeaning practice", which is "nothing short of legalised rape of mind and body. Young and old are compelled to strip naked entering and leaving the prison for any reason. Refusal to strip is met with the forcible stripping of the women." Maghaberry Jail is about 13 miles outside Belfast, isolated in bleak bare country in a landscape of barbed wire, watch towers, roll-top concrete walls, steel mesh fencing and surveillance cameras. Visitors must walk the half-mile from the car park and endure cages, tunnels, waiting huts, sirens, security searches, windowless vans and a total of 13 locked gates to reach the prisoners. - - - Red Rag, Box 79, 17 Chatham Street Reading Berks:- Next issue: coordinator via Box 79 Copy deadline 6pm Sat 2nd May Typed copy to 8cm width & single spaced. Published by the Red Rag Collective Printed by Acorn Bookshop Advertising Rates £3 for 10 by 6cm £6 for 10 by 12cm Small ads are still free 4 ads in consecutive issues are £2:50 / £5 each For more details Simon on Reading 666354 Red Rag Outlets * Acorn Bookshop * Harvest Wholefoods (Traders) * UB Cycles (London Street) * Moon (Harris Arcade) * Hargun Cash & Carry (Cholmeley Road) * Women's Centre * Reading Univ. SU (Ken's Shop) * Bulmershe S.U. * Pop Records (Yield Hall Place) * Cholmeley Rd newsagent. - - - DANDELION WINE There are a lot of recipes for this. Pick the dandelions on a dry day, when they have just opened and the yellow flower has not started to fuzz. You can pub the flowers out of the green calyx or leave it in, but nip off all the stem. Put one gallon of dandelion flowers in a two gallon crock or jar and cover with one gallon boiling water. Let steep for 3 days. Strain through a cloth, squeezing out all the liquid. Put this in a kettle, add 1 small ginger root, and thin parings and juice from 3 oranges and 1 lemon. Stir in 3 lbs sugar and cook for 20 minutes. Return to the crock and cool until lukewarm. Spread cake yeast on toasted rye bread and float this on the wine. Cover with a cloth and keep in a warm room for 6 days. Then strain it into a dark coloured 1 gallon jug, cork loosely with cotton or foil, and keep in a dark place for 3 weeks. Decant into 2 brown-glass wine bottles, cork and age for 6 months. Grandma Gunderson's Dandelion Wine (slightly different, slightly quicker) Take 6 qts dandelion tops, put in crock and pour on 4 qts boiling water. Let stand 3 days - then squeeze out the juice, and add 2 lbs white sugar to the juice, plus juice from 2 lemons and 2 oranges, and 1 pkg yeast. Let stand 4 days and bottle. Age for 4-6 months. Apple Mead Mix equal parts raw honey and raw apple cider. Stir until honey dissolves. Let stand in a covered stone crock in a warm place. Skim when it stops working; siphon and strain through nylon cloth, bottle, seal and age it, if you can. - - - RED RAG COLLECTIVE MEETING The last one of these regular meetings was held on All Fools day and 4 people attended. Among those things, discussed were finance for the forthcoming workshops, although the Rag is helping to fund these they are not for the supposed clique but are for anybody who wants to find out how to produce their own publication as well as to gain skills which would help the Rag get out on schedule and in a decent form. Finance of the Rag in general was rumoured to be healthy although no specific figures were on hand at this particular meeting. Red Rag may be delivered 1st class in the near future due to the general tardiness of the state communication system, no desicion on that one as of yet. Listings of all sorts in the Rag may be lumped together soon as the regular events just don't happen enough to justify their own column. Coordinators are desperstly needed for the next issue and all forthcoming ones or their won't be any! Next collective meeting 13th May 8.30pm see box 79 in Acorn for place. Red Rag Events At present there is no-one compiling a list of regular events in Reading. If you fancy putting together such a list and want to know more about what it involves get in touch with Box 79 in the Acorn. As an extra to make it easier for groups to get their regular events in the Rag there is now a diary in Box 79 that you can write your own details into, thus making it a lot easier for the compiler to put it all together. - - - PRISON FACTS Britain imprisons nearly 1 in every l000 of its citizens. This is the highest prison population of any EEC country, according to a report from NACRO (National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders). As a proportion of its population, 1 Britain has 48% more people in prison than Spain, 146% more than Greece and 180% more than Holland. Figures are for September 1986. A new report on the imprisonment of women uses first hand accounts to highlight the condition of this most neglected group. It shows that the majority of jailed women have been imprisoned for offences against property, for sums of less than £100. Black women are over represented - 31% of women in Holloway are from black and ethnic groups. The report "Women's Imprisonment - Breaking the Silence", is available from London Strategic Policy Unit, Women's Equality Unit Group, Room 40 Middlesex House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V. - - - NUCLEAR LEAKS KEPT SECRET Bonn: The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency has kept secret more than 250 reports of breakdowns at nuclear power stations all over the world, the West German magazine Spiegel said yesterday. Spiegel said it had gained access to 48 of the IAEA reports which it said gave a horrifying picture of malfunctions at nuclear plants in various countries, some of which could have led to a disaster of Chernobyl-size, proportions or worse. "Often it was only thanks to coincidence or luck that a reactor did not get completely out of control before Chernobyl," it said. "It becomes oppressively clear that millions of people have already several times evaded catastrophe by a hair's breadth." In Vienna, an IAEA spokesman, Mr James Dalglish, said the agency could not be accused of keeping anything secret since it was up to individual countries to report incidents to the public. Spiegel said the IAEA reports gave details of incidents at nuclear plants in Argentina, Bulgaria, Pakistan, India, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the United States, and Canada. - - - FIGHT BIGOTRY! FIGHT RACISM! Smash the Backlash! The racists & the bigot are on the attack. Lesbians & gays, black people, women, anti-imperialist & anti-racist forces, socialists & progressives - fight back. March for your rights. National Demonstration May 2 1.00 Duckets Common, Turnpike Lane tube Mobile creche Disabled facilities - - - DANGEROUS DRUGS Work First step on the road to addiction. User adopts compulsive life patterns and a readily identifiable appearance. Leads to heavier stuff, like money and property. Signs: sloped shoulders, pale flesh, ties or nylons Money Repeated heavy injections result in addiction quickly. User needs more and more just to satisfy their habit, although they soon lose the "kick" they got at first. Withdrawal ironically is usually very pleasant. Signs: ulcers, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Property The jaded Money mainliner often turns to property for greater kicks. Once hooked on property, the addict has "a monkey on their back". Withdrawal from PROPERTY can be very painful because of the users dependence and is sometimes accompanied by violence. Other terms are "car", "pad", and "chick". Signs bulging stomach, weakened muscles. Television Symptomatic of an advanced state of mental degeneration. Addict becomes totally passive and withdrawn as s/he rouses themselves on only for their daily fix of work. This is often the addict's final stage, and may last for decades. Signs: bloodshot and staring eyes; impaired conversation. White Bread This and similar non prescription drugs are gobbled up almost unconsciously by drug users at nearly every stage of their addiction. Runs down the body and adds to addicts general misery. Psychologically addicting. Signs: general weakness and lack of vitality, faded appearance. Don't take chances, drop out now!!! - - - MAY DAY 87 Saturday May 2 12-12 in Reading Programme 12.30 Rally in For bury Gardens 1.15 March round town to Reading Centre for the Unemployed. 1.45 Festival to at Reading Centre for 5.00 the Unemployed, 4-6 East Street 7.30 Social at Reading to Centre for the late Unemployed. Defend Your Public Services! 12.30 International Rally Band Stand, Forbury Gardens Live Music from 12.00 Rally Speakers: Jimmy Knapp NUR Dan Smith CND Mick Bishop NALGO plus Chile Solidarity Defend Your Public Services! 1.15 March round the Town Centre, from Forbury Gardens to RCU. Bands Floats Bring your banner! Bring your voice! Defend Your Public Services! 1.45 Festival at Reading Centre for the Unemployed, 4-6 East St. Stalls Creche International Food Kids Tea Party Displays from local groups Film "Love Me Tender" (NHS) Dance Music Defend Your Public Services! 7.30 - late African Evening at Reading Centre for the Unemployed 8.00 Vegetarian African Dinner 9.30 Guest Speaker: African National Congress 10.00 African Band* The Anti-Apartheid Cabaret Disco to finish Tickets: With dinner: £5 (£3 unwaged) Without dinner: £2:50 (£1:50 u/w) from Acorn, or at the Festival * Asaah Papa Graffi Jazz Socca-Makosa & Hi-Life Music - "Highly Danceable" Sponsored by NALGO and by Reading Trades Union Council. p&p: Reading May Day Committee 27 Carlton Rd, Caversham. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1987/1987-04-21.txt#3 $