RED RAG 6 DECEMBER - 20 DECEMBER COPY DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE:- 17 DECEMBER "WHITEKNIGHTS EQUALS SEXUAL VIOLENCE" INSIDE: EVENTS FOR TWO WEEKS, GOING OUT, NEWS DIGEST AND COMMENT. FREE. - - - News Digest ----------- Whiteknights equals sexual violence - an explanation ---------------------------------------------------- Whiteknights, an all-male hall of residence at Reading University has by tradition a strip show every year - a slap-up meal is followed by entertainment of a dubious taste. This year, as in the past, many women objected strongly to this as did some men. A picket was organized outside the hall. An organizer from the Hall offered to allow some women inside to put their case; very sensibly the women declined having seen from the outside that the hall was filled not only with smoke and noise, but by lumps of food which the lads were slinging at each other. In their defence it must be said that they were only behaving like this because they were very drunk. Two academic staff from the high table came to negotiate with the women outside. By this time the demo was making a lot of noise and women had inserted their banners through windows in the roof of the building. One of these academics, a lecturer in French, came out with the immortal line 'Well, you have male strippers in feminist clubs, don't you?' I wondered where he gathered that gem; the News of the World, perhaps? He couldn't find a ladder to get women down off the roof - it was left to the more practically minded porters. To be fair not all the residents of Whiteknights stayed to see the strippers - some left after the civilized part of the meal. One who stayed inside has heard to say 'Any male who objects to the show must be a POOF'. There speaks one of tomorrow's leaders. The police arrived and attempted to arrest a woman for breaking windows. The crowd of about eighty surged to her rescue and by linking arms around the arresting policeman and isolating him, she was separated and released. A victory for non-violent direct action. The crowd dispersed before the show ended so avoiding a confrontation. Some large plate glass windows were broken and it is said that the roof was damaged, demonstrators deny this. It seems that provocative shows really do provoke an angry reaction. Not news but hearsay -------------------- Bunkers under Shire Hall were featured in the last issue. A sixth former I know, doing some research for an essay, went to Shire Hall to ask about the bunkers. A very kind gentleman told her the following: 'The bunkers are not adequate to withstand a nuclear attack due to Government spending cuts, well they would withstand some blasts; he had a place there reserved for himself; there was a place there reserved for his daughter who had learnt to operate the radio equipment in the bunker. The sixth former pointed out that he'd got himself and his family well set up to which he retorted that she could have had a place if only she'd been prepared to put time into training. Council does something ---------------------- Berks County Council is going out in a bus to find real jobs for young jobless. Real jobs as opposed to YOP places it is to be hoped. Community leader leaves ----------------------- Reading's community relations officer Harvey de Pass has quit due to differences with the Reading Council for Racial Equality. Garden gnomes strike back ------------------------- A thief used a garden gnome to break the window of the sex shop and then stole a red corset! - - - EVENTS DIARY AFTER BLAKES SEVEN ANARCHISTS MONDAY 7th DECEMBER The regular Anarchists meeting, Ring James on 473205 for venue. BERKSHIRE ANTI-NUKE CAMPAIGN TUESDAY 8th DECEMBER B.A.N.C. Meeting with speakers; Colin Carnel, expert on three mile Island incident and the civil aspects of Nuclear Power, followed by discussion of talk, and about Cruise Missiles. 8pm. FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, Church St, Reading. RIGHTS FOR HANDICAPPED THURSDAY l0th DECEMBER The East Reading Rights Group are having a talk on: RIGHTS AND BENEFITS FOR THE HANDICAPPED organized by ERRG. 8pm, at the Wycliffe Hall. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION FRIDAY 11th DECEMBER A Torchlight Procession to mark the second anniversary of the NATO decision to deploy Cruise and Pershing missiles in Europe. Meet outside Old Shire Hall, Forbury Gardens. Procession around town ending with peace songs and carols on Dussledorf Way, by Tesco. There will be an ALL NIGHT VIGIL afterwards, some members of BANC will stay through the night in Dussledorf Way, volunteers are also needed phone Sundra Rice on 582015. To make it a success a lot of volunteers are needed to spend at least a couple of hours support. SAY NO TO CRUISE MARCH SATURDAY 12th DECEMBER March through Reading town centre will meet outside the OLD SHIRE HALL at 10.30am, march through the town, ending on Kings Meadow, where Speakers will be: Joan Ruddock CND Wolfgang Brandt of Dusseldorf peace movement. Labour Councillor Peter Darke. Liberal Councillor Kevin Brown. ANARCHISTS MONDAY 14th DECEMBER Have you seen the start of the Reading Anarch's wallposters that have appeared around town, could be the start of something NEW! For venue of meeting, James 473205 VEGAN GROUP Make yours a cruelty free Christmas, this year, and head for 1982 with a slightly clearer conscience - change to a Vegan Diet. Info, receipes (I never could spell!) details of meetings etc. from Local Group Sec. Liz Howlett 72 Curzon Street. or Phone 581805 or go the meeting of the 18plus Group, where there will be a Talk on Veganism, on Thursday 10th Dec. at The Roundabout Pub. Near the Tilehurst Station, on the Oxford Road, due to start 8pm. RED RAG EVENTS DIARY Once again a very thin diary. This is partly because everything stops for Christmas (including the Rag - next issue not til 8 January) but partly because you aren't telling us about all Reading's events. We reckon we now reach over 600 people every fortnight so an entry here can get people along to your meeting/group - sometimes in fair numbers. So tell us. Send your programme to Red Rag c/o 31B Milman Road or call the number on the front of the paper. - - - Only doing their job? --------------------- We hear that Reading police are into 'killing boredom' through the long, early hours by stopping and hassling those inhabitants of our fair city that have the temerity to be out on the streets after midnight. . . 'Good evening, sir. Routine check: what's your name? Address? Where've you come from? Where are you going now? Can I look through your bag?' They usually get away with it because the least line of resistance is to comply and hope they'll go away. IN MOST CASES THEY HAVE NO LEGAL BACKING FOR STOPPING US. To be specific, they are only entitled to stop and search us if they have good reason to suspect that we have on us: illegal drugs, firearms, documents connected with terrorist activity, protected birds or eggs, freshwater fish or spawn; alternatively they can stop and search us if they think we've stolen something from an airport, atomic energy site, public store, port, canal or railway, or stolen anything and we're in London (or in various more northerly regions). There are no other grounds for stop and search unless they've actually caught us attempting to do something illegal. The law does not authorise random searches nor are our appearance, hair length or the fact that we've just been to a gig sufficient reasons. As far as giving them our name and address are concerned, they can only insist on this if we've been driving or riding a bike (in these cases they can also ask for our date of birth) or if they suspect us of carrying illegal drugs, offensive weapons in public places or firearms, of not paying our rail fair, violence towards children, stealing birds' eggs or breaking Royal Park regulations. Finally they can stop us if we look under 17 and we're out alone late at night or during school hours. Since none of the above circumstances apply to most police activity. . . well, what can we do about it? If they are determined to stop us anyway, arguing about it is unlikely to put them off. But if we hassle them over it (Why do you want to know? ... I don't have to tell you that ... what grounds do you have for stopping me? ... I intend to complain about this ...') then although they won't give up on the spot and go away, perhaps they'll think twice next time they feel like killing a couple of hours by cruising around and stopping everyone they see with scruffy hair. Unless, that is, you believe in this random agro is either justified or effective in terms of law and order. The facts in this article came from 'Trouble with the law', published by Release, a London based legal and welfare organization (phone 01-289 1123 24 hour emergency number: 01-603 8654). If you disagree with my opinions, why not write a reply? Next week it could be you they pick on . . . . - - - News digest continued --------------------- Drug squad slip --------------- Reading's drugs squad is under question. It sounds like some dubious deletions from a' prisoners statement were made. The local papers are not unanimous as to whether this made things worse or better for the defendant. Rents up -------- Council rents in Reading could rise 33% due to Thatcher's cuts in council subsidies. Council tenants' living standards have already dropped because of rapid rent rises over the last few years. - - - You nay think he's a nice old man but... SANTA CLAUS DRINKS REINDEER PISS One of the many jolly aspects of this time of year is that kindly old gent whose benevolence is boundless. F.Christmas, S.Claus and St. Nicholas are but a few of this degenerate's aliases. Circumstantial evidence it may be, but there's plenty of it to support the fact that the patriarchal smiling Santa (bless his fur lined boots) is descended from the Siberian Shaman. Apparently these tundra witch doctors were particularly partial to a fungus of the muscari family, known in these temperate climes as the "Fly Agaric". Apart from the similarity in colour between the mushroom and old Santa's togs and the fact that he can fly just like people who eat them think they can, there are the peculiar activities of Reindeer. Yep, old Rudolf and his chums also love these brilliant red caps. Their scarcity in arctic climes plus the fact that they retain their potency even after being passed through the body a number of times meant that SC's forebears used to drink their own, other peoples' and even their reindeers' piss. We feel it's only right at the festive season to pull the veritable beard of this so-called bringer of glad tidings and show him up as the drug crazed maniac he really is. (Every mushroom carries a Government health warning THINK FIRST: Most Tsars don't use them) - - - GOING OUT GUIDE TIL AFTER CHRISTHAS ) DETAILS TO ALISON FLAT 2 47 EASTERN AVENUE MONDAY 7 DECEMBER ART: 1 Excellent exhibition of Picasso graphics. Reading Museum. Above Library. Til 20 December. All day. Free. 2 Citizens Art Group. Democracy meets art. Art loses. Civic Centre every day till 11 December. CLASSICAL: Handel's water music, firework music; Brandenburg Nos 3 & 4. Hexagon. 7.30. £3up. JAZZ: BYJO. Very good hot beat Jazz. Uni SU. 8pm. Free. THEATRE: 1 Hedda Gabler. Ibsen. Good, serious. The best amateur troupe in the area. Til 12 December. Progress Theatre. 7.30. £1.50. 2 The Railway Children. From the book by E Nesbit. Could be slushy. Til l9 December. Haymarket Theatre Basingstoke. 7.45. £1.50up FILM: Mr Pascal and Love at First Bite. South Hill Park. 7.30. £2ish TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER CLASSICAL: Mendelssohn, Bartok, Elgar. R U Orchestra, soloist Nat Yontarak. Great Hall, uni London Road site. 7.30. £? JAZZ: 1 Digby Fairweather Quartet. Hexagon. Lunchtime. Free. 2 Kitty Grimes, Kathy Stobart, Lennie Best Quartet. South Hill Park,8. £2 FILM: Gregory's Girl and Porridge. G's G another of Bill Forsythe's curiously funny films. Set in Glasgow using local kids as actors; humour ranges from slapstick to v black. It's about football fanatics. Porridge is TV. BLETHER: Public speaking competition. Take a soapbox. Hexagon. 7.30. £1 BALL: Xmas Ball: The Bureau, the Modettes, Stimulin, Biddie & Eve, Roddy Radiation, Tearjerkers. Comedy, Funk. Biddie & Eve gross but I revel in it. Uni SU 7.30-2am. £2 WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER CLASSICAL: Vaughan Williams, Delius, Mozart, Rimski-Korsakov. Reading Youth orchestra & Phoenix Choir. Hexagon. 6.15 & 8pm. £1, £2. NON5ENSE: Programme of Xmas music. Reading Contamus Choir. St Mary Magdalen Church, Kentwood Hill, Tilehurst. Stalin had the right idea about Christians. 8pm, £1 FILM: A Woman of Paris, dir Charlie Chaplin. Fallen woman, playboy lover. A significant comedy of manners. RFT. 8pm. 90p up. THEATRE: The Trials of Tom Sawyer and the Christmas Jazz. Meadway School, Tilehurst. 7.30. 80p KIDS: Fun activities for young children at E P Collier School, York Road. Six different cultures represented. Events include games, story-telling, crafts and cooking. 10-12, 2-6, call 5235 if a group. Til 11 December. THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER CLASSICAL: Beethoven, Janazek, Britten piano works. Tim Ravenscroft. Hexagon. Lunchtime. Free. THEATRE: Tick Tick Childrens Show. South Hill Park. 4.30-7. £1.10. Til 19 December. FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER REGGAE: Sound system at the Caribbean Club. 8pm-2am. £1.50 THEATRE: The Harvey Wallbanger Show. Amity & Proteus Theatre Co. South Hill Park. 8.15. £1.80 ROCK: FX. Probably appalling heavy metal for headbangers and desperadoes only. Target, 8-11. Free. SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER CLASSICAL: English Chamber Orchestra and Reading Bach Choir. Handels Messiah. Impressive. Hexagon. 7.30. £3up. And tomorrow. BRASS BAND: Hall's Oxford Concert Brass Band. Hexagon. Lunchtime. Free. REGGAE: Aswad + sound systems. One of UK's top recording reggae bands. Central Club. 8pm-4am. £3.50. ROCK: Human Beings. Cherries. 8-11. Free. SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER SCHLOK: Christmas Moods in Music ferchrissake, Hexagon, 3.30 &7.30. £1.50up ROCK: Sub Zero. Target. 8-10.30. Free THEATRE: Mack the Sheep stealer. Alfred Sutton Girls School, Green Road. 7pm, 50p, and tomorrow. TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER TRAD JAZZ: Pete Allen Band. South Hill Park. 8pm. £1.80-£2 WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER ROCK: Gillan. Another great British popular act. Ageing hippie with homespun hat and handwoven hair sings boring old rock classics etc. 15-yr-old schoolgirls lap it up, as do original headbangers. Top Rank. £? THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER JAZZ: Lol Coxhill, Pendulum, Mike Cooper. Humorous and not so avant-garde jazz & party. South Hill Park. 8pm. £2 FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER CLASSICAL: Rejoice in the Lamb. Britten. Reading Haydn Choir. St Peters Church Caversham. Unreconstructed christian nonsense, but good music. 8pm. £1.50. ROCK: The Dots. Good Oxford two-tone band. And the Crestas, R&B. Caribbean Club, 10-2. £l.50. SURREALISM: Tatty Ollitz. Made up of ex Bonzos and similar oddballs. South Hill Park. 8.15. £1.80. FILM: Jesus Christ Superstar. The film of the play of the book of the god. South Hill Park. 1lpm. £2ish. Tomorrow as well. SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER ALBATROSS: County Diving Championships. Central Swimming Pool. 6pm. Wet. FOLK: Whittakers Patent Remedy. Hexagon. Lunchtime. Free. ROCK: Dangerous Age. Cherries. 8-11. Free. MOHDAY 21 DECEMBER PANTO: Wizard of Oz. Very popular and apparently a good draw for the Hexagon. 2.30 &7.30. £2.50-£3.50. Until 16 Jan. FILM: Wombling Free. The greatest film ever made. 2.30 AND 2001 - a Space Odyssey. A silly film about odd creatures who worship a black piece of plastic on Wimbledon Common. 7.30. Both these run til 24th. TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER MORE MESSIAH: by Twyford Choral Society. At Park Reformed Church, Wokingham Road. 7.30. MOAN: There's very little doing this week, the entertaiment world expects you to give yourself to your telly - you do HAVE a telly, don't you? If not, hire one at great expense, or risk having to talk to friends, lovers and relatives. SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER KIDS FILM: Time Bandits. Good bit from John Cleese, original line on God (with whom the above is much concerned). Plenty for adults accompanying. South Hill Park . 2.30 & 7..30. Til 31st. - - - THE RED RAG COLLECTIVE Had a meeting last week and decided that it exists. We also decided that this would be the last Rag of the Year. The first of next year will appear on Saturday 9 January. Thank you for supporting us this year. We hope to make it better, faster, more reliable and legible next year. Don't hold your breath. DEPARTMENTS NEWS: Things that are happening or have happened that are important and get ignored by or misreported by the Post/Chronic. Contact Peter, Rdg 662302, Sue W, Redg 861841, or send to Red Rag c/o 31B Milman Road. EVENTS: Meetings, loctures, etc, from compost to communism, to theatre workshops or consciousness-raising groups, child-minding etc. Please give details of your events as far ahead as possible to Mike, Rdg 83275, or send c/o 31B Milman Road. Bracknell goings-on to Mark, Br 54201. GOING OUT GUIDE: Things to do in Reading that don't come under the above. Details to John, Rdg 662740, or send to Alison, Flat 2, 47 Eastern Avenue. PLATFORM: Anything you feel moved to say, we will (probably) print. Any of the above contacts. DISTHIBUTION: As we expand, we need more people to help with distribution (it takes an hour or so once every fortnight) - if you can help, tell us who you are and which bit of Reading you would be happy to walk/cycle round. We particularly need distributors in central and west central Reading, and around the University area. And if you want to increase/decrease the number of Rags you get delivered, or you move, or you picked this up and want it delivered regularly, call Clive on 666681, Chris on Rdg 61257 or write to Red Rag c/o 24 Norwood Road. DIRECTORY OF GROUPS: We are compiling a directory of Reading groups for publication in the New Year. Each group will have name, contact point, regularity of meeting, and brief description (3-4 lines) of aims and activities, provided by the groups. So send us the info. BUSINESS NEWS: We started this issue with about £75 (highest ever) in the bank, and have spend most of it on paper, ink, stencils. Our treasurer is Sue Clarke, and you can send money (cheques to 'Red Rag') at 181 Shinfield Road. - - - HELP FINANCE RED RAG'S FINANCIAL APPEALS! ----------------------------------------- Putting out Red Rag costs about £15 a time. If all you subscribers gave us a mere pound a year there would be no problem with finance. As it is, it's the old story of the same few people not only doing all the work but providing all the money too. Several of us have decided to contribute on a more regular basis one per cent of out income. Not much - work it out! Below is a standing order form for you to fill in! To (you bank's name & address) ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Please pay to the account of Red Rag, Co-operative Bank, Reading (08-90-16, account no. 50148637) the sum of: ___________________________________ (words), £___________(figures) on ____________________________ (date) and on the same date every month / 3 months until further notice. NB Please do NOT send this form direct to your bank but to our treasurer: Susan Clarke, 181 Shinfield Road, Reading. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1981/1981-12-06.txt#3 $