Free RED RAG Reading's Only Newspaper 19th Feb - 4th March 1984 All the news that's fit to Pritt News: 666681 666324 Events: 868384 Going Out 666681 Distribution: 665676 Next Copydate: 1st March RED RAG is Reading's only newspaper. It's free and has appeared fortnightly since 1979. 1,300 copies of this issue were printed, more than half of which go to the outlets. (Others are delivered straight to the front door by hand.) It is financed entirely by donations. It is produced collectively, and has no links with any political party, group or line. We print anything subject to approval by the collective editorial meeting, normally held one evening before an issue is produced. As a guide, we do not print articles we consider 'racist, sexist or supportive of oppressive religions'. We try not to edit articles without the writer's agreement, and prefer to hold then over to the next issue if we can't get in touch. So it helps if people can give a contact number with any material they submit. If typed, it should be single spaced and 12cm wide (which we photo-reduce to 10cm). - - - CITIZEN CAIN A Little Yellow Peril First an apology to Councillor Tony Markham for the telephone transmission error which made him a Terry in the last issue. Though he may have found the disguise useful in escaping lynching by angry pensioners. His statements since the Transportation Committee that cut the Readibus grant have added pathos to injury. There are pages called "yellow perils" that the Reading Borough Treasurer uses to advise his political masters of the financial consequences of the decisions they are taking. Most Councillors see perhaps four or five of these a week, and Cllr. Markham has been there for some years now. But he's now blaming the Borough Treasurer for the fact that he "misunderstood" a yellow peril and successfully moved a cut of £16,000 when he should have moved a cut of "only" £5,000 (which would still have a major impact on the Readibus service). And this from a man who wants to be Chairman of the Housing Committee where the yellow perils deal not in thousands but in millions! His colleagues on Transportation Committee are no less thick for they followed his lead like, well, one would say sheep but that would be unkind to sheep. One of them, Southcote Councillor Jack Irwin, wrote to the "Chron" claiming that Mr Markham had actually said at the Committee what he later said he should have said there, and had to be slapped down by the editor for this attempt to be a one-man Minister of Truth. He, and Councillors Simon Oliver (Park) and Steve Thomas (Kentwood) who also voted for the cut, are going to have some interesting explaining to do when they canvass for votes in old people's homes for their re-election in May. Pedantry or Principle? Meanwhile public splits are developing in the happy band of businessmen that is the Reading Tory Group. Leisure Chairman John Oliver hit out in the "Midweek Chron" at Planning Chairman Brian Fowles for mucking up his lovely ice rink. Tory candidate for Katesgrove Steve Foley (yesterday's wet) joined in the "Post" by defending Oliver against an attack from Labour Leader Mike Orton and saying Orton ought to have gone for Fowles instead. And Fowles spoke up at the last Policy Committee attacking Oliver for not knowing what he was talking about on of all things the Thameside promenade. At the same meeting Fowles supported the nomination of Ron Jewitt as Mayor. All the signs are however that he is mistaken if he thinks this means Jewitt will support him again as Chairman of Environment next year. The Tory candidate for Mayor does not really believe in planning principles. Community Health The public announcements that vacancies are coming up on the West Berks Community Health Council (which is supposed to act as a "watchdog" on the West Berks District Health Authority) should lead to some interesting debates about how many teeth that watchdog should have and whether it should show them. Among those stepping down is the present CHC chairman, Wally Gilbert of Berkshire Social Services/Age Concern, who has led the CHC in a policy of low-key lunches with the Health Authority officers to press them privately on health problems and without any public defence of the NHS against the Government-imposed cuts. At a recent meeting called by the CHC for voluntary organisations, the Authority was accused of "abdicating its responsibility" to the mentally handicapped and other groups, and the real question for the CHC is whether and how it should fight back to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Present Vice-Chairmen are Valerie Aspasia, who at present attends Health Authority meetings representing the CHC, and Frank Harris, a J.P. and Chairman of the Board of Visitors at Reading Gaol. Who will step up into Wally's shoes? Or will the voluntary organisations who dominate the CHC membership be looking further afield? There is a view that the CHC had better get with the defence of the NHS while there is still an NHS to defend. Points From The Post Privateers: Continuing with the NHS for the moment, there is some concern on the West Berks DHA that not only is Tory M.P. Steve Norris on the panel to open the tenders for Wokingham General Hospital but his fellow members are also Tories, one of them a Henley Councillor. And that the Oxford Regional Health Authority Supplies Officer is one of the references given on publicity material put out by hospital cleaners Crothalls, a subsidiary of S.Oxon refuse non-collectors Pritchards. Artful Bunker: Speaking of South Oxon, the Labour leader on the District Council has been having some difficulty getting details of plans for a nuclear war bunker being planned by the Council. They insist it's actually an "emergency planning centre" but can't explain why it has to be underground. Absent Friends: Returning to Reading, news that Redlands Tory Martin Lower is to move outside the Borough boundary means that no less than five Tory members of the Council will be voting on Reading's services and Reading's rates without experiencing either. They're legally qualified to be on the Council by working or owning property in Reading, but it is odd to think of the Tory majority having to be bussed (well, carred) in from neighbouring districts. Citizens Advice: The Policy Committee did approve a big enough grant for the Citizens Advice Bureau to enable it to cover the costs of its move to St Mary's Butts. This was not however until the clever wheeze of some senior Tories to make users of CAB pay £1 for each inquiry so as to save money had been shot down on the grounds it would be illegal. Privates on Parade: The Chief Nursing Officer in a report just before Christmas painted a gloomy picture of staff shortages and of student nurses having to take responsibility above their qualifications. One place where this does not seem to be a problem is the Greenlands Ward at Royal Berks, which is staffed entirely by SRNs. You've guessed it: that's the private patients' ward. Panorama: It's not obvious that the NF and other racist organisations need to bother to infiltrate the Conservative Party, the liberal record of which is frankly second to all. Take for example their attitude to RCRE, which last year was threatened by Ron Jewitt (yes, the same) with not getting a vital grant just after they'd, over his opposition, replaced their white chairman with a black one. And now the Council is offering them new premises in Silver Street - at a greatly increased rent and without increasing their grant to enable that rent to be paid. It is of course Cllr. Jewitt's public view that RCRE is not supported by Reading's black population, but last year his other fellow Caversham Councillor Fred Pugh was threatening other black organisations with withdrawal of "cultural" grants and at the last Policy Committee cultural grants were indeed chopped out altogether. It's a nice little, tight little, white little world some people seem to inhabit. Looking forward to hearing from you! Citizen Cain - - - Send your news to: Red Rag, Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading. - - - WOMYN Something Slightly Relevant The womyn's conference will begin with registration on Friday night 2nd. March at 8.00pm. at the Centre for the Unemployed, East Street, Reading. Further registration and workshops will begin on Saturday 3rd. March at 10.00am. (same place) and will go on until 5-6.00pm. with a break for lunch, which will be veggy and inclusive in the pries of the ticket. There will be a party/disco on Saturday night - all womyn are invited to come to this whether they attend the conference or not. The price will be £1.00 if you don't come to the conference. Bring your own booze! Sunday workshops will begin around 11.00am. going on until 5.00pm., again with a lunch break. These workshops will probably be 'lighter' and less discussive than the Saturday ones. Anticipated workshops for Saturday are: Rhubarb Circle, a discussion on discussions; Womyn and Writing; Phobias and Fears; Demands of the Womyn's Movement; Class; Anarchism/Feminism; Womyn and Health etc. Sunday we hope will be more relaxing, with video workshops, massage, films, theatre, silkscreen, music... There will be a programme available, but there will also be a room for spontaneous workshops. All workshops are flexible: if for example no-one seems interested in one, then we can scrap it and decide on something else. A creche for under fives is provided at the centre, and one for over fives at St. David's Hall, London Road. There will be transport provided to get the over fives back to the centre for lunch. Accommodation is available for womyn if required, but more will be needed, so if anyone can provide floor or bed space please contact Tina on Reading 482869. The Centre is wheelchair accessible, and there will be a signer (for the deaf) if needed. Cost for the conference will be £5.00 (£3 unwaged/low waged) for the weekend or £3.00 (£1.50 unwaged/low waged) for each day. Please buy your ticket as soon as possible, as we need the money to get things moving. Tickets can be bought from Acorn Bookshop (Chatham St.), Sahara Asian Women's Centre, or by phoning Michelle or Jo on Reading 666681. It is important that we know how many womyn to expect so we know how much food to do. Hope to see you there. The Something Slightly Relevant Collective - - - PERSONAL Celibacy - the solution This is a somewhat delayed response to an article in RR before Xmas, asking for pieces of a more personal nature. Everyone recognises that the world is pretty sick - with the majority of human relationships based on power and fear, rather than trust & mutual aid. Sex is one of the most important areas of oppression, perpetuated by the enforcement of rigid masculine and feminine roles; the one involving economic and physical power, and the other emotional manipulation. Such roles, and the consequent infection of sexual relationships with the use of power and manipulation, are deeply ingrained in all of us, and are subconsciously present in even the most 'sound'. We consider it almost impossible to conduct relationships in a non-oppressive way, and see the answer in abstention, or celibacy. Of course this tactic can be accused of also weakening the more positive bonds between people, but on balance we feel it does more good than harm. A slightly less drastic approach involves giving up the 'main act' whilst still indulging in other forms of sexual expression (foreplay, oral sex, etc) - this has clear advantages from a contraception point of view, and would also help reduce the nueroses involved in fucking. The Centre For Liberated Sexuality PS: Look out for our 'anti-nuclear family' leaflet on incest, and for our new location (a potential squat somewhere in S.Reading). - - - SQUATTING We are a group of young people who wish to promote rent-free occupation of empty buildings in the Reading area. We are directly opposed to the continuation of the Bedsit Desert that has been created by the Tory council and we are opposed to the Bed and Breakfast Syndrome that this has given rise to (eg. Mr Vernon Paxford); that is that people living in such accommodation are unable to maintain any employment, as any income they receive could not pay the extortionate rents that they are being charged. So they must remain on the dole and on the housing benefit scheme, a scheme Ron Jewitt and his cronies quite willingly perpetuate because more money can be made from selling council houses than by rent from housing homeless people. It's obvious that Mr. Jewitt cannot be looking to the future, or he would be able to see the distant scenario when all profits from sold council houses are gone, and his council are still paying out heavy amounts in rent to the 'Reading Landlord Mafia'. It may be lucrative now, but there is no future in it. There i& also no future for the kids and young families living in these appallingly cramped conditions, sometimes up to 30 in one house. This is supposed to be Reading not Calcutta! The homes are there, and so are the homeless to fill them. We have finally realised that the council, frankly, doesn't give a damn about us and our situation, and we have decided to do something constructive about it, which in effect is housing ourselves. The only people we are hurting by our actions are those who are making a lot of money out of hurting other people. And the only harm we cause them is to their fat wallets. If you want to know more about squatting in the Reading area, how to squat, where to squat, and squatting and the law, why not contact us? Reading Squatter's Collective, Box 12, Acorn Bookshop, 17, Chatham Street, Reading - - - EVENTS 20 Feb - 4 March Mon 20 "New Directions": presentation of new work by women at West Surrey College of Art. 7.30pm, free, South Hill Park, Cinema Club. The artists will be there to discuss their own films and videos. Of particular interest to those wanting to work collectively in film or video. Cookery demonstration; Leon Lewis will demonstrate recipes from his book "Vegetarian Dinner Parties". 7.30, Athletics pavilion, University Whiteknights. Details: Lorraine, 866259. Tue 21 Univ public lecture; "The Weather Business", by ex-Reading student J.D.Bacon ("TV Weather Man") 8pm, Room G10, Palmer Bldg, Whiteknights. Free Reading Health Watch meeting. 5.30, Centre for the Jobfree, East St. French Ecology: Yves Cochet ("national spokesman" ) speaking on "The potential ecology movement in France". 11am, room 234, Faculty of Regional & Area Studies, Univ, Whitaknights. Talk: "The Changing Role of Women", Reading Bahai Faith. 8pm, AUEW, 121 Oxford Rd. Free. Wed 22 Morning Star: Britain's only "Socialist" daily paper, we hear, currently in trouble with the CP for its Moscow line. Readers' meeting on the future expansion of the paper, with editor Tony Chater & Chief Exec May Rosser. 8pm AUEW Hall, 121 Oxford Rd. Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign committee meeting. Jury Rooms, above Women's Centre, Old Shire Hall. 8pm. All members welcome. "Women as workers" course continues with "sharing results and putting together a publication about Reading women as workers." 7.30, Women's Centre, basement Old Shire Hall, Abbey St. Free to "unwaged", otherwise 75p. "Veggie dining" cooks' meeting, C7.30-8.? at 15 Stanley Grove. Ring Mike, 588459 to check. Lecture: last but one in series "Women in 18th Century Art" (sorry only just heard about it), by Prof Owen Hughes. 2-3.30pm, G05 Palmer Bldg, Univ, Whiteknights. 50p. "Dunamis": Julius Holt on 'food, emergency and famine - improving disaster relief'. 6.30, entrance donation, St James', Piccadilly, London. "History of Hurst". illus. tape lecture plus exhibition. Spa St Nicholas Church, Hurst. 50p (kids, OAPs 25p) Wednesday is women's Day at the Centre for the Jobfree, East St. Free creche facilities. "Coffee & conversation" from 10.30, "sandwiches & songs" at noon, "counselling and courses" in the afternoon. Thu 23 Young Vegetarians: meeting at the Sun, Castle St. 8pm. Creative Writing workshop at S.Reading Community Centre, Northumberland Avenue. 1-3pm. Free to "unwaged", otherwise £1.20. More details: 873469. West Reading CND: film or slide show; planning for "taking peace to the street". 8pm, 19 Hollins Walk. Women's Studies Course continues with: "biology and destiny; the roles of women". 7.30 - 9.30, Women's Centre. £1.20 (50p unwaged). Details: Bridget, 472297. Talk: "Instant history - just add water!" by Mike Hull (archaeologist for Thames Water). History of Reading Soc 7.30, Abbey Gateway. Lecture by David Bellamy. 7.30 at the Hexagon. £2.50 or even more if you want to pay it. Fri 24 "Veggie dining" at Fairview Community Centre, bottom of George St. 8pm. Tickets in advance from Acorn Bookshop. Sat 25 Demonstration outside Shire Hall. 9.15am. before Berks County Council discuss their plans for what to do about the Greenham peace camp. Loads of people needed - bring enthusiasm, warm clothes, etc. Jumble sales: 10am St John's Hall, Gosbrook Rd (Caversham BANC Group, proceeds to help pay High Wycombe fines). 2.30pm St Saviour's Hall, Wolsely St (Old Coley Residents' Assoc) Sun 26 Music workshop: 4.30, Fairview Centre, George St. Article elsewhere this Rag. Wholefood Coop: 6.30, Fairview. Article elsewh. Red Rag Collective Meeting: 4pm, Flat 6, 117 Kendrick Road. The sovereign decision making body of Red Rag! Anybody interested very welcome. It's your paper! Relaxation for body and mind: day workshop, emphasis on biofeedback and yoga. Thames Valley Natural Health Centre. 10.30am - 5.30pm, Friends' Mtg House, Church St, Reading. £7.50 (members £6). Details: Murray, Bracknell 55925. Mon 27 South Reading BANC meeting with the Berkshire Emergency Planning Officer. 8pm, S. Reading Community Centre, Northumberland Avenue. All welcome! Wokingham W.E.A: "Socially useful alternatives to arms". Dr Mike Cooley, ex- Lucas Aerospace senior design engineer. Sorry, no time or place for this. Tel Ed, 594855. Demonstration outside Civic Offices 4pm, before Policy Committee meeting axes the Readibus budget. Be there! Caversham BANC group: showing the GLC peace video plus discussion. 8pm, 13 St Anne's Road, Caversham. "Working mothers and how to cope", talk by Monica Hughes (National Childbirth Trust), 8pm, Community Health Council, 10 Gun St. 40p. Tue 28 "Milk - a baby's best friend", Univ. public lecture by Prof R.R.Dils. 8pm, room G10, Palmer Building, Whiteknights. Wed 29 - yes, it's a leap year! "Women as workers": last in series; "course review and social". 7.30, Women's Centre, Abbey St. 75p (unwaged free). Peace Pledge Union meeting at 15 Stanley Grove, 8pm. "Women as Artists": 6-week course starts. 7.30 - 9.30, Alfred Sutton Boys' School, Crescent Rd. £1.20 (unwaged 50p). Course: women and fine art; media; education; artist discusses her work; functional art; craftswoman discusses her work. WEA. Details: Margaret Keyes, 872464. Dunamis: "Chemical and biological warfare - how states behave." 6.30, St James', Piccadilly, London. Donation. Public meeting: Old Coley Residents' Association on various issues: parking problems, children's play areas, slums in Castle Crescent, etc. 7.30 St Saviour's Church Hall, Wolseley St. "Rescuing women from the past" - last lecture in series: everywoman's contribution: the question of retrieval. Questions; approaches to writing women's history. Details as 22nd. "Action Day: Essential service routes, anti-civil defence". See article on cruise missiles elsewhere this Rag. Thu 1 Women's Studies course: mothers and daughters. 7.30 - 9.30. As last Thursday. Creative writing workshop as last Thursday, 1-3 Red Rag copy deadline and editorial meeting to read copy and plan the next issue. If you'd like to help ring James on 666681. Sat 3 "S.W.A.G." paper collection 8am - 12.30. Skips at Superkey, Gt Knollys St, Northumberland Ave Palmer Park, St Martin's Precinct, Recreation Rd Stop the City: meeting at the Ambulance Station, Old Kent Road, London to plan for March 29th "Vegan nutrition": one day course at "the natural foods cookery school", Bright-water Dunally Park, Shepperton. £15 including lunch... "Labour History Group": "The communist manifesto - what relevance today?" The Red Lion, Southampton St, 7.30. All welcome. Red Rag pasting up etc. Help always needed! Ring James on 6666811 Sat 3 and Sun 4 Reading Women's Conference, "something slightly relevant." See article elsewhere for details. Mostly at the Centre for the Jobfree, East St. Sun 4 Vegans meeting: 1 Orrin Close, Tilehurst. 2pm. Details: Steve 21651. Red Rag folding labelling and distribution. Help! Mon 5 Cycle Group: meeting at Rising Sun, 8pm. Tue 7 Cycle Group: special meeting 7.30pm, back room of the Crown, Crown St. Mike Barr from the County Council will be giving a talk on what the Council is doing for cyclists, incl details of the IDS schemes. Big turnout important! Sat 10 Day School on the Italian Peace Movement: Run by Centre for Advanced Study of Italian Society and European Nuclear Disarmament. 10.45am. - 5.00pm. At the Faculty of Letters, Whiteknights Park. £5 or £2 for students and unemployed (cooked lunch is extra, please book before March 2nd.) No heating, so come prepared! The day includes talks, discussions and workshops, including Italian speakers from Il Manifesto and Comiso. Contact Paul Corner, Italian Dept., Whiteknights Park. Tel. 875123. Regular Events Photography: sessions every Tues (10-12, 1-3) at Centre for the Jobfree, East St. Housing & Welfare Rights: Thurs evenings, Community Hoae, 117 Cumberland Rd. Reading Gay Switchboard: Tues & Fri 8-10. 597269. Silkscreen workshops: Fri 10-1, 117 Cumberland Rd Mini-market: Thurs 9-1 St Mary's House, Chain St Women's Centre: Open Tues 10-2; Wed 10-2; Sat 11-3 All women & Kids welcome. Pregnancy testing: Tues 7-9, bring urine sample from first pee of the day. Incest Survivors Croup meets regularly. Write c/o Rape Crisis line, 17 Chatham St, for details Anarchists: meet every Mon. Details via Box 19, Acorn Bookshop. Autonomists: contact via the anarchists. Libertarian bookstall: Thurs in term time lunchtime downstairs in Students' Union, Whiteknights. Peace Pledge Union: meets fortnightly, always active. Contact Mike 588459 or Box 10, Acorn. Ecology Party: meets 1st & 3rd Mon of month at 25 de Beauvoir Rd & 38 Long Barn Lane respectively. Contact Maria 663195. Socialist Workers' Party: every Wed, 8pm Red Lion, Southampton St. Labour History Group: meets monthly at Red Lion. Contact Breda 584558 or Mike 665478 for details Vegans: First Sun of month, 2pm, 1 Orrin Close, Tilehurst. Contact Steve Shiner 21651 Women's Peace Group first Mon of month at the Women's Centre. Contact Rheinhild 662873. Amnesty: second Tues of month, St Mary's Centre, Chain St. Contact Jean 472598. History of Reading Soc. 3rd Tues of month, Abbey Gateway. Events If your event isn't in our events guide, well, that's your fault! You should have rung Debbie on 868384, or left a message for Red Rag Events, Red Rag, Box 79, Acorn Bookshop. Stop Press: Wed 22 Meeting of NCCL on draft charter of civil rights. 8.00 St Mary's Centre. - - - LEAP YEAR LEAP Wed 29th Feb 8pm-late Horse & Barge, Duke St Disco, Bar, 90p adv 100p door 70p unwaged Proceeds in aid of Reading May Day (Lack of space in this issue for more May Day stuff - it has been held over for next issue.) - - - GOING OUT GUIDE Monday 20 February La Traviata (Verdi). Hexagon. 7.30, £3-5 New Directions: work by women from West Surrey College of Art & Design in various media. Also discussion about working collectively in film and video. 7.50, free Tuesday 21 Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart). Hexagon. 7-50, £3-5 Breathless(USA '85). South Hill Park. 7.30, £2 and concessions Cuff Billett & the New Europa Jazz Band. SHP. 8pm, £2.20/2.40 Local Writers' Festival: public rehearsed readings of new plays by local writers. SHP. 7.45, £1.70/1.90 Gay Disco. Tudor Arms. Free Burn Essence. Target, Butts Centre. Free El Nido (The Nest) (Spain '80). Reading Film Theatre. 8pm, £1.00/1.60 The Smiths + support + disco. Reading University Students Union. 8-1 (10.30 latest entry), £3 Tickets from Union, Pop Records, Listen, Music Market. Over 18s only Sold Out Breathless. As 21 Local Writers' Festival. As 21 Thursday 25 L'argent + Pickpocket (France '59). RFT. 8pm, £1.00/1.60 Breathless. As 21 Derek Brimstone: Reading Folk Club. Horse & Barge, Duke Street. 8.15. Singers welcome Local Writers' Festival. As 21 Energy. Target. £1 Live Music. The Sportsman, Shinfield Road. Free Friday 24 Dead On Arrival: Canadian punk - a benefit for the Vancouver 5 who contravened the Official Secrets Act. Paradise, London St (formerly the Caribbean). 9-2, £2 Gay Disco. Tudor Arms. Free Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (USA '82). SHP. 7.30, £2 + concessions Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (USA '78). SHP. 11pm, £2 + concessions Local Writers' Festival. As 21 Belcikal: musical trio. SHP. 8pm, £2.25/2.50 in advance, £2.50/2.75 on door London Philharmonic Orchestra: Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms. Hexagon. 7.30. £4-7 Saturday 25 Come Back to the Five and Dime. As 24 Bodysnatchers. As 24 Free Music. Hexagon. 12.15 King Dolphus v King Dick sounds. Paradise Club (formerly the Caribbean). 9-2, £2 Against the Grain 2. Target. 50p Sunday 26 Penna Trio: harps and guitars. SHP. £2.25/2.50 Jive Dive. Treats, Kings Road Free Jazz. Butler, Chatham St Come Back to the Five and Dime. As 24 Lynn Harrell: cello works by Beethoven, Chopin Foss. Hexagon. 7.30, £3-3.50 Monday 27 Women & Art: Slade women, Tina Modotti and Frida Kahlo. SHP. 7.30, free Tuesday 28 Gay Disco. Tudor Arms. Free Staying Alive (USA '85). SHP. 7.30, £2 and concessions The Crucible by Arthur Miller. 7.45, £2.20 Fair Exchange. Target. Free Stardust Road: an evening of Hoagy Carmichael music with Georgie Fame. Hexagon. 7.30, £2.50-3.50 Jazz Double Bill: The Siger Small Band plus Ian Smith Quintet. SHP. 8pm, £2.20/2.40 Wednesday 29 Danton (France/Poland '82). RFT. 8pm, £1.00/1.60 Staying Alive. As much so as on 28 Billy Liar: Park Theatre Workshop. SHP. £2.25/2.50 William Byrd Mass: Hurst festival. St Nicholas Church, Hurst, Nr Twyford. 8pm Harvey Smith: an evening with, Hexagon. 7.30, £2-3 The Crucible. As 28 Thursday 1 March Danton. As 29 Extemporary Dance Theatre. Hexagon. 7.30, £3/3.50 Tony McMahon + Noel Hill: Reading Folk Club, Horse and Barge. 8.15. Singers welcome Billy Liar. As 29 The Crucible. As 28 Eleventh Hour. Target. £1 Live Music. Sportsman, Shinfield Road Friday 2 Extemporary Dance Theatre. As 1 Billy Liar. As 29 The Crucible. As 28 Gay Disco. Tudor Arms. Free Disco. Paradise Club (formerly the Caribbean). £1.50 Hazel McConnell: piano music by Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms. SHP. 8pm, £2.95/3.20 Octal 77. Target. £? Saturday 3 Saturday Spectacular Jive Dive. Treats. 9-2, £1.50 Extemporary Dance Theatre. As 1 Billy Liar. As 29 The Crucible. As 28 Scotch Measure. Hexagon. 12.15, free Hot Steel. Paradise Club (formerly the Caribbean) £2.50/3.00 on door Octal 77. Target. Lunchtime Samurai. Target. 8pm, 50p Sunday 4 Jive Dive. Treats, Kings Road Free Jazz. Butler, Chatham Street Wellington College Concert: music by Mozart, Borodin. Hexagon. 7.30, £2-3.50 The Crucible. As 28 Monday 5 The Crucible. As 28 Tuesday 6 Gay Disco. Tudor Arms. Free The Crucible. As 28 Campus Concert: Baroque music. G10, Palmer Bldg, Whiteknights Park. 1.10, free San Jacinto: New Orleans Sound. SHP. 8pm, £2.00/2.20 enter under 29 Feb May Day Benefit Disco. Horse and Barge. £1 on door, 70p with UB40 - - - TELEPHONES GROW ON TREES The women at Greenham Common are watching 4 gates at the base 24 hours a day, every day. They are doing this so that we will know immediately when cruise is on the road. It is obviously very cold, exhausting work and it is draining a lot of energy from those able to do it. This effort deserves a communication network beyond the base to enable us to respond in a big way - big enough to make a 2nd run impracticable.... A (hopefully definitive) telephone tree is being set up in Reading. The idea is for each Neighbourhood group / affinity group / pressure group / group of friends to sort out a telephone tree for themselves; (pre-printed telephone tree plans are available free at Acorn) & then link in their branch to Reading's tree by leaving 3 copies at Acorn. (These will go to the three Reading people who will get a call from Newbury - (& obviously won't be in general circulation - so tough special branch). With a working tree we can react quickly when/if they bring out a missile - without it the convoy could drive through Reading & we'd read about it in the Post the next day - or whenever they decide to tell us. And the women would be sitting out there now for nothing. The telephone trees are at Acorn.... Andrew - - - WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH CRUISE? Maybe one day soon we're going to have a cruise missile come out to play; what shall we do with it? A meeting was held at the AUEW hall last week to exchange ideas... stopping it in its tracks was one idea, after all if it comes down the A4 it wouldn't be too hard to block the road. Otherwise we could follow it & blockade it in at its destination or stop it getting back to Greenham. We could saturate Reading with 'Cruise is on the road' leaflets, placards and graffiti, and flood the MOD, Police, AA + RAC switchboards with complaints, post off hundreds of letters to MPs etc, use kites, Helium balloons, flares, car horns, anything you can think of to tell everyone that Cruise is out! It is to put these ideas into action that a telephone tree is being set up. The CND mock launcher will be leaving Greenham on 24th March and this will be a general day of action against Cruise - ideas for things to do on the 24th will be discussed at the AUEW hall, 121 Oxford Rd on March 11th at 2pm. Cruise will only travel along Essential Service routes (ESRs) ie: good A roads and motorways. These roads will be kept closed to us in a 'State of emergency' by armed soldiers. The Greenham Women + CND have planned a day of actions to publicise this on Feb 29th, they have also planned a number of civil defence actions for this day. Phone 01-251 8046 for details. Andrew - - - CRUISE BACKGROUND INFO. "The Convoy" The flight of 16 missiles is carried by a convoy of 22 road vehicles manned with a complement of 69 people, 44 of whom are security personnel. In the UK the RAF Regiment will be providing some personnel, but it is not clear whether these are for base security or if they will accompany the convoy. The missiles themselves are carried by four "Transporter-Erector Launchers" (TELs) taking four missiles each. Control of these is provided by two "Launch Control Centres" (LCCs) - one for primary use, the other as a back-up. Armoured personnel carriers and various maintenance and supply vehicles make up the other 16 vehicles of the convoy. It is not expected that the convoy would move more than 100 miles from its main operating base. All the vehicles have some capability for cross-country travel. The convoy will travel in two "critical elements" - one LCC, two TELs plus support vehicles - to the dispersal site, each of which will take one flight, in order to increase the flight's "survivability" en route. The sites will be pre-surveyed during peacetime, presumably covertly to avoid compromising specific positions. Sites earmarked for wartime deployment will not be used for peacetime exercises! Info from:- 'The ground-launched Cruise Missile, A technical assessment(c) Electronics for Peace, 151 Courthouse Road, Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 6HY (also available from Acorn, 75p). The convoys we are likely to see on the roads soon will probably be a bit smaller than the full convoy described above, and will probably have civil police escort etc. - - - JACK OF BOTH SIDES The new landlord of the Jack of Both Sides on Cemetery Junction proved himself a worthy successor to "NP Steve" last Saturday as he, and some mates of his stirred up trouble during a disco in the pub. "They're calling you wogs up there," he told people dancing - a blatant lie but an excuse to use racist language. Most of the abuse and violence (apart from one head-punch) came from his unpleasant mates - but he wasn't doing anything to stop them. His excuse? He was "out of order and got a bit punchy". A letter of complaint is being written to Courages brewery, to complain about his racist and sexist behaviour and demand that he is removed. If you were there, write too. Meanwhile, as the hurriedly-written sign on the hoarding says, "Bocott the Jack". In peace, Road Runner. - - - WHAT A GAS It's good to know that the gas board operates in a fast and efficient manner. Anyone travelling to work last Wednesday would not have failed to notice that the normally panoramic view of the gasometers for which Reading is so well known, had been quite drastically changed. Framed above the rooftops and between the chimneys, visible from all around the Junction, from the offices in town and along the motorway link, in huge print-like letters a message..... No Cruise -(A)- painted on the upper section of one of the gasometers. Luckily, by 10.30 that morning some intrepid gas board worker had climbed all the way to the top armed with regulation grey paint and painted it over, before too many people had seen it and, forbid the thought, had a chance to think about the message. - - - FANZINES New Crimes no:7 30p & SAE. I am glad to say that this mag is back. It is up to the high standards it has set itself and includes articles on vivisection, the anarchist movement and a good mixture of musical tastes. Interviews raggae band Rebel Talkever and also a piece on The Committee and lots of f/zine, tape and record reviews. From Graeme, 360, Victoria Avenue, Southend, Essex. Suicide ? No, Murder, no: 3 15p & SAE. Not very well put together but has the interesting idea of features on foreign bands only, countries include, S. Africa, Italy, The Netherlands, USA, E. Germany, Australia, and others. Send to, Keith and Dena, 4, Morna Rd, Camberwell London. Final Curtain, no:10 20p & SAE. Probably one of the best Punk (a) zines around, it has now established itself and is a good read indeed. Should be obtained for its good article on Black Flag plus loads of stuff on Faceache, Red Brigade, Conflict (USA), Subterfuge and loads more from Plebb, 13, Maycroft Ave, Grays, Essex, RM17 6AN. By Steve Stalin, hopefully I will review more zines in future issues. If you want me to review yours send to Steve, 41, Fifth Rd, Newbury, Berks RG14 6DN. - - - GRAFFITTI REVIEW Part One: The Campus University campuses are always supposed to be very good for the popular art of graffitti - I remember going to Sussex once and finding it covered with the stuff. Reading however has lived up to its generally naff reputation by having pitifully few examples. When I came here in 1981 the only significant one was a large, intricately painted head of Jim Morrison- this was destroyed soon after. Summer 82 however saw a return to life, with an outbreak of feminist/anarchist graffitti: "Repatriate Thatcher", "Resist Authority", "Alive", and my personal favorite "Fuck The System" - this last was painted onto the surface of one of the access roads and remained long after the rest of the above had been erased - in the end the authorities tried to remove it by scraping the top layer of tarmac off the road - this left the remark engraved permanently in inch deep gashes! Ordinary paint is probably better than spray paint anyway - it's cheaper and not much slower, also it's got more 'staying power' and comes in nicer colours. Right wing elements responded to the above efforts with "Women Beware, Men Everywhere" and "Dykes Everywhere" which are still up, after nearly 2 years! A long gap then followed during which nothing new appeared, and then a couple of months ago one "Gay Is OK" was spray-painted in red on a white pumping station - it still remains. So in conclusion it can be said that students at Reading are pretty wet - at York people were so active ("Kill The VC", "Kill Your Bank Manager", etc) that the Vice-Chancellor threatened to immediately suspend anyone caught graffittying - we've a long way to go before that happens here. H. PS: If any of you nice middle class people up there want to get up off your butts & do something, I suggest "Never Work" or "Life Without Dead Taxes", which last seems to have been started already, in the rather enigmatic "Life Wi" on the FoL's building. Next week: the Junction. - - - BOOKS Press Release - February 1984 On Jan. 27th. Knockabout Comics and Airlift Books had a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey in front of Judge Argyll. Because several charges are the same, the two parties asked for the cases to be joined together, but the application was turned down on the grounds that the Jury could not be expected to deal with 21 book titles in one case. It was decided that Knockabout Comics would go first, and they asked for a September date to give them time to brief counsel and prepare their expert witnesses. But the trial for Knockabout is set for May 8th after the prosecution argued that every day of delay caused the youth of this country to experiment with dangerous drugs with dire consequences, through reading the books in question. Since Knockabout have not traded in any of the titles charged since July 1982 (as a condition of bail) it would not matter if the trial was delayed by a year. As Knockabout Comics is being charged as a limited company they have to meet all their legal and defence coats - as well of the cost of getting expert witnesses to read the charged titles and large fines in each of the 17 counts on the indictment (15 charges under the Obscene Publications Act and 2 charges of conspiring to contravene the Misuse of Drugs Act). Prison sentences are also a possibility. Even if Knockabout Comics win all parts of their case and get their books back, they have no recourse for loss of business for the 2 years it will have taken to decide on the merits of the books. So it is not so much a question of winning or losing - if they win they also lose. It is a question of how badly they lose. Your donations are still needed for the defence fund - please make cheques payable to "Right to Read". Lobby your M.P. Remember the trial is about books not drugs. Right to Read, 249, Kensal Road, London W10 01-969-2945 This article was compiled from a Right to Read leaflet which is available at Acorn Bookshop along with other information about bookshop raids (see also Acorn's bit elsewhere in this issue). - - - NEWTOWN Rival Rag For residents on the Junction, commonly known as Newtown, there's a Community House at 117, Cumberland Road. The printing resources are for the use of, so let's produce a newsletter, at least that's the suggestion - all we need is a production team.... If you're carefree and/or jobless, got things to say, interested in learning the complexities of an off-set litho or maybe prepared to distribute some of the said newsletter, your community needs you(?). Contact Jo on 666681 or leave a message at the Community House. - - - ACORN Since 1977, Acorn has been a member of the Federation of Radical Booksellers (formerly Fed. of Alternative Booksellers - times change!). The Federation, begun in the early 70's, is a network of independent shops throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who share certain ideals. Members help and support each other and also anyone else thinking of starting a bookshop. We're all non-commercial, community-oriented projects, trying to distribute books, pamphlets and magazines that you wouldn't normally find readily available elsewhere. The shops are all collectively run and most are officially co-ops, though we all share the problems of collective working, elitism specialisation, personality clashes and so on. There are about 50 shops like Acorn; we differ quite a lot, from Grapevine in Cambridge which has no premises to Grassroots in Manchester with 9 full-time paid workers. Just recently we went to a Federation conference in Southampton to meet up with other booksellers. These dos happen 3 times a year in different parts of the country, as a way of sharing problems and ideas, and discussing projects and developments in the radical book trade. (They're also good fun!) We've discussed the International Feminist Bookweek in June when known and unknown women writers will be visiting and travelling around the country, and the problems arising from the liquidation of Publications Distribution Co-op, who used to distribute most of the radical magazines and many books and pamphlets. Some things are going to be unavailable for a while - bear with us. One of the points of the meetings, the newsletter and the Federation generally is to break down the isolation we can feel in our own towns. As radical booksellers, we've made different choices from activists with straight jobs or on the dole, not necessarily better one! But we have to deal with the pressures of being seen to be "right-on" on the one hand while coping with the problems of a small business on the other: the constant pull of wanting to feel involved in something worthwhile, whilst having to pay the rent! - - - CINEMA Falklands War hits the Big Screen Readers may be interested/shocked/horrified/not in the least surprised to hear (if they don't know already) that the supporting film for 'The Honorary Consul' (Graham Greene's very human story of politics in Argentina and Paraguay in the 50's (?)) was blatant and very unsubtle propaganda from the Ministry of Defence. Innocuously titled 'Fire Fight', it proved to be a 're-enactment' of an incident during the Falklands War, in which a group of British soldiers fearlessly advanced through the grass on a house occupied by Argentinean soldiers, then blasted it with shots, grenades etc. killing most of the occupants and those who tried to escape. The few remaining surrendered, and the house and outbuildings were blown to bits. End of film. I missed the beginning, so don't know if the audience was 'warned' of what was to follow, but I at least found it very upsetting, angry-making, and in the worst possible taste, and have written to Rank Leisure etc. to tell them so. Deborah - - - POEM Santa Margarita (dedicated to Linda Barker) Oh tall me the truth, you unemployed youth Is she really all that we thought her? There is no way that we'll work today All because of the grocer's daughter. The pauper's wind blows, and discontent grows Three million go to the slaughter. There must be a reason, or even some treason Behind a confident grocer's daughter. The law takes the brunt for the National Front And their lives don't even falter. The Nazis have gone - but their smell lingers on Along with the smug grocer's daughter. Is this what they fought for in the last war Or is our insight becoming shorter? Cos we're off the track and the fascists are back Led on by the sick grocer's daughter. So don't make a fuss as plutonium dust Seeps into your basement shelter, Three miles underground, the Tories surround The beautiful grocer's daughter. (A) Dave This was sent with a letter from a resident at H.M. Prison, Blundeaton, Suffolk - "an avid reader of Red Rag" -- serving a sentence for smuggling dope. Dave's release will be February 1985, and in the meantime he would love to receive any letters from fellow readers to keep him informed of political movements, rallies, peace camps, peace convoy, squats etc. etc. If you want to read the letter (it is a bit long to go in the Rag in its present form) ask for the Red Rag box at Acorn Bookshop. If you want to write to Dave, here's the address:- F82123 Haycock, David, 'A' Wing, H.M. Prison, Blundeston, Nr. Lowestoft, Suffolk. - - - CYCLING Reading Cycle Campaign 1984 Following last Summer's demo & petition about the dangers of the proposed Inner Distribution Road (IDR) scheme & a meeting with members of the Reading Cycle Campaign before Christmas, officers of the County Council are now recommending several changes to the scheme so as to enable cyclists & pedestrians to cross more safely or avoid the IDR. Full details will appear once the final decision is taken by the Environmental Committee on 28th February. Many thanks to all those who have been involved in this campaign over the last two years. Thanks to you it will be possible to cycle in Reading in the future. Pressure from the Cycle Campaign has also helped ensure that the needs of cyclists will be considered in the Central Reading District Plan. After some foot-dragging by the Borough Council the new Kennetside cycle route will officially be opened by the "end of the financial year" (April). We are writing to the Council to suggest a Grand Opening to give the route some much-needed publicity. Saturday morning sometime in April (no, of course it's not going to rain) would seem to be the most likely time. This could be your chance to appear in the Evening Post! Watch Red Rag for further details. For those of you that don't know, Kennet Valley is that glorious patch of ex-gravel pits, railway lines & industrial buildings between Coley & the Basingstoke Road. The Borough Council are currently preparing a Plan for its future use & want suggestions from us about provisions for cyclists. If you know & cycle around this area then send us your suggestions immediately because we must send them to the Council very shortly. Until now the Campaign has been run by a few people who have done most of the organising. However, to ensure its continued success in 1984 we need more people to take on responsibility for some of the campaigns & newsletter production & delivery. If you can help in any way or just want to find out more about us the come to one of the monthly meetings (see Events) or contact us c/o 64 College Road, Reading, RG6 1QB. lastly, there will be an Important Meeting on March 7th, "The Crown", Crown Street at 7.30pm... Mike Barr from the County Council will be giving a talk on what the Council is doing for cyclists, including for the first time details of the IDR schemes. A good turnout is vital so bring your friends. Thankyou! - - - GIG REVIEW Twelfth Night - Angies, Wokingham Thursday 9th. February Local band, Twelfth Night, played in Wokingham as part of a National Tour to follow the release of their new live album, "Live and Let Live". This was their first appearance at Angies with their new vocalist, Andy Sears, and they played two 45-minute sets to a packed audience. The band performed no post-Geoff Mann (their previous vocalist) material, but Andy sang well and captured their followers attention with his stage antics (and high heels!). Minor problems with the bass equipment towards the end of the evening caused a bit of tension on stage, but the show went on, and the band played two encores. With your eyes closed, the band could easily be the same as ever, but maybe their course has veered away from political protest to a more "commercial" aim. If you're into progressive/spacey rook (a bit like a combination of U2, Genesis and something else) and complicated rhythm changes, go and see Twelfth Night sometime - they play locally quite often and quite cheaply. They'll also be playing at the Marquee Club, Soho on March 3rd. and 4th. All the best to the band for the future. 0X0 B. - - - MONEY We are again short of money (heard this one before, eh?). We don't have quite enough money to pay for this issue - each one costs about £60 to print and standing orders bring in only 1/2 of this. Talking of standing orders, hare you filled one in yet? You can pick one up at Acorn or yon can 'phone 374532 and we'll get one to you. Tins awaiting your donations can be found at the outlets:- Red Rag Outlets: Acorn Bookshop 17, Chatham Street (under multi-storey carpark) Listen Records Butts Centre (upstairs) But Is It Art? Butts Centre (downstairs) Central Club London Street Centre for the Unemployed East Street Sheila's Duke Street Elephant Off-licence Derby Street Fine Food Stores 168, Oxford Road Harrison's Newsagent Caversham Road Jelly's Store Whitley Street Number Sixty Christchurch Green Ken's Shop Student's Union, The University, Whiteknights Technical College(library & students common room) King's Road Pop Records 172, King's Road Rib 'n' Roast 189, London Road Mace 2, Crown Collonade Continental Stores 199, London Road The Sugar Bowl 26, Wokingham Road Johal Cash and Carry 14, Choiceley Road Ling's Chinese Fish Bar Wokingham Road Sutherlands, 55 Erleigh Road - - - SMALL ADS 4 Minute Warning Fanzine No. 7. 20p and SAE to: Steve, 41, Fifth Road, Newbury, Berks. Includes - The Committee, The Apostles, New Model Army, P.S.A., Gig Reviews, Cassette and Zine News. Don't forget, this issue is only available through mail order. Wanted - bookcase for free or v. cheaply. Any size, any colour, reasonable condition. Phone 374532 anytime. Wanted. Room in shared flat/house in Reading area, by youngish guy who presently works as a driving instructor in E.London. His interests include martial arts, music, cooking, real ale & driving (not all at the same time though!). Contact Graham on Pangbourne 4532 if you can help. Thanks. - - - DEMO Busload of Disabled People Robbed The Readibus dial-a-ride service provides a seven days a week, door to door service for disabled and elderly people who cannot use public transport. It is jointly financed by Reading Borough Council, the Department of Transport, the Department of the Environment, Berkshire County Council, Newbury District Council and the fares paid by the passengers themselves. At the end of last month Reading's Borough Council Transportation Committee met to consider the Readibus grant for 1984/5. The Readibus group was asking for a small increase, in the end the committee decided on a 10% cut. Councillor Markham, the Conservative Spokesperson on the Transportation Committee, said that the service was inefficient and recommended that a working party be set up to look into the efficiency of the service. There have already been two independent studies of the Readibus service, by the Department of Transport and by Reading University. Reading's Readibus service was said to be the most efficient disabled peoples dial-a-ride service in Europe. The council's Policy Committee will reconsider the decision at 4:30pm on the 27th February at the Civic Offices. Supporters are asked to attend. For further details ring 591767. Those who wish to make their views known to their elected representative can contact Councillor Markham at 9, Pitford Road, Woodley. Tel: 691057 - - - WHOLE LIFE FOODS The cheapest wholefood delivery scheme in Reading has been shelved until the Summer when it will re-emerge as Rainbow Wholefoods. May I take this opportunity to express thanks and best wishes to everyone who has supported the business over the pest months which have been enjoyable, satisfying but not profitable. Eat well, Mike. - - - Future Events At FAIRVIEW COMMUNITY CENTRE George St, Reading Wholefood Co-Operative ... Sunday, 26th Feb 6:30 pm. Meeting to organise a collective order to Community Wholefoods, New Southgate for rice, beans, nuts, muesli, peanut butter and whatever else you want to eat over the following three weeks. The intention is to buy in bulk at wholesale prices and divide the goodies up ourselves. No business, no profit, no tax &c. Pay in terms of effort and involvement, come with shopping list and reddies. Music Workshop ... Sunday, 26th Feb 4:30 pm Two hours to get it together. If you have any instruments bring them, if you have none bring anything you can make a noise with and come anyway. Ideas so far (more, more) ; community concertos, tuition, mending things, allowing people a taste of the ability to play and communicate with music. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1984/1984-02-19.txt#3 $