RED RAG readings only newspaper FREE 10dec-7jan News: 6666324 or 666681 Events: 37-3117 Going out: 507593 Distribution: 665676 Copy deadline for next issue 5 January Send copy to Acorn Bookshop c/o Acorn Bookshop, Box 17, 17 Chatham Street, Reading - - - HASSLING HESELTINE Last Friday Michael Heseltine (minister of war) visited the university, invited by the conservative association to a meeting closed to non-members, thus ruling out the dramatic possibilities explored by Birmingham and Manchester univs. About 50-60 police lined the access road to the lecture theatres and successfully inhibited any significant protest when Heseltine arrived - nothing was thrown, and even verbal objections were pretty limp. However while he was in the building some more decisive action was organised, and a blockade of the road was started, about 30-40 people linking arms to block the cars coming to take Heseltine away. Then it was the Warrington situation all over again, the police again used far more violence than they needed to break up the blockade, people were thrown around and kicked viciously - someone was arrested and had his arms wrenched fiercely, face forced almost into the ground. People nearby who protested at this were also threatened with arrest, and in fact one was taken. The cops got progressively more irritated and arrested another 2 demonstrators, one of whom hadn't done anything but be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Contrary to the 210 reports, which used the word "scuffles", there was little violence on the part of the demonstrators, with only a couple of eggs being thrown. Several more people were grabbed and then later released, the 4 who were arrested were taken to headquarters (behind the Butts) & several of us followed them down there to give statements and complain about police behaviour. Michael Heseltine meanwhile, got out through a side entrance, a decoy car being used to fool the crowd. About 150 people were present, 50 or 60 being active. Apparently this is the first time in a decade that students have been arrested at Reading for this sort of thing - let's do better next time eh? P.A. - - - READING DEMO 200 people today marched from Tilehurst through Reading town centre to a rally in Palmer Park, where they met up with CND's facsimile cruise missile launcher. Originally the launcher was meant to accompany the march, but it broke down - just like the real thing. This demonstration reinforces the campaign against cruise missiles following their arrival in "November. Another big demonstration is planned for Sunday in Greenham. For activities in Reading throughout the week, see events; and there's an article about next weekend's action at High Wycombe elsewhere in this Rag. - - - GREENHAM LATEST Security forces at Greenham are becoming increasingly paranoid. Merely walking up to the perimeter fence and examining the patched up holes produces a babbling of walkie-talkies and taking snapshots in front of the barbed wire results in the arrival of a vanload of police. The feeling among the women however becomes increasingly high. This is the result of two separate breaches of security during the last week. On one night two women broke into the base and spent about 3 1/2 hours inside it. To begin with they dived to the ground whenever they saw anyone but they soon realized that no-one was paying any attention. They painted some of the runway red and then wandered around until, they said, they found themselves by the silos. They were cold and tired so they sat down for a while but still nobody noticed them and, as they were getting bored, they knocked on the back door of a RAF van and asked to be taken out. They were charged with criminal damages. On another night four women managed to occupy one of the watch-towers inside the perimiter fence. They painted it red and sang and danced in it. They were removed and marched out of the gate without being charged. The next morning the paint had been washed off. Obviously the best way to deal with a break in at a top-security base is to pretend it did'nt happen. - - - INSIDE INFORMATION Honour Right Interesting the Labour Research Department analysis of the coincidences between company donations to Tory funds and honours for their directors. One very local example is Racal's Sir Ernest Harrison: Racal is of course a major contributor and Sir Ernest not only received a knighthood from Mrs Thatcher but also played host to her during the General Election campaign. Racal, a strongly anti-union firm, has made about 200 workers redundant in Reading and Bracknell over the last year, generally by calling them in individually and telling them to clear their desks by nightfall. It is, lest we forget, also a major defence contractor. Rank Insider The priorities of the Rank Organisation (Lord Rank, prop.) came very clear last week. They won their appeal against the pre-election Reading Borough Council's refusal to let them turn the Top Rank dance suite into a bingo hall, so they'll no longer be offering anything to the young people in Reading who've filled their coffers for so long. And they want to replace their cinema in Cheapside with two smaller cinemas, a casino (a handy alternative for teenagers to a dance suite), and, of course, offices to meet the "growing demand" for same (a demand that has unaccountably passed by the 600,000 sq.ft. of empty offices cluttering up the town centre). But between a Tory-controlled Dept. of the Environment (which allowed the Top Rank appeal for some reason) and a Borough Council that hasn't turned down an office application since the Tories took control in May they'll no doubt get their way. Ramadeal If you find yourself waiting for a taxi at the station longer than you're used to, this could be because all Reading taxis have been instructed by the Council to stop at the rank outside the Ramada Hotel after every trip within the Borough and wait until someone from Ramada books them or some other taxi turns up. The aim is that guests of Reading's newest hotel shall never have to wait for a taxi: as most of them have cars anyway the effect is that taxi drivers are losing money (and other taxi passengers losing out) while they wait around for a fare that never comes. Buprofit The 'Oxford Mail' has revealed that the Oxford Region Health Authority is negotiating a deal with private health insurer BUPA by which BUPA will build a hospital for heart patients on land next to John Radcliffe Hospital (land owned by the Health Authority) and the NHS will be able to buy places in that hospital for NHS patients. As well of course as allowing its consultants to work in the private hospital and providing that private hospital with laboratory and other services at standard rates fixed by the DHSS which are far below cost (like a fiver to do any number of tests on a blood sample). There are 60 empty beds in the John Radcliffe, and the unions reckon it would be a lot cheaper to fill them (by employing extra staff in the NHS) than buy beds outside. Such is democracy, though, that the deal won't come to the Authority until the details have been agreed by the officers! Citizen Cain - - - EVENTS Mon 12 @narchists Regular meeting. For venue contact Box 19 Acorn bookshop Support needed for Mike Dickinson arrested at 'Stop the City'. Guildhall Magistrates Court. 10am- More info and request for a lift from Mike, 588459 Education Otherwise: 10.30-4.00. Christmas cooking and cards. At home of Anne Stephens, 2 Warwick Rd, Reading. Please bring own equipment, material, ideas. Also please bring own lunch. BANC Open Day: 9-12.30 at St Marys Centre. Bookstall, letter writing tables, food and drink. Meeting shoppers and talking to them. Exhibitions on Civil Defence, Medical Campaign against Nuclear Weapons. Opportunities to talk to people. Tues 13 The Great Lunchtime Debate: 1.00-2.00. Free. Vachell Room, the Hexagon. Bring own lunch. BANC meeting: 8pm. Friends meeting house, Church Street. 'Dealing with Cruise'. Discussion groups to do with personal feelings and direct action, etc, etc. Wed 14 PPU Affinity Group meeting, for High Wycombe. Above 'Reading Wholefoods' (same door) at 7.30 East Reading CND, 4 Talford Avenue, 8pm Friends of the Earth. Festive Feast. 27 Instow Rd, Earley, from 6-8pm. COntributions welcome. Please book. More details from 868260 Reading Birth Centre Meeting. For time and more details, tel 584191. Call It Sleep Do you ever feel that we are all the victims of a gigantic confidence trick? Do you suspect that even the most basic elements of our daily lives are being manipulated and poisoned? If so, you could find this movie very illuminating - or on the other hand it might leave you even more confused. USA 42 mins. Bulmershe College of Higher Education Video viewing room (near Porters Lodge) Wednesday 14th December Lunchtime showing 12:45pm Evening showing 8.00pm Free Thurs 13 Childrens Christmas Party at the Women's Centre at 12. Please bring feed and drink and one childs toy (as a present) How to use a video camera, 12.00-2.00. Last in a series on communication. At the centre for the Jobfree, East St Fri 16 Surviving Unemployment, 10.00-11.30. A chance to air your views and talk about personal problems as a result of being out of work. Vegans Festive Meal. 3 course meal for £3.75. 8pm George Street Community Centre. Bring your own drinks. For any spare seats, please ring Katherine Monbiot on Rotherfield Greys 424 Womens Centre Social: 8.00-1.00. Bring your own records and a bottle Carol Singing in aid of War on Want. Meet at 7.00pm. at Ramada Hotel bar (Beauclerc) (whoops!) Please bring candles in jam jars. Sat 17 Vegan Society carol singing in aid of Animal Rights. Meet at 6.30pm. to start at 7.00pm. at 1, Orrin Close, Tilehurst. Action against Cruise (west region action) at Bath and Corsham - site for central govt, wartime HQ and nuclear bunker. For further details ring Christine on Chard (04606) 61319 daytime or Maylin on Bath 318563 evenings. Berks., Bucks., Oxon. Naturalist's Trust Xmas sale in united Reformed Church 10.00am. - 4.00pm, (Broad Street). Labour Party Christmas Fayre in Oxford Road Methodist Church Hall from 11.00am. onwards. Sun 18 Cyclist's Touring Club 50 mile round trip over the hills to Boar's Hill near Oxford. Meet on Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames 9.15am. With John Hutton. Are you organised for the High Wycombe day of action? If not:- meeting for those who are in interested in joining an affinity group and have not already done so at Fairview Community Centre (bottom of George St.) 2.00pm. To discuss transport; plan of campaign etc. Tel. 373117 for details (Andrew). Please Note - If you need accommodation for tonight (Sun) in High Wycombe, please phone Lynnette (06285) 25169 Nonviolent protest in London. Meet at 2.00pm. outside Ministry of Defence, Whitehall. Embrace the MoD in a peaceful, symbolic action. This will be followed by a vigil through the night, (warm clothes, blankets, nonviolence needed) Mon 19 Blockade of MoD Whitehall 7.00am. - 3.00pm. High Wycombe Day of Action 1. Assemble between 6.00am. and 6.30am. at Rye Park for a blockade of USAF Daws Hill lasting from 7.00am. - 11.00am. Offers of help to Paul Rdg. 479042. 2. Assemble in Rye Park at 11.30am. for a solemn procession around the town of High Wycombe in complete silence dressed in black or very dark Clothes. Ends at Rye Park at 12.30pm. ish. 3. Travel to Naphill for 2.00pm. to plant suitable trees on and around excavated waste at the bunker site. Please bring:- friends, warm clothes, energy, suitable footwear, food, transport if you can.... Cable TV Seminar - "Social Implications". 7.30pm. in the cinema at South Hill Park. University Public Lecture: Christmas Holiday Lecture at 3.00pm. "Christmas and the Great Eastern Railway". Prof. A. G. Atkins Tues 20 Reading Health Watch meeting at 6.00pm. Centre for the Unemployed. Weds 21 Lakenheath USAF Base - Fast starts. For further details contact 01-806-4615. Thurs 22 "Something Slightly Relevant Disco" - a benefit for the women's conference. Social at Women's Centre to raise funds for the women's conference in March. From 9.00am till 1.00pm. Bring a bottle and records. Planning meeting for conference at 8.00pm. Women only. Sun 25 "Open Day at the salvation Army Centres". For all those who would otherwise spend Christmas day alone. 21 Dec to 1 Jan Fast continues at Lakenheath outside USAF Lakenheath Nuclear Air Base January Sun 1 Vegans regular monthly meetings begin again at home of Liz and Steve Shiner - 1, Orrin Close Tilehurst at 2.00pm. Tel. 21651. If you are interested, support and enthusiasm are needed to lift flagging spirits (no offence meant to vegans already active - just to encourage the rest of us!) Sun 1 to Fri 6 Walk from Lakenheath to Sizewell leaving from Maids Cross Hill. Walking approx. 10 miles per day rain or shine. Please phone in advance:- 01-306-4615 or 0638-716556. Weds 4 Women's Centre first of the month meeting to discuss putting together a women's magazine. Peace Pledge Union meeting at 19, George St., Reading (near Central swimming pool) at 7.30pm. Tel. Rdg. 599995. Thurs 5 Women's Institute mini-market at St. Mary's Centre, Chain St. Stalls of handicrafts, fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, cakes etc. From 9.00am to 1.00pm. Red Rag copy deadline and editorial meeting. 5pm. Acorn Bookshop. Phone 666681 with offers of typing. Sat 7 S.W.A.G. (Save Waste And Gain) charity paper collection from 8.30am. to 12.30pm. Skips are at Superkey (Meadway), Palmer Park, St. Martin's Precinct, Northumberland Ave., Recreation Rd., Gt. Knolly's Street. Red Rag pasting-up. Phone 666681 if you want to have a go, and to find out venue. Sun 8 Red Rag folding and labelling. Phone 666681 if you'd like to help. Mon 9 'Victims of Crime - who cares?" talk by Helen Reeves, National Officer from the National Association of Victims Support Schemes. 8.00pm, at Whiteknights. Tues 10 Ecology Party public meeting - Launching a campaign for real democracy. 8.00pm. at St. Mary's Centre. Weds 11 Women as Workers talks continue. Resigning surveys and related problems. Now to be held in the Women's Centre, Basement of Old Shire Hall, Abbey Street. Creche and help with lifts, 75p per session. Tel. Linda 61831 Anne 596639 or £6.00 for course of eight. 7.30pm.? (phone for details) Birth Centre Meeting - please telephone Electra on 584191. Lecture Series - St. James's, Piccadilly 6.30pm. This series will examine how the public may most effectively influence Westminster and Whitehall: the role of the media and advertising: legitimate means of persuasion in democracy. Peter Fiddick (TV columnist for the Guardian) and 'The Media Gets the Message' to begin the series. Entrance donation: £1/50p. The Women's Centre will be closed on Christmas Eve and for the week after Christmas. If any women want to use the centre they are welcome to do so. The key will be at the Early Learning Centre. Regular Stuff Photography 2 sessions every Tuesday (10-12, 1-3) Reading Centre for the Jobfree Housing and Welfare Rights - sessions on Thursday evenings at Community House, 117 Cumberland Rd. Share your problems and knowledge. Womens Centre - Opening times Tues 10.30 - 2.00 Wed 10.30 - 2.00 Sat 11.00 - 3.00 Also free pregnancy testing Tues 7-9pm. Bring urine sample from first pee of the day. Reading Gay Switchboard - ring 597269 between 8 and 10, Tuesday and Friday evenings. Your Rights - East Reading Rights Group stall outside the church at Cemetry Junction. Every Sat 11am-1pm SWAG (charity paper collection) Skips at Superkey, Palmer Park, Northumberland Ave, St Martin's precinct, Recreation Road, Gt Knolly's St. 8.30-12.30 every 1st Sat of month. Mini-market stalls of handicrafts, fruit, veg, plants, cakes, marmalade, flowers, etc. organised by Women's Institute St. Mary's House, by the church at the Butts Thurs a.m. 9-1. Groups: Peace Pledge Union - fortnightly small friendly group meets to discuss issues and place actions. Contact Box 10, Acorn Bookshop or phone 588459. Ecology Party - meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 25 de Beauvoir Rd and 38 Long Barn Lane respectively. Socialist Workers Party - meet every Wednesday at the Red Lion, Southampton St, 8pm. Reading Anarchists - meets every Monday. For venue contact Box 19 at Acorn Bookshop. History of Reading Society - 3rd Tues of month, Abbey Gateway. Women's Peace Group - 1st Monday of month, Women's Centre. Amnesty International - 2nd Tues on month, St. Mary's Centre. - - - RED RAG PARTY Sand dancing / live music / disco 15 December 8-12ish at the Crown, Crown Street (end of London Road) Bar extension Bring food and plates All welcome 75p waged 50p unwaged - - - RED RAG Red Rag, Reading's Only Newspaper, hasn't sold a copy in four years. It's produced and printed by a nebulous collective. It has no connection with any political party or line or with the University either. It depends entirely on donations from its readers - that's one reason why it's a bit thin sometimes. Another reason for that is that it largely depends on its readers for news and articles. There are maybe 4,000 readers (allowing three per copy). Its aim is to encourage people to take control of their own lives. Or something. If you'd like to help with the next issue, please ring 666681. Money is short as ever, but we're trying to clear our overdraft of £100 by selling the ultimate in Red Rag marketing concepts, the 6 page, highly colourful, very right-on Red Rag 1984 calendar. If you'd rather donate money, send cheques to Red Rag, c/o Acorn Bookshop, Box 171 17 Chatham St. Standing order forms always welcome; and there are collection tins in many of the outlets. Thanks. Red Rag copy should arrive at Acorn before the editorial meeting on the Thursday prior to Rag production. If you can type, it is very helpful if you type in columns no more than 12cm wide (this can then be photoreduced by 80% to 10cm before it goes in). Thanks. - - - DINTON PASTURES COUNTRY PARK Dinton Pastures Country Park is an area of 230 acres, half of which consists of lakes. The main aim of the park is to provide quiet and informal recreation i.e. walking, picnicking and the study of natural history. Coarse fishing takes place on the 24 acre White Swan Lake which has been stocked with crucian carp, tench, roach, pike etc. Day tickets for fishing can be obtained from the Country Park staff at the water's edge, or season permits from the Park Centre. The 75 acre Black Swan Lake is the largest lake and is used for non-motor water sport. The northern end of the park has been designated a wildlife area, and on Sandford Lake, work has successfully been carried out to improve these islands as breeding areas. A hide has been installed to give good views of the birds on the lake without disturbing them. The park is situated in the Valley of the River Loddon between Reading and Wokingham. I personally feel its well worth a visit - don't forget your wellies, its muddy there this time of year. If you would like to help or need more information, ring Twyford 342016. N.B. It's free and has a small tea and conservation display room near the entrance. Karen - - - NGA PICKET The Line That Broke - The Warrington Picket On Tuesday 29th Nov the largest and most violent of the pickets of the messenger newspapers at Warrington took place - about 10 people went from Reading, including some students. We arrived at 10.30 to find tension mounting with the police stopping an ambulance coming through for one of the NGA organisers with heart trouble, and only giving way after an hour. At this stage the police were in a defensive position, lines 3 or 4 deep forming three sides of a rectangle between the buildins of the plant and enclosing a large barren area of concrete. The front line of this police cordon was under pressure from the pickets and broke temporarily, trapping people in the square behind the police, some managed to get out by posing as press, others were grabbed and thrown out. Confidence was high as more demonstrators kept arriving and only about 600/700 were in evidence. Then reinforcements started coming in for the Boys in Blue, in squads of about 70 - nobody tried to stop them. At 12.30 the real agro started as the police attacked the NGA loudspeaker van and picked off the people in the crowd with megaphones. Then the front line baton charged the crowd, using massive violence to force it back a few dozen yards. People were stunned by this tactic and wandered around just not believing what was happening. Another line of reinforcements tried to pass through the crowd, which this time reacted and formed a wall in front of the cops, panicking them into retreating. At the front line the police again slammed into the crowd & pushed far forward, capturing a hill and forcing everyone into the road. Ambulances started arriving (contrary to the report in the dailies, I didn't see a single injured cop, but saw dozens of pickets carried away). The pressure on the line increased, with people on the outside trying (unsuccessfully) to force the line back and regain ground & the people in the middle severely crushed. Along with many others I beat a hasty exit at this point. From the other side of the road the position looked like a full blooded civil war, with about 2000 cops facing 3000 demonstrators. Several more charges were made and people fled away from the lines in sheer terror. Several pickets were beaten up in full view and stones flew in response. Trunchions were now being used regularly & the riot squads made their appearance, visors down. At about 3.00, one hour before the van containing the newspapers was due out, the police came at the crowd again, trying to outflank the line which was a little depleted and thinner as people had already started leaving. The cops formed into a wedge and went straight into the crowd, split it and charged again, turning the picket into a wild chaotic rampage. Once they had got us away from the path of the van they came at us again, using a landrover to cause panic (someone from Reading was nearly run over at this point). The violence rapidly escalated, with fires being started and a barricade erected across the road, this was quickly cleared by the riot squad, and the van eventually came out unmolested at 4.30. It was at this time that a lot of people were arrested, people standing around waiting for coaches back were pounced on if they did anything, people sitting in the road were kicked or picked up and dropped onto the concrete. Gradually things calmed down, and by 5.00am when we left, most of the picket had disappeared. So what went wrong? Basically the police were better organised and much more brutal than anyone expected, they used organised terror tactics to keep the initiative all the way through the battle, at the end herding the crowd like sheep. One of their first acts was to knock out the NGA loudspeaker van and any organisation on our side. This had little effect however, most of the actions of the crowd were spontaneous and collective - people didn't need to be told what to do, they used their common sense. What was I, a pacifist anarchist, doing demonstrating for the reinstatement of workers who earn £200-£300 a week? Nothing, if that was all that it was about, but the picket involved wider issues, and turned into a protest against the irrational and oppressive Tory laws & at the appalling behaviour of the police. Yes there was violence, but this was almost completely initiated by the police, the picket was mostly unable to do more than passively resist. What violence was used merely provoked yet greater reaction & made things worse - I came away more firmly convicnced of its uselessness. P.A. - - - HIGH WYCOMBE ACTION High Wycombe Action - December 19th. Expose High Wycombe: come along to a meeting to arrange affinity group(s) to travel to Wycombe as part of the Southern Region day of action. We'll be at the BANC meeting in Friends Meeting House, off London St. on Tuesday 13th. Dec. and at 7, London Rd. (above Reading Wholefoods) on Wednesday 14th. Dec. Both at 8ish. If you can't make either of these get togethers but want to be a part of the action, ring Andrew on 373117 who is arranging a splinter group. The last planning meeting for this action is on Monday 12th. December in Oxford. It will be to sort out final details and co-ordination. If you want to go please ring Paul (479042) or Bridge (374332) for details. Do you ride a push/motorbike? Are you free on Dec 19th.? We need volunteers for messenger services at Wycombe. Also needed are vans/mini-buses, spades, stewards, help in legal office (a couple of hours). If you can help in any way on or before the day, please ring Paul or Bridge, or Campaign Atom (Oxford CND) on Oxford 726441. Further info, on all aspects of the action is available from the above numbers or Acorn Bookshop. There are badges at Acorn too! - - - BRACKNELL WOMENS ACTION Bracknell Womens Group Following the recent violent rape in a Bracknell multi-storey car park, a petition is being taken to the Bracknell District and Town Council from the women of Bracknell demanding that closed circuit TV be installed in all multi-storey car parks; street and car park lighting is improved; frequent day and evening bus services are provided and free women's defence classes (day and evening with creche facilities) are provided. The Council meeting is on Thursday 15 Dec, Easthampstead House, opposite the Police Station. Women are meeting at 6.30pm on the roof of Bentalls car park, where the rape happened, to march to the Council Offices. Only one person is allowed to address the council but support is needed both on the march and inside the meeting where we may be able to put questions in writing. For further details, contact Gill on Bracknell 55394. - - - LETTER Dear Red Rag The women's movement article in the last issue should have been titled Reading White Heterosexual Women's Movement. What about the gay women's group, Sahara Asian Women's Centre, Uprising Black Women's Group? As usual, lesbians and black women are ignored by the predominately white straight women's movement. So come on sisters, wake up to your own racism and heterosexism. It's no good whining about the way men have written history to exclude women and then doing it your selves. Lynn Killmister - - - ACORN or ZEN AND THE ART OF XMAS SHOPPING Women's peace books and pamphlets, including Breaching the Peace (revolutionary feminist analysis), You Can't Kill the Spirit (Yorkshire Women's experience of Greenham), Reclaim the Earth, My Country is the Whole World, Greenham Women Everythingwhere. Women's and gay: In the Pink (poems), Women Draw '84 women's diaries and calendars, gay men's diary, loads of novels and poetry, Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin (a girl's life with her father and his lover). Practical: Alternative Printing Handbook, Peace Diary, New Gamester's Handbook, Indian and Middle Eastern and Eastern and Mexican and French and New Zealand and Greek and Gujerati and American and English Vegetarian Cookbooks, Wholefood Xmas Cookery (pamphlet). Something different: The Sun in the East - nostalgic pics of Albion fairs and festivals. Images of a Revolution - mural art in Mozambique, really striking! Victor, the story of Victor Jara of Chile, also cassettes of his music. Lords and New Creatures - poems by Jim Morrison. Wacky and his Fuddlejig - anti-war toys kids' book with beautiful drawings and good story. Radical stocking fillers: Antinuclear Songbook, Little Red Schoolbook, Spectacular Times, Communist Manifesto (with woodcuts), Ronald Reagan puppets, Big Brother posters and Red Rag calendars. Funnies: Big Bang for Bureaucrats (ghoulish), Women Draw '84, Nicole Hollander's Sylvia books (e.g. Ma Can I be a Feminist and Still Like Men?), Critical Mess (anti-nuclear), Essential Biff, Rainy Day Biff (the new one), Scenes from the Lives of Great Socialists, More Frustration, Fanny Tribble's Funny Trouble and Heavy Periods, Steve Bell's If Chronicles. And when this is all over, we're hoping to start some "Acorn Cultural Events" (!!) watch this space... Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading Under the car park Mon-Sat 10-6. Phew! Happy Solstice! - - - STOP PRESS... STOP PRESS.... Update on Heseltine The 4 demonstrators arrested at the Heseltine visit were released on Friday evening, 2 were charged for threatening behaviour, another for obstruction of the police (the one mentioned on the cover who objected to the treatment of the 4th person, who was charged with behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace). - - - POLITICS OF FEET I have got this real hang up about my feet. Well it's not the feet themselves really, it's what I put on them. I've been wearing leather shoes as long as I can remember. Since being converted to veggie-ism quite a while ago leather has really bothered me. I'm not a vegan. I've got a hunch that being a vegan is right - it's just that I haven't got that far yet. At the moment I'm prepared, with misgivings, to use stuff taken from a living animal. But there is a difference in degree between that and using stuff like cowpeel taken from the body of an animal which has been killed as part of the process of exploitation. So what are you thinking now that you have read this far? "Silly chump why doesn't he wear sneakers or spads and stop boring the rest of us" or something like that I expect. But here we get into a whole new realm of problems. About the only useable alternative materials to leather are canvas, rubber, plastic, synthetic fibre and cotton either alone or in various combinations. Let's take plastic and synthetic fibre first. Whenever you buy any of this sort of stuff you are giving financial support to the world-wide petro-chemical industry. You are indirectly assisting in the rape of the earth and the pollution of the soil, sea and air. So it's not a very nice thing to do is it. Now think about canvas, rubber and cotton (canvas is probably made of cotton - I dunno - and it doesn't really matter). The point here is that all this stuff is grown in the Third World (that's the poor countries - Britain is counted as a rich one). And nearly all of it is grown on land occupied by multi-national corporations. In many cases this land was used by the people living there to grow food for themselves before, the corporations stole, bought, or otherwise grabbed it. Whether it was or not - that is the use to which it should be put now. You may be thinking that the people in the poor countries need to grow cash crops for export in order to buy all the products they so badly need from the so-called civilised industrial countries. Well if you think that, I think you are wrong. The peasants who do the work needed to grow the cash crops are generally paid abysmal wages (particularly the women - groan, groan) and would most likely be much better off if a they were allowed to carry on using their land to grow the crops they need to feed themselves and their families. On top of this they would be able, as most of them did before the colonisers, missionaries and multinationals moved in, grow a surplus with which they could do a bit of local trading to enable them to buy the odd things they need that don't grow out of the ground. And what about the foreign exchange that the cash crop system generates? Do the peasants benefit from that? Do they hell. The foreign exchange is carved up between the Third World governments, landlords, other powerful elites and the multi-national corporations themselves. This enables the former to get the armaments they need to control their own people ("defence" is a secondary consideration) and the status symbols and luxuries which the ruling elites want such as (completely unnecessary) aeroplanes for the (completely unnecessary) national airline, shiny limousines, prestige industrial plants, etc. And the multinationals, who can switch funds between countries virtually at will, make a profit which enables them to continually increase the scope and scale of their exploitative activities. So getting back to feet now, I hope I have explained why I am not too keen on putting canvas and rubber and all that stuff on my feet. A middle-aged vegan I know figured all this out years, probably decades, ago. She hardly ever wears shoes. Even in freezing winter weather she walks about barefoot. Her feet look hard and solid and reliable. Not being an absolutist foot idealist, she does wear shoes out of doors on the few days in the year when it is both wet and very cold. But she feels very uncomfortable in shoes. Maybe she has come as close to a perfect answer to the problem as anyone in this climate can. But what can the rest of us, who haven't got feet like hers, do about it? I know. We could form a special community action group to deal with the problem. We could call it the Foot Working Party - FWP. If it became riven with ideological differences we could split into a Left Foot Club and a Right Foot Club. Any anarchist members would be allowed the freedom to refer to it as the Left Club Foot, etc. We could go on a march. We could stage a stand up protest. We could vote with our feet (well perhaps not). We could issue a monthly newsletter and call it Foot Notes (ho ho hee hee ha ha). So come on fellow foot freaks. Let's go for it. Aw heck I forgot to mention socks. Bruno - - - SMALL ADS The Treasurer has been treasuring Red Rag's vast funds for over two years now. Would anyone else like to take it over? It involves paying in any donations to the Co-op bank, and paying the bills for printing, etc. Because of the banking hours, it's much easier if you have time in the day to get into town. Apart from that it's a doddle. Phone 666324 for details. Wanted - Ultra violet / sun ray lamp, any size. Phone 666324 Cuddly ginger & white tomcat seeks good, loving home owing to expansion of family. Call after 5 p.m. any evening at 69 Cranbury Rd., Reading. Wanted - Vacuum cleaner, any shape or size. Phone 666324 Double room to rent - Shared house in Purley has room to let from early January. Vegetarians preferred and a caring sharing community outlook is essentials Rent is £17.50 each per week plus bills. Ring Pangbourne 4532. Accommodation offered for one woman in a communal house very close to Cemetery Junction, to share with 1 other woman, 2 men and a cat. Preferably vegetarian, preferably non-smoker. Sense of humour a good idea. Rent £14 pw plus bills. OK for signing on. Can move in from about Dec 21. Ring 666681 Birthright Handbooks - £1.00. Full of information about different types of birth. Phone Electra on 65643 if you'd like one. Free: two wardrobes. Ring 666681 Christmas Hamper for Greenham Common women. Donations please to Women's Centre before 22nd. December. The camp also urgently need toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary towels etc. Please take these along to the Women's Centre as well. Thankyou. - - - PEACE PLEDGE UNION We last met in Caversham on Wednesday 7th December and had a lively meeting, talking about a variety of peace issues. These were leafletting, letter writing and "stickering" to express our concern about the sale of War Toys. We also talked about putting on a benefit gig on 4th. Feb. to raise money towards a Peace Education Van which will be touring the country in 1984 to commemorate the 30th. anniversary of the PPU. Carol singing and High Wycombe (Dec. 19th.) were also discussed, but more about those elsewhere this issue. Our next meeting will be on Weds. 4th. January at 19, George St., Reading (near the Central Swimming Pool). Ring Veronique on 599995 for details. Peace Pledge Union - Box 10, Acorn Bookshop, 17, Chatham Street, Reading. - - - PERSONAL But there isn't anything 'personal' in the Rag. Good stuff on housing, and health, and where to go to enjoy yourself, and croose missyles. But nothing about - argh! - relationships, daily life - being a heterosexual feminist - being an anti-sexist man - living with kids - living without kids - being tired all the time - being alone - never being alone - and not in Californian mellow-speak or Islington trendyisms, but right here in Reading. Now. If you've read certain magazines, notably Peace News and some women's ones, or the new Women's Press book 'Sex and Love', you may have an idea of what I mean. And those who've done consciousness-raising or co-counselling may find it all very obvious. But listen: what takes up an awful lot of energy and attention for many of us is our 'personal life', at least as much as our activism or work, or lack of. And one of the obstacles to trying to live differently is a sense of isolation, whether that's to do with non-possessive relationships, or ecological lifestyles. No one does it, or at least 'not in Reading'. These feelings and needs could at least be reflected in the Rag as part of the struggle to change our lives. The personal is (still, yet) political. Is there anyone out there? L. - - - XMAS BITS Grand Non-Competitive Seasonal Joy Competition Help compose a collective, alternative carol and win undying fame, or something. Traditionally Christmas has twelve days, the last and therefore twelfth of which is January 6th, Epiphany in the Christian calendar or Festival of Fools in the English one, an occasion for World-turned-upside-down revelry in the servants quarters and other environs populated by real people. So as to observe tradition in a fittingly 'other' manner, readers are invited to submit suitable (or otherwise) verses for a carol, The Twelve Days of Marxmas, Acornmas, RedRagmas or anythingelsemas, which might well be performed at the next Veggie Dining soiree, which fortuitously falls on Twelfth Night, January 6th. Alternative versions of other well-known carols also welcome. No prizes (or possibly all prizes, depending) but think of the kudos! Contributions to Save, Flat 2, 43 Russell Street or c/o Acorn by January 1st, please. Carol Singing If you're interested in carol singing for War on Want, come to The Griffin (by Caversham Bridge) at 7pm. on Sunday 11th. December, or to the Beauclerc Bar of the Ramada Hotel at 7pm. on Friday 16th. December for an evening of fun and alternative lyrics! Ring Paul - 479042 for more info. There is a display by War on Want in Acorn Bookshop at the moment with details of local activities. - - - ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT 1984? You needn't be with the new 1984 Red Rag calendar to brighten up your year!! Remarkable. Magnificent. Amazing. George Orwell on the cover. The bargain of the year at 80p Available from Acorn or phone 666324 All proceeds to Red Rag - - - GOING OUT Index Hex: Hexagon Queens Walk: 591591 Target: by Tesco's at the Butts 585887. Tudor Arms: Grayfriars Rd. Caribbean Club: top of London St 51312. Uni: University (Students Union Whiteknights Campus unless otherwise stated) 860222. RFT: Reading Film Theatre Palmer Building Uni Site. Horse & Barge: Duke St. South Hill Park: Near A322 Bagshot Rd Bracknell (arts centre) 91 27272. Angie's: Milton Rd Wokingham 789912. Mon 12 Hex: Xmas Moods in Music 7.30 £2.50/3.50. Uni: Imagination 8-2 £4.50 (beware Xmas Ball & probably sold out anyway). The Mill, Sonning: Mrs Cole's Music Hall 8pm £10.90-12.90 31st £19.50, to 31st. SHP: Citizens Band 2.30 £2 + conc. Apollo Oxford: Wayne Sleep 7.30 £3.50-9 to 17th. Playhouse Oxford: The Selfish Shellfish 10.30am + 2pm £2.75 Sat mat at 2.30 to 17th. Control Studio Cliddesden Rd Basingstoke: Save Our Santa 7.30 mats on 12+13th at 2pm £2+conc to 15th. Tue 13 Uni Great Hall London Rd site: Reading University Orchestra 7.30 £2. Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Crying Shame 8ish free. SHP: 7.30 Educating Rita £2+ conc to 18th. 8pm Sammy Rimington Band £2.75. Wed 14 RFT: Veronica Voss 8pm £1.60 + conc (Faasbinder). Thu 15 Horse & Barge: Folk Club Xmas Party 8.15 £2.20 Target: Tredegar 8ish £1. Angies: Geisha Girls 8-12 £1/2. Fri 16 Caribbean Club: Serious Drinking + support 8-12 £2. Tudor Arms; Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Octel 77 8ish free disco SHP: 8pm Park Opera/Thames Voices £2.25. 9pm Michael Chapaan £2.50 £2.75 on day. 11pm Lenny Bruce Performance Film £2 + conc also on 17th. Angie's: Killerhertz 8-12 £1/2. Sat 17 Hex: Whittaker's Patent Remedy 12.15 pm free. The Griffin Church Rd Caversham: Crusheen 8.30-12 £1.50 folk. Caribbean: Hot Steal 8-late £2 members 1/2 price. Target: Hard Road 8ish 50p. Central Swimming Pool Battle St: International Synchroswim Festival 6.45 £? also on 18th at 2.45. SHP: 8pm Virgin City Blues Band £1.50 folk. Angle's: Laverne Brown 8-12 £1/2. Sun 18 Horse & Barge: Spredthick's Xmas Special 8.15 £1.50. Target: Uppertone Disco 8ish 50p Silks Thatcham: Jackie Lynton Band + Burma + After Dark 7pm £2 £2.50 on door. SHP: 12-5 Christmas Sponsored Party free. 12.15 The Big Catch + shorts + serial 80p. Angie's: Juvessence 8-12 £1/2. Apollo Oxford: Robert Plant 7.30 £4-5. Mon 19 SHP: Beastmaster 2.30 £2 + conc. Tue 20 Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Dog House 8ish free. SHP: 2pm Beastmaster £2 + conc to 24th. 7.30 King of Comedy £2 + conc to 23rd. 7.45 A Night In Araby £2.50 to 24th (theatre). 8pm Bananas & Pyjamas silver collection (music + readings). 8pm Don Randall + Lennie Best Quartet £2.40. Wed 21 Playhouse Oxford: Table Manners 7.45 £4.50 Sat 4 + 8pm £2.50 + 5 26th 3pm mat to 14th Jan. Thu 22 Target: Against the Grain II 8ish £1. Angie's: Shooting the Rapids 8-12 Fri 23 Caribbean: Heights 8-late £2? Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Tracer Roadshow 8ish free Angie's: The Mike Khan Band 8-late Sat 24 Hex: Aladdin £3.50/4.50 to 14th Jan different times, so check. Caribbean: Disco 8-12 £1. Target: Octel 77 8ish free (disco). Angies: The Vetos 8-12 £1/2. Sun 25 Christmas Presents. Mon 26 Caribbean: Hurricane Force 8-late £? Target: Jason Paul Roadshow 8ish free SHP: Cinderella 3 + 7pm £1.70 kids £2.20 adults to 3lst. + your compiler's birthday. Tue 27 Target: Geneva 8ish 50p. SHP: Wargames 7-30 £2 + conc. Playhouse Oxford: The Runaway Train 2.30 sat 10.30am £2.50 to 7th Jan. Wed 28 SHP: Wargames 2 + 7.30 £2 + conc to 31st. Thu 29 Target: After Dark 8ish £1. Fri 30 Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Octel 77 8ish free. Angie's: Sam Mitchell Band 8-late Sat 31 Caribbean: Hot Steel 8-late £2.50, £3 on door. Target: Chester Roadshow 8ish 50p fancy dress. SHP: Sing in the New Year 8pm £1.50 folk. Angie's: Fancy Dress Party with band TBA 9-1ate £2.50/3.50 tickets in advance only. Sun 1 Jan SHP: Superman III 2 & 7pm £2 + conc to 7th. Target: Tracer Roadshow 8ish free. Mon 2 Target: Glib Thicket 8ish £1. Tue 3 Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Wed 4 Woodley Playhouse Headley Rd: The Plotters of Cabbage Patch 7.45 £7 also on 11-14th. Thu 5 Target: Larry Miller 8ish £1. Progress Theatre The Mount: A Christmas Carol 7.45 mat on 7 + 14th at 2.30 also, mat only on 8th £1.80 + conc to 14th. Fri 6 Target: Octel 77 8ish free. Shinfield Players Theatre Whitley Wood Lane: Rumpelstiltskin 7.45 mats on Fri at 2.30, Sat at 6.3O £? to 7th. Sat 7 Target: Smokey Joe 8ish 50p. Sun 8 Target: Chester Roadshow 8ish free. Of course there are many more things on than shown here but very few of the venues seem to know their running order further then 2 weeks in advance. Therefore check the place before going. Artists for Animals Benefit. Movita + Alan Clayson + The Anonymice. Horse & Barge Duke St 8pm £1.20 Unfortunately the note left at Acorn gave no date so keep your eyes peeled. Reminder: Red Rag Social at The Crown on the 15th we need your money so be there. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1983/1983-12-11.txt#3 $