It's Free It's Reading's Only Newspaper RED RAG 12.8 - 2.9 news 662302 724087 events 662302 going out 669154 distribution 665676 next co-ordinator Dave 662302 send copy to Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St - - - GOTCHA! It has come to the attention of certain members of the Rag collective that the Council in this fair borough are having money problems. A particular financial embarrassment now exists in the Housing Benefit section where a large bill from overpaid Housing Benefit now exists. The problem started when the Housing Department sent information out to student claimants last summer, which told them what to do about their housing benefit claims when they signed off the dole to go back to college in the autumn. At that time an inexperienced benefit section told claimants to inform the DHSS of any change in their circumstances i.e. when they signed off. The effect of this policy was a disaster, when they all went back to college the cheques kept spewing out of the computer, out of the offices & into the post. When the Council pays out 'certificated housing benefit' it normally claims all the money back from central government at the end of the financial year. However money will only be paid back for overpayments when the overpayments were the result of a DHSS error or a claimant error & not when they are the result of a Council error. What happened at the end of the financial year when the Council tried to claim its costs back still isn't known but the Council still have the debt for overpayments & central government don't seem to keen to bail them out. It could be assumed that a certain amount of manure hit the air extractor in our borough offices during this period. Irrespective of what went on between the Council & central government it was the Council that defaulted on its duty to tell people what to do when they 'signed off'. If the Borough had been able to claim the money back from central government then students would not now be receiving bills for over-payments due to council error. If we assume the council over-paid each student by approximately £50 (which seems to be about the sum), we may well be talking in terms of thousands if not tens of thousands of pounds (a very politically sensitive sum). At least 100 bills for overpayment were printed on 5 August, and maybe more are on the way. The bills say that this amount must be repaid to the council, and any enquiries should be directed to the Housing Benefit Section. Anyone who has received a bill would be well advised to contact student welfare officers, Citizen's Advice Bureau, or other agencies with welfare rights workers, like Reading Centre for the Unemployed; it's not a very good idea to get in touch with the people who sent out the bill. This claw-back may well not be a sum you're obliged to pay. It's ironic that the council are now out of pocket for not telling claimants about their rights and obligations. They have been questioned on the calibre of the information supplied on their letters from the Housing Benefit Section in the past, and through trying to cut costs and not provide the right information, they now have a hefty sum of money to find. So to the council we would say "You cut the posts in the benefit section, you skimped on training staff, you created the situation where the blunder occurred so you pay for it". David Donnison - - - GREENHAM COURT CASE 15 women were on trial at Reading Grown Court over 15 days (9 - 23 July) yet apart from a brief report when it opened, even the local Reading Evening Post could not find space to tell us what happened. (It could be partly explained by the fact that the police on duty at court, those guardians of our liberty and freedom, kindly allowed members of the public to fill most of the seats on the Press Gallery on the morning of the closing day). They had kindly allowed themselves plenty of places in the Public Gallery throughout the trial, too. 'The Guardian' of 24 July carried a closing report on the sentencing, but only in later editions - not seen by us in Reading - otherwise the whole trial has been publicised with a resounding silence. The women, aged from 18 to 60+ were charged with causing criminal damage to the perimeter fence at Greenham Common Air Base, without lawful excuse, on 8 July 1983. All pleaded 'Not Guilty to the charge'. All but two admitted to cutting or otherwise damaging the fence. On 8 July 1983, 73 women were arrested during this last of four days of blockading at the air base. Of the 15 in the dock, 2 had themselves gone to the police in August and a third had written, giving the police no choice but to arrest them. The cost of the damages was put at some £468. In the course of the trial the jury, of 9 women and 3 men, spent many hours in their waiting room while the judge and barristers argued about the pleas and type of evidence the women would be allowed to bring. The judge was determined to treat the case as one of simple criminal damage. "Only the facts of the case are relevant", he said. The pleas the women wanted to bring all hinged on far wider issues. Their three main bases for arguing "lawful excuse" were that they acted l) to prevent a crime 2) in self-defence, and in defence of their families 3) necessity. The prosecuting counsel, Mr Chris Tyrer, claimed that there was "no possible defence in law" for the damage committed. "Even the Thames Valley Police has no officer over 9' high" Amazingly, even when so many of the defendants admitted to the act of damage, if not to the crime in the charge, much of the prosecution evidence was confused and confusing. One particularly incredible story, told by a police witness who had somehow 'failed' to make any note of the details last year, concerned his seeing one woman 5' 8" tall "standing" on the shoulders of another, 5' 4" tall to cut with bolt cutters at the fence (9' high); a police officer was said to have taken the taller woman down "by the hand". As the defending barrister pointed out "Even the Thames Valley Police has no officer that tall". Katrina House, who was the taller woman, pointed out the folly of inventing the story when she freely admitted to cutting, and told the court that her "preferred method" is to sit on another woman's shoulders. No-one could prevent a number of statements of conscience coming into open court during the case for the prosecution. Many of the women had made these to police at the time of their arrest. The main tenor of these statements was that the fence itself was illegal and protecting evil weapons on land which should still belong to the people. Almost as soon as the defence case began, the judge stopped the first witness, Fiona Campbell, from presenting matters which he considered "not material to the case." Fiona objected "I came into this witness box to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I should be allowed to do that." The judge followed what he later described as an unusual course in delivering a speech to make plain his views on the admissibility of political opinions and evidence. He claimed that "the law sought to protect the right to protest, so long as it was done without committing a criminal offence. The jury has to decide whether there is proof that the defendant has committed criminal damage. The defendants' feelings about cruise missiles, and nuclear weapons, are not to be taken into account. It is wrong to use a court of law to expatiate on their views." In his summing up he was to rule "There is a clear law that the armament and disposition of the Armed Forces is within the exclusive discretion of the Crown." This seems to suggest that we can't challenge government defence policy in court. Would someone please explain how, in this nuclear democracy where we are supposed to have the right of conscientious objection, where we are to exercise that right? "Here," she said, "we have had to play tricks and struggle to get the truth out." In spite of the judge's rulings and challenges from him and the prosecuting counsel, the women refused to be silenced or intimidated. One woman, who had faced trial in Italy in April for offences at the US base at Comiso, told how there she had been invited to explain her motives. "Here", she said "we have to play tricks and struggle to get the truth out." They showed that the fence is only the first issue, protecting, as it does, evil weapons which can also provide a target for potentially hostile states, and carrying a permanent accident risk. They showed the links between the weapons and the power-structures of a world in which the few get rich on the profits of oppression, while millions starve. They cited the Genocide Act, the Geneva Convention and the UN agreements to prove the illegality of nuclear weapons. They spoke of their desire to see a future for their children and grandchildren on this planet, and their conscientious objection to all wars, violence and oppression. There was a dramatic spell when Diana Seale went into the witness box to give evidence on her own behalf. With frequent interruptions and objections she had managed to include mention of NATO flexible response policies, and first strike intention, her attempt to prevent the crime of the destruction of this planet, her horror at the vast size of military expenditure while millions starve, the rise of militarism in Central America. As she started on the subject of the rise of fascism in periods of tension leading up to wars, the judge could tolerate no more. Rather than charge her with contempt (which would have messed up the trial) but unable to silence her, he chose to leave the court. "I will adjourn for a while and when I return you will be back in the dock". He underestimated her determination, for after ten minutes he returned to find her firmly on the floor of the court. "I see you are not back in the dock". "No", said Diana, "but since I have no choice, I have finished giving my evidence. I have stayed here for cross-examination." He accepted that gentle defeat with amused relief. Particularly in their summing up the women tried to involve the jury and the rest of the court in the issues they raised. In explaining her plea of 'Necessity' to cut the fence, Judith Lanchin said "At one time I felt that I had no power to change the things I saw going on in the world around me. Then I realised that I was responsible if I didn't act against what was going on. There comes a time in your life when it is necessary to do that. I ask the jury to look into themselves in relation to what I have said." During the trial the women were subjected to body-searches twice daily as a part of surrendering bail. It appeared, after questioning, that the searches were for weapons. Because of their objection to this, as an infringement of their human rights, two of the women were kept in custody throughout the period of the trial. With three others, they appealed against the decision, but the appeal was rejected. It seemed a very relevant protest to make in this case which involves such horrifically destructive weapons, concealed on the authority of our government, by a fence. The jury took four hours to reach their verdict, which acquitted three and found twelve guilty. Many police and prison officers had been drafted in for this stage of the show; after the verdicts were announced the judge dismissed the women, ordering them to return singly for pleas in mitigation, and their sentences. Seven were sentenced to 4 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. All were asked to pay £100 costs, with 28 days to pay (except for one, who was given 3 months to pay). All but one were fined £50 with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment. 5 refused to pay, and were jailed. Since the others were unable to pay immediately, and could only give their address as the Peace Camp, (which the judge had ruled was not a fixed address, for purposes of enforcing the fine), they were sent down to the cells. The judge had stated, as a preliminary to sentencing, that he had reason to believe the women had access to funds and that he had taken this into account when fixing fines. Women who protested from the Public Gallery were summarily removed, singing, during the course of a sentencing. Non-violent protest can turn out pretty rough. There remain many unanswered questions, mostly put by women and not answered in court. Ceri Drysdale, for example, asked the police officer in charge of the case "What are you going to do about the police brutality we have complained about?" Answer: an embarrassed shrug of the shoulders. On whose authority are surreptitious photos taken of suspects, and video recordings made of the protests by MOD and Thames Valley Police? Why have the US personnel not answered a letter enquiring about the existence of a US video of the incident? Will any action be taken against the officer in Newbury Police Station who, the judge and prosecuting counsel acknowledged, went far beyond his rights in bullying and insulting Iorna Richardson, implying that she was assumed guilty until proved innocent; or the officer who delayed access to a solicitor for Eleanor Harris? Finally a question put to the judge by Jane Dennett, "At what point will it be legal in this country to oppose nuclear weapons by civil disobedience, in pursuit of Christian conscience?" By Ms Shabby Mole Ps: to MI5. To save you trouble - personal details including car and telephone numbers, etc, are available on request to Red Rag. Please enclose a signed warrant and a stamped addressed envelope. - - - READING IN BLACK & WHITE The more detailed look at how Reading's ethnic minority population has been hit by discrimination in the current economic and social climate promised for this issue of Red Rag has been held back to allow more time to study material supplied by Reading Council for Racial Equality and to interview RCRE's Employment Officer. By that time a report now being finalized by RCRE may also be available for comment. Dave - - - PARADISE IN THE CARIBBEAN Sooner or later in the lives of most good causes in Reading, there comes a time when there's a benefit to raise cash to fund their various activities - some of the cash for this Rag for instance! Recently one club has seemed to feature more and more often as the venue for these events - the Paradise Club in London Street. In addition to providing a cheap venue for these benefits, the Paradise also offers a wealth of other functions in Reading's social - and not particularly extensive - calendar. In order to find out and tell you what's really going on in Reading, two of us took off one Thursday evening to talk to the Paradise Club's manager Mr John about the past development and future prospects of the place. The Paradise Club has been running for the past 9 years in Reading under a variety of different names. Many people will remember it best as the Caribbean Club, despite the fact that the name was changed to the Paradise Club quite a while ago. Initially it had a specifically Caribbean outlook; although it was set up as a commercial enterprise it had (and still has) close links with such organisations as the Barbados Association, the Grenada Association and the St Vincent and Caribbean Associations, and was seen by many as an organisation for Caribbean nationals living in Reading. More recently the club has adopted an overtly wider outlook; they have changed the name to emphasize that the place is open to all people equally, and wishes to encourage white as well as black people. On a Friday night it's now the best (only?) place to see up and coming bands, and has even staged larger acts such as Alien Sex Fiend and King Kurt. Mainly though it's lesser known punk/rock/blues bands. As a contrast, Saturday nights are more oriented towards steel and reggae bands, discos, and local DJs. The intention is to try to provide something for everyone. The rest of the week is available for private functions, benefits, darts matches, dominoes, etc, as a consequence of which the entire character of the place varies from night to night and week to week. At present the club is open til 12 during the week and til 2 on Fridays and Saturdays. Future plans include an extension of their licensing hours, an increased emphasis on people joining the cluh as members (currently £5 a year), the setting up of a restaurant, and a continuation of diverse entertainment and late night happenings. In the meantime if you or your organisation need a venue (midweek only) for a benefit or other function, give Mr John a ring (56847); there are few enough venues for people to hire or play at in Reading - let's make the most of the ones that offer facilities for people who need them. Matey & Chummy - - - NUT LOAF (6-8 servings for about £1.00) Mix 8oz milled nuts (e.g. Hazels, Brazils, Peanuts, Walnuts) with 6oz wholewheat breadcrumbs. Now fry a small finely chopped onion and few ounces of mushroom in a little oil. Combine with dry ingredients, then make up to a stiffish consistency with some made-up yeast extract, plus herbs, salt and pepper to taste. Bake in moderate oven for about an hour; good hot with seasonable veggies or cold with salad. - - - CITIZEN CAIN Twelve Blue Bottles ... hanging on the wall are the twelve Tory Borough Councillors who have yet to enter their financial interests in the public register kept for that purpose. They are Cllrs. Jewitt (yes, the Mayor); Palmer and Pugh (Caversham); Mills (Katesgrove); Browne and Dicker (Kentwood); Bale and Pearson (Park); Irwin (Peppard); Markham (Redlands); and Kirk and Irwin (Southcote). Some of these do seem to have made entries in a separate register open to other Councillors only but don't seem to wish to share any personal information with the public. Any public-spirited contribution towards filling this dearth of information will be gratefully received. Tories Reformed? Interests do count, especially Tory ones. 'High Noon in the National Health Service' was published by the Tory Reform Group (sic) in March 1984 : 79 pages of polemic for and on behalf of the private firms going after NHS catering, domestic and especially laundry contracts, claiming that they're not being treated fairly by NHS administrators and that instead of their being expected to compete with in-house tenderers the NHS should go over to 'contracting out' and distribute all these tenders, centrally, among the private contractors "who can cut costs and raise standards at the same time". Four months later the DHSS announced an audit of NHS tenders to see if these poor contractors are justified and 'contracting out' could be a reality by the time the next financial year starts in April. Newbury Wheel And hidden ones. The 'Newbury Weekly News for July 27th boasted on its front page that a booklet "Cruise is so Clean" had been withdrawn from sale in the town under threats of libel. One of the claims of this book is that the Editor of the NWN, many of the local magistrates and leading businessmen in the town are members of the Rotary Club and that it is Rotary that has co-ordinated the welcome to cruise - in sharp contrast to the hostility that greeted the earlier proposal to base noisy KC135 planes at the Greenham base. Wheels within wheels? Entrenched! According to this booklet our old friend Mr Norgate of Trencherwood is not a member of Rotary but has sponsored one of their dinners in the hope of being admitted. It hasn't stopped him profiting from cruise though. You may remember the £1/2M the Government gave Newbury Council for the extra Council housing they would need because of the housing pressure from the base. Well, £4M of that (yes, £4M) seems to have gone to a ring of property speculators, led by Trencherwood, who had cornered all the housing land available and held the Council to ransom. Sounds of Freedom According to the 'New Statesman' though, the origins of RAGE (Ratepayers Against Greenham Encampment) are on the even nastier fringes of the unreconstructed right. In fact in the Freedom Association (the MacWhirters' answer to progress), the people who gave you Grunwick and, more locally, almost sued Reading trade union leader Keith Jerrome for calling them fascists and only last year tried to break up the National Union of Railwaymen in the town. Now spitting hatred and worse at women who have dedicated themselves to living for peace. And a Question of Trust Still looking westwards, I assume that the £41,000 that Trust House Forte gave to the Conservative Party last year will not be forgotten when the Conservative Government hands out the golden plum of the Calcot service station on the M4. Juvenile Lead And returning for a moment to Reading Borough Council, John Selwyn-Gummer-lookalike Tony Markham has taken upon himself, it seems, the task of improving the Tory image, the image that he, with his attack on Readibus, did so much to dent. Hence some 'Markham speaks out' headlines and even the odd, though anonymous, letter? And those interminable pictures of Mayor Ron Jewitt looking uncomfortable with people. There is no truth in the rumour that young Markham has approached his colleague and suggested that next time the Mayor's in London he drops into Madame Tussaud's to get some lessons in looking natural. But in this Thaatchi and Thaatchi world image is everything and he must be giving the problem some thought. Points from the Post Noddying off: Housing Chairman Markham didn't attend the seminar for Councillors organised by the Housing Department to brief them on their duties. His Vice-Chairman, John Oliver, did but was apparently asleep much of the time. They do both know that their duty is to say no, but at least Jewitt could say no with a bit of panache. Mesothelioma Marches On: The City Fathers were no doubt right to approve an urgent programme to remove at great expense the asbestos that had been carelessly included in the building of the Civic Offices. One wishes perhaps they were half so keen to remove the asbestos in Council houses and other public buildings. Perhaps they're taking a lead from Turner and Newall, purveyors of cancer to the community, whose Rochdale asbestos factory will not reach the new standard of 0.5 fibres per millilitre of air, where workers will therefore be expected to wear respirators, and where those respirators have been found by the factory inspectorate to be defective. And where chairman Sir Francis Tombs (sic again) will take home almost £1M for putting the company back into profit. Architects Anonymous: Professional PR reached a new low, though, when the Royal Institute of British Architects set up an 'Architecture Centre' in a portacabin nestling under the honeycomb lattice at the back of the Butts car park.... Star Wars: Duncan Campbell reports that two new satellite tracking dishes will be installed at Oakhanger, near Farnham just over the Hampshire border, next year as a major part of Reagan's star wars fantasies. You have been warned. Rocking On: As forecast Reading FC owner and Rockfort boss Roger Smee has lost little time in trying to realise the Club's property potential. Planning permission is now in for nine flats on Reading FC land on Tilehurst Road. Wonder which lucky building company will get the business? Tory Out: You will have read of calls by Mrs Finchley and her suburbs to Tory trade unionists to get in there are take over from all these lefties. Local Tory trade unionist Eric Gurney did and rose to the dizzy heights of Treasurer of the Health Services Joint Trade Union Committee. From which he's now been dropped as members complained he didn't attend meetings and they had no idea what was happening to the accounts. Wot, Watts? Before the 1983 General Election Slough M.P. Joan Lestor worked closely with black and Asian organisations in the town. She was well regarded by the Labour Party, a member of the frontbench team and of the National Executive. She was defeated by John Watts, former leader of Hillingdon Council and the man who took a family of immigrants in a taxi to the Home Office and dumped them on the steps rather than house them. He is now being tipped for a post in the autumn reshuffle. To each party their own. Keep it coming Citizen Cain - - - READING HEALTH WATCH For over a year, Reading Health Watch has been campaigning to defend NHS services from cuts and closures, and attempting to promote democratic control over those services. The last year in particular has seen many individual health service campaigns spring up here as elsewhere, from those around single hospital closure plans (the Prospect Park and Newbury Hospital campaigns) to those supporting new health ventures like the Well Women Clinic. This activity has encouraged us to expand our campaign, and at our AGM next month we will be reorganising ourselves as West Berkshire Health Watch. We try to provide a longer-term back-up to patients, health service workers and the public trying to get the kind of health service they want; as well as campaigning on our own behalf. For all the wrong reasons it's now an exciting time to be involved in the Health Service. We would welcome more involvement from people who are interested in health issues, from whatever angle. Please come to our AGM on Monday September 24th, 7-30pm at Reading Centre or the Unemployed. Guy - - - PPHAC PPHAC is the Prospect Park Hospital Action Committee, formed at a public meeting on July 30th (which Rag said was going to be on July 31st) to stop the Health Authority closing Prospect Park geriatric hospital and moving the patients to the less salubrious surroundings of Battle, as a first stage to doing away with long-stay beds for the elderly altogether. September 26th is when the Community Health Council meets to comment on this proposal, and the aim of the Action Committee is to make sure they turn it down and force the Authority to take its plan to the Minister rather than just quietly close the hospital and hope that nobody will notice. You need to wake up because there are another six closures in the pipeline after this one. There are seven weeks in this campaign and it needs all the help you can give it. If you can help please contact Andy King at 3 Ivydene Road, Reading or Guy Bentham of Reading Health Watch (669562). Nat H. - - - NCCL The following is the contents of a letter sent recently to the National Council for Civil Liberties on behalf of the Reading NCCL Group. The incident in question is discussed in full in the current issue of "Rights", the NCCL National magazine, which can be ordered from any member of the Reading NCCL Group. "I am writing on behalf of the Reading NCCL group on the subject of NCCL links with the National Front. All present at our meeting of 9/4/84 were horrified at the news that the NCCL had advised National Front members; we take the view that unless and until the NF repudiates policies and statements which, if acted upon, would deny civil liberties to fellow citizens of the United Kingdom, any assistance given to them amounts to assisting racism. We were not satisfied with Larry Gostin's initial letter to the "Guardian" on the subject, which makes the NCCL appear naive in the extreme. We hope that subsequent developments such as have occurred at the 1984 AGM have clarified to all interested parties that the NCCL will have no part in assisting organisations whose raison d'etre is to attack the rights and liberties of others." Paul - - - SMALL ADS and there are more elsewhere! Gents racing bike - 27 1/4" wheels, 5 gears, fair condition, scratched paintwork, but definitely roadworthy. 861305 £15 paid to someone who will make up shirt and trousers from Indian cotton - all materials provided. 861305 Arcade computer software for Spectrum 16 or 48k: Jet Pack £1, Lunarjet Man £3, Sabre Wolf. 861305 Duplicator free to good home - donation perhaps to Red Rag. Ring Vessa, 587384 between 9 and 5 for information. Electric cooker £25, 43 Byron Rd, Earley. Two rooms in shared house, £82 per month per room & share of bills, pref over 2, non-smoker & vegetarian. 43 Byron Rd, Earley Did anyone find a large aluminium salad bowl after the party by the river? If so please phone Ian at Acorn 584425 cos it's mine. Starving Local Author wants to flog rare first editions of his own hardback books in order to buy beer. Worthless signatures attached on request... War In 2080: The Future of Military Technology (Westbridge 1979, was £6.50) - "Gutter journalism", said the Ministry of Defence - £3.25. An Account of a Meeting with Denizens of Another World 1871 (David & Charles 1979, was £4.95 - "Does David Langford exist?" asked Private Eye quite recently in a correspondence about this one - £2.25. Facts & Fallacies: A book of definitive mistakes and misguided predictions (Webb & Bower 19S1, was £5.95) - subject of a-reviewer's utterly misguided prediction "Will prove to be a runaway bestseller" - £2.95. Prices post free, or 50p off if you collect from David Langford, 94 London Road, Reading, RG1 5AU. - - - (Paid ad) READING WHOLEFOODS 7 London Rd., Open Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 5:30 Reading. Tel 55175. Saturday: 9:00 - 5:00 Competitive prices Friendly personal services Bulk enquiries welcome Good discounts given Free Reading delivery of substantial orders. Lots of books: herbs and spices: vegan margarine: Loosley ice creams and yoghourts: free range eggs: Bargain Box Special Offers For instance August/September we are doing soup mix at only 25p per pound. - - - GOING OUT IN AUGUST 12 Sun South Hill Park, Return of the Jedi (U), 2.00 & 7.45, £1.00/2.00, 80p matinees Butler, assume free jazz as usual, Chatham Street Hexagon's shut til 26 August, will anyone notice? 13 Mon South Hill Park, as yesterday 14 Tues South Hill Park again Tudor Arms, gay disco, free Old Court, Windsor, Fear of Falling & support, 8.00, £1.50/1.00, phone 54336 15 Wed South Hill Park as before Hermit Club, something on? 16 Thurs Central Club, London St, Black music worldwide South Hill Park, screening of videos from somewhere, someone to introduce tapes, questions and discussion, free Sportsman, Shinfield Road, free music 17 Fri South Hill Park, Terms of Endearment, 7.45 £1.00/2.00, & late film as Saturday Paradise Club, London St, Sunglasses After Dark & the Pseudos, £2 I think, 8-2 Tudor Arms, gay disco, free 18 Sat Paradise Club, Mowtown Disco, which doesn't seem to mean Motown sounds? late bar £1? South Hill Park, Terms of Endearment as Friday Twilight Zone - the movie 11.00 £1/2.00 August Music Club - Mike Cooper, Mike Messer & friends, blues guitar, 8pm 19 Sun South Hill Park, Terms of Endearment as on Friday Butler, free jazz as usual in Chatham Street 20 Mon South Hill Park as on Friday (film) 21 Tues South Hill Park again Tudor Arms, gay disco, free Old Court, Windsor, August Affair & support, 8.00, £1.50/1.00, phone 54336 22 Wed South Hill Park, Terms of Endearment again Hermit Club, something? 23 Thurs Angies Wokingham, Pendragon 8-12 £1.00/2.00 South Hill Park, screening of independent videos, introduced and discussed, free Sportsman, Shinfield Rd, free music 24 Fri South Hill Park, To be or not to be (Mel Brooks), 7.45, £1.00/2.00 Mad Max & Mad Max II, 11pm Paradise Club, London St, Skeletal Family & The Folk Devils, £?, 8-2 Tudor Arms, gay disco, free 25 Sat Paradise Club, Hurricane Force Steel Band, £?, 8-2 South Hill Park, To be or not to be, 7.45 Mad Max & Mad Max II, 11pm August Music Club - Mike Cooper, Mike Messer & friends, blues guitar, 8pm 26 Sun South Hill Park, To be or not to be, as on Friday Butler, free jazz again in Chatham Street 27 Mon South Hill Park, To be or not to be, as on Friday Hexagon reopens with Run For Your Wife, 8.00, mats on Wed 2.30, Sat 5.00, £3.50/4.50. It says "RR concessions available" - could it be?... 28 Tues South Hill Park film again Old Court, Windsor, Sleepwalker & support, 8.00, £1.50/1.00, phone 54336 29 Wed South Hill Park, To be or not to be again Hermit Club, something? 30 Thurs South Hill Park, screening of independent videos, introduced and discussed, free Sportsman, Shinfield Rd, free music 31 Fri South Hill Park, La Traviata (Zeffirelli), 7.45, £1.00/2.00 Paradise Club, something on but don't know what yet Tudor Arms, gay disco, free 1 Sat Paradise Club, Motown disco, probably £1, 8-2 South Hill Park, La Traviata (Zeffirelli) on at 7.45 and 11, £1.00/2.00 - - - THE GAMES CONSPIRACY ... invites you to come and play in the Park - every Sunday this August 2pm outside the adventure playground on the London Road side of Palmer Park. More fun than the Olympics - - - RED RAG BENEFIT Magic Mushroom Band & support & disco Lights, fun, bar South Reading Community Centre, Northumberland Ave 22 September, 7.30 - late Tickets from Acorn £1 in advace, £1.50 if waged £1.50 on door, £2.00 if waged - - - WHEN MINER SPELLS HOPE The case for a United Left Many of the readers of 'Reading's Only Newspaper' may support the miner's struggle but may not be aware of the urgency of the situation, an urgency which has reached as far as Reading. Although obviously the justice of the miners' case is our main consideration, there are a lot of other issues wrapped up in the dispute which makes the strike a rallying point for anyone opposed in any way to the present government. The NUM is the finest example in the movement of solidarity and determination, and has, for once, the right leadership to make use of that. Many sections of the labour movement have been attacked since 1979 but the NUM is one of the few sections which has responded adequately to counter a govt which has turned General Elections into image-marketings and eroded traditional freedoms. It is the biggest threat to Mrs Thatcher in all her time in office. Consequently it is the best chance we have had as yet to frustrate her policies. It has given politics a reality which Saatchi & Saatchi have tried to take away. Not actively to support the strike is therefore to waste one of the few serious chances you will ever have to see your politics & interests have a real response. Mrs Thatcher has placed the credibility of her administration on 'winning* the dispute. If she 'loses' then she will have shown how powerless the crude politics of cuts and national division is. At the moment she talks of desperate people trying to save their families and communities as the 'enemy within'. Nevertheless, it is recognised that we will need much more coal by the end of the century. Meanwhile we are made to rely more and more on international market forces which seem to favour National asset stripping. She is also mortgaging our interests to American Arms corporations and has proved as strong and determined in preserving our interests as a rag-doll protecting us from a hurricane. The economic logic of sacking miners is also the same line of thought as that which buys nuclear weapons and enforces patriarchy and the absurd 'Victorian values' of the family. Tory philosophy is very consistent and every policy is one piece in a jigsaw of a larger picture of the future. Therefore if you are in CND, the Womens' Group or the Ecology Party, you will only obstruct your cause by ignoring the miners'. If you are part of an ethnic minority then the enforcing of the power of govt and police cannot help you to break down prejudice. If you are unemployed then the more on the Dole, the more the Tories are likely to cut it because of the burden on National expenditure. There is of course the possibility that if this strike is defeated, the Trade Union movement will never be the same again. In fact, the Anti-Trade Union laws and the increase in power of the Police (and who in CND can fail to side with the miners on that issue?) can be seen as a concerted attack on the Trade Union movement. I've already said how the NUM represents the finest traditions of organised labour and its defeat would remove one of the most combative members of the TUC but it should be stressed that this, along with threatened subscription ballots, is a conscious attempt by the Tories to destroy the basis for effective opposition in society and parliament. I think it is worthwhile to remember that without the Socialist Trade Union movement the Left would not exist as a social force. The Left would bear more resemblance to the American Left and would be pushed to the furthest margins away from publicity and power. Therefore to ignore the miners now is not only an act of cruelty but of block-headed stupidity as well. You can help by coming to the miners support committee (Thursdays, 7.30, T&GWU, Kings Road) or by turning up to the video showings and social events which are publicly advertised. Please help the miners. They are doing the hard and dangerous work for us as usual: this time by picketing - not working. Jonathan Timbers Battle Ward Labour Party - - - READING BETWEEN THE LINES 2 This expanded update to Red Rag's "indispensable guide to Reading" is well under way. Publication is for late September (to reach the new students): all material should be in by the end of August (or early September if we know it's coming). We want: corrections and updates to last year's Reading Between the Lines (copies of which are still available from Town bookseller, Acorn, Dan Bookshop, Bookends, Harvest Wholefoods, UB Cycles, London Street News, London Road Newsagent, Eurofoods on Cemetery Junction). We aim in particular to expand the introductory ("Town") section, and the general "overview" bits at the beginnings of sections. For all this we need help! Why not (er) send us a paragraph on the area you live in, or on something you know about; or just details of things about Reading that ought to be celebrated or mentioned. We want pictures too, drawings or good quality black and white prints. Send stuff to Reading Between the Lines, c/o Red Rag, Acorn Bookshop, Box 79, 17 Chatham Street; or ring James on Reading 724007. And do it now or it'll be too late! Also we need lots of money (£150-200) so we can afford to print it. Cheques to 'Red Fag' please, and soon! James - - - SMALL HARASSMENT IN READING After nine weeks' undisturbed collection of food for Gwent miner's families, Reading Miners Support Group's food collection trolley outside Tesco's in Dusseldorf Square suddenly, on Saturday July 29, attracted the attentions of Reading's uniformed guardians of civil order. And not your ordinary PCs, either, who were otherwise occupied in protecting the public ear from sex maniacs and other useful work. For the miners' supporters there were chequer-banded flat hats and shoulders loaded with fancy ironmongery in the shape of pips and crowns - no less than Inspector Smith and Superintendent Cussell, who spent an hour and forty minutes' worth of tax-paid payroll time explaining that following a telephone call from a nameless party of unspecified address, age, sex or party political affiliation it appeared that soliciting tins of baked beans without a permit constituted Begging for Alms upon the Queen's Highway, an offence of impeccable antiquity. A formal caution was duly given, noted and disregarded for the rest of the normal collection hours. His subordinates' display of public zeal apparently struck Reading District's Chief Superintendent Webb as overkill. When the Support Group's collectors, with numbers greatly increased and accompanied by a rota of observers from the National Council for Civil Liberties, took up their accustomed position at ten o'clock the following Saturday morning the Chief Super himself appeared, made a swift recce of the situation and asked if they might move their trolley back just a bit, then bade them good day. Dave - - - WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE... The miners' cause, it now turns out, fared rather less well with the Brothers (Sisters are not allowed to join) of the so-called Trades Union Club across the graveyard in Minster Street than it did with the Cop Shop. The sudden and unexplained shift of the July 24 MSG benefit gig from the 'TU' Club to the less discriminatory ambience of the Paradise/Carribbean - greeted with something like heartfelt relief by Rag's conscientious Going Out Person, and most other members of the right-thinking left - apparently had nothing to do with Red Rag's front-paged outrage at the choice of a sexist venue for the previous benefit. The real reason, it transpires, was a distinct cooling on the part of the Club's impeccably capitalist management committee. Their supposedly new-found 'solidarity' with the labour movement was, as some had already guessed, directly proportional to the bar profits. Apparently those attending the July 5 event spent too much time supporting the miners and not enough propping up the bar. Hence the move. Dave - - - CHILLI WITHOUT CARNE (6 good servings for about 60p) Soak 12oz red kidney beans overnight, then change water, bring to boil in fresh water and put on to simmer for a further hour. In the meantime, cut into chunks any available vegetables (carrot, onion, turnip, mushroom stalks, celery). Add these to the beans and cook another 15 mins or so. At the last minute stir in a tablespoon Miso (soya puree) and adjust seasoning. A few wholewheat or potato dumplings added to this make a really filling autumn blow-out! - - - REVIEW "At Least Cruise is Clean" by Lynchcombe (Miccolo Press £l.20 from any good bookshop, i.e. Acorn) This delightful little booklet chronicles the reaction in Newbury to Cruise Missiles, and the Greenham peace camp. And in particular, since "you cannot separate Newbury from its paper", the reactions in the Newbury Weekly News, whose editor closed correspondence on Cruise three years ago because he was "bored" by it. Local opposition was minimal: "to Newbury's business community, Cruise is a no-strings-attached local business development grant". Apart from some development contracts, there was the boost for commerce, land speculation and property values from the American influx. Lynchcombe identifies the Rotary Club as the centre of influence: naturally the Weekly News' editor and managing director are both members. (The Newbury Weekly News secured the withdrawal of this booklet within hours when it appeared briefly in a bookshop in Newbury). Cruise only served to push up the value of property (the irony is not lost on Lynchcombe): the peace camp was another matter. One letter to the Newbury Weekly News considered that "my property has gone down in value by 20%, it's like living next to a Calcutta slum." Another provided the title of the booklet: "We are as disgusted and repelled by (the females of Greenham's) presence as they are by the arrival of Cruise. At least Cruise is clean.!" Lynchcombe naturally contrasts the acquiescence in Cruise with the hysteria towards the women: s/he also contrasts the (successful) campaign, fully backed by the whole establishment, and orchestrated by the Newbury Weekly News against the KC135 plane in 1978. (It was seen as a threat to property values.) Lynchcombe had a fine ear for 'Little England' fatuity (see for instance Appendix 2 on the religious debate) and a beautifully dry sense of humour. But there's a feeling of outrage too, at the appalling obscenity of it all. The conclusion must be quoted in full: This was no organised conspiracy, just a coming together of wise heads, a realisation of their common interests. The men of the Rotary Club are not evil men. If they have a tiny fault, it's their habit of identifying the interests of Newbury with their own. But perhaps as the rest of Newbury's honest folk fester amongst the radioactive piles of rubble that mark their little town, they might reflect on the value of their obsession with house prices and rates. As the vomiting, weakness and sores increase, they could ask themselves whether it was really worth that cushy job at Aldermaston. As the Rotarians quake in their 'all mod cons' bunkers, they can ask themselves if the aggrandisement of Trencherwood was worth all those deaths. Were all those half-truths and omissions worth the few extra grand they made? As they all watch the children and elderly die first, they can comfort themselves with the thought that the same is happening in the good ol' USSR. As they die, they can wrap themselves in copies of the Newbury Weekly News. James - - - SMALL ADS Aga. £20 to good home. Two hobs, two ovens, very warm and friendly. Phone Rebecca or Garry on 374532. - - - REVIEW "The Book of Pleasures" Pending Press £3.95 In 1967 two newly published books appeared on the stalls and shelves of booksellers in Paris' Latin Quarter. Although totally different in style, the two books were intended to complement each other; one was Guy Debord's "The Society of the Spectacle" and the other was Raoul Vaneigem's "The Revolution of Everyday Life". When, in May the following year, Paris was rocked by riots, quotations from Debord and Vaneigem appeared everywhere as leaflets, posters and graffiti. Love them or loathe them, after the Situationists, revolutionary theory would never be the same. Debord wrote the Situationist's equivalent of Marx's 'Capital', good intellectual stuff with its numbered theses and ponderous Hegelian style. Vaneigem wrote from the heart. "The Revolution of Everyday Life" was written sitting at Paris cafe tables and reads like one of those personal/political conversations that start when everyone else has gone to bed, and don't end until dawn. But that was 1967. By the end of the seventies most of that energy and optimism had faded away. Paris, May '68 had become one of those revolutionary landmarks like Kronstadt, Barcelona or that other, earlier Paris Commune. Chris Gray in his postscript to the Situationists explained the feeling of bewilderment which infected those who had been politically active in the late sixties - "We thought that, if we just explained how the nightmare worked, everyone would wake up". But there were thousands of us. Where did everyone go? Most sold out; everyone compromised. In 1979 Vaneigem published "The Book of Pleasures"; twelve years after "The Revolution of Everyday Life" and still unwilling to give an inch - "As for my apparently unrealisable desires, a thousand reasons would not make me give them up. I wish to keep every passion in me present and lively. One day I may very well find the way to accomplish them, whereas renunciation perishes everything it touches". As the title suggests, Vaneigem's latest book is about the pursuit of pleasure - "Doesn't each of us dream of making what gives us intense pleasure the ordinary stuff of our everyday life?". As Freud pointed out (for those who hadn't spotted it already) our principle motivation is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Unfortunately in this society there are many more opportunities to suffer pain than there are to experience pleasure. Translated into social terms this means that most people have ceased to expect much pleasure in their lives and are willing to opt for a social system which simply offers less pain. Most political philosophies, even revolutionary ones, when it comes down to practicalities are only offering 'less pain'. The pursuit of pleasure is either ignored or considered 'private and personal'. Capitalism has recuperated our dreams of happiness and sold their shadow back to us - either in shopping centres or in the dark on the back stairs (for the added thrill [and price] of the forbidden). State socialism has produced some of the most anti-pleasure and puritanical social structures the world has ever seen. The Situationists argued that the struggle against misery must be transformed into a struggle for passionate abundance. "There will be no proletarian emancipation unless we strike the shackles off pleasure". But this is no quest for aristocratic hedonism (which implies sacrifice in others) but the construction of a society whose aim is the creation of individual and communal happiness. A world without exchange; a world of giving without sacrificing. "All pleasure is creative if it avoids exchange... exchange is the shortest route between one trap and another". "Soon we will construct our houses, bring back street life, and set winding paths through a nature reconciled to humanity. We will have foetal areas, adventure zones, houses which are inspired, others that move, other times where age has no meaning and reality no limits... For spontaneity is innocence and can undo the past which is so horribly with us, where everything which kills is possible and everything which stimulates life is treated as mad". Vaneigem's justification for writing this postscript to "The Revolution of Everyday Life" is that circumstances have not just changed but developed. The late sixties was boom time for European capitalism - fashion, cars, TVs, gadgets. Today capitalism can't even deliver these shoddy goods. If the rejection of passionless survival made the movement of 1968, then taking hold of life will make today's movement. Already things are changing - of course the socialist revolution-as-spectacle will hang on to its mass demos, flags and banners' for those who can't tell solidarity from sentimentality. CND and its chums will continue to plod on down their spiritual and dignified cul-de-sac [if we all hold hands and wish very hard the Americans will take away the cruise missiles - and the rich will probably give away all their money too]. The new freedom fighters are learning new skills - people who, a year ago, didn't know what a pair of bolt-cutters looked like are now shoplifting them and cutting down military fences. Sabotage in industry and on the streets has become a slow riot. We are learning new ways to resist - Greenham women dancing ring-a-ring- o'roses on the missile silos, 'Stop the City' which, after the orange smoke cleared, left the area around the Bank of England looking like it did in the Blitz. "While the state is in disarray, strike hard at business and its friends... Dance-time is here folks, the artistic ballet of fucking it up, and shaking the old world to the ground." "The Book of Pleasures" is now available in an English translation by John Fullerton who translated one of the earlier English editions of "The Revolution of Everyday Life". "The Book of Pleasures" was written because of the changes that have taken place since 1967 and it is a shame that Fullerton didn't reflect one of those important changes by adopting a non-sexist style of language - for so topical a book the language seems strangely dated. Vaneigem writes with a modesty uncharacteristic of most of the sixties Situationists, but his irritation at finding that there was a need to write this postscript sometimes shows through. The book ends with a hope that in another twelve years it wont be necessary to write a postscript to the postscript - "The essential has been said. The important thing now is to do it". Zed Feecher - - - LARGE HOUSE available for renting from mid-September. Has 4/5 bedrooms, double garage, washing machine garden, colour TV, central heating and lots more. It needs 6 people to make it economical (rent £17.50pw.) and has been run communally as a shared house for the last 4 years. Situation is in Purley, about 4 miles from town centre. Please phone Pangbourne 4532 after 6pm. Vegetarians very much preferred. - - - WHY NOT ... re-circulate your old peace mags, animal rights papers, FoE/Eco literature and of course Red Rags to your local doctor, dentist's surgery, hospital waiting rooms? Add more places as you think of them. Make a nice change from Country Life, Shooting Times and Woman's Own... Try it. You know it makes sense. Have fun, oxo, PHP Any other ideas for recycling -things? - - - CATS FARE BETTER IN THE DARK Attempts to shed any useful light on the Community Alcoholism Team which is to be set up sometime in the darkling future as a 'response' to the complete lack of specialized NHS facilities for the treatment of alcohol addiction in West Berkshire have so far received less than enthusiastic co-operation from the 'Care in the Community' establishment. The Community Health Council - its minutes having completely misreported the questions raised about the CAT from the public seats at its June meeting - was informed on July 25 that the Mental Health Group was 'looking into the matter'. Other efforts to extract hard information from the District Health Authority and Berkshire Council on Alcoholism have fared no better. The small molehill of apparent fact unearthed by Red Rag's burrowings is not impressive, but is at least more substantial than the fog generated at an official level. The front line forces of the CAT will, as already reported in Rag, consist of trained and 'certificated' volunteer counsellors. The hard core of these will be those already serving Berkshire Council on Alcoholism, which will be responsible for administering the scheme. So far as can be determined there are four of these good people now; a fifth has been undergoing training by an organization known as Alcohol Concern, which seems to be the moving force behind the CATs being set up around the country and is headed by Diane Hayter: Ms Hayter's principal qualification, so far as Red has been able to determine, is having had one of Britain's more distinguished Ambassadors to the Soviet Union as a parent. The training of this additional counsellor is understood to be temporarily suspended and will apparently not be completed till after the new year, while Alcohol Concern is 'getting its house in order', whatever that means. These five will presumably be expected to provide sympathetic home counselling for West Berkshire's estimated 15-20,000 alcoholics (and those partners and families who have managed to stick it out until the alcoholic finally calls for help?), backed up by an alcoholism clinic - presently one day a week - at Battle Hospital and, for those desperate or sick enough in withdrawal to require hospitalization, a handful of beds in one of the general psychiatric wards at Fairmile. In fairness to the staff at Fairmile, they have of necessity developed a commendable degree of expertise and understanding since Oxford's Ley Clinic was closed to detoxification referrals from Berkshire in 1981, but a general ward in an aging mental hospital with its still-widespread 'Loony Bin' public image is a far cry from the supportive and knowledgeable environment of a specialist alcoholism unit able to carry out assessment for further treatment or community care, such as the Ley. One bright spot in this otherwise murky picture is the involvement of the Ley Clinic's Sally Cooper in the setting up of West Berks' CAT. Her sympathetic support for 'graduates' of the Ley, as Community Worker responsible for Berkshire before reorganization of the Health Authorities is remembered with deep gratitude by those who benefited from it. All of this, however, waits on the day when the Community Alcoholism Team actually sets up shop in the Oxford Road and opens its doors for business. Originally scheduled for April 1 - a date to which no particular significance need necessarily be attributed - the operative date was pushed back to September 1, so as to allow the Council on Alcoholism to get out of the Old Town Hall before it was thrown out, and now hangs on the success of efforts to dislodge the sitting tenants of the chosen premises, who were at last report sitting tight enough for the prospect of legal eviction proceedings to be seriously discussed. Outcome so far uncertain. Hopefully the veil of discreet reticence will be lifted at the Old Town Hall on September 12, when Alcohol Concern's Diane Hayter has the star turn billing at Berkshire Council on Alcoholism's AGM. Meanwhile the collective experience, wisdom and support of others who've been there and got out is available and free for the asking. There are a dozen or so Alcoholics Anonymous groups meeting weekly in the area covered by West Berks Health Authority - one every night of the week and two on Saturdays and Sundays in Reading itself, and a 24-hour telephone contact service on Reading 497494 for advice, support and prompt help if asked for. - - - RAG LEADS OTHERS MARK TIME This Only Newspaper's suggestion a couple of issues back that Reading's Other Newspapers might actually devote the kind of editorial attention to alcoholism that other forms of drug addiction receive appears to have been sadly overoptimistic. Proposed features in both the Post and Chronicle appear to have been shelved. The lack of time for reporters on short-staffed news desks to do the necessary digging may well be part of the reason, but the subject might also be regarded as a bit too close to home (or advertising revenue from the licensed trade). Junkies, after all, are exotic and sinister creatures, always good for Shock Horror Probe copy - especially when treated as sensationally and irresponsibly as the 'Ordinary Happy Junkie' in Sean Ryan's otherwise generally well-written and balanced series on heroin in the Post. The alcoholic, though, just might be the guy in the next office or the kid next door or the housewife across the road or even - whisper it who dares - you or me. - - - WOULD YOU BUY A USED HEARING AID FROM THIS MAN? Hidden Hearing are proud to announce that the tiny ear-canal aid fitted to the U.S. President on September 1st 1983 is now available here. (An advert seen in London) - - - BOSCOMBE DOWN The peace camp outside RAF/USAF Boscombe Down (home of the B52) was set up on June 17th. and there are about 10 residents living there, about half of whom are temporary visitors. A huge bender with a cooking fire and chimney is the central part of the camp, and there are large signs around the camp and by the roads showing the presence of the camp to passers-by. The campers have been involved in several actions recently, including entering the base, and graffiti-ing the base perimeter and the local town. There is a lot of enthusiasm amongst the men and women living at the camp, but problems with unemployment/ supp. benefit (ie. non-payment by councils) means that they are short of money and resources. They also need wood, tarpaulins, food (vegan), cooking pots, and wirecutters (to prune the roses?). They will also be needing extra blankets for winter. Visitors are always welcome, and the camp can be easily found on the A345 between Amesbury and Salisbury. The camp would also like to receive letters; their address is...Boscombe Down Peace Camp, Low Flying Corner, USAF Boscombe Down, Nr Amesbury, Wilts. Reading Peace Pledge Union paid a visit to the camp on July 29th. and hope to be making another trip there sometime soon. If you are interested in going along with a group telephone Bridge on Pangbourne 4532 and if you can donate any useful items you can call the same number. - - - WEA: NEW COURSES - Courses for Women Life Planning Workshops Tutor: Susan Wagstaff 10 weeks Tuesday 10 am - 12 noon Starts 25 September 1984 South Reading Community Centre Creche This course is aimed at women thinking about resuming work after a break to have a family, or at women wishing to make choices about careers or changing jobs. It will involve a mixture of talk/discussion, followed by practical exercises. Women's Studies II - Women in Education / Creativity / at work. Tutor: Bridget Egan 10 weeks Thursday 7.30 - 9.30pm Starts 27 September 1984 Women's Centre, Basement, Old Shire Hall Topics covered will include the following: the language we learn - speaking and thinking; In the classroom - choices and chances; Education for Equality; Visual Arts; Literature; Dance, drama and music; Equal under the law; Two jobs; Where to from here? Women's Diary Writing Tutor: Penny Henrion 10 weeks fortnightly Tuesday 7.30 - 9.30 pm Starts 18 September 1984 Women's Centre, Basement, Old Shire Hall A chance for women to explore and share together what they wish to share of an important but neglected aspect of women's writing. Women's Photography Tutor: Maggie Hall 10 weeks Thursday 7.30 - 9.30pm Starts 27 September 1984 Centre for the Unemployed - Mixed Courses Active Reading Group Tutor: John Still 10 weeks fortnightly Monday 7.30 - 9.30 pm Start3 24 September 1984 136 Shinfield Road, Reading The group will start by looking at Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, which examines a wide range of issues, involving race and self-determination. Subsequent books will be determined by the interests of the group. - Monthly workshops / Teach-ins Looking at YTS Wednesday 19 September 1984 7.30 - 9.30 pm Centre for the Unemployed A chance for all those involved in the Youth Training Scheme - tutors, trainees, employers, the Manpower Services Commission, trade unions - to get together to discuss the issues. Strategies for Jobs Wednesday 24 October 1984 (please note revised date: not 17 October as publicised elsewhere) 7.30 - 9.30 pm Centre for the Unemployed WEA Reading Industrial Branch are planning a teach-in on this on Wednesday October 24th at 7.30p.m. in the Centre for the Unemployed. The idea is to bring together the research the Centre's been doing on unemployment in Reading with some ideas about what has been done in other parts of the country (like the GLC) to keep and create jobs, and get some thinking going about what should be done here (like to bring unemployment in Abbey Ward in central Reading down below its present 25%). A couple of introductory sessions, then workshops on, probably, support for manufacturing industry, the impact of new technology, work for women and what's happening to it, and the black dimension. Full line-up nearer the time: please keep the date free now! Women's Health 21 November 1984 7.30 - 9.30 pm Reading Adult College, Wilson Rd. * further details at a later date Enquiries: Margaret Keys on 872464, or write to WEA Reading Industrial Branch, 29 Denmark Rd. Fees 1.20 per session, 50p unwaged. Hardship concessions. - - - EVENTS Monday 13th August Butterfly Walk at Dinton Country Pastures 2-4 pm. 35p per person. Adv. bookings Twyford 342016. Also bird walk at same time. Education Otherwise: visit to Child Beale Trust, near Pangbourne 10.30-4.30. For details tel. Jane Clitheroe on Upper Basildon 704. Tuesday 14th Berks. Anti Nuclear Campaign: General Meeting at Friends Meeting House 8pm. Disc. on Trident. Cycle Campaign: Annual Cycle Count. Ring John on 483183 for details and offers of help. Wednesday 15th Creative Macrame: 2 day workshop to make a wall hanging. Windsor Community Arts Centre. Tel. Windsor 59336. Saturday 18th Miners Support Committee: rally in Newport. Contact TGWU, Kings Rd. 590311 for information on transport and accommodation. Sunday 19th New Games: outside Adventure Playground in Palmer Park 2pm. "There's nothing like a lark in the park". Wednesday 22nd Berks. Anti Nuclear Campaign: committee meeting in Jury Rooms, Old Shire Hall 8pm. Thursday 23rd Silk Screen Printing: 2 day course at Windsor Community Arts Centre. Tel. Windsor 59336. Sunday 26th New Games: 2pm. Palmer Park by the Adventure Playground. Thursday 30th Red Rag: copy deadline and Editorial meeting for next issue. Contact Dave on for venue. Friday 31st Red Rag: typing. Phone Dave on 662302 with offers of help, and we'll take a message (Sue & Clive). Saturday 1st. September Red Rag: production day. Phone Dave on 662302 for details of where and when. Sunday 2nd Vegans: meeting with Katherine Monsiot on "Dietary Therapy" - use of diet for prevention and treatment of disease. 2.45pm. at Neighbourhood Centre Hall, Lyon Square, Tilehurst. Red Rag: folding and distribution. Acorn Bookshop from about 11am. Help always appreciated. Advance Notice Saturday 8th September Reading Birth Centre are putting on a workshop for on day on "Birth and Beyond". 10-5 Friends Meeting House. Phone 584191 or 61330 for details. Regular Events Reading Cycle Campaign meets 2nd Mon of month at UB Cycles, London St. 8pm. Membership enquiries ring Chris Mayers Rdg 589178. General enquiries John Nixon Rdg 483183 or John Rigby Rdg 64667. Reading Birth Centre meets 3rd Tues of month for food and chat. Ring Rdg 61330 for venue. Reading Organisation for Animal Rights (ROAR) 1st. Tues of month at The Crown, Crown St. Details from Alan Rdg 477790. Men's Group meets weekly. For dates and venue contact Box 28 Acorn Bookshop. Miner's Support Committee meets every Thurs 7.30pm at TGWU office, 36, King's Rd. Ring Rdg 590311 for details. Juggling Workshop every weekday 7pm at Palmer Park nr Adventure Playground (London Rd side). Bring something to juggle with. Ring Pete 67430 for further details. Photography sessions every Tues (10-12, 1-3) at Centre for Jobfree, East St. Housing and Welfare Rights Thurs eves at Community House, Cumberland Rd. Reading Gay Switchboard Tues & Fri 8-10pm 597269 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 and kids welcome. Pregnancy testing Tues 7-9. Bring urine sample from 1st. pee of the day. Incest Survivor's Group meets regularly. Write c/o Rape Crisis Line, 17, Chatham St. for details. Anarchists meet every Monday. Details via Box 19 Acorn Bookshop. Autonomists - same contact. Peace Pledge Union meets monthly, always active. Contact 374532, 388459 or Box 10 Acorn Bookshop. Ecology Party meets 1st. and 3rd.. Mon of month at 25, de Beauvoir Rd and 38, Long Bam Lane respectively. Contact Maria 663195. Socialist Workers Party meet every Wed at Red Lion, Southampton St. 8pm. Labour History Group meets monthly at Red Lion. Contact Kathy 590139 or Mike 867781 for details. Vegans meet 1st. Sun of month at 1, Orrin Close, Tilehurst. Contact Liz & Steve Shiner 21651. Women's Peace Group meets 1st Mon of month at Womens Centre, Abbey St. Contact Rheinhild 662873. Amnesty meet 2nd Thurs of month at St. Mary's Centre Chain St. Contact Jean 472598. History of Reading Soc. meets 3rd Tues of month at Abbey Gateway. Cyclist's Touring Club outings Sun 9.15am from Caversham 3ridge or Henley. For details ring Richard on Bracknell 50849. Wednesday is Women's Day at Centre for Jobfree, East St. Coffee, advice, courses etc. from 10.30am. Silkscreen Workshops at Community House, 117, Cumberland Rd. Details from Clive 662302. Cruelty-Free Toiletries market stall every Sat behing Tesco. National Council for Civil Liberties meets 2nd. Mon of month at St. Mary's Centre, Chain St. Ring Paul 861582. Reading Recreation Art Centres. Painting for Pleasure at Town Hall, Blagrave St. Won 7-9, Tues 10-12. Details 55911 or 861289. Berks. Anti Nuclear Campaign meets 2nd. Tues of month at Friends Meeting House. Also neighbourhood groups. P.O. Box 158, Reading. Phone Ed Wilson 594855. Vocal workshop meet at Acorn Books, then on top of Chatham Street car park. Every Tuesday 8pm. Labour Party Young Socialists, 8pm, Fairview Community Centre, George Street, off Oxford Road, Wednesdays. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1984/1984-08-12.txt#3 $