R E D RAG 8th December - 21st December Reading's Only Newspaper Free Next Issue Co-ordinator - Mark 868488 Events - Paul 481081 News & Ads - James 595605 Distribution - Pogle 599995 Going Out - Mark 868488 Folding / Sunday - Liz / Ian 867955 Copy deadline - 6pm, Thursday 19 December Red Rag is an open forum for discussion - all contributions welcome - - - THE WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION December 16th - December 22nd Aiter the successes of the South Street Squat last March, and Doris's 20th Birthday Party in September, we are planning an occasion that may combine the best of the two. "Abiezer Coppe's Solstice Celebration" will consist of several days of workshops and activities for people to join in with followed by a weekend of music. All this is happening very soon! An alternative to the consumer-tedium of Christmas. The venue will be widely publicised once we have occupied it - as on the previous occasions, we don't wish to forewarn possibly inhospitable owners. Amongst ideas for the first part are vocal workshops, "painting and decorating," building a maze "to get lost in" and general "artistic" preparations for the gig over the weekend. If you have any ideas, interests, skills, bring them along. Because December is not going to be as warm as last September, we will be doing it all indoors. Complete with heating and lighting. Over the weekend there will be a p.a. and stage for a music festival. Some "famous" names have been approached to headline each evening; the rest of the time we hope to devote to local performers. There is a limit to the number of bands that can play, so if you are interested, contact us as soon as possible. We also want a variety of performers other than bands: theatre, poetry, sketches - you name it, there might be room for it. A particular space will be reserved for women to do with as they wish. Another space will house the infamous free food kitchen, which went so well at Doris's: if you have food, supply it; if you wish, help others cook it; if you are hungry, eat it. Look out for posters. Don't believe everything you read in the papers. See you there, Genghis the Dishwasher Reading Anarchists Box 19, Acorn Bookshop Don't let buildings rot, squat! - - - READING MEN'S ANTI-SECIST COLLECTIVE A little over 18 months ago a men's group was formed in Reading with the object of consciousness-raising and discussion of anti-sexist topics. It limped along for about a year before finally ceasing to meet. Several of the hard core and one or two new people have now decided to re-form the group; hopefully avoiding the mistakes that we made first time round. The reasons for the early demise of the old group were several. Most important among them was that discussion meetings week in week out for an unlimited term are bound to pall after a while and end up becoming directionless. Another problem was that the group lacked purpose. There was no sense of working towards a common set of goals. Finally, the group suffered from a total lack of structure; even to the point of pulling each week's topic for discussion out of a hat (literally). This meant that not only were discussions held to which no-one had given any prior thought; but also frequently the majority of people at the meetings felt little or no interest in the topics chosen. In re-forming the group we hope to have learnt from our previous mistakes. We now believe that it is not enough simply to meet each week and talk, but that the consciousness of men can best be changed by our learning to work and take action together in non-sexist ways. This is not to say that CR/Discussion meetings have no place in what we do. Simply that we feel we must do more. To this end we have decided on a set of (fairly vague) goals to work towards. 1. To increase our awareness of ourselves, our attitudes and our behaviour, as men; 2. To attack the stereotyping of men (from whatever source) and to attempt to discover a non-sexist maleness; 3. To promote discussion among men in the community of sexism as a live issue. We have also decided to form a collective that is open to any man that want to come along and will set and co-ordinate projects of limited duration; each based around individual topics, which we hope to explore with the aid of: CR, Discussion, Writing, Video, Drama, New Games, Music, Direct Action, and anything else anyone can think of. In this way we hope that men will feel able to involve themselves in projects that interest them without necessarily giving an indefinite commitment. Also the collective is hoping to take part in more general activities. For example we hope to produce a regular newsletter, to do a veggie dining, and to organise direct action to attack the stereotyping of men as macho or violent (picketing showings of 'Rambo' for example). Our first project is intended to provide a general overview of men's antisexism, and hopefully will stimulate further topics for us to explore. We have given it the title of Images of Men and it will run to the end of January. The first meeting of the project will be on Monday 16 December at 8pm at Flat 6, 107 Castle Hill. All men are welcome and it would be helpful if everyone could bring with them one or two images of men, collected from advertisements, the media, other men, women, etc. for discussion. The copydate for the first issue of the newsletter is Friday 10 January, and an editorial/collective meeting will be held on this date at 6pm, at 39 Coventry Road. Love from Giles, Ian, Clive, David, James Reading Men's Anti-Sexist Collective Box 28, Acorn Bookshop 17 Chatham St - - - WILD THYME WHOLEFOODS Co-operative Ring: 665447 We'll cater for almost anything Delicious vegetarian and vegan meals and snacks Food for functions at functional prices Gigs, dos, socials, benefits, conferences, garden parties - - - ABIEZER COPPE The early 1600s in England was a time of great changes, of economic and constitutional upheaval. King, Parliament and Church were engaged in struggles for dominance as new technological intellectual and social changes gave confidence to ambitious new classes. Out of these turbulent times emerged the Ranters (as did Diggers, Levellers and Quakers). Widely known and condemned for smoking and drinking at their meetings, they had a range of views that carried many of the radical ideas of the time to their conclusions. One of the most well-known was Abiezer Coppe, notorious for swearing as well as smoking and drinking. He spent at least three spells in prison, and his books ("Fiery Flying Ralls") were ordered to be burnt. Like other Ranters, much of his writing expressed his belief in the unity of himself and "God". They no longer saw a need for any mediating authority, any Church, any religious hypocrisy. He put this personal spiritual freedom into a social context - preaching complete equality and the abolition of property. The rich and powerful were frequent targets for his attacks. He may not have recognised the word "anarchist", and despite his smoking and drinking he would probably be out of place in any of our meetings, an incongruous, disruptive, egotistical eccentric. But in many ways he was a precursor to modern anarchists, denying and defying authority, exploring ideals of equality and freedom. Child Woodward - - - UNIVERSITY WOMEN RECLAIM THE NIGHT Wednesday 26 November saw the echoing of Reading's "Reclaim The Night" March as female students at the university attempted, yet again, to publicise the obvious dangers of a lonely, bleak, badly lit campus and our frustration at the denial of what should be a baisic human right - the freedom to go where you want, when you want. The march, centred on the Whiteknights campus, was well aware of symbolising part of the general struggle by women lor liberation from fear. Bearing candles, as a sign of both hope and an end to the domination of darkness; singing, shouting, demanding for an end to violence, an end to rape, the group traversed all the main (and there are many) areas of insecurity. These included the badly lit and secluded pathways leading on and off campus... and even from Halls of Residence to the Union/Library and main body of the university buildings, along which we marched together, safe in unity and mutual support... safe in numbers. Or are we? The facts are that female students have been hassled even when not alone. The facts are that by 5pm it is already dark, lectures run until 6pm. The points the March raised are demanded out of the necessity for change. We are tired of being constrained, of being denied not only liberty, but peace of mind. Naturally, the demonstration aroused hecklers with staggeringly naive comments. What is even more staggering is that many still believe a woman who walks alone at night is asking for trouble. The immediate demand is for better lighting and tighter security - the humiliation of the need for protection far outweighing the devastation of sexual assault - but the ultimate demand is for an end to violence, an end to rape... an end to fear. Ange The Women's Group, Reading University - - - PORN'S THE THOERY, RAPE'S THE PRACTICE I was on the Reclaim the Might March, and the atmosphere was amazing, it was really good, women trying to take things into our own hands. But we can't sort it out. The problem doesn't lie with us. Women shouldn't have to stay indoors when there's a rapist about. Men should. We haven't done anything wrong. After the march many men I know came up and offered their support and it made me think a lot. As racism is white people's problem to sort so rape is men's. It's time for 'right-on' men to start campaigning against rape. In this patriarchal society women are still not taken seriously. Let's see some men doing something which has got to be sorted out amongst themselves. All men make women feel nervous on the streets at night, you can't tell a rapist. And just to destroy a myth, only 2% of convicted rapists get psychiatric treatment, they're not nutters, they're ordinary men like you, it's time to weed them out. - - - REVOLUTIONARY SELF-THEORY: A BEGINNERS MANUAL Revolutionary self-theory comes across like being drunk on history out of control, careening under you like a big black motorcycle of the imagination and gives you a glimpse of a situation - being part of a world-mind and feeling like the arch-angel St Michael on speed - Read it, because it will assuage all the miseries! Love, Professor Oblivion & Barry Convex - - - RED RAG Money Last issue is paid for but there is no spare cash so benefits are needed. Next one Dec 10th Paradise Club. The Red Rag funk/dance tape, calendar and poster should be out soon. Watch Red Rag. Post cards are still on sale at Acorn. Help Someone is needed to deal with paid ads as James no longer wants to do the job. Help is always welcome. Contact Box 79 Acorn Bookshop or come along to Acorn on Sunday to help fold (good for hangovers). Next Collective Meeting The Collective meets every six weeks or so. The last one was 1 December: minutes available from Box 79 at Acorn Bookshop. Next Collective meeting on Sunday 19 January at 6pm, 39 Coventry Road. Everyone welcome. - - - WORKERS POWER Public Meeting on The lessons of Liverpool - Where did Militant go wrong? Wednesday 18 December, 7.30pm, The Crown Inn, Crown Street. Speaker: Dave Jenkins. The lessons of the collapse of Liverpool are not simply of relevance to the issue of local government. The role played by Kinnock, and the failed politics of "Militant" have important implications for all those serious about fighting Thatcher's onslaught on the whole of the working class. - - - SMALL ADS Room to let in veggie house in salubrious Wokingham. Food provided. More details - just phone Sue 782178. Lesbian volunteers needed for Gay and Lesbian Helpline. Ring us for a chat. Reading 597269 Tuesdays and Fridays 8-lOpm. Wanted desperately - pair of Babyliss crimpers. Willing to pay up to £6. Phone Ruth 341963. Free to a good home: 1960s New Society; 1970s Private Eyes. Sunday Times Colour Magazines; 1980s Observer Colour Magazines; + a few others. Not bound, but almost complete. Phone Reading 872376, evenings. - - - ******************************************************************** * * * The address given below is Indianerkommune, Nurenberg, Germany; * * a cursory search nowadays links this organisation directly to a * * long-established "Paedophile Movement": * * * * The Indianer Commune existed from 1976, firstly headquartered * * in Heidelberg, then in Nurenburg, calling itself a "children's * * rights initiative" and working in favour of paedophilic sex. * * (http://de.wikipedia.org) * * * * Red Rag never (to my knowledge) fact-checked its stories. Doing * * so for this article, over the distances involved, would have * * been very difficult. But, whatever our individual involvements * * in this issue, we must acknowledge responsibility for the * * printing of a piece - neither challenged nor rebutted in later * * issues - which encouraged young, vulnerable people to put * * themselves in danger. * * * * Nick Levine * * 2012-12-08 * * * ******************************************************************** LIVING IN COMMUNES We belong to ourselves, not mothers or fathers or teachers or the state! Life is a war for us! The peace movement sides with our enemy in this war and betrays our liberation. The Law makes Life to Hell for runaways, truants, all free-thinking young people and their lovers. This is the condition of their so-called "peace". Their "peace" is schooling, training, child-guidance, conditioning, "education". 3 to 5 children in almost every country die every day in this war. Solidarity for the black people in their liberation struggle! Thousands of under 16s are sealed up in cruel families, homes, psychiatric units, residential schools, assessment centres, secure places, youth custody wings. This is the work of grown-ups: they can't run their lives without rules. Laws, schools, families, churches, drugs(?), TV, cars, fashion, money, police, weapons - all products of a deformed adult world. Hard Rock, Punk, heavy metal aren't really any different: they have raped our sexual desires and put them on sale like merchandise in store windows. The youth industry has captured our bodies and minds and crushed our sexual urges. It sells them as books and theories and lecture and TV documents and adverts. Boycott! Up Yours! We'll live who we want to! No apologist of the "peace movement" ever talks about the ritual terrorising of children or the destruction of childhood. This ritual is the real reason for the nuclear threat they keep on talking about. Traitors, you are no different from parents and pigs and screws who lock us up, pump us with drugs, label us delinquent, hyperactive, maladjusted. When we say: Fuck School! you call us "immature", "crazy" and "sick" just to keep us under control for as long as possible. We can learn more outside school. School teaches only boredom and hate. Life without school. We are not toys for adults! We want rights for children! Our commune is a refuge for young people who escape from homes, psychiatric torture chambers and nazi parents. We live off odds and ends and run a bike repair shop. Visit us, stay with us, join our struggle for our rights. Let us know how we can reach others interested in our commune. These are the political demands of harrassed children: - The right to leave home when we like, and to live with anyone we choose. - Abolish all penalties against runaways! - End compulsory schooling and corporal punishment! - Close own all homes, institutions, custody centres and other prisons! - Our right to enjoy our own bodies and to choose who we mix with. No laws that punish loving sexual relationships among and with children. - The right to travel anywhere without adults. - Financial independence from grownups. - Children are not playthings for bored and lonely mothers to pamper. Our address: Indianerkommune Mittlare Kanalstr. 34 Nuernberg, W Germany Telefon: from Germany 0911 266786 from England: 010 49 911 266786 International children-rights demonstration 15.2.86 West Germany - - - ACORN BOOKSHOP will be open during the crazy season at the following times Mon. 16th, Mon 23rd, Tues 24th, Sat 28th, Tues 31st and back to regular on Thursday 2nd. - - - NEW TAPES FROM ACORN Two new tapes from Spectacular Times "The End of Prehistory" - a fast moving radio programme produced by a group of Situationists in Ran Francisco. It explores revolutionary ideas by means of words, songs and humour - edited to 90 mins. £3:00 "Songs of Anarchy & Revolution" - Traditional songs from around the world - play it loud as an antidote to carol singers! 45 mins. £3:OO - - - The RED RAG DANCE TAPE is well under control and will be on the streets before xmas. Featuring several tracks by local bands who specialise in dance music, it's an absolute bargain at whatever price we decide to flog it for (about £3 probably). Cope to the disco on the 10th at the Paradise and hear the music there. - - - RCAISM FROM COUNCILLOR JEWITT News of the alleged racist remarks made by Cllr Ron Jewitt about Cllr Hamza Fuad in the Reading Borough Council Chamber received wide coverage last week. Jewitt's vitriol apparently reached its offensive height during a meeting of the Tory group prior to the full meeting of the leisure Committee. Cllr Fuad chairs the Leisure Committee against the wishes of the Conservative group to which he belongs, having been voted on with the support of the opposition councillors. As Chairman he has gained the respect of most people in the field of leisure and the loathing of Jewitt and Cllr Oliver, who put forward a motion calling on him to resign. Cllr Fuad refused and Jewitt launched his attack, calling him a wog. The meeting was held behind closed doors, so Cllr Fuad decided to stand up to the bully and at the full meeting of the Environment Cttee he reported Jewitt's remarks and told him where to get off. Jewitt denied the incident and Oliver rushed to support Jewitt. Afterwards, some of the Tories suggested that Jewitt may in fact have said "wop" or "wok", which not surprisingly failed to dampen the controversy. Anger flared again during the debate on the museums which have received as an exhibit the skull of an ape. Conservative Cllr Mrs Mills was heard to say "that was no ape, that was Cllr Oliver's ancestor"... Congratulations, then, are due to those Tory councillors who stood up against the nasty little tyrants Jewitt and Oliver. Perhaps Berkshire County Council will think twice about their decision to make Jewitt their representative at the Reading Council for Racial Equality. - Don Pedro - - - LETTERS Dear Rag Anti-Apartheid I found Harry Roberts' description of the Anti-Apartheid demonstration interesting. There is a case for marching through London, whether against the S African regime or its close ally, Thatcher (and what she is doing in this country). I'm sure the AAM organisers would argue that that was not the time to "trash hotels" in Park Lane or even to attack S Africa House. However, I think the argument is more fundamental than that. It is the S African workers and peasants, led by the AWC who will deal with Botha. We can assist. Public demonstrations are only a symbol of this (whether it's marching or smashing Embassy windows). Our best means of helping S African workers and peasants is to get rid of Thatcher, as a first step towards ridding this country of the capitalist system she represents. Another comment on your report: the organisation chanting breathless slogans was not the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist). I think I know who the slogan shouters were and they have a deceptively similar name. The CPB(M-L) publishes "The Worker" every week and it is on sale in Acorn - so judge for yourself. "The Worker" doesn't live on slogans. I attach the last 3 paragraphs of an editorial on S Africa in the edition of 4 November and hopefully these will be a useful complement to your report. Ted Thatcher seeks delay, anything to buy time for Pretoria, for British-based capitalists have huge investments at stake. If only Thatcher was half as concerned about the British economy as she is in defending South Africa's economy! She has imposed economic sanctions on the British working class for six years, has she not? Working class pressure alone will help the workers of South Africa. Southampton dockers and civil servants prevented movement of equipment for export, which others can emulate. Shopworkers can make a contribution. The National Union of Seamen and 20 other maritime unions across the world have decided to act in concert against oil supplies and the like as their contribution. As so often, the NUS plays an honourable proletarian role. Above all, we must deal with the problem of Thatcher, for while her government remains, apartheid has a firm ally. It is a common fight anyway, because working class victory in either South Africa or Britain helps the other. Internationalism begins at home. Dear Rag I am taking part in a project to look at the provision of education courses for people who are not in work. I am particularly keen to find out what unemployed people themselves want. For example, is there a need for: 1. more courses to teach job-skills; 2. support groups and jobclubs for those who are looking for jobs - or 3. courses in art, cookery or leisure activities. If so, then where would people like to have them, in colleges, unemployed centres; community centres, or in their own homes? I would welcome any opinions especially from anyone who is unemployed. Replies will be treated as confidential. Many thanks Pat c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St Dear Rag Workers Power are right to point out that racism poisons every institution of society - including the "labour movement" - and for this reason I think that it constitutes a more serious threat than neo-fascist groups like the NF - who represent a more ideologically coherent version of the racism of yer average Guardian reader, one which is more open, less insidious. By all means trash the "front" but don't forget the scheming "socialist" mass nor the stout English business-man. Because they all judge people by skin colour, and attribute general characteristics to people on that basis "people with brown skin and afro hair are less intelligent, less human, etc" - why not' people with pink skin and ginger hair? It's equally groundless, but persists nonetheless and is translated into racism when people in power use that power to carry out their prejudices. To remove racism requires the abolition of both prejudices and power - none more so than in the complacent middle/left ground. Doing this would, I think, show a lot of white people just who their enemies were - the same class/groups against which black people have been protesting. This would be much more helpful than "organising now to defend the black communities", a suggestion which implies they are (racially?) incapable of doing it themselves. Fight the good fight Mark Dear Red Rag, I am writing to warn any readers who may be looking for a quiet drink in the country that they may find the "Crooked Billet" at Stoke Row less than conducive. A recent visitor to the pub was greeted by the regulars with a string of racist remarks, which the landlord saw fit to echo. Three off-duty policemen similarly chose to air their racist views. So perhaps "Reading between the Wavy Lines" may consider dropping the "Crooked Billet" from their list of recommended pubs. With best wishes, Andrew. - - - RED RAG SCRATCH DISCO s-s-s-scratch The Surgery Sound Tim Hill: sax Mike Cooper: guitar Pat Thomas: piano Live scratch Hit the button Video installation by the Real Time Video Collective. Tues 10th December 8pm-2am Paradise Club, London St. - - - WOMEN The first General Meeting of the well-woman Association was held on the 25th of November. For the last nine months a steering group has been meeting to try to get priorities sorted out, get a constitution together (for charitable status), work on the feasibility and possibilities of a clinic and so on. This meeting was to draw together other women interested in supporting the move to establish a Well-Woman service, and to formally adopt the constitution and elect officers and a new committee. We had no idea what sort of response we would get, and it was both exhilarating and alarming to see the meeting room filling up with women to the extent that it was overflowing! Women came along who couldn't get in at all, and others stood outside the room straining to hear what was going on! It was wonderful to see so much interest and such a variety of individual women and organisations although it did throw the organisation of the meeting slightly to try to involve so many squashed women! We had planned to open the meeting with brief spiels about the work so far, and possible options for the future, and then break up into groups to allow everyone to discuss how they felt about what they had heard so far, and the future of the Well-Woman Service. This was to involve everyone in the meeting, and help make it clear that future decisions were to do with everyone present, rather than the previous steering group. However, some women thought a question and answer session would be better, so we did both. A variety of questions and comments were thrown at the steering group, and then did our best (in limited space) to move into discussion groups to talk about what had been said so far, and future plans, resulting in many really interesting comments on flip charts. We hope to produce a document using these ideas and thoughts. Finally the constitution was formally approved, and a new Committee of 18 women rapidly elected as time started to run out. This new group will be meeting this week to establish the next steps to be taken. Any member of the Association is welcome to come along and take part in the meetings, (and until a meeting decides otherwise, any woman can become a member by turning up). The only advantage of being a committee member is that in the event of a vote being taken these are the women with the right to stick their hands up. Another way women can get involved, is by joining one of the 'sections' which are groups which concentrate on particular aspects of the Association's work. Those in existence so far are Publicity, Funding, Clinic (looking for premises etc) and Health Education (thinking about collecting information, making it accessible, organising classes, talks, self-help groups etc). Any woman can get involved in any of these groups, or if you would like to form a new one, come along to a meeting and say so. If you would like to receive information on the meetings, contacts for sub-groups, etc etc, (or give us some money!) contact: Karen, Reading 596639 (day) 473296 (eve); Irene, Henley 574227; or Sue, Reading 587906. - - - WOMEN'S CENTRE PARTY We're having another one! This will Saturday 2ist December, at 8.30pm, Women's Centre. Added attraction 'cabaret' provided by the Performance Group. Bring food and drink etc. All Women Welcome! - - - WOMEN'S SELF-HELP Are there any women interested in setting up a premenstrual tension or an asthma self-help group, with the aim of getting together to share experiences, gain mutual support, and look at the ways of helping oneself? If so, please contact: Chrissie Bligh, Reading 666038 - - - REAL TIME video collective present The Leaving 85 Video Show Tapes to be shown include The Shadow Project Bliss Switch Video Paintings 1 : Welsh mountain zoo Are you Occupied plus extracts from other tapes Wed 18 Dec Mo's Place, Duke St. 7.30 onwards Food and drink available. - - - CERVICAL SCREENING The District Health Authority will shortly receiving a report outlining proposals for cervical cytology in this area. More and more women are dying of cervical cancer, and yet if the disease is identified early enough it is possible to drastically reduce fatalities. However, this depends on adequate and accessible screening facilities, plus a good system of recalling women who need further tests. At the moment we don't have this. Doctors receive payment for providing smears for women over 35 only, and yet many women under this age are contracting cervical cancer. On Monday 16th December there is to be a Public Meeting, to discuss the present situation, how people feel about the issues concerned and to examine the basic themes of the report. Hopefully this will provide an opportunity for those working in the health service and others who are concerned about the issues to get together and share views and experiences. The meeting will be held at Reading Centre for the Unemployed, 4-6, East St, Reading, at 3.00pm. For more information contact Karen on Reading 596639 (daytime), 473296 (eves). - - - EVENTS Here we go with another run down on the events for the next couple of weeks. If you have an event you'd like people to get to know about, then write down the details and put them in Box 79 in Acorn Bookshop, Chatham St. or 'phone me on 481081. OK... events... Mon 9th Reading Cycle Campaign: meet in the Sun, Castle St., 8pm. Phone 64667 or 589178 for further details. RCU: cycle maintenance 10-12, sign language 2-4. Wilson Road: carpentry 1.30-3.00. Tues 10th Martin Buchan MP(?) Shadow Spokesperson for the Arts, talks about Labour's policy for Art. 8pm, Shire Hall. Further info Martin Crozy - 477922. ? BANC meeting, Friends Meeting House, Church St., Rdg. (Not sure about this one, check BANC notes...) Gay & Lesbian Helpline. Lines open from 8-10, for gay men and women who want advice and / or help: 597629. Central Club: Women's dance group, 10-12. RCU: fitness course, 10-12. Weds 11th Labour Party Young meet at Fairview Comm. Centre, 8pm. Contact 883760. RCU: How to run an allotment, 10-12. Central Club: Judo, 9.45-11.45. RCU: Fabric Crafts: quilting, batik etc, 9.30-2.30. RCU: Confidence Building 10-12 (Women's day courses) Women's rights workshops: 1-2.30. Thurs 12th Creative Writing w/shop at RCU 1-3. SWP meet at Wellington Arms, Whitley St. Phone 596724 for further details. Fri 13th (who's superstitious...) RCU: Black & white photography, 2-4. Anything else...? Sat 14th Widening the Web: a weekend of bridge building & idea sharing. At 2pm there's a joining of hands around Greenham with everyone facing outwards. To turn away from the negative and look towards a more positive future. This is followed by workshops at various gates. Sun 15th Widening the Web: further w/shops. Christmas lunch cycle ride. Meet at 10.30 on Caversham Bridge. Lunch in (Hurray!) Henley. Approx cost £6 - bookings & payment contact Caroline Greenwood (0256) 470037. Young National Trust. Tree planting at Basildon Park. 'Phone Dave Booth on 56367. Mon 16th RCU & Wilson Rd: as the 9th. Cooks meeting for Veggie Dining. Meets at 7pm, 141 Cumberland Rd. Contact - 66706. Ecology Party meeting. 252 Tilehurst Road, 8pm. Tues 17th Reading Birth Centre lunch. 'Phone Sally (584191) or Electra (65648) for venue. Weds 18th RCU: as last week. ? Send me some information!!! Thurs 19th Veggie Dining. Tickets available from Acorn in advance only. £2:50 waged, £2 unwaged. 'Phone coordinator of next Rag for venue. Fri 20th Again - a blank space. Sat 21st R.R. pasting up & printing. 'Phone coordinator for details. Sun 22nd Cycle ride to Burnham Beeches (approx 50m). Meet at Caversham Bridge, at 9.15. 'Phone Mike on Wargrave 2646. R.R folding & distribution. 'Phone coordinator for details. All help greatly appreciated. Please, please, please send information of any events you'd like to have publicised. Groups & organisations, send in your lists of events... Box 79, Acorn Bookshop. See y'all soon, take care, Paul. - - - GOING OUT The midnight hour approacheth and your faithful Going Out scribe surveyeth ye debris in front of him, and bethinks himself: here we go, here we go... Monday 9 Dec The Bull, Nettlebed - folk w/ Martin Carthy, 8pm. SHP - The Albion Band (folk / rock) 8pm £3:00. SHP - "Birdy" - (15) 7,45pm $2:50: communication between 2 Vietnam vets in military hospital. Univ. Students Union - jazz, 9ish, free. Often dire. Thatchers, Fairwater Drive Soodley - jazz, soul, funk, free 8-11pm. Wayne & Tracey's Plastic Paradise (no offense to W & T). Silks, Bath Rd, Thatcham - rock night - Deja Vu (isn't it all) & Rebecca Wolf. Tickets from Listen Records? Paradise - Labour Party Benefit?? Albion Hotel, Oxford Rd - hectic jazz: Pete James, 8pm free. Tuesday 10 Dec Paradise - Red Rag Scratch Disco: The Surgery Sound (funk, reggae, electro etc) plus Trystero System (Tim Hill / sax, Mike Cooper / guitar, Pat Thomas / keyboards & electronics) all mixed togegher. Plus scratch video installation / TV bank etc by Real Time Collective. 9-2. £1 UB40 / £2. Essential!! Univ Union - The Pogues + support: Irish folk meets punk energy. Songs of drinking & death (if...). £4: no union card needed if you get a ticket in advance. Tudor Arms, Greyfriars Rd - "gay" disco in "gay" pub. Make dominated / anti women. Subject to a longstanding set of bans / boycotts, due to people (rightly) taking offence at sexist beermats (scantily clad French chambermaid variety). Out of Town Club, Padworth - no rock night!! Univ. Great Hall, London Rd - Univ. Orchestra: Wagner, Mozart, Tchaikovsky; 7.30pm, £3 tickets from Hickies, Friar St. Hexagon - Wonky Wizard Show for "the kids", free. 12.30. SHP jazz - Tommy Chase Quartet, 8pm, £2:70. Wednesday 11 Dec SHP workshop - Making Programmes for TV: 1.25-2.45pm, 80p. Creche available. Could be illuminating... SHP cinema - Birdy (15) - see Mon 9th. RFT - "The Night of San Lorenzo" (PG) 8pm. Villagers in Tuscany flee, when Germans move in - "blend of realism & fantasy, myth & lyricism..." Gosh it's so quiet!! Make your own entertainment... Thursday 12 Dec Paradise - Reggae sound system, 8-2. But who? SHP - Pro Patria Mori & Barcelona Bus Co - 2 local anarchist punk combos. 8-12, 50p for UB40s! Angies, Wokingham - The Dukes. Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green, Maidenhead - folk club, 8pmish, free. R=Ted & Rose. Trash country music @ Cross Keys & The Sportsman. Live music at the Boars Head. Falklands display, video jukebox and casual clientele. Last dose of dreck jazz @ Univ Students Union, 9ish? SHP - "Night of the Comet"(15) 7.45pm, £2:50. Pastiche of 50s style science fiction. All but a few of the human race zapped by passing comet. Far out... Friday 13 Dec Reading Centre for the Unemployed - party for community programme detainees & their friends, £2 with food by Wild Thyme. Does this replace Veggie Dining? I'm confused. Cap & Gown, Kings Road - Beat Back Band, 8ish free: 10 piece soul / R'n'B band. Tudor Arms - another disco - see Tuesday's entry. Paradise - Xmas party with Empti Fish & support. 8-2am. Lord Raglan, Denmark St, Wokingham - New Orleans Jazz, 9ish & free. Angies, Wokingham - The Reactors (who indeed?) SHP Cellar Bar - Mike Chapman, 10-2, £3 food is available. Guitar Supremo... Lamb at Eversley - folk club, 8ish, free. St Peters School Hall, Earley - Xmas concert, 7.30, 75p. SHP - Berkshire Community Dance Gala. 7.30pm £2:50. This year's theme is North America... SHP - "Insignificance" (15) 7.45 £2:50. Directed by Nic Roeg (Man who fell to Earth, Eureka, et al). Visually stunning story linking "major" C20 figures (Einstein, Monroes, etc). His latest/ Saturday 14 Dec Party - Tim Westwood (soul) & support, 8-2am. Angies - "Waiting for Gabriel" are playing. SHP - Community Dance Gala, 7.30 £2:50. SHP - Folk in ye Cellar Bar, 8pm, £1:80. No details. SHP - cinema "Insignificance" 7.45 & 10.30pm. Carol Concert - 7.30, Christchurch, Christchurch Rd. Caversham Methodist Church - Reading Haydn Choir do a gig. Tel 576873. Sun 15 Dec The Butler, Chatham St - mod. jazz with Clem Adelman, 8ish free. Fullers beer too. Not free. Silverdale Shopping Parade, Lower Earley, never fail to please. This time it' an open air carol singsong, 4.30-5.00pm. "Wrap up warmly, bring a candle in a jar." Ah, Christmas... Central Swimming Pool - synchronised swimming show, by Reading's famous team. 7.15pm £2. Angies - jazz - Juvessence. Caversham Bridge Hotel - Readifolk, 8.15, free. SHP - cinema - "Insignificance" (15) 7.45pm £2:50. Monday 16 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day 1. The Abbey Gateway - Xmas party - the Young Friends of the Museum - bring food, drink & a party piece (...) 6.30pm S. Reading Community Centre, Northumberland Ave - Carol Concert. 7.30 - free (also free mince pies &coffee). The Bull, Nettlebed - folk, Ian Main, 8pm. Silks, Thatcham, rock night. They didn't know who. Albion Hotel, Oxford Rd - hectic jazz again. Thatchers, Woodley - soul / funk, same as it ever was. SHP - cinema - as yesterday. Tuesday 17 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day 2. Tudor Arms - see 10th Paradise - Funktion at the Junktion (simmering mixture of funk, soul & reggae) & support. Benefit gig?? No rock night at Out of Town Club. SHP - cinema as Sunday SHP - 2 jazz guitarists - Eduardo Niella & Antonia Forclone. 8pm, £2:40. Hex - 12.30-1.30 free under 5s entertainment - magic. Wednesday 18 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day (3) "The Leaving 85 Video Show" by Real Time Video Collective - Mo's Place 7.30. Not a lot else to do. Boredom is counter-revolutionary, by the way... SHP - "Insignificance" (PG) 7.45 £2:50. Thursday 19 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day (4) Rag Veggie Dining 8pm - tickets from Acorn, Red Rag editorial 6.30pm, 7 Christchurch Gardens. SHP - Surfin' Lungs & support (trash / twanggg!) 50p for UB40s, 8-12. Angies - Jazzawacky. (Women's jazz??) Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green, M'head - folk, 8.15, Xmas party, free. Cross Keys / Sportsman / Boars Head. Various ilks of alleged "live" "music". Free. Friday 20 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day (5) Abiezer Coppe - day one of "the gig" bit. Tudor Arms - another "gay" disco. Macrobiotics meal / meeting - 100 Northumberland Ave. Phone 860813 (Wendy Shute) in advance. 7pm start. The Lamb, Eversley - folk club, 8ish, free. SHP - Smokey Joe's Blues Band - 10-2am, £3, food available. Harder then most British blues. Venue recently reopened and I hope it's all OK this time... RCU - 60s Xmas disco. Cap & Gown, Kings Road - R'n'B or rock band, no-one's sure. Anyway, they are free. Angies - Ruthless Blues - v. powerful stuff. Chicago blues style. Oxford Roots Club - Raiders Hi Power (reggae / soul sound) + Tim Westwood (soul). Fairview Community Centre, George St - Xmas disco party, £1:50. 7.30 start. SHP cinema - "The Falcon & the Snowman" (15) 7.45 £2:50. 2 middle class kids trade secrets with USSR. "A thrilling story" it says here. Saturday 21 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day (6) Red Rag glue session / paste up party provisionally, no, definitely at 7 Christchurch Gardens,11.00 onwards. SHP folk 8pm £1:80. No details. Wokingham St. Crispins Centre, London Rd - BLood Oranges (new wavish rock) & Primetime & Killing the Roses. £2:50. Last entry 10. Paradise - Tony Williams (Radio London soul / reggae DJ) & Cosmic Crew. 8-2. £4:00. Oxford Town Hall - Handel's Messiah, 7.00. Jon's party!! Angies - Jive Alive (r'n'b / tex mex / danceable). Central Club, London St - soul / reggae sound. Slough Community Centre - reggae superstar Dennis Brown. Watlington House, Watlington St - Xmas dance - Pete Gregory & Wild Thyme do a folk dance for two. 7.30-11.00. Tickets £3 adv, tel 415578. SHP - folk in t'Cellar, 8pm, £1:80. SHP cinema - "The Falcon & the Snowman" (15) 7.45 & 10.30. Sunday 22 Dec: Abiezer Coppe Day (7) & last... Caversham Bridge Hotel - Readifolk Ceilidh - "Misaliance" 8.15. All welcome. Religion. Carol gigs @ St. Mary's Butts (3pm) & Christ Church (6pm). Butler, Chatham St - Clem Adelman hangs on in there, 8ish free. Red Rag folding, collating etc at Acorn. Come and have a chat / coffee / mince pie(??). 11am onwards. Offers of assistance to numbers on front cover. Angies - Rebecca Wolf. Rock?? SNP cinema as Friday. Monday 23 Dec: clear up after Abiezer Coppe! SHP - party - Chicago Breakdown - Chicago blues meets Hi-Life and Delta Blues. 8pm onwards, SHP Cellar Bar. Sloppy Joes - Gay Switchboard Xmas party 9-2am, £1:50 w/ membership card. Bull & Nettlebed - Xmas party at Folk Club - The Nettlebedmate & Mummers. 8pm, free. Key: Paradise: Paradise Club, 112 London St. Reading. Hex - Hexagon, Queen's Walk, Reading: tel 591591. RCU - Centre for Unwaged, 4-6 East St tel 596639. Angies - Angies Rock Club c/o Cantley House Hotel, Milton Rd, Wokingham, tel 789912 for details. SHP - South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, tel Bracknell 484123. Abiezer Coppe: a solstice celebration in a squat in Reading - the Granby cinema on Cemetry Junction - featuring participatory workshop, revolution & music - see elsewhere for more details. Theatre, incl Pantos: Hexagon, Reading - Jack & the Beanstalk - 17 Dec-18 Jan - booking /pricing 591591 (basically £3:50-£5:50). SHP Bracknell - Old King Cole (Christmas show) 18 Dec-11 Jan - Bracknell 484123. Oxford Apollo - Opera: Weber, Handel & Offenbach (different days) - 10-14 Dec - Oxford 2444544/5. Kenton Theatre, Henley - "Enemies" (Maxim Gorky) - 11-14 Dec - 7.30pm - Henley 575698. Drake Centre, Pangbourne College - "Showboat" (musical) 11-14 Dec - 7.30: £5/£3:50, tickets from the College. Redgrave Theatre, Farnham - "The Adventures of Alice" (based on Carrol) - 11 Dec-18 Jan - tel 785363 (evenings) Kenton Theatre, Henley - "Cinderella" - 23 Dec-4 Jan - 7.30pm - tel Henley 575698. Give me information, please!! Love & hugs, Mark (868488) xxx - - - GREENHAM Anyone who doubts the sincerity of the U.S. Government's desire for peace is unlikely to be encouraged by recent events at Greenham Common. While Reagan and Gorbachev were, we hoped, meeting to rebuild the fragile detente on which all our futures depend, the U.S.A.F. chose the very same moment to send out the first convoy of Cruise missiles since July. During the early hours of the Wednesday a convoy of 2 Cruise launchers plus 25 control, support and police vehicles left Greenham to spend several days in exercises, on Salisbury Plain. The only good side to the story was the success of the Cruisewatch organisation in following the convoy, noting its destination and organising impromptu protest. Whereas the U.S.A.F. would prefer to go about preparing for genocide in secret, Cruisewatch ensured that the event got national news coverage, which is a vital element in public opposition to the missiles. The U.S.A.F have also made it clear that the opposition makes military exercises more difficult, hence the 4 month delay since the last convoy went out. One aspect which was badly reported was the mounting level of violence by the authorities. The press reported that as the convoy returned, paint was thrown by the peace women, hitting police officers. (The women themselves believe that the police exaggerated the incident.) One thing not reported was the fate of a man who managed to drive his car into a gap in the convoy. He was forced off the road, pulled from his car and handcuffed while burly policemen banged his head 20 times against the bonnet of the car; probably because they knew they had nothing to charge him with. Reports of the backdrop to the summit have been received from the locals in Geneva. While Gorbachev lodged at the Soviet Embassy, the Reagans stayed at a huge and heavily guarded house near the lake. The enormous security operation made the entire area almost impassable for days. Meanwhile Nancy Reagan made various official visits; at one school the pupils were made to stand outdoors for several hours in near freezing temperatures in order to greet her. See-through plastic coats were issued, to be worn over school uniforms, but proper coats were banned. Why? In case any of the pupils carried a weapon, of course! - - - KIDS AID The Benefit on Sat 30th Nov, organised by the Single Parents Group was a tremendous success. Many thanks to all those who came in support and especially to Beat and the Devil who played us through to the early hours - magnificent! With only a few hiccups, it was the best party I've been to at RCU. Let's have more like it please. Tami - - - ABIEZER Dear Friends, Abiezer would like some candles, torches etc. to help him celebrate the coming solstice. Any help or ideas to Box 19, Acorn Bookshop. A.C. - - - CO-OP No more heroes... well not according to the co-operative movement speaker at the Progress Theatre last Saturday. He laments the demise of "our leaders... those silver-tongued orators who could convince us..." Shame really, but don't worry because next year, the United Nations speaker assured us, would be "The Year of Peace". At least according to the U.N. who have divided it further, presumably for administrative ease, one quarter being allocated to "Peace & Disarmament", another three months to "Peace & Development", etc. Though thank goodness he did explain that these partitions are not always mutually exclusive; regretfully he admitted that "Peace & Development" can overrun to June. Simon - - - Community Programme (and workers friends) PARTY £2 admission with supper, 50p without. C.P. party - 13 Dec 85 - 8 till late One Love Disco Bring a bottle & a friend Reading Centre for Unemployed 4-6 East St Supper tickets available from Acorn Books - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1985/1985-12-08.txt#3 $