CRAP! Collective is active in encouraging all events, gatherings and meetings to be as parent/carer friendly and child-friendly as possible.
This is so that parents/carers with young children are not unfairly discriminated against and prevented from attending or participating in such events.
We are particularly concerned about the lack of understanding about the needs of parents/carers/children within feminist circles.
Below is one example of a letter that was sent to the organising group of a recent feminist gathering, who had stated there was definately not going to be a creche provided in reply to our first query about the event.
Feel free to use/adapt this sample letter to send to other feminist events with no child provisions you are attending:
To [Feminist Organising Group],
Thats a shame that there is no creche provision for this event. In the
event of no creche provision, the next best move is to have a space/corner
which is a dedicated kids area with colouring in/toys and books and
seating for parents/carers.
If parents/carers have to take their chidlren with them to meetings, then
there should be toys/colouring-in etc provided to occupy them and allow
parents/carers to concentrate and contribute to the meeting. It would be a
good idea to have volunteers (from the organising group ideally)attending
each meeting who are able to play with the children if they start to get
bored or need a drink etc. Or ask around at the begninning of the meeting
for volunteers so that everyone attending should share childcare in this
way.
Facilitators should make it clear to the attendees that the children may
make noise but that the parent/carer should not be made to feel bad about
this, but supported, as there are no creche factilities. People can just talk louder or offer their services to play with the child/get a snack.
Feminist events must be inclusive to all and not discriminate against
parents/carers, especially affecting the majority of single mothers on low
incomes with no childcare-support network.
No creche provision means that even if you adhere to the parent/child-friendly organising suggestions above, the liklihood still is that parent/carers will decide not to attend your event or not be able to participate fully in discussions. Input from feminist parents/carers should be valued, not discourged.
I hope your organising group will consider the above points prior to your
event this [Saturday].
All the best,
[You or Your Collectives Name]
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Birth as power
Birth as power: Options and preparation for organic childbirthNew zine, available from anarcha here.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Dont Leave Your Friends Behind Zine Issue 4- out now!
The latest issue of the fab zine 'Don't Leave Your Friends Behind' is now out! Edited by U.S. anarcha-feminists Vikki Law and China Martins, it is a great collection of thoughts on how to rally the non-parents in our midst to understand and support those with childcaring responsibilities.
CRAP!Collective have also written a piece for the zine, summing up our experiences of organising within this collective so far.
This zine is a must-read, and anti-copyright, so print out and distribute far and wide!
**************Watch this space for the link to the new zine!***********
Dont Leave Your Friends Behind Blogspot: http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com/
CRAP!Collective have also written a piece for the zine, summing up our experiences of organising within this collective so far.
This zine is a must-read, and anti-copyright, so print out and distribute far and wide!
**************Watch this space for the link to the new zine!***********
Dont Leave Your Friends Behind Blogspot: http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Call for Submissions for New Book: Dont Leave Your Friends Behind
The past 4 issues of the zine 'Dont Leave Your Friends Behind' will be turned into a book. New submissions are also wanted, so see below for more information (deadline March 2011):
Call For Submissions:
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind is a book geared toward the non-parent radical community about how to be an ally to the parent(s) in their midst.
We're looking for activists, allies, & radical parents to help make this the best book ever for getting down to business: Let's make a better world WITHOUT leaving out the mamas, papas, partners, child-care providers & children this time!
We want to know how you support children & their caretakers in your collectives, organizations or communities.
Parents: What concrete things can those around you do to support you and your family? Send us your list of suggestions!
Radical Childcare Collectives: How do you organize childcare?
We are especially interested in experiences that also take into account factors such as race, class, gender, single parenthood, immigration, disability, and/or mental health issues.
Word limit: One sentence suggestions to 5.000 word essays.
Contact us with questions and submissions!
China Martens
PO Box 4803
Baltimore, MD 21211
china410 (at) hotmail.com
and
Vikki Law
PO Box 20388
New York
NY 10009
vikkimL (at) yahoo.com
For more information about Don't Leave Your Friends Behind, including links to download past issues, go to:
http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com
Deadline: March 15, 2011
Call For Submissions:
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind is a book geared toward the non-parent radical community about how to be an ally to the parent(s) in their midst.
We're looking for activists, allies, & radical parents to help make this the best book ever for getting down to business: Let's make a better world WITHOUT leaving out the mamas, papas, partners, child-care providers & children this time!
We want to know how you support children & their caretakers in your collectives, organizations or communities.
Parents: What concrete things can those around you do to support you and your family? Send us your list of suggestions!
Radical Childcare Collectives: How do you organize childcare?
We are especially interested in experiences that also take into account factors such as race, class, gender, single parenthood, immigration, disability, and/or mental health issues.
Word limit: One sentence suggestions to 5.000 word essays.
Contact us with questions and submissions!
China Martens
PO Box 4803
Baltimore, MD 21211
china410 (at) hotmail.com
and
Vikki Law
PO Box 20388
New York
NY 10009
vikkimL (at) yahoo.com
For more information about Don't Leave Your Friends Behind, including links to download past issues, go to:
http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com
Deadline: March 15, 2011
Monday, 8 November 2010
Homebirth Obstetrician and Midwife Faces 5 Years in Prison
Obstetrician and Midwife, Dr. Agnes Gereb, Faces 5 Years in Prison for
Attending Homebirths in Hungary
This letter is being posted at the request of the author and in solidarity
with those supporting and advocating on behalf of Dr. Agnes Gereb around
the world. Gereb is currently being held in a maximum security prison in
Hungary, facing a five year prison sentence, for attending birthing women
at home. Supporters of birth choice in Europe urge readers to contact your
local Hungarian embassy.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/10/obstetrician-and-midwife-dr-agnes-gereb.html
Note:
Obstetrician and Midwife, Agnes was taken into police custody in the
evening of Tuesday, Oct 5th, just minutes after attending to a pregnant
woman who had unexpectedly gone into labor at her homebirth centre in
Budapest. The mother transferred by ambulance to the hospital with her
baby boy when he displayed breathing difficulties immediately after birth.
The police arrested Gereb and held her for 72 hours with access only to
her lawyer. After the 72 hours in detention, she was taken before a closed
criminal court and charged with "reckless endangerment committed in the
line of duty" and was to remain in custody without bail for a further 30
days. It is common in Hungary to spend more than a year in prison while
awaiting trial.
On October 6th, more than 600 people protested outside Budapest's prison
that held Gereb. Two days later, more than 2,000 people made a human chain
from the municipal court to the national parliament.
On October 12th, Gereb appeared before a court - shackled and handcuffed.
She faced several charges including negligent practice and manslaughter
for a birth where a baby died after a difficult labor.
According to Tamas Fazekas, one of the lawyers fighting Gereb's case with
the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, said Gereb is confined to a
four-woman cell for 23 hours a day. "She is subjected to strip searches,
only allowed to see her family once a month — they have not been allowed
to visit her since her arrest — and can have just one 10-minute phone call
every week. When she appeared before the public court she was in handcuffs
and leg shackles so tight that she had a 10cm bleeding wound on her leg."
As of yesterday (Fri, Oct 22) Gereb has been moved into a maximum security
prison and faces a five year prison sentence.
Obstetrics is well known to be one of the most lucrative branches of
Hungary's "free" health care system. Inductions and episiotomies (as well
as an assortment of other interventions) are ubiquitous. Women who want to
step away from this medicalized birth face a very difficult challenge to
find a skilled birth attendant. In fact, there are only 15 midwives in all
of Hungary who will attend women at home, and 5 of them currently face
lengthy prison sentences for the births they've attended. Gereb is the
founder of the Napvilág Birthing Centre, is a highly experienced OB/GYN,
midwife, and internationally recognized homebirth expert. She has attended
over 3,500 births at home in Hungary
Attending Homebirths in Hungary
This letter is being posted at the request of the author and in solidarity
with those supporting and advocating on behalf of Dr. Agnes Gereb around
the world. Gereb is currently being held in a maximum security prison in
Hungary, facing a five year prison sentence, for attending birthing women
at home. Supporters of birth choice in Europe urge readers to contact your
local Hungarian embassy.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/10/obstetrician-and-midwife-dr-agnes-gereb.html
Note:
Obstetrician and Midwife, Agnes was taken into police custody in the
evening of Tuesday, Oct 5th, just minutes after attending to a pregnant
woman who had unexpectedly gone into labor at her homebirth centre in
Budapest. The mother transferred by ambulance to the hospital with her
baby boy when he displayed breathing difficulties immediately after birth.
The police arrested Gereb and held her for 72 hours with access only to
her lawyer. After the 72 hours in detention, she was taken before a closed
criminal court and charged with "reckless endangerment committed in the
line of duty" and was to remain in custody without bail for a further 30
days. It is common in Hungary to spend more than a year in prison while
awaiting trial.
On October 6th, more than 600 people protested outside Budapest's prison
that held Gereb. Two days later, more than 2,000 people made a human chain
from the municipal court to the national parliament.
On October 12th, Gereb appeared before a court - shackled and handcuffed.
She faced several charges including negligent practice and manslaughter
for a birth where a baby died after a difficult labor.
According to Tamas Fazekas, one of the lawyers fighting Gereb's case with
the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, said Gereb is confined to a
four-woman cell for 23 hours a day. "She is subjected to strip searches,
only allowed to see her family once a month — they have not been allowed
to visit her since her arrest — and can have just one 10-minute phone call
every week. When she appeared before the public court she was in handcuffs
and leg shackles so tight that she had a 10cm bleeding wound on her leg."
As of yesterday (Fri, Oct 22) Gereb has been moved into a maximum security
prison and faces a five year prison sentence.
Obstetrics is well known to be one of the most lucrative branches of
Hungary's "free" health care system. Inductions and episiotomies (as well
as an assortment of other interventions) are ubiquitous. Women who want to
step away from this medicalized birth face a very difficult challenge to
find a skilled birth attendant. In fact, there are only 15 midwives in all
of Hungary who will attend women at home, and 5 of them currently face
lengthy prison sentences for the births they've attended. Gereb is the
founder of the Napvilág Birthing Centre, is a highly experienced OB/GYN,
midwife, and internationally recognized homebirth expert. She has attended
over 3,500 births at home in Hungary
Saturday, 6 November 2010
towards a family-friendly radical movement; Inter-generational liberation for all.
Excellent post from eleven o clock alchemy about the need for creating family-friendly radical and inclusive movments-
http://elevenoclockalchemy.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/towards-a-family-friendly-radical-movement-intergenerational-liberation-for-all
http://elevenoclockalchemy.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/towards-a-family-friendly-radical-movement-intergenerational-liberation-for-all
Monday, 4 October 2010
Invitation from London Pro-feminist Men's Group
Come to the next LPMG meeting:
Next Meetings:
Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 3pm at LARC, 62 Fieldgate st, London, E1 1ES (whitechapel, Aldgate)
http://www.londonarc.org/.
- 3rd October at 3pm
- 17th October at 3pm
- 7th November at 3pm
- 21st November at 3pm
About us:
EMAIL: londonprofeministmensgroup at googlemail.com
"We're a group of men meeting in London every 2 weeks. We have been meeting fortnightly for almost 3 years now.
The aims of our meetings are:
- to support each other in our personal struggles as men, including our efforts to rid ourselves of sexist behaviour
- to raise consciousness with regards to sexism in our lives and in society
- to discuss issues around gender politics generally
- to plan what actions we can take as pro-feminists
Though we are mainly a consciousness raising group, we also sometimes facilitated workshops and give talks, organized creches at feminist events, and participated in demos. This helped all of us tremendously in acknowledging, realising and working on our sexist behaviours! In practice our group has always been a men-only group, although it has always been open to anyone who felt that sharing their life experience would be beneficial for them and/or other members of the group.
If you've often thought this is an interesting group but never found energy or time to come round, this is the opportunity!!
Our meetings are generally composed of different parts. Usually we start with a round about ourselves, our lives, how we are and past experiences of sexism we were involved in. Then we talk about concrete action plans we have for the future. After a break we try to discuss a theme linked to gender and feminism (such as our fathers/mothers, homophobia, pornography, seduction etc.) always trying to start from our own life experience and then go to the global/more theoretical.
Hope to see you all there!"
Don't hesitate to contact us: londonprofeministmensgroup at googlemail.com
Monday, 13 September 2010
Prevent Millions of Women and Children Dying in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Millions of women and children can be saved from death in pregnancy or childbirth,
if world leaders, who are about to meet in New York, meet their promises and step
up their aid commitments for maternal health. Let's call on them to act now!
Millions of pregnant women and children die every year because of malnutrition orinadequate health services. It's shocking, but if our governments meet aid promises
to women and children at the poverty summit later this month, it is avoidable.
Ten years ago world leaders committed to drastically reduce the disgraceful number
of maternal deaths by 2015, but in fact aid levels remain shamefully low. Now, some
governments could be prepared to boost aid for mothers and babies, but they need
massive public support to get all governments to step up.
In days our leaders meet in New York. Let's build a global outcry against needless
deaths. Sign the petition below to double aid for maternal and child health -- it
will be delivered to key government leaders at the New York meeting.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
In the last 10 years, since the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were set,
significant advances have been made to tackle poverty -- one-third fewer mothers
have died during childbirth due to increased aid and investment in maternal health
care. But millions of pregnant mothers are still dying needlessly and every year 9
million children die before their 5th birthday.
There is already a specific mechanism to deliver aid for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and
Tuberculosis, but no similar system exists to support health for mothers and
children. Experts feel one of the best ways to have an immediate impact is to ensure
that aid is doubled and coordinated to effectively bring health care to the mothers
and children who need it the most.
But with only 5 years left to meet MDG targets, there’s a danger that our leaders
use the recession to shirk responsibilities to help the world’s poorest. It has
always been the world's citizens that have led the fight against poverty and pushed
our leaders to take critical action, and now it is up to us again. Sign the petition
to save mothers and children:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
Too often the poorest and most vulnerable communities are just statistics at
international summits. On the eve of this crucial summit, let's join together and
give the poorest women and children a voice. Sign the petition below:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_children_and_mothers/?vl
With hope for a fairer world,
Alice, Luis, Alex, Pascal, Maria Paz, Ricken, Ben, Iain, Graziela and the whole
Avaaz team
Sources:
Oxfam, "Minimal G8 Maternal Health Initiative sends disturbing message to women and
girls":
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/reactions/minimal-g8-maternal-health-initiative-sends-disturbing-message-women
The Countdown to 2015 Initiative tracks coverage levels for health interventions
proven to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality:
http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way.
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Guide to Feminist Parenting
[Article below written by CRAP! Collective and recently published in Red Pepper magazine (Guerilla Guides, Issue 173, Aug/Sept 2010). For a copy of the magazine with the article in full, head to http://www.redpepper.org.uk/]
Feminist Parenting?
It’s as easy as chaining yourself to a runaway rollercoaster...
1. Integrate:
Feminists should confront all forms of oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. Parents, carers and children are often marginalised and discriminated against, even in radical political organising. Insist that childcare is provided at every single meeting or event. Understand that ‘mothering’, ‘parenting’ and ‘childrearing’ have different connotations: the next generation need people of all genders, races, classes, sexualities, ages and abilities to help them develop healthy attitudes to life. Involve children and treat them as equals worthy of respect.
2. Bin the Box:
Television only makes the gender divide worse. As a compromise, try using the set just to watch videos or DVDs. Until your kids are old enough to sneak Ben10 box-sets in under their jumpers, you can more-or-less censor what gets played, without any annoying adverts. However, if the electronic babysitter is your lifeline to parental sanity then keep it on. TV provides a parent with a wealth of material that highlights the inequalities in society- and therefore gives lots of opportunities to talk constructively about the realities of patriarchy with your child.
3. Be Honest:
You may try to kid yourself that the media and peer pressure are the biggest influences on your child, but actually it’s you! The main parent or carer is a child’s most influential role-model. Are you sexist, racist, homophobic...? What not even a little bit? Children can subconsciously absorb even the most subtle of parental behaviours. It’s ok to make mistakes- no-one is perfect. But it’s important to deconstruct our own words, actions and attitudes, to ensure that we don’t inadvertently pass our own prejudices onto our children. Be honest with yourself and your kids- talk openly about sex, relationships and sexuality. Encourage children to freely express all of their emotions- no matter how painful they are.
4. Express Yourself:
Creatively expressing the often intense feelings that come with parenthood can be a great emotional release- whether through art, writing, music or dance. Bringing up children can seem like a lonely business at times, but there are lots of parenting blogs, networks, groups and resources out there. If it’s more anger-management therapy you need, then try this: find a magazine photo of the latest yummy-mummy-female-celebrity, stick it onto on a dart-board, and get throwing those arrows! You will begin to see the cracks appear in the smooth airbrushed image of maternal perfection...and feel a devilish sense of satisfaction!
5. Research the Issues:
Research the many conflicting feminist and parenting schools of thought. Natural Parenting options may work for some, but others argue that it’s pushing more burdens upon the mother. For example, using washable nappies isn’t only the eco-option; it also increases parental autonomy and challenges the capitalist-consumption machine. But what about the extra housework that washable nappies can bring? Will it really be shared equally amongst family members? Work out what’s best for you and your family- a critical factor of feminist parenting is to stop pretending we are perfect parents!
6. Pick your Battles:
Constantly nagging your kids to over-analyse sexist books or toys, will only push them further into the open arms of Mattel and Co. Sometimes it’s best to accept minor defeat, in exchange for fostering a close mutually-respectful parent-child relationship. Finding other ways to help build a child’s self-esteem or emotional intelligence may be more important in the long-run, than bickering over Barbie.
7. Develop Emergency Tactics:
As a last resort, when all else has failed and you find yourself in the depths of a feminist parenting emergency, non-violent direct action can be deployed. Don’t be afraid to discretely dispose of the Action Man machine gun given by Uncle Bobby last Christmas, or the Bratz bikini-set for your four year old from your so-called best mate. However, donating an offending item to a charity shop is only dumping the burden onto others!
8. Self-Organise:
Set up a childcare or home education collective, together with parents or friends who have similar ideals. Providing your own curriculum can be empowering for both adult and child, and give you much needed support. Or start a feminist children’s book-club and swap revolutionary bedtime stories!
9. Raise Some Hell:
Getting involved in activism is the best thing a feminist parent can do. If we want our children to live in a world free from oppression, then we need to actively work towards creating a world that is freer and fairer. Parents and carers will continue to be marginalised until we get out there, with our kids, to demand and organise for change. Set a good example. Show your children that they are worth fighting for, and instil in them the courage and confidence to stand up for themselves and their future.
Written by CRAP! Collective: Child Rearing Against Patriarchy
Feminists should confront all forms of oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. Parents, carers and children are often marginalised and discriminated against, even in radical political organising. Insist that childcare is provided at every single meeting or event. Understand that ‘mothering’, ‘parenting’ and ‘childrearing’ have different connotations: the next generation need people of all genders, races, classes, sexualities, ages and abilities to help them develop healthy attitudes to life. Involve children and treat them as equals worthy of respect.
2. Bin the Box:
Television only makes the gender divide worse. As a compromise, try using the set just to watch videos or DVDs. Until your kids are old enough to sneak Ben10 box-sets in under their jumpers, you can more-or-less censor what gets played, without any annoying adverts. However, if the electronic babysitter is your lifeline to parental sanity then keep it on. TV provides a parent with a wealth of material that highlights the inequalities in society- and therefore gives lots of opportunities to talk constructively about the realities of patriarchy with your child.
3. Be Honest:
You may try to kid yourself that the media and peer pressure are the biggest influences on your child, but actually it’s you! The main parent or carer is a child’s most influential role-model. Are you sexist, racist, homophobic...? What not even a little bit? Children can subconsciously absorb even the most subtle of parental behaviours. It’s ok to make mistakes- no-one is perfect. But it’s important to deconstruct our own words, actions and attitudes, to ensure that we don’t inadvertently pass our own prejudices onto our children. Be honest with yourself and your kids- talk openly about sex, relationships and sexuality. Encourage children to freely express all of their emotions- no matter how painful they are.
4. Express Yourself:
Creatively expressing the often intense feelings that come with parenthood can be a great emotional release- whether through art, writing, music or dance. Bringing up children can seem like a lonely business at times, but there are lots of parenting blogs, networks, groups and resources out there. If it’s more anger-management therapy you need, then try this: find a magazine photo of the latest yummy-mummy-female-celebrity, stick it onto on a dart-board, and get throwing those arrows! You will begin to see the cracks appear in the smooth airbrushed image of maternal perfection...and feel a devilish sense of satisfaction!
5. Research the Issues:
Research the many conflicting feminist and parenting schools of thought. Natural Parenting options may work for some, but others argue that it’s pushing more burdens upon the mother. For example, using washable nappies isn’t only the eco-option; it also increases parental autonomy and challenges the capitalist-consumption machine. But what about the extra housework that washable nappies can bring? Will it really be shared equally amongst family members? Work out what’s best for you and your family- a critical factor of feminist parenting is to stop pretending we are perfect parents!
6. Pick your Battles:
Constantly nagging your kids to over-analyse sexist books or toys, will only push them further into the open arms of Mattel and Co. Sometimes it’s best to accept minor defeat, in exchange for fostering a close mutually-respectful parent-child relationship. Finding other ways to help build a child’s self-esteem or emotional intelligence may be more important in the long-run, than bickering over Barbie.
7. Develop Emergency Tactics:
As a last resort, when all else has failed and you find yourself in the depths of a feminist parenting emergency, non-violent direct action can be deployed. Don’t be afraid to discretely dispose of the Action Man machine gun given by Uncle Bobby last Christmas, or the Bratz bikini-set for your four year old from your so-called best mate. However, donating an offending item to a charity shop is only dumping the burden onto others!
8. Self-Organise:
Set up a childcare or home education collective, together with parents or friends who have similar ideals. Providing your own curriculum can be empowering for both adult and child, and give you much needed support. Or start a feminist children’s book-club and swap revolutionary bedtime stories!
9. Raise Some Hell:
Getting involved in activism is the best thing a feminist parent can do. If we want our children to live in a world free from oppression, then we need to actively work towards creating a world that is freer and fairer. Parents and carers will continue to be marginalised until we get out there, with our kids, to demand and organise for change. Set a good example. Show your children that they are worth fighting for, and instil in them the courage and confidence to stand up for themselves and their future.
Written by CRAP! Collective: Child Rearing Against Patriarchy
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind - Issue 3
Issue 3 of the fantastic Don't leave your friends behind (to which the CRAP! Collective has contributed) is available to read or print from here. Dont leave your friends behind is produced by north American anarchafeminists China Martens and Vikki Law. Please see their call out below for submissions for the next issue.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind a Handbook for Radical Parenting Allies
Deadline: September 15, 2010!
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind is a book geared toward the non-parent radical community about how to be an ally to the parent(s) in their midst.
This book is going to be a collection of some of the best minds out there. We're looking for activists, allies, and radical parents to submit the most kicking stuff to make this the best book ever for getting down to business: let's make a better world WITHOUT leaving out the mamas (and papas, partners, child-care providers) and children this time!
We want to know how you do support children and their caretakers in your collectives, organizations or communities.
Parents: What concrete things can those around you do to support you and your family? Send us your list of suggestions!
Radical Childcare Collectives: What are your concrete tips on how you organize with your collective? How do you organize childcare?
We are especially interested in experiences that also take into account factors such as race, class, gender, single parenthood, immigration, disability, and/or mental health issues.
Word limit is from one sentence suggestions to 5.000 word essays.
Deadline for Zine #4: Sept. 15, 2010
dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com/
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind a Handbook for Radical Parenting Allies
Deadline: September 15, 2010!
Don't Leave Your Friends Behind is a book geared toward the non-parent radical community about how to be an ally to the parent(s) in their midst.
This book is going to be a collection of some of the best minds out there. We're looking for activists, allies, and radical parents to submit the most kicking stuff to make this the best book ever for getting down to business: let's make a better world WITHOUT leaving out the mamas (and papas, partners, child-care providers) and children this time!
We want to know how you do support children and their caretakers in your collectives, organizations or communities.
Parents: What concrete things can those around you do to support you and your family? Send us your list of suggestions!
Radical Childcare Collectives: What are your concrete tips on how you organize with your collective? How do you organize childcare?
We are especially interested in experiences that also take into account factors such as race, class, gender, single parenthood, immigration, disability, and/or mental health issues.
Word limit is from one sentence suggestions to 5.000 word essays.
Deadline for Zine #4: Sept. 15, 2010
dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com/
Squat - Anarchist Birth Journal
Squat - anarchist birth journal is available on-line to read or print here
They are also looking for submissions for next issue. Submissions can be emailed to submissionstosquat@gmail.com.
Visit their blog at squatbirthjournal.blogspot.com
They are also looking for submissions for next issue. Submissions can be emailed to submissionstosquat@gmail.com.
Visit their blog at squatbirthjournal.blogspot.com
Sunday, 25 July 2010
RAG Feminist Gathering in Ireland August 2010
*** Attention all feminists! ***
* RAG, the Dublin-based anarcha-feminist collective, are organising a
gathering in Ireland on the 27th-29th August 2010 . This will be a chance
for feminists to come together to discuss, learn and share in a radical but
supportive environment. *
* As plans for the weekend are being drawn-up, we want to ask you to scratch
these dates into your diary now. *
* This great event will take place in Dublin’s autonomous social centre,
Seomra Spraoi (seomraspraoi.org). Costs will be kept to a minimum. Children
are very welcome.*
* A full update of what’s planned for the weekend will follow in the coming
week, so keep an eye on our blog (http://ragdublin.blogspot.com/), our
website (http://www.theragdublin.org), or find us on facebook. *
* If you are interested in attending this gathering, or have any questions or
suggestions please email ragdublin at riseup dot net
* Also, if you have a workshop you would like to give, please email us with
the subject WORKSHOP in the email *
Big love and mega solidarity,
RAG Dublin
*****************************************************
please forward
*****************************************************
* RAG, the Dublin-based anarcha-feminist collective, are organising a
gathering in Ireland on the 27th-29th August 2010 . This will be a chance
for feminists to come together to discuss, learn and share in a radical but
supportive environment. *
* As plans for the weekend are being drawn-up, we want to ask you to scratch
these dates into your diary now. *
* This great event will take place in Dublin’s autonomous social centre,
Seomra Spraoi (seomraspraoi.org). Costs will be kept to a minimum. Children
are very welcome.*
* A full update of what’s planned for the weekend will follow in the coming
week, so keep an eye on our blog (http://ragdublin.blogspot.com/), our
website (http://www.theragdublin.org), or find us on facebook. *
* If you are interested in attending this gathering, or have any questions or
suggestions please email ragdublin at riseup dot net
* Also, if you have a workshop you would like to give, please email us with
the subject WORKSHOP in the email *
Big love and mega solidarity,
RAG Dublin
*****************************************************
please forward
*****************************************************
Monday, 12 July 2010
Global Protests Save Iranian Mother from Death by Stoning for Adultery
Yesterday an Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, was saved by global protests
from being stoned to death.
But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right
now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are
buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their
heads.
The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for
international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come
together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning
once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know --
let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men
awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did
not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking
only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.
Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be
used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law
banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.
Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction
and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's
Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.
Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother
and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this
sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this
brutality. Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
In hope and determination,
Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery
Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way -- donate here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at
www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from being stoned to death.
But she may still be hanged -- and, meanwhile, execution by stoning continues. Right
now fifteen more people are on death row awaiting stoning in which victims are
buried up to their necks in the ground and then large rocks are thrown at their
heads.
The partial reprieve of Sakineh, triggered by the call from her children for
international pressure to save her life, has shown that if enough of us come
together and voice our horror, we may be able to save her life, and stop stoning
once and for all. Sign the urgent petition now and send it onto everyone you know --
let's end this cruel slaughter NOW!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
Sakineh was convicted of adultery, like all the other 12 women and one of the men
awaiting stoning. But her children and lawyer say she is innocent and that she did
not get a fair trial -- they state her confession was forced from her and, speaking
only Azerbaijani, she did not understand what was being asked of her in court.
Despite Iran's signing of a UN convention that requires the death penalty only be
used for the "most serious crimes" and despite the Iranian Parliament passing a law
banning stoning last year, stoning for adultery continues.
Sakineh's lawyer says the Iranian government "is afraid of Iranian public reaction
and international attention" to the stoning cases. And after Turkey and Britain's
Foreign Ministers spoke out against Sakineh's sentence, it was suspended.
Sakineh's brave children are leading the international campaign to save their mother
and stop stoning. Massive international condemnation now could finally stop this
sickening punishment. Let's join together today across the world to end this
brutality. Sign the petition to save Sakineh and end stoning here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_stoning/?vl
In hope and determination,
Alice, David, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve', The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/08/iran-death-stoning-adultery
Britain condemns planned Iran stoning as 'medieval', AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hjVdkvkzicGeInqw2R10rCKrqs3A
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money
from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest
contributions go a long way -- donate here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avaaz.org is a 5.5-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that
the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz"
means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of
the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14
languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
To contact Avaaz write to us at
www.avaaz.org/en/contact or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, 24 May 2010
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
Below is an interesting article by our sisters in London anarcha feminist kolektiv, about reclaiming birth and the recent closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice, Peckham, South London.
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
The Albany Midwifery Practice provided a free service – as part of the NHS - for women around Peckham for over twelve years. As an independent group, based in the community and sub-contracted by Kings Healthcare Trust, the Albany midwives provided individual, continuous maternity care for all kinds of women, including those who are often denied proper choices by the Health Service: working-class women, women from ethnic minorities, those with mental and physical disabilities or with medical risks.
The Albany midwives aimed to provide choice, continuity and control for women, with a philosophy that pregnancy and birth are a normal part of women's lives, not a medical problem. They would provide information and let women make their own decisions, about their maternity care and the birth itself. They believed that women deserved continuity, so guaranteed access to the same pair of midwives throughout pregnancy, giving them a chance to develop a mutually-respectful, trusting, relationship with each woman before she gave birth.
This type of care is understandably popular with women, and has been proven to result in lower rates of infant mortality, lower rates of caesarian section (less than half the national average), and also much higher rates of home-birth and breastfeeding. 74% of the women using the Albany decided they didn't need pain relief during labour.
This quality of care is rarely available on the NHS. Although there are some other group practices which operate in a similar way to the Albany midwives, in many areas women have to pay privately if they want this kind of maternity care, which puts it beyond the means of most.
In December 2009, Kings Healthcare Trust abruptly terminated its contract with the Albany midwives, without any consultation ( either with the midwives themselves or those who used their services) or warning (even for those women about to give birth in the next few weeks).
Kings claimed that the issue was one of patient safety, as earlier on in the year a baby had died one week after being delivered by the Albany. Kings commissioned a report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE). They claimed that babies delivered by the Albany Practice at this time had higher rates of “Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy” ( brain damage caused by lack of oxygen), than those delivered by midwives directly employed by the Trust. These figures have been contested since the outset, with various organisations, including the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), criticising the CMACE reports. Despite requests, the full reports have still not been made public. Although Kings terminated the Albany contract on the grounds of patient safety, they then offered the same midwives jobs within the Trust's own midwifery service. All of them declined the offer.
The closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice prompted a range of protests, including a large, very vocal, very colourful march and rally in central London on Sunday 7th March. The 'Reclaiming Birth' march was called by the Albany Mums Group, both to protest the closure and to push for better, more women-centred approaches to childbirth. It was supported by the NCT, the Royal College of Midwives, the Association of Radical Midwives, Independent Midwives UK, the Alliance for Improvement in Maternity Services (AIMS) and many feminist groups.
If Kings succeed in damaging the reputation of the Albany midwives, this could have serious repercussions on a wider scale. Their model of care has long been recognised as a way of improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Most women in the UK don't get offered this level of choice, or continuity. Instead, they are only offered an obstetric-based model of care, institutionalised, with high levels of medical intervention and operative deliveries. The choice to birth at home is dependent on the availability of midwives, and unfortunately there is a shortage of midwives. Those already working in the NHS are under-paid and over-worked, and there are not enough staff to provide the quality of care women deserve, let alone set up loads of small group practices like the Albany.
Centralised, industrial-scale obstetric care may be expedient for bureaucrats, but does not allow true choice, and does not equate with a satisfying, safe and empowering birth experience. As public services suffer more cuts, our already over-stretched and under-resourced maternity services are in crisis, and ultimately this is bad news for us all.
For more information on the Albany Midwifery Practice, the CMACE report,and the 'Reclaiming Birth' march, visit: www.savethealbany.org.uk.
Another article worth reading: “Industrial Birth”, by Shonagh of Dublin's Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group (RAG). www.adbusters.org/magazine/80/industrial_childbirth.html.
Birth – Everyone's Business
Are you alive? Then you were born.
The way in which you were born affected your immediate chances of survival, the kind of nourishment you would come to receive and your potential for intelligence, growth, health, emotional development and social adjustment. It helped set the relationships you would have with your parents, by either encouraging or preventing their ability to positively bond with you. It was monumentally important in your life – but you probably won’t remember it.
Your mother will. Her experience is likely to have had a profound effect on her. Was it good? Did she feel free, empowered and in control amongst people she loved and trusted? If she did, she was fortunate and more likely to be able to love, care for and breastfeed you thus setting you up for a lifetime of good health and well-being outcomes – providing resilience to the physical, emotional and social challenges of life.
Was your father there? Did he welcome you into the world? Did he feel involved and know his child from the outset? Did he accept you into his heart as his own to love and protect regardless of how life and relationships would progress? Were other parents, family members, friends and communities supported and supportive? Were you all as a family welcomed, provided and cared for in the world? Were you as a baby given the chance to thrive? Because it affected you for life.
Perhaps you have or want children of your own? Perhaps it will happen unexpectedly. Or maybe you hope for a different, better society, or a revolution? For the human race to continue in any form, from utopian to post-apocalyptic, babies will need to be born, parents will need to care for them and communities will need to raise them. How it’s done isn’t just important; it's integral, and its effects are infinitely wide ranging. It matters, to you, to me, to everyone.
None of us can afford to forget about childbirth, but that's easily done when we don’t remember it happening to us, and the event itself is hidden away in special secret places, which often provide difficult, negative and traumatic experiences. Lets stop sidelining this as a women’s issue, a health issue or identity politics. It’s huge, it’s vital and we should all be taking an interest and a responsibility for the coming generations.
London Anarcha Feminist Kolektiv
www.lafk.wordpress.com
lafk@riseup.net
Reclaiming Birth, and the Albany Midwives
The Albany Midwifery Practice provided a free service – as part of the NHS - for women around Peckham for over twelve years. As an independent group, based in the community and sub-contracted by Kings Healthcare Trust, the Albany midwives provided individual, continuous maternity care for all kinds of women, including those who are often denied proper choices by the Health Service: working-class women, women from ethnic minorities, those with mental and physical disabilities or with medical risks.
The Albany midwives aimed to provide choice, continuity and control for women, with a philosophy that pregnancy and birth are a normal part of women's lives, not a medical problem. They would provide information and let women make their own decisions, about their maternity care and the birth itself. They believed that women deserved continuity, so guaranteed access to the same pair of midwives throughout pregnancy, giving them a chance to develop a mutually-respectful, trusting, relationship with each woman before she gave birth.
This type of care is understandably popular with women, and has been proven to result in lower rates of infant mortality, lower rates of caesarian section (less than half the national average), and also much higher rates of home-birth and breastfeeding. 74% of the women using the Albany decided they didn't need pain relief during labour.
This quality of care is rarely available on the NHS. Although there are some other group practices which operate in a similar way to the Albany midwives, in many areas women have to pay privately if they want this kind of maternity care, which puts it beyond the means of most.
In December 2009, Kings Healthcare Trust abruptly terminated its contract with the Albany midwives, without any consultation ( either with the midwives themselves or those who used their services) or warning (even for those women about to give birth in the next few weeks).
Kings claimed that the issue was one of patient safety, as earlier on in the year a baby had died one week after being delivered by the Albany. Kings commissioned a report from the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE). They claimed that babies delivered by the Albany Practice at this time had higher rates of “Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy” ( brain damage caused by lack of oxygen), than those delivered by midwives directly employed by the Trust. These figures have been contested since the outset, with various organisations, including the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), criticising the CMACE reports. Despite requests, the full reports have still not been made public. Although Kings terminated the Albany contract on the grounds of patient safety, they then offered the same midwives jobs within the Trust's own midwifery service. All of them declined the offer.
The closure of the Albany Midwifery Practice prompted a range of protests, including a large, very vocal, very colourful march and rally in central London on Sunday 7th March. The 'Reclaiming Birth' march was called by the Albany Mums Group, both to protest the closure and to push for better, more women-centred approaches to childbirth. It was supported by the NCT, the Royal College of Midwives, the Association of Radical Midwives, Independent Midwives UK, the Alliance for Improvement in Maternity Services (AIMS) and many feminist groups.
If Kings succeed in damaging the reputation of the Albany midwives, this could have serious repercussions on a wider scale. Their model of care has long been recognised as a way of improving outcomes for mothers and babies. Most women in the UK don't get offered this level of choice, or continuity. Instead, they are only offered an obstetric-based model of care, institutionalised, with high levels of medical intervention and operative deliveries. The choice to birth at home is dependent on the availability of midwives, and unfortunately there is a shortage of midwives. Those already working in the NHS are under-paid and over-worked, and there are not enough staff to provide the quality of care women deserve, let alone set up loads of small group practices like the Albany.
Centralised, industrial-scale obstetric care may be expedient for bureaucrats, but does not allow true choice, and does not equate with a satisfying, safe and empowering birth experience. As public services suffer more cuts, our already over-stretched and under-resourced maternity services are in crisis, and ultimately this is bad news for us all.
For more information on the Albany Midwifery Practice, the CMACE report,and the 'Reclaiming Birth' march, visit: www.savethealbany.org.uk.
Another article worth reading: “Industrial Birth”, by Shonagh of Dublin's Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group (RAG). www.adbusters.org/magazine/80/industrial_childbirth.html.
Birth – Everyone's Business
Are you alive? Then you were born.
The way in which you were born affected your immediate chances of survival, the kind of nourishment you would come to receive and your potential for intelligence, growth, health, emotional development and social adjustment. It helped set the relationships you would have with your parents, by either encouraging or preventing their ability to positively bond with you. It was monumentally important in your life – but you probably won’t remember it.
Your mother will. Her experience is likely to have had a profound effect on her. Was it good? Did she feel free, empowered and in control amongst people she loved and trusted? If she did, she was fortunate and more likely to be able to love, care for and breastfeed you thus setting you up for a lifetime of good health and well-being outcomes – providing resilience to the physical, emotional and social challenges of life.
Was your father there? Did he welcome you into the world? Did he feel involved and know his child from the outset? Did he accept you into his heart as his own to love and protect regardless of how life and relationships would progress? Were other parents, family members, friends and communities supported and supportive? Were you all as a family welcomed, provided and cared for in the world? Were you as a baby given the chance to thrive? Because it affected you for life.
Perhaps you have or want children of your own? Perhaps it will happen unexpectedly. Or maybe you hope for a different, better society, or a revolution? For the human race to continue in any form, from utopian to post-apocalyptic, babies will need to be born, parents will need to care for them and communities will need to raise them. How it’s done isn’t just important; it's integral, and its effects are infinitely wide ranging. It matters, to you, to me, to everyone.
None of us can afford to forget about childbirth, but that's easily done when we don’t remember it happening to us, and the event itself is hidden away in special secret places, which often provide difficult, negative and traumatic experiences. Lets stop sidelining this as a women’s issue, a health issue or identity politics. It’s huge, it’s vital and we should all be taking an interest and a responsibility for the coming generations.
London Anarcha Feminist Kolektiv
www.lafk.wordpress.com
lafk@riseup.net
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Friends of Hackney Nurseries Petition - please sign
Community nurseries in Hackney are facing serious cuts to funding. These cuts once implemented will see a loss of jobs in nurseries, as well as a serious reduction in nursery provision, and are a disaster for the nursery workers, parents, and children.
***please distribute widely***
Sign the Friends of Hackney Nurseries petition and send the Hackney Learning Trust a loud and clear message!
----
To: Hackney Learning Trust
This April, at least 8 community nurseries in Hackney were informed of immediate cuts ranging from £30,000 – £50,000 for each nursery. These cuts were implemented without consultation or a fair and open process. They mean a serious threat of nursery closures. The Hackney Learning Trust and Hackney Council are denying that there is a programme of cuts to nursery provision.
We, the undersigned, call on the Hackney Learning Trust to
1) immediately reverse the decision to cut funding to nurseries’
commissioning grants
2) have full consultation with community nurseries about funding and answer
Friends of Hackney Nurseries questions on how money is being allocated
*Sign the petition here: www.petitiononline.com/fhn/petition.html*
For more details of this struggle to fight cuts to community nurseries in Hackney, East London and how to get involved in the campaign visit http://friendsofhackneynurseries.wordpress.com
***please distribute widely***
Sign the Friends of Hackney Nurseries petition and send the Hackney Learning Trust a loud and clear message!
----
To: Hackney Learning Trust
This April, at least 8 community nurseries in Hackney were informed of immediate cuts ranging from £30,000 – £50,000 for each nursery. These cuts were implemented without consultation or a fair and open process. They mean a serious threat of nursery closures. The Hackney Learning Trust and Hackney Council are denying that there is a programme of cuts to nursery provision.
We, the undersigned, call on the Hackney Learning Trust to
1) immediately reverse the decision to cut funding to nurseries’
commissioning grants
2) have full consultation with community nurseries about funding and answer
Friends of Hackney Nurseries questions on how money is being allocated
*Sign the petition here: www.petitiononline.com/fhn/petition.html*
For more details of this struggle to fight cuts to community nurseries in Hackney, East London and how to get involved in the campaign visit http://friendsofhackneynurseries.wordpress.com
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Pinkstinks' Victory Over UK Supermarket's Sexist Labelling
PINKSTINKS FORCES SAINSBURY’S SUPERMARKET CLIMBDOWN OVER ‘SEXIST’ LABELLING:
Pinkstinks has forced UK supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to withdraw the ‘sexist’ labelling on some of its children’s clothes. The retailer – which has more than 500 stores nationwide – has agreed to re-label thousands of children’s dressing-up outfits after pressure from Pinkstinks and the group’s 13,000 supporters.
Sainsbury’s has now admitted that its gender-specific product-labelling was ‘not acceptable’. The store was selling princess outfits and a ‘circa 1940s’ nurse outfit labelled GIRLS, while pilots, superheroes, soldiers and most astonishing of all, even doctors white coats were marked BOYS.
Abi Moore, Pinkstinks co-founder said: “We asked what sort of message this was sending to girls about what they are ‘fit’ for and what their aspirations might be. As far as we are aware, there are more women at medical school than men nowadays. On our website – www.pinkstinks.co.uk - one of our most popular role models is Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore, the first female Red Arrows pilot. An amazing achievement and yet Sainsbury’s pilots’ outfits were also labelled ‘boys’. As were the army outfits even though women have been fighting alongside men at the front line for years. We simply drew to Sainsbury’s attention the fact that it would be a hugely confident and independent little girl who would dare risk the ridicule of her friends by asking for a costume in-store clearly ‘meant’ for boys, no matter how much she wanted to dress up like a doctor, while the nurses outfit sends a message to boys that they are not ‘meant’ to be nurses either.”
Sainsbury’s has pledged the outfits with new non-gender specific labels will be in-store from July. Sainsbury’s customer director, Gwyn Burr, told Pinkstinks: “It isn't
acceptable to suggest certain professions are the reserve of any gender. This is an error and one I am seeking to address ASAP. The new labels which will be non gender specific will go on the next allocation of clothing, so will be in store from July.”
Says Abi: “Though this may seem trivial, it is important. This kind of labelling is
part of the drip, drip of messages that girls (and boys) receive on a daily basis about their roles in life and the expectations that they should have. Pinkstinks is committed to tackling any kind of gender stereotyping, in particular that which is aimed at children, which we see as damaging, limiting or just plain old-fashioned. We want to congratulate Sainsbury’s on its swift action to redress this matter and hope other retailers will follow their lead. We will be watching.”
For further information contact Lucy Lawrence, Head of communications, at media@..., or on 020 8318 4582. For out-of-hours enquiries please phone 07887 635698.
MORE INFO ON PINKSTINKS:
Pinkstinks was established in 2008 to challenge the culture of pink which invades every aspect of girls' lives. In 2009 its founders won the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s campaigners award in the Women Creating Change category.
Last December, Pinkstinks ran the campaign Early Learning Centre – Early Learning Emergency, to try and raise parents’, educationalists’ and other concerned parties’ awareness of the widespread gender-stereotyping of the toys and dressing-up outfits being sold in its stores. We felt very strongly that, although the ELC is by no means the only such offender on the high street, its commitment to stretching children’s boundaries was being directly undermined by the products it was marketing towards girls while, at the same time offering boys all manner of exciting action,
adventure, educational and other toys. That campaign received coverage on hundreds of websites, in newspapers, on TV and radio, in 43 countries around the globe and gained us more than 11,000 supporters on Facebook alone.
Pinkstinks aims to counteract the national obsession with celebrities and to champion women who we see as inspirational, important, ground-breaking and motivating. Our website is for parents and non-parents alike and aims to gather support, promote discussion and ultimately to mobilise that support to influence commerce and the media about the importance of promoting positive gender roles to girls.
Also, under development, is our project cooltobe.me, aimed directly at children themselves. Using the best in design, writing, interactivity and content, we will use the power of the web and multi-media to challenge the norm. Unlike many toy manufacturers we will credit our audience with intelligence. We will engage with girls - and boys - to give them something real and cool to aspire to be."
VIVA LA REVOLUCION FEMINISTA!
Pinkstinks has forced UK supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to withdraw the ‘sexist’ labelling on some of its children’s clothes. The retailer – which has more than 500 stores nationwide – has agreed to re-label thousands of children’s dressing-up outfits after pressure from Pinkstinks and the group’s 13,000 supporters.
Sainsbury’s has now admitted that its gender-specific product-labelling was ‘not acceptable’. The store was selling princess outfits and a ‘circa 1940s’ nurse outfit labelled GIRLS, while pilots, superheroes, soldiers and most astonishing of all, even doctors white coats were marked BOYS.
Abi Moore, Pinkstinks co-founder said: “We asked what sort of message this was sending to girls about what they are ‘fit’ for and what their aspirations might be. As far as we are aware, there are more women at medical school than men nowadays. On our website – www.pinkstinks.co.uk - one of our most popular role models is Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore, the first female Red Arrows pilot. An amazing achievement and yet Sainsbury’s pilots’ outfits were also labelled ‘boys’. As were the army outfits even though women have been fighting alongside men at the front line for years. We simply drew to Sainsbury’s attention the fact that it would be a hugely confident and independent little girl who would dare risk the ridicule of her friends by asking for a costume in-store clearly ‘meant’ for boys, no matter how much she wanted to dress up like a doctor, while the nurses outfit sends a message to boys that they are not ‘meant’ to be nurses either.”
Sainsbury’s has pledged the outfits with new non-gender specific labels will be in-store from July. Sainsbury’s customer director, Gwyn Burr, told Pinkstinks: “It isn't
acceptable to suggest certain professions are the reserve of any gender. This is an error and one I am seeking to address ASAP. The new labels which will be non gender specific will go on the next allocation of clothing, so will be in store from July.”
Says Abi: “Though this may seem trivial, it is important. This kind of labelling is
part of the drip, drip of messages that girls (and boys) receive on a daily basis about their roles in life and the expectations that they should have. Pinkstinks is committed to tackling any kind of gender stereotyping, in particular that which is aimed at children, which we see as damaging, limiting or just plain old-fashioned. We want to congratulate Sainsbury’s on its swift action to redress this matter and hope other retailers will follow their lead. We will be watching.”
For further information contact Lucy Lawrence, Head of communications, at media@..., or on 020 8318 4582. For out-of-hours enquiries please phone 07887 635698.
MORE INFO ON PINKSTINKS:
Pinkstinks was established in 2008 to challenge the culture of pink which invades every aspect of girls' lives. In 2009 its founders won the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s campaigners award in the Women Creating Change category.
Last December, Pinkstinks ran the campaign Early Learning Centre – Early Learning Emergency, to try and raise parents’, educationalists’ and other concerned parties’ awareness of the widespread gender-stereotyping of the toys and dressing-up outfits being sold in its stores. We felt very strongly that, although the ELC is by no means the only such offender on the high street, its commitment to stretching children’s boundaries was being directly undermined by the products it was marketing towards girls while, at the same time offering boys all manner of exciting action,
adventure, educational and other toys. That campaign received coverage on hundreds of websites, in newspapers, on TV and radio, in 43 countries around the globe and gained us more than 11,000 supporters on Facebook alone.
Pinkstinks aims to counteract the national obsession with celebrities and to champion women who we see as inspirational, important, ground-breaking and motivating. Our website is for parents and non-parents alike and aims to gather support, promote discussion and ultimately to mobilise that support to influence commerce and the media about the importance of promoting positive gender roles to girls.
Also, under development, is our project cooltobe.me, aimed directly at children themselves. Using the best in design, writing, interactivity and content, we will use the power of the web and multi-media to challenge the norm. Unlike many toy manufacturers we will credit our audience with intelligence. We will engage with girls - and boys - to give them something real and cool to aspire to be."
VIVA LA REVOLUCION FEMINISTA!
Monday, 29 March 2010
Too Much Too Soon: the UK Early Years Foundation Curriculum
Please see the video below, which briefly outlines the legislation controls the government has been placing on our children's early years education (0-5yrs). The OpenEYE campaign (www.savechildhood.org) has raised awareness of this legislation, and demands our children's right to childhood.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
No to Welfare Abolition - the national planning meeting
*No to Welfare Abolition - the national planning meeting*
Manchester University Students Union, *Steve Biko Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR, rooms MR1 and MR2*
Saturday 17th April Arrive 11.30am for 12 noon start. Finish 5.30pm.
Our rights to welfare are under attack from all sides. The Welfare Reform Act passed last year is making it harder for single parents, unemployed workers, people with illness, disabilities or impairments and carers to get by. High profile poster campaigns target 'benefit thieves', while benefit fraud is at a low and bankers escape the recession with billions of taxpayers' money.
17 April is our chance for welfare and disability rights activists, members of unemployed workers' groups and trade unionists to get to together, build links of solidarity and plan our struggles. If you are organising to defend welfare or want to start doing so, please make sure people from your group come along!
Free lunch will be provided.
Let us know you are coming by emailing *hackneyunemployedworkers@gmail.com*.
Contact *rebecca.galbraith@yahoo.co.uk* if you want to use the free creche.
Join the email discussion list here: * http://groups.google.com/group/no-to-welfare-abolition*
Manchester University Students Union, *Steve Biko Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR, rooms MR1 and MR2*
Saturday 17th April Arrive 11.30am for 12 noon start. Finish 5.30pm.
Our rights to welfare are under attack from all sides. The Welfare Reform Act passed last year is making it harder for single parents, unemployed workers, people with illness, disabilities or impairments and carers to get by. High profile poster campaigns target 'benefit thieves', while benefit fraud is at a low and bankers escape the recession with billions of taxpayers' money.
17 April is our chance for welfare and disability rights activists, members of unemployed workers' groups and trade unionists to get to together, build links of solidarity and plan our struggles. If you are organising to defend welfare or want to start doing so, please make sure people from your group come along!
Free lunch will be provided.
Let us know you are coming by emailing *hackneyunemployedworkers@gmail.com*.
Contact *rebecca.galbraith@yahoo.co.uk* if you want to use the free creche.
Join the email discussion list here: * http://groups.google.com/group/no-to-welfare-abolition*
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Class, childcare and the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Below is the text of a leaflet circulated at the WLM@40 conference at Ruskin College, Oxford, UK, (http://www.wlm40conference.org.uk/booking.html).
Class, childcare and the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Anticapitalist feminists have written a letter to the organisers of the wlm@40 conference, raising concerns about the price of the event and the lack of childcare at the conference.
According to the call for papers
“The aim of this conference is to create a space for debate about the issues facing feminists today and celebration of feminist work. WLM@40 will capture the energy, vibrancy and vision of the first [Women's Liberation Movement conference held at Ruskin College in 1970], building on the foundations that it laid. This conference will reflect on the historical significance of the 1970 (and later) conferences, share information and skills for contemporary feminist activism, create and celebrate feminist art and look to the future of feminism(s). Speakers will cut across boundaries of age, class, location and sexuality and voices that were originally absent will now be heard.”
It is hard to imagine how a conference that is so prohibitively expensive will cut across class boundaries.
To be working class often means that we do not have access to the funds to do the things we would like to do and many things are put out of our reach.
As women living under capitalism, all our work is undervalued and underpaid and we receive no income for the work as carers we often do. Many of us in the UK are dependent on paltry state benefits and those of us who are in paid work are facing increasing strain on our already stretched budgets.
The feminisation of poverty is something that we are all aware of, and much grass roots feminist activism targets this fact.
Much of feminist activism is unpaid, we do it for free and in our spare time, because we care about women and the conditions we face. The majority of feminist groups, organisations and campaigns are underfunded, if funded at all.
As feminists we recognise the oppressive and inherently exploitative nature of capitalism, we feel its effects in our everyday lives, so we act in solidarity with those around the world who experience the far worse effects of the capitalist nightmare -- death, poverty, ecological destruction, etc.
The past few years have seen an increase in feminist activism around the UK, much of it anticapitalist, and it is only right that this should be celebrated. The first conference 40 years ago was dynamic and historically significant, and it would be great if this conference could build on this. We need to rebuild the Women’s Liberation Movement in order to effect the societal change we need. However, we cannot build a movement if only those with the privilege of ready cash get to contribute. We should always be about accessibility and inclusiveness, after all we are organising around the very fact that patriarchal society is not inclusive of women, and actively excludes people on the basis of gender, class, race, sexuality, ability, age, etc.
The means must reflect the vision. How we organise must reflect the vision of what we’re fighting for, anything less is counter-revolutionary. That means that events must be accessible, affordable and always inclusive.
In relation to childcare at the wlm@40 conference
The original conference had a free crèche that was organised by men. This conference will have no childcare, but will instead offer parents or carers a list of registered local childminders with whom they can place their child, and presumably pay for this themselves.
One of the first four demands of the Women’s Liberation Movement, which, ironically, were formulated at the first Ruskin conference in 1970, was the demand for free 24 hour childcare, because feminists have always recognised that many women have always been unfairly excluded from much of mainstream life by their childcare and caring responsibilities. The demand for decent, free childcare for all has always been one of the basics of feminist activism. How can we demand this of society in general, if our own events are lacking in decent free childcare?
Women who are parents and carers are often in underpaid work, or are dependent on state benefits; the money we do have has to pay for our families, and not just ourselves.
The price of this conference will rule it out for many working-class and lower paid women, especially parents and carers, and the lack of free childcare is a double insult.
Because of the way this conference has been organised, most of us are not here, although we would very much like to be.
Will we be missed?
Radicalfeminists4wlmat40@hotmail.co.uk
Class, childcare and the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Anticapitalist feminists have written a letter to the organisers of the wlm@40 conference, raising concerns about the price of the event and the lack of childcare at the conference.
According to the call for papers
“The aim of this conference is to create a space for debate about the issues facing feminists today and celebration of feminist work. WLM@40 will capture the energy, vibrancy and vision of the first [Women's Liberation Movement conference held at Ruskin College in 1970], building on the foundations that it laid. This conference will reflect on the historical significance of the 1970 (and later) conferences, share information and skills for contemporary feminist activism, create and celebrate feminist art and look to the future of feminism(s). Speakers will cut across boundaries of age, class, location and sexuality and voices that were originally absent will now be heard.”
It is hard to imagine how a conference that is so prohibitively expensive will cut across class boundaries.
To be working class often means that we do not have access to the funds to do the things we would like to do and many things are put out of our reach.
As women living under capitalism, all our work is undervalued and underpaid and we receive no income for the work as carers we often do. Many of us in the UK are dependent on paltry state benefits and those of us who are in paid work are facing increasing strain on our already stretched budgets.
The feminisation of poverty is something that we are all aware of, and much grass roots feminist activism targets this fact.
Much of feminist activism is unpaid, we do it for free and in our spare time, because we care about women and the conditions we face. The majority of feminist groups, organisations and campaigns are underfunded, if funded at all.
As feminists we recognise the oppressive and inherently exploitative nature of capitalism, we feel its effects in our everyday lives, so we act in solidarity with those around the world who experience the far worse effects of the capitalist nightmare -- death, poverty, ecological destruction, etc.
The past few years have seen an increase in feminist activism around the UK, much of it anticapitalist, and it is only right that this should be celebrated. The first conference 40 years ago was dynamic and historically significant, and it would be great if this conference could build on this. We need to rebuild the Women’s Liberation Movement in order to effect the societal change we need. However, we cannot build a movement if only those with the privilege of ready cash get to contribute. We should always be about accessibility and inclusiveness, after all we are organising around the very fact that patriarchal society is not inclusive of women, and actively excludes people on the basis of gender, class, race, sexuality, ability, age, etc.
The means must reflect the vision. How we organise must reflect the vision of what we’re fighting for, anything less is counter-revolutionary. That means that events must be accessible, affordable and always inclusive.
In relation to childcare at the wlm@40 conference
The original conference had a free crèche that was organised by men. This conference will have no childcare, but will instead offer parents or carers a list of registered local childminders with whom they can place their child, and presumably pay for this themselves.
One of the first four demands of the Women’s Liberation Movement, which, ironically, were formulated at the first Ruskin conference in 1970, was the demand for free 24 hour childcare, because feminists have always recognised that many women have always been unfairly excluded from much of mainstream life by their childcare and caring responsibilities. The demand for decent, free childcare for all has always been one of the basics of feminist activism. How can we demand this of society in general, if our own events are lacking in decent free childcare?
Women who are parents and carers are often in underpaid work, or are dependent on state benefits; the money we do have has to pay for our families, and not just ourselves.
The price of this conference will rule it out for many working-class and lower paid women, especially parents and carers, and the lack of free childcare is a double insult.
Because of the way this conference has been organised, most of us are not here, although we would very much like to be.
Will we be missed?
Radicalfeminists4wlmat40@hotmail.co.uk
Monday, 8 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out: Saturday 13th March, London
An International Womens Day and Mothers Day Event
Saturday 13 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out
For recognition and support for all the work
we contribute to society
Come with your children, relatives and friends.
Bring your banners, placards and demands.
Assemble 2pm Trafalgar Sq
March to Parliament Sq
Westminster, London SW1 ALL WELCOME
mothering is hard work
The survival of the human race depends on the caring work of mothers.
But we get no recognition or support. Only blame when things go wrong.
And we're even expected to do more work to feed the family, often on
the lowest pay.
every mother is a working mother
Events also in: Guyana, Haiti, India, Mexico, Peru, US
MEN: Join the contingent of fathers & other male carers who support
mothers.
mothers, this march is for you who are raising children in cities, towns or villages...
Who are separated from your children or have lost children
Who are surviving war & environmental disaster
Who are seeking asylum
For you who are grandmothers, non-biological mothers, domestic workers & other women doing caring work
For you who have disabilities or have a child with disabilities
Who are fighting for justice for loved ones
Who have been raped
Who are students & mothers
Who are sex workers supporting families
Who have been criminalised by poverty
Who want to have children but havent been able to
For you mothers of every race, age, passport, income, sexuality & occupation
For all of us who are overworked & underpaid.
Our demand is: invest in caring not killing
Called by All African Womens Group Mothers Campaign (MoCa),
Global Womens Strike (GWS), and Single Mothers Self-Defence
Endorsed by: Kay Adshead (playwright/poet), Black Womens Rape
Action Project, English Collective of Prostitutes, Oliver James
(child psychologist/author), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Sheila
Kitzinger (natural childbirth campaigner/author), Payday mens
network, The Peace Strike at Parliament Square, Wages Due Lesbians,
Michelene Wandor (writer/broadcaster), Women with Visible and
Invisible Disabilities, Women Against Rape, Women of Colour in the
GWS
Sign MoCas petition for family reunion:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html (
http://www.petitiononline.com/MumsKids/petition.html )
Youtube Clips on Why a Mothers' March
Selma James ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCk9CmQD2A ), Global
Women's Strike
Isata Denton-Ceesay ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2orh7Gt4E ),
All African Women's Group
For info on disability access and facilities for children, to sponsor or
to make a donation: (020)7482 2496 voice/minicom
www.globalwomenstrike.net ( http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/ )
aawg02@googlemail.com womenstrike8m@server101.com
Saturday 13 March 2010
Mothers March & Speak Out
For recognition and support for all the work
we contribute to society
Come with your children, relatives and friends.
Bring your banners, placards and demands.
Assemble 2pm Trafalgar Sq
March to Parliament Sq
Westminster, London SW1 ALL WELCOME
mothering is hard work
The survival of the human race depends on the caring work of mothers.
But we get no recognition or support. Only blame when things go wrong.
And we're even expected to do more work to feed the family, often on
the lowest pay.
every mother is a working mother
Events also in: Guyana, Haiti, India, Mexico, Peru, US
MEN: Join the contingent of fathers & other male carers who support
mothers.
mothers, this march is for you who are raising children in cities, towns or villages...
Who are separated from your children or have lost children
Who are surviving war & environmental disaster
Who are seeking asylum
For you who are grandmothers, non-biological mothers, domestic workers & other women doing caring work
For you who have disabilities or have a child with disabilities
Who are fighting for justice for loved ones
Who have been raped
Who are students & mothers
Who are sex workers supporting families
Who have been criminalised by poverty
Who want to have children but havent been able to
For you mothers of every race, age, passport, income, sexuality & occupation
For all of us who are overworked & underpaid.
Our demand is: invest in caring not killing
Called by All African Womens Group Mothers Campaign (MoCa),
Global Womens Strike (GWS), and Single Mothers Self-Defence
Endorsed by: Kay Adshead (playwright/poet), Black Womens Rape
Action Project, English Collective of Prostitutes, Oliver James
(child psychologist/author), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Sheila
Kitzinger (natural childbirth campaigner/author), Payday mens
network, The Peace Strike at Parliament Square, Wages Due Lesbians,
Michelene Wandor (writer/broadcaster), Women with Visible and
Invisible Disabilities, Women Against Rape, Women of Colour in the
GWS
Sign MoCas petition for family reunion:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html (
http://www.petitiononline.com/MumsKids/petition.html )
Youtube Clips on Why a Mothers' March
Selma James ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCk9CmQD2A ), Global
Women's Strike
Isata Denton-Ceesay ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2orh7Gt4E ),
All African Women's Group
For info on disability access and facilities for children, to sponsor or
to make a donation: (020)7482 2496 voice/minicom
www.globalwomenstrike.net ( http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/ )
aawg02@googlemail.com womenstrike8m@server101.com
Saturday, 6 March 2010
London Events this weekend: International Womens Day plus more!
Its international womens day on monday and as such there are lots of
feminist events happening in london this weekend.
Million Women Rise - Saturday 6th of march from 12 - march and rally. 3rd
national women only march to celebrate International Women's Day and
demonstrate against violence against women.
From the million women rise website at http://www.millionwomenrise.com.
"Million Women Rise is a coalition of individual women and representatives
from the Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector who have come together to
organise an annual national demonstration against male violence which
coincides with International Women’s Day in March each year.
On the demonstration, we celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage
and achievements and continued struggle against global male violence in
all its forms. Million Women Rise is an expression of women’s continued
resistance and struggle against global male violence. The first
demonstration in 2008 saw 5000 women and children take to the streets of
London. It was the largest, recent demonstration of women in UK history
and the most diverse demonstration many of us had ever attended."
London anarcha feminist kolektiv will be on the march. if you would like
to march with us we will be meeting at the meeting point (park lane,
oppopsite speakers corner) from 12. We will converge near the back, look
for the black and pink banner).
Please note this a women only event, although the rally at trafalgar
square is all-genders.
Sunday 7th March
Reclaiming birth march and rally
This event is happening because AIMS, NCT, RCM, IMUK, Albany Mums and
Midwifery Practice, many parents and midwives are so concerned about the
state of maternity services and the lack of options available to women.
Matters were brought to a head by the sudden closure of the highly
successful and loved Albany Midwifery Practice in south London.
1pm Assemble in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park,
Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ
March to whitehall for rally.
For full details visit http://www.aims.org.uk/reclaimingbirth.htm. this is
an all genders event - please support
LAFK are suuporting this campaign and will be in attendance, please look
for our banner if you'd like to march with us.
London Freeschool, 195 Mare Street - all weekend. for full details visit
http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com/
Friday 5th March
————————————————————————————————————
•19.30 – 21.00 : Safer Space Policy discussion
•21.00 onwards : food/social
————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 6th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.30 : Direct Action/ Blockading
•14.30 – 16.00 : Spanish lesson
•16.00 – 19.00 : A DIY Radio Workshop
Workshop space 2
•12.30 – 14.30 : Sexual Consent
•14.30 – 16.00 : Charm Offensive: a group discussion on charisma and
authority.
•16.00 – 17.30 : What have feminism tendencies brought to autonomous
politics in the seventies? How the perspective of feminism transcends
marxist/anarchist perspectives?
•17.30 – 19.00 : What are Children For?
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 14.30 : Downloading Workshop
•14.30 – 16.00 : Free and Open Source Software
•16.00 – 17.30 : Free Art/Expression workshop
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding (just come round and ask the facilitator to show
you!)Movie space
•… schedule to be made
Welding will happen all day
19.30 : Daily general debrief
————————————————————————————————————
Sunday 7th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.00 : Misogyny, Oppression and Gyoza
•14.00 – 15.30 : French lesson
•15.30 – 17.00 : Experiences and politics of the menstrual cycle (self
identified women only)
•17.00 – 18.30 : Feminist Self Defence (self identified women only) •20.00
– 21.30 : Making Beards & Homemade Stuffers (self identified women only)
Workshop Space 2
•12.30 – 14.00 : Surprisingly empowering “women’s” work
•14.00 – 15.30 : Gender & Mental Health: Dora’s Case
•15.30 – 17.00 : London Profeminist Mens Group presentation
•17.00 – 18.30 : Workshop of Nothing
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 16.30 : Costume / Underwear Making
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding
Movie Space
•12.30 – 16.00 : The Game of War
•16.00 – 17.30 : Nomadic Queer Movie night
19.00 : Daily general debrief
Followed by a social / dressing up party!
——-
Other Workshop happening but yet to be scheduled :
Puppet Making
Bike Repair
For full details of whats happening over the next few days and weeks to
celebrate international womens day visit, http://iwd2010.wordpress.com/.
for more information about international womens day and its history
(herstory) visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
feminist events happening in london this weekend.
Million Women Rise - Saturday 6th of march from 12 - march and rally. 3rd
national women only march to celebrate International Women's Day and
demonstrate against violence against women.
From the million women rise website at http://www.millionwomenrise.com.
"Million Women Rise is a coalition of individual women and representatives
from the Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector who have come together to
organise an annual national demonstration against male violence which
coincides with International Women’s Day in March each year.
On the demonstration, we celebrate and honour women’s activism, courage
and achievements and continued struggle against global male violence in
all its forms. Million Women Rise is an expression of women’s continued
resistance and struggle against global male violence. The first
demonstration in 2008 saw 5000 women and children take to the streets of
London. It was the largest, recent demonstration of women in UK history
and the most diverse demonstration many of us had ever attended."
London anarcha feminist kolektiv will be on the march. if you would like
to march with us we will be meeting at the meeting point (park lane,
oppopsite speakers corner) from 12. We will converge near the back, look
for the black and pink banner).
Please note this a women only event, although the rally at trafalgar
square is all-genders.
Sunday 7th March
Reclaiming birth march and rally
This event is happening because AIMS, NCT, RCM, IMUK, Albany Mums and
Midwifery Practice, many parents and midwives are so concerned about the
state of maternity services and the lack of options available to women.
Matters were brought to a head by the sudden closure of the highly
successful and loved Albany Midwifery Practice in south London.
1pm Assemble in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park,
Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ
March to whitehall for rally.
For full details visit http://www.aims.org.uk/reclaimingbirth.htm. this is
an all genders event - please support
LAFK are suuporting this campaign and will be in attendance, please look
for our banner if you'd like to march with us.
London Freeschool, 195 Mare Street - all weekend. for full details visit
http://londonfreeschool.wordpress.com/
Friday 5th March
————————————————————————————————————
•19.30 – 21.00 : Safer Space Policy discussion
•21.00 onwards : food/social
————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 6th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.30 : Direct Action/ Blockading
•14.30 – 16.00 : Spanish lesson
•16.00 – 19.00 : A DIY Radio Workshop
Workshop space 2
•12.30 – 14.30 : Sexual Consent
•14.30 – 16.00 : Charm Offensive: a group discussion on charisma and
authority.
•16.00 – 17.30 : What have feminism tendencies brought to autonomous
politics in the seventies? How the perspective of feminism transcends
marxist/anarchist perspectives?
•17.30 – 19.00 : What are Children For?
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 14.30 : Downloading Workshop
•14.30 – 16.00 : Free and Open Source Software
•16.00 – 17.30 : Free Art/Expression workshop
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding (just come round and ask the facilitator to show
you!)Movie space
•… schedule to be made
Welding will happen all day
19.30 : Daily general debrief
————————————————————————————————————
Sunday 7th March
————————————————————————————————————
Bar / Chill out space
•12.00 – 12.30 : Discussion/presentation of the Safer Space Policy •All
day Free tutorials for humanities students (turn up and ask for the
facilitators)
Workshop Space 1
•12.30 – 14.00 : Misogyny, Oppression and Gyoza
•14.00 – 15.30 : French lesson
•15.30 – 17.00 : Experiences and politics of the menstrual cycle (self
identified women only)
•17.00 – 18.30 : Feminist Self Defence (self identified women only) •20.00
– 21.30 : Making Beards & Homemade Stuffers (self identified women only)
Workshop Space 2
•12.30 – 14.00 : Surprisingly empowering “women’s” work
•14.00 – 15.30 : Gender & Mental Health: Dora’s Case
•15.30 – 17.00 : London Profeminist Mens Group presentation
•17.00 – 18.30 : Workshop of Nothing
Workshop Space 3
•12.30 – 16.30 : Costume / Underwear Making
Workshop Space 4
•All day: Welding
Movie Space
•12.30 – 16.00 : The Game of War
•16.00 – 17.30 : Nomadic Queer Movie night
19.00 : Daily general debrief
Followed by a social / dressing up party!
——-
Other Workshop happening but yet to be scheduled :
Puppet Making
Bike Repair
For full details of whats happening over the next few days and weeks to
celebrate international womens day visit, http://iwd2010.wordpress.com/.
for more information about international womens day and its history
(herstory) visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Anarcho-feminist Conference in Barcelona, Spain this weekend
Iberia - Anarchist Communist Event
Saturday March 06 2010
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Barcelona: Anarcho-Feminist Conference
This year - 2010 - the CNT celebrates 100 years since it was founded, in
a context very different from today's. For this reason, we want to
analyze and reflect on the path that this class-struggle union has
followed throughout its history and examine its role today. There is no
doubt that the people who have been members of the CNT have mostly been
women and men with a capacity for critical thought, sometimes well ahead
of their time, and there have been times when the CNT has played a vital
role, as in the social revolution of 1936. Today we ask ourselves how it
sees itself as a union that fights against every form of authority, and
especially against something as important as patriarchy which, along
with capitalism, inhibits the freedom of many living beings and is
destroying the planet.
So, this Feminist Conference arise from the need of various female
members of the CNT to visualize the vital role that women play in the
anarchist movement, to reflect on the connection between anarchism and
feminism, to challenge traditional gender roles, female and male, on
which patriarchy are based.
The Conference on Women and Anarchism will be an opportunity to get
closer to the realities of female militancy. We intend to analyze,
discuss and highlight the participation and organization of women who
identify with libertarian principles without giving up their gender
identity. We want to see the problems that affect us as women in the
various areas where we operate: labour, educational, organizational,
health, emotional, etc., and the problems arising from a patriarchal and
capitalist society such as ours that affects us and our comrades, male
and female alike.
To this end, we will try to deal with the subject on two levels: one
level is our own situation as female workers and union activists in a
class-struggle, revolutionary and libertarian union, covering the
historical perspective and the needs that we see today. The second level
is feminist women's participation in the various organizations that seek
to contribute to social change. We are interested in highlighting these
daily struggles, the projects that result from them, the difficulties
that exist and the contradictions that we encounter. We also wish to
work on these aspects by collecting multiple experiences from the past
and others that are in progress today all over the world.
To try to cover these objectives, we have organized five topics:
1. Women, work and the union
2. A historical reference: the Mujeres Libres
3. Anarcho-feminism: organized women
4. Women in the press and propaganda of The Idea
5. Sexual diversity and anarchism.
Everyone is invited to participate in these reflections on our/your part
so that we can try to get closer to achieving our/your utopian society.
Let our thoughts become action.
PROGRAMME:
- Saturday 6 March 11.00 a.m.
Women and Anarcho-syndicalism: with Ana Sigüenza (first Secretary
General of the CNT) and Laura Vicente (Doctor of Contemporary History at
the University of Alicante), author of "Teresa Claramunt. Pionera del
feminismo obrerista anarquista".
Venue: Centre Cívic Drassanes - Sala d'Actes. C/Nou de la Rambla 43. (
L-3: Liceu, Drassanes ó Paralel).
- Sunday 7 March 5.00 p.m.
Workshop - Self-managing our health (women-only event - prior
registration required: libertariascnt@hotmail.com)
Venue: Casa de la Solidaridad. C/Vistalegre, 15. ( L-2: Sant Antoni)
- Wednesday 10 March 7.00 p.m.
Cine forum: "Adrift (by casual women workers)" Authors: precarias a la
deriva.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Friday 12 Marzo 7.00 p.m.
Anarcho-feminist Theory & Practice, with La Katino Anarkista (member of
the Red Anarcofeminista de Mujeres and creator of the publication
"Alejandra") and Vanessa Ortíz, from the Juana Julia Guzmán collective
(Bogota).
Venue: Fundació d'Estudis Llibertaris i Anarcosindicalistes - FELLA.
C/Joaquin Costa 34. ( L-3: Catalunya ó L-1 i L-2 Universitat).
- Saturday 13 March 5.00 p.m.
Anarchist women propagandizing The Idea, with María Ángeles García
Maroto, anarcho-feminist journalist and writer, member of the Alcoi SOV,
and Antonina Rodrigo, writer, author of the book "Amparo Poch y Gascón,
médica y anarquista".
Presentation of feminist publications. RAG (Ireland), Herstory
(Barcelona), Histeria (Barcelona), Mujeres Preokupando 8 (Barcelona) and
others...
Venue: Centre Cívic Pati Llimona. C/Regomir 3. ( L-3: Liceu ó L-4 Jaume I).
- Sunday 14 March 5.00 p.m.
Feminist self-defence workshop. Organized by a Barcelona self-defence
group (women-only event - prior registration required:
libertariascnt@hotmail.com).
Venue: Casa de la Solidaridad. C/Vistalegre, 15. ( L-2: Sant Antoni)
- Friday 19 March 7.00 p.m.
Animal liberation, liberation of the land and liberation of women.
Natalia, Maria, Isabella and Clara.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Saturday 20 March 5.00 p.m.
Mujeres Libres, yesterday and today, with Martha Ackelsberg, professor
of Political Science and Women's & Gender Studies at Smith College,
Northampton, MA (USA) and author of "Free Women of Spain: Anarchism and
the Struggle for the Emancipation of Women", together with comrades from
the Mujeres Libres in Extremadura and Madrid.
Venue: CCCB -- Aula 2. C/ Montalegre, 5 ( L-3: Catalunya ó L-1 i L-2
Universitat).
- Friday 26 March 7.00 a.m.
Gender, race and class. Carla.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Saturday 27 March 11.00 a.m.
Sexual Diversity and anarchism: debate organized by D-género, a
pro-sexual liberation libertarian collective from Madrid, Karolina,
Filipo Brenda and Maricarmen.
Venue: Centre Cívic Barceloneta. C/Conreria 1 -- 9. ( L-4: Barceloneta).
* Workshops are for women only. Prior registration is required - write
to: libertariascnt@hotmail.com . Dates for the workshops are subject to
change, and in this case participants will be advised by email. Further
workshops may be organized if the maximum number of participants is
exceeded.
Organized by: Comisión del CeNTenario (Barcelona)
English translation by FdCA-International Relations Office
Related Link: http://www.cnt.es/centenario
Source http://www.anarkismo.net/article/15927
Saturday March 06 2010
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Barcelona: Anarcho-Feminist Conference
This year - 2010 - the CNT celebrates 100 years since it was founded, in
a context very different from today's. For this reason, we want to
analyze and reflect on the path that this class-struggle union has
followed throughout its history and examine its role today. There is no
doubt that the people who have been members of the CNT have mostly been
women and men with a capacity for critical thought, sometimes well ahead
of their time, and there have been times when the CNT has played a vital
role, as in the social revolution of 1936. Today we ask ourselves how it
sees itself as a union that fights against every form of authority, and
especially against something as important as patriarchy which, along
with capitalism, inhibits the freedom of many living beings and is
destroying the planet.
So, this Feminist Conference arise from the need of various female
members of the CNT to visualize the vital role that women play in the
anarchist movement, to reflect on the connection between anarchism and
feminism, to challenge traditional gender roles, female and male, on
which patriarchy are based.
The Conference on Women and Anarchism will be an opportunity to get
closer to the realities of female militancy. We intend to analyze,
discuss and highlight the participation and organization of women who
identify with libertarian principles without giving up their gender
identity. We want to see the problems that affect us as women in the
various areas where we operate: labour, educational, organizational,
health, emotional, etc., and the problems arising from a patriarchal and
capitalist society such as ours that affects us and our comrades, male
and female alike.
To this end, we will try to deal with the subject on two levels: one
level is our own situation as female workers and union activists in a
class-struggle, revolutionary and libertarian union, covering the
historical perspective and the needs that we see today. The second level
is feminist women's participation in the various organizations that seek
to contribute to social change. We are interested in highlighting these
daily struggles, the projects that result from them, the difficulties
that exist and the contradictions that we encounter. We also wish to
work on these aspects by collecting multiple experiences from the past
and others that are in progress today all over the world.
To try to cover these objectives, we have organized five topics:
1. Women, work and the union
2. A historical reference: the Mujeres Libres
3. Anarcho-feminism: organized women
4. Women in the press and propaganda of The Idea
5. Sexual diversity and anarchism.
Everyone is invited to participate in these reflections on our/your part
so that we can try to get closer to achieving our/your utopian society.
Let our thoughts become action.
PROGRAMME:
- Saturday 6 March 11.00 a.m.
Women and Anarcho-syndicalism: with Ana Sigüenza (first Secretary
General of the CNT) and Laura Vicente (Doctor of Contemporary History at
the University of Alicante), author of "Teresa Claramunt. Pionera del
feminismo obrerista anarquista".
Venue: Centre Cívic Drassanes - Sala d'Actes. C/Nou de la Rambla 43. (
L-3: Liceu, Drassanes ó Paralel).
- Sunday 7 March 5.00 p.m.
Workshop - Self-managing our health (women-only event - prior
registration required: libertariascnt@hotmail.com)
Venue: Casa de la Solidaridad. C/Vistalegre, 15. ( L-2: Sant Antoni)
- Wednesday 10 March 7.00 p.m.
Cine forum: "Adrift (by casual women workers)" Authors: precarias a la
deriva.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Friday 12 Marzo 7.00 p.m.
Anarcho-feminist Theory & Practice, with La Katino Anarkista (member of
the Red Anarcofeminista de Mujeres and creator of the publication
"Alejandra") and Vanessa Ortíz, from the Juana Julia Guzmán collective
(Bogota).
Venue: Fundació d'Estudis Llibertaris i Anarcosindicalistes - FELLA.
C/Joaquin Costa 34. ( L-3: Catalunya ó L-1 i L-2 Universitat).
- Saturday 13 March 5.00 p.m.
Anarchist women propagandizing The Idea, with María Ángeles García
Maroto, anarcho-feminist journalist and writer, member of the Alcoi SOV,
and Antonina Rodrigo, writer, author of the book "Amparo Poch y Gascón,
médica y anarquista".
Presentation of feminist publications. RAG (Ireland), Herstory
(Barcelona), Histeria (Barcelona), Mujeres Preokupando 8 (Barcelona) and
others...
Venue: Centre Cívic Pati Llimona. C/Regomir 3. ( L-3: Liceu ó L-4 Jaume I).
- Sunday 14 March 5.00 p.m.
Feminist self-defence workshop. Organized by a Barcelona self-defence
group (women-only event - prior registration required:
libertariascnt@hotmail.com).
Venue: Casa de la Solidaridad. C/Vistalegre, 15. ( L-2: Sant Antoni)
- Friday 19 March 7.00 p.m.
Animal liberation, liberation of the land and liberation of women.
Natalia, Maria, Isabella and Clara.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Saturday 20 March 5.00 p.m.
Mujeres Libres, yesterday and today, with Martha Ackelsberg, professor
of Political Science and Women's & Gender Studies at Smith College,
Northampton, MA (USA) and author of "Free Women of Spain: Anarchism and
the Struggle for the Emancipation of Women", together with comrades from
the Mujeres Libres in Extremadura and Madrid.
Venue: CCCB -- Aula 2. C/ Montalegre, 5 ( L-3: Catalunya ó L-1 i L-2
Universitat).
- Friday 26 March 7.00 a.m.
Gender, race and class. Carla.
Venue: Espai Obert. C/Violant d'Hongria 71, 1º. ( L-5: Plaça de Sants i
Badal; L-3: Plaça del Centre)
- Saturday 27 March 11.00 a.m.
Sexual Diversity and anarchism: debate organized by D-género, a
pro-sexual liberation libertarian collective from Madrid, Karolina,
Filipo Brenda and Maricarmen.
Venue: Centre Cívic Barceloneta. C/Conreria 1 -- 9. ( L-4: Barceloneta).
* Workshops are for women only. Prior registration is required - write
to: libertariascnt@hotmail.com . Dates for the workshops are subject to
change, and in this case participants will be advised by email. Further
workshops may be organized if the maximum number of participants is
exceeded.
Organized by: Comisión del CeNTenario (Barcelona)
English translation by FdCA-International Relations Office
Related Link: http://www.cnt.es/centenario
Source http://www.anarkismo.net/article/15927
Monday, 15 February 2010
"Spratz - a feminist kidzine" available on-line now
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
This Saturday: Brighton Anarcha-Feminism Day!
This Saturday 30th Jan 2010 sees the new year welcoming...
A DAY OF ANARCHA-FEMINISM
a completely free day and night of super feminism for all ages and genders
@ the cowley club, 12 london road, brighton
this event supports a new brighton womens homeless shelter and the launch
of the new anarcha-feminist group 'Organise!'- come along and get involved
DAY EVENT:
10.30am-6.30pm
including:
workshops n discussions (what is anarchfeminism?, feminist squats,
feminist childrearing, privilige, self-defense, men and anarchafem plus
many many more!)
skillshares n distros (DIY herbalism, zines, stencilling, subvertising,
radical knitting, plus so much more!)
PLUS!
-creche all day with kids workshops on storytelling n zines
-film sessions from 6.30-8.30pm
-yummy vegan lunch, tea n cake
-open to all, if you are new to anarchafeminism or an old hat!
-most workshops are wheelchair accessible and if not they can be adapted,
so please do ask the organising group for any particular needs you may
have: brightonanarchafeminists@lists.aktivix.org
NIGHT EVENT:
Fundraising gig, comedy, djs
7.30pm-2am
ALL FUNDS FROM THE DAY N NIGHT EVENT GO TO LATITUDE SAFE SPACE- A NEW
INITIATIVE FOR A BRIGHTON WOMEN'S HOMELESS SHELTER.
please support Latitude and get involved in the new brighton
anarchafeminist group ' Organise!' by coming to this event,
see you there!
A DAY OF ANARCHA-FEMINISM
a completely free day and night of super feminism for all ages and genders
@ the cowley club, 12 london road, brighton
this event supports a new brighton womens homeless shelter and the launch
of the new anarcha-feminist group 'Organise!'- come along and get involved
DAY EVENT:
10.30am-6.30pm
including:
workshops n discussions (what is anarchfeminism?, feminist squats,
feminist childrearing, privilige, self-defense, men and anarchafem plus
many many more!)
skillshares n distros (DIY herbalism, zines, stencilling, subvertising,
radical knitting, plus so much more!)
PLUS!
-creche all day with kids workshops on storytelling n zines
-film sessions from 6.30-8.30pm
-yummy vegan lunch, tea n cake
-open to all, if you are new to anarchafeminism or an old hat!
-most workshops are wheelchair accessible and if not they can be adapted,
so please do ask the organising group for any particular needs you may
have: brightonanarchafeminists@lists.aktivix.org
NIGHT EVENT:
Fundraising gig, comedy, djs
7.30pm-2am
ALL FUNDS FROM THE DAY N NIGHT EVENT GO TO LATITUDE SAFE SPACE- A NEW
INITIATIVE FOR A BRIGHTON WOMEN'S HOMELESS SHELTER.
please support Latitude and get involved in the new brighton
anarchafeminist group ' Organise!' by coming to this event,
see you there!
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