tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40593364954754616962023-11-16T07:50:41.720-08:00RAG: Revolutionary Anarcha-feminist Grouprag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-43772877819518806332014-04-03T14:21:00.000-07:002014-04-03T14:21:03.885-07:00Parenting and Activism
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Parenting
and Activism</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notes
from a discussion at Lady&Trans*fest, Sunday 30</span><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
March 2014 </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by
Shonagh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
meeting took place upstairs in the WSM room in Seomra Spraoi, which
was once the kindergarten space. Present were a group of parents,
guardians, prospective parents, allies and some children. Shonagh and Marianne
facilitated on behalf of RAG. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
meeting began with a round of names and the question, “what do you
hope to get from this discussion?” Parents were interested in how
to involve themselves and their children, how to maintain their
activism in the face of obstacles, and to build connections. Allies
were interested in exploring how to make spaces and events more
welcoming and inclusive for parents and children, how to support
them, and to hear different approaches and perspectives. A couple of
people had attended thinking the meeting was on something else,
however they stayed, and made valuable contributions!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
rest of the meeting was structured as a facilitated discussion
tackling three questions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1)
What has/could becoming a parent brought/bring to your activism? </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2)
What barriers does/could parenthood present to activism?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3)
What would you like to change or see happen? What would inclusive
spaces look like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
notes take the form of a picture on my phone of some whiteboard
scribblings! In this report I'll do my best to reform a narrative
around these points and try to do the excellent discussion some
justice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
very experience of becoming a parent is a politicising event for
many. As a woman, being thrust into the broken healthcare system to
birth and being exposed to the abuses within it shocks many into
developing their feminist analysis, and practical skills to negotiate
their safety while engaging with this system. Likewise, becoming a
single parent, or being forced to engage with and negotiate the
welfare system, or being exposed to the prejudices in society can be
intensely politicising. Queer people become suddenly far more radical
and visible by virtue of now existing as queer parents. We are now
more subject to societal scrutiny and judgement and the exhausting
process of defence/ justification/ existence. As parents we have to
become involved with societal systems that we may never have had to
think about before and to make choices for ourselves and our
children, including healthcare and schooling, and the avoidance of
the church. We may find ourselves suddenly making links with other
parents in similar circumstances, or creating support networks and
groups – such as queer parents groups, local support networks and
birth activism. For many, parenthood is a focusing event in their
activist life; shifting the focus from the global, the external, to
the personal, the body, and our daily lives, our communities. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However
it can be noted that, especially in our communities, becoming a
parent means becoming invisible. There is the feeling that when
activists become parents, they gradually just conform and disappear,
leaving activism to the young and the childless. Some manage to
engage in campaigns only on “days off” - when the children are
being minded elsewhere – this compartmentalisation of family life,
while sometimes necessary, is exhausting and unsustainable if it is
the expected norm. This separation and disappearance is not the norm
in other countries, and certainly not in communities where anarchism
took hold and became a viable system. All members of the community
have to be valued and involved in order for it to be self sustaining.
Activists need to become aware of their own prejudices regarding
children and by extension their parents, and to take responsibility
to ensure that the spaces they are creating are accessible. More on
this later.</span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barriers
to involvement in activism include times and locations of meetings,
the lack of childcare, or tokenistic childcare. Having a child or a
baby at a meeting can be looked upon as too distracting for people
who are not used to having children around. It is hard to come to
events when you know that you will be the only one with a kid there.
In some circles, mothers might even feel too uncomfortable to
breastfeed. In Ireland, the social aspect of activism means that
sometimes the real politics, planning and link-building happens in
the pub afterwards, thus excluding kids and their parents. It is also
just hard as a parent to get to meetings on time, or to commit to a
group knowing that family concerns will come first. Being a working
parent, or a working single parent compounds these problems. Time
often seems too scarce to be involved in anything. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
was noted that these are self-perpetuating problems; the lack of
children and parents around means that children and parents are
forgotten about and not provided for, then they are not around. In
our absence, there can be a feeling of other people speaking for us,
missing our vital experience and perspectives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are other serious concerns which parents experience with regard to
endangering themselves and their families. Parents may be less likely
to put themselves in situations of physical peril, or to risk arrest
than they were when they were childless. While children may enjoy
some aspects of street protest, poster making and even leafleting,
society can be quick to pass judgement on parents for “imposing
their beliefs”, and we can't always be certain that our children
are safe from police violence. Children are often excluded from
squatted spaces due sometimes to the inadequacy of the spaces, but
also through parents' fears about inviting police and social
services' involvement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As
activists, by our very nature we disagree with the societal
institutions and norms that are in place, we feel driven to change
things, we want to do things differently and to create alternatives,
to challenge injustices. Our children are part of this, they cannot
be excluded. We have to keep them safe, but we can't pretend they
don't exist or shelve them into childcare while we talk about or work
to change the world, because then we are changing nothing. And we
shouldn't have to disappear with them to keep them safe. We wish to
be authentic for our children; to model engaged lives. Society will
always judge us for this, as it judges and attempts to control women
from the moment they become pregnant. Solidarity is needed from the
rest of the activist community. Parents should feel reassured that
their communities will defend their right to be parents, no matter
how engaged as activists they are. There are creative ways that
communities may be called upon to do this – from legal defense
funds to more novel ideas – for example a conceptual religion with
a statute was mentioned as a way to protect families from state
involvement!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By
facilitating children and their parents, we are facilitating the
organic growth of our communities, we are retaining people with years
of valuable expertise, we are nurturing the activists of the future,
we are continuing, rather than always starting over at adolescence,
ending with exclusion. Activists starting out in their teens and
twenties are excited at the discovery of activist spaces, they are
excited at the existence of community outside of the sometimes
dysfunctional family or local communities they have seen before. They
may be excited to have escaped from the sight of parents and families
that they view as conservative forces. They may be uncomfortable
around children and their parents. To which we say, “get over it”.
Just as it is your responsibility to ensure that your events and
venues are accessible to people of all abilities, genders and
backgrounds, it is also your responsibility to ensure they are
accessible to people of all ages and parental status. </span>
</div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What
does this look like in practice? As with everything, it just requires
a little planning and forethought. Social spaces should be generally
safe for children to be present – think about hand rails, drains,
dangerous areas etc. There should be a quiet all-ages area with
interesting games, books (children's literature exists!), building
toys and art equipment. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even
where childcare is provided for meetings, expect and accept that some
children will prefer or need to be with their parents at meetings.
We can still have productive meetings with small disruptions. The
birth activist meetings that I attend always have babies and children
present. They get handed around, fed, picked up where necessary,
saved from hot drinks and sharp corners, cooed at occasionally and
taken out often. And the meetings continue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children
and parents can be invited to participate in social/community spaces
by organising specific events for children – be these family film
screenings, all-ages gigs or whatever child-focused events you come
up with. One attendee at the meeting related his experience where his
art space organised an all-day kids' party once a month. Bringing
their children, parents built friendships and political links
together. On party days some would share the childcare, and the
others were free to go and participate in direct action together!</span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
planning events, thought should be given to the location and the time
of the event, and whether parents will be excluded by virtue of
these. Outdoor events where possible are much more fun for children.
Have one person responsible for coordinating childcare/activities
over a long event, that can be a go-to person, and organise a rota
where necessary. Consider the sleeping arrangements of kids and
parents if there is an event over a few days – e.g. kid houses,
family camping spaces, shared childcare. Some of my most frustrating weekends away as a parent at activist events have involved having to
leave the evening festivities early to sit in a tent or a room with a
sleeping child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any
childcare is better than none at all, but there are other ways that
parents and children can be involved in events. When RAG organised a
weekend feminist gathering in 2008 we had an all-ages timetable of
workshops and activities running alongside the other workshops. This
worked really well and the all-ages activities were well attended and
appreciated by all; with children, physicists and architects all
trying to figure out the finer points of paper bag kite-making
together! </span>
</div>
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<br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
planning workshops, ask yourself whether this can be an all ages (or
nearly all ages) workshop, if so, make it so, and advertise it as
such. If it could be, but you would need a little extra help/
adjustment, then do that. If we care about a topic enough to workshop
ideas for each other, then surely we can teach the children about it
too – if only for 15 minutes of the time. They can also be relied
upon for the most honest workshop critiques! Plan and advertise
children's/all-ages workshops as far in advance as you would for any
other, to allow parents to plan to attend.</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make
an effort to engage with the children who populate your spaces and
meetings, ask their parents what they need, what you can do to help.
Play with the kids, you might like it! I attended a Birth Gathering
at a lovely old farm in England a couple of years ago at which, by
the nature of the event, there were many children. There was one man
who cared for the kids all weekend, with other people helping out.
There was a beautiful relaxed kids space, and the children were just
helped to explore and play. By the end of the weekend they had
created an incredible fortress city of hay bales, with its own agreed
constitution and civilisation, learning from each other and including
everyone from the youngest to the oldest. It was beautiful, as just
as the parents came to the weekend to learn and create, so did the
children. Just, sometimes, we learn and create in different ways. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
were other issues discussed in the meeting that I haven't touched
upon; chats were had and connections were made. There is a feeling
that the parents are hiding, that we need to find each other, to come
back. Then maybe those conversations that we need to have as parents
together can happen too – about the work and the responsibility of
raising children, the struggles we encounter. Parents and kids groups
were proposed, and even a family festival! We ended with vegan
chocolate brownies for all, and happy mothers' day wishes.
Afterwards, we brought a bullet-point list of advice downstairs to be
pinned up on the wall of Seomra Spraoi on what can be done to make
events more kid/parent friendly. We are hoping that this advice, and
some of the thoughts outlined in this meeting report will be taken on
board by political and activist groups and spaces.</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What
can be done to make an event more kid/parent friendly?</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Engage
with the children around you</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plan
all-ages workshops</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider
the time/place your meeting is on</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Outdoor
events</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>is</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
your responsibility to ensure that your event is inclusive for
people of all different abilities/genders/ages/parental status etc.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is
your meeting on a topic kids need to be excluded from? If not, do
you need to make some extra provisions to involve them?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Publicise
kid-friendly/inclusive events in advance so parents can plan</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have
kid-friendly zones/spaces</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask
parents what they need</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ragdublin.blogspot.com</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ladyfestdublin.wordpress.com</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">seomraspraoi.org</span></span>
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RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comDublin, Ireland53.3498053 -6.260309699999993453.0463133 -6.9057566999999933 53.6532973 -5.6148626999999935tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-81161017889371312232014-02-03T07:50:00.003-08:002014-02-03T07:50:52.197-08:00Abortion rights in Spain and Ireland: a continuous struggle<br />
<br />
<i>This article was originally published in RAG<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">#</span>6 by Leticia. </i><br />
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Unlike most of my Irish feminist friends, pro-choice politics were never an important issue I felt women struggled with. don’t get me wrong, I was openly pro choice in the sense I always believed women should not be forced to have an unwanted pregnancy and that they should not have to travel or pay for an abortion, but I always felt it was an issue dealt with in the past, so it didn’t worry me. When I<br />
started to have sex , in the late 90s, I knew abortion was accessible for me in Spain and I never had to worry about facing an unwanted child in my life.<br />
<br />
Since I was a kid I always knew I was an “accident”. My mother was 15 years old when she got pregnant. I always remember her telling people how shocking and terrible it was for her to realise she was pregnant just after the firsttime she ever had sex and how she tried to take aspirins to provoke a miscarriage. Then she would add, “Do not ever have kids, it is stupid. I love you and your sisters so much but if I could go back, I would ́t have any children”. My mum and I always had a very close, loving and affectionate relationship but it never occurred to me to ask why she did not have an abortion in the first place.<br />
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My mother got pregnant in 1981, only 6 years after the death of Franco. Before that, Spain lived under a strict Catholic conservative fascist dictatorship for 40 years. In 1982, the year I was born, the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) came into power and 3 years later abortion was legislated.<br />
<br />
I heard stories of people who had traveled in the 1970s to London to have an abortion. I always assumed those women were very rich and came from an upper class background who could afford a trip to London, so those stories didn’t interest me.<br />
<br />
While I was in Spain I had my first abortion. I usually don’t talk about it because I find it insignificant in my life. I remember it as simple as finding out I was pregnant. Yes,it was dramatic, but I was a Spanish teenager so my life was a drama anyway. My mum booked an appointment, we went to the clinic and were back home after 2 hours. It was easier than having the flu for me. Sometimes I forget I had it. Everyone around me was very supportive. It felt natural in all senses: my family, friends, medical staff, my mum ́s friends. It was a simple procedure that it didn’t affect my life.<br />
<br />
It was not until I moved to Ireland that I learned about pro-choice politics. I learn about the hypocrisy of this country pretending Ireland is a place without need for abortion, when in reality women had to travel abroad, lonely and scared and stay in an unfamiliar place. I learned about the stigma those women had to face and how taboo abortion is in Ireland. I learned about the 8th amendment, Youth<br />
Defence, “the unborn child”, the X case, 12 women traveling every day. Those things made me angry, and I was shocked how I never linked something as basic as women’s bodily autonomy with feminism. I remember talking to Spanish friends about stories related to abortion in Ireland and they were all horrified and shocked about the situation in this country. We were not aware then how quickly things can change and that we can never take things for granted.<br />
<br />
In Summer 2012, Youth Defence created a huge campaign all around the country. A lot of us were very furious and got together to try to organise and do something about it. During this new surge in the pro-choice movement, I became pregnant. I became pregnant and I wanted to have an abortion. I became pregnant and everything around me was related to abortion. It was very hard for me to not tell<br />
everyone about what I was going trough. I think I shared too much with people I didn’t know that well. I was shocked, yes, but I also was surrounded by amazing women who understood perfectly for what I was going trough. Still, it was hard. I was too broke to go to Spain or to the U.K. I was already in too much debt to ask a friend for a loan. I was lucky to be involved in pro-choice activism to know<br />
about Women on Web, so I ordered the abortion pills from the Internet through my friend from Belfast. I had an abortion the day after the March for Choice 2012. I did it at home, scared, in pain and feeling very lost and confused about what was happening. I wouldn’t recommend it to a serious hypochondriac like me.<br />
<br />
Weeks after, I traveled to the London Anarchist Bookfair to work at the Workers Solidarity Movement stall. There were two ladies sitting in the stall next to me. Eventually I started to chat with one of them. Her name was Anne Rossister and she mentioned she was involved with the Irish Abortion Support Network. The first thing I told her was that I recently had an abortion. She took my hand, looked at me and told me: “Why did you not contact me? You could had stayed at my house and we could have gone trough this together. I would have paid for you. We always find a way to raise money”. I started crying and I realized then that I was chatting with an absolute living hero. She gave me her book, Ireland’s Hidden Diaspora, and we spent all day chatting away.<br />
This was the first time I heard about the the Spanish Women’s Abortion Support Group (SWAS), the sister organization of Irish Women’sAbortion Support Group (IWASG). IWASG and SWASG started in the 1980s, where a brave group of women came together in sisterhood to offer any kind of help and finding their own ways. Those women, during more than 20 years, provided accommodation, information, money, and<br />
transport to women arriving in the capital for abortions in a voluntary basis and with no funding.<br />
Blanca Fernandez, who was involved in 1987, defines those networks as the main idea of grassroots politics. They would help with anything: taking women to the clinic, making posters and banners , meetings and conferences and fundraisers . They would offer their own homes and it was a moving sense of solidarity among each other.<br />
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For Spanish women traveling to London was really hard. Unlike the Irish women, most of them did not speak English so they couldn ́t understand the medical staff . The Spanish Abortion Support network helped to translate and explain the procedures in Spanish. But lack of English language was not the only barrier. Isabel Ros mentioned in Anne’s book how she often had to ask women to speak<br />
up on the phone, but they wouldn’t. They were whispering because they were terrified of being overheard.<br />
Spain’s conservative right wing party, Partido Popular, is taking the opportunity of being in power at a time of economic and financial crisis to suppress women’s reproductive rights, putting the clock back nearly 30 years, to when abortion was first decriminalised. It was very restrictive compared to many other European countries at the time, but a major breakthrough for women in Spain.<br />
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Since 1985, (my mum could not choose to have and abortion 4 years before, in 1981) abortion was legal under 3 major conditions: to preserve the physical and mental health of the mother; if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest, or if the foetus was likely to suffer mental or physical abnormalities at birth.<br />
Since 2010, abortion was mainly on demand, safe, and free. However, this government wants to reform the abortion law and is using Ireland as a model to follow their plans. If the government gets its way, Spain will join Ireland to become the only two major European countries that prohibit abortion where the foetus is malformed.<br />
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Our situation in both Spain and Ireland is depressing. The more that abortion is restricted, the more desperate women will seek unsafe, backstreet abortions, putting themselves at great risk, especially in this big economic crisis that affects the most disadvantaged women who cannot afford to travel, or migrants who are not allowed to leave their country of residence. But the work that those amazing<br />
women did is too solid and impossible to break. Those women were sick of being scared. Those women are an inspiration for the new generation of pro-choice activists who are not afraid.<br />
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Both in Ireland and Spain, pro-choice activism is as big as ever . We do not want anybody to have to whisper on the phone to have an abortion in another country. We want to have all the choices available in our countries. I wish we could build this sisterhood between Irish and Spanish women again . Women still need our support, and together we can send a powerful message. I will never forget those<br />
women, the ones who, like my mother, had to face an unwanted pregnancy because they couldn’t afford to travel– the ones who travelled and the ones who helped them.<br />
They were all so brave. Cowards do not make history.<br />
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<i>Since this article, the Spanish Government passed the abortion ban legislation. </i><br />
<i>In opposition to this, many protest again this decision are ongoing in Spain and other European countries.</i><br />
<i>In Ireland, the Abortion Rights Campaign are organizing a protest outside the Spanish Embassy this Saturday 8th February at 2p.m. More details here: </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/203800399815153/?ref=br_tf">https://www.facebook.com/events/203800399815153/?ref=br_tf</a><br />
There is also a banner making event the day before at Jaja Studios in Stoneybatter from 6pm.<br />
More info contact the Abortion Rights Campaigns <a href="http://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/">http://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/</a><br />
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RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-70769466214214679692013-11-09T10:23:00.005-08:002013-11-09T10:23:53.105-08:00Breaking Ground: The Story of the London Irish Women's Centre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you're in the Dublin area tomorrow, 10 November at 1pm, check out this film at the IFI in Temple Bar:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.ifi.ie/film/ireland-on-sunday-breaking-ground/">Breaking Ground: The Story of the London Irish Women's Centre</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">tells the story of the rise and fall of the London Irish Women's Centre from 1983 to 2012. Through vibrant archive material and interviews with 18 women, the film charts the centre’s social and political campaigning on behalf of Irish women, many of whom were in London in search of an alternative life away from the repressive, predominately Catholic culture of Ireland. </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The film will be followed by a Q&A with the London-based director Michelle Deignan.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2t8Ni3Hmn-Q" width="560"></iframe></span>RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-5534996410359473292013-10-30T17:34:00.005-07:002013-10-31T03:19:48.136-07:00The Rag, Issue #6 is finished! And the London Anarchist Bookfair!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear RAG followers,<br />
We are overjoyed to announce that after three long years, the newest edition of The Rag is complete! It was touch and go, and there were a few late nights put in, but everyone rallied together and Rag #6 was born! There are so many great articles in this issue, it would be difficult to only name a few. If you're in London, you can find it for sale in The Feminist Library and Housman's Bookshop. If you're in Ireland, we will be distributing the magazine after our launch, which we are planning in a few weeks time (more on that later!).<br />
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RAG members Leticia and Angela (the person writing this blog entry) headed over to London from Dublin on the "Sail and Rail," a journey enjoyable to some but grueling to others, especially when weighed down with piles of heavy magazines! </div>
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But the trip was worth it on Saturday, when folks began to approach our stall to get their hands on the newest edition of The Rag. It was so wonderful to not have to disappoint people looking for the next issue, and to say, "Here it is! The issue you've been waiting for!" And to show that interest in anarcha-feminism is far from waning, we sold a few hefty stacks of back issues as well. </div>
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AK press kindly asked RAG to participate in their anarcha-feminist panel discussion:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Unreasonable Demands. The description read, "</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Gender h</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">ierarchy is entrenched in our society – and, unfortunately, is frequently reproduced within anarchist movements, even as we oppose other kinds of hierarchies. Meanwhile, as 'mainstream' feminism becomes increasingly accepted and co-opted by liberals and neoliberal bootstrappers alike, anarchist feminists often find ourselves sidelined." Also on the panel was Zoe Stavri, author of the <a href="http://stavvers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Another Angry Woman blog</a>. Though I was there on behalf of RAG, I actually spoke about the <a href="http://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/" target="_blank">Abortion Rights Campaign</a>, which I've been heavily involved in, and the challenges faced in creating the campaign goals and strategy. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I talked about how the Abortion Rights Campaign settled on "Free, Safe, & Legal" as their ultimate goal, although it's considered an "unreasonable demand," even amongst pro-choice advocates. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The packed room listened with great attention, and several people asked questions about the campaign and the history around how Ireland became an "abortion-free" country. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Overall, people were curious about the specific strategies needed to make abortion available in Ireland beyond the very restrictive and punitive new legislation. I explained that abortion cannot be legal without appealing the 8th amendment. And to do that, we need a referendum. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I was very surprised that many people in the audience did not know what the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution was, though, admittedly I shouldn't have been, as many people living in Ireland don't know either. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Anarchism is obviously about smashing the state, so I think some people were frustrated in the fact that we are working within the existing political structures. One woman even suggested we get to the streets with our guns! But that wouldn't change the fact that we still need a referendum. We need to repeal the 8th amendment while we're waiting for the Revolution!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">People also wanted to know about existing networks in Ireland that support women going through crisis pregnancies, both during and after their terminations. I mentioned the UK organisation <a href="https://www.abortionsupport.org.uk/" target="_blank">Abortion Support Network</a> (ASN), which helps find accommodation and funding for women in Ireland traveling to the UK for abortions. However, as for Irish support, I was at a loss. This question would come up again later in another panel discussion, and it begs discussion.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Another question which has haunted me ever since came from a person wanting to know what people in the UK can do to support us in Ireland in our campaign for free, safe, and legal abortion. I responded that they could spread the word and help us educate people in the situation in Ireland, support ASN of course, and I should have probably stressed more that people can also donate to and follow the <a href="http://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie/" target="_blank">Abortion Rights Campaign</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/abortionrightscampaign" target="_blank">facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/freesafelegal" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and by signing up to receive their electronic newsletter. But I return to this question because there must be more that our throngs of supporters all around the world can do. Hopefully the campaign can have a think about it and come up with a more comprehensive list of actions.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The bulk of the discussion, however definitely went to Zoe, who spoke compellingly about how we should "kill all men." I couldn't possibly sum it up, but let's just say it was entertaining, and many of the attendees described it as "refreshing." </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Many thanks go to RAG friend Criostoir, who manned the stall for us when both Leticia and I were participating in the Bookfair. And to Andrew, Aileen, and Farah from the WSM who arranged for us to share their table.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The second panel I took part in was organised by the WSM, was "</span></span>about the hidden, yet central role of
anarchists in the pro-choice campaign" and "the importance of
international solidarity with the abortion rights struggle." To that end, I described the non-hierarchical structure created by the Abortion Rights Campaign and the five working groups, as well as how decisions and strategy are made. Farah spoke about <a href="http://www.wsm.ie/c/intersectionality-reproductive-rights-feminsim-class-war" target="_blank">the article she wrote for the most recent Irish Anarchist Review</a> about intersectionality in the pro-choice movement, which led to an interesting discussion. </div>
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We left the Bookfair empty handed, having unloaded all of our Rag #6 issues that we lugged over! Hooray! Thanks to everyone who chatted with us, bought magazines, asked questions at the panels, and who were generally awesome. And thanks to the organisers, who made sure everything ran smoothly.</div>
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STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE DUBLIN RAG LAUNCH PARTY! It will definitely be a fun time. WOO HOO! PARTY!</div>
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RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-64250045134653945342013-10-29T09:33:00.001-07:002013-10-30T07:11:21.677-07:00Documentary filmmaker seeks Irish women with crisis pregnancies<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span class="">Inbar</span> Livne, student and documentary filmmaker from London, is putting together a documentary based on testimonies from women who have dealt with or are currently dealing with crisis pregnancies. The film will convey their stories from a non-judgmental perspective and will support women, no matter what their decision. She hopes the film will be a resource for other women who have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, or a pregnancy that becomes a crisis for whatever reason. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">She is looking for women who would be interested <span class="">in</span> sharing their story to help raise awareness and break the stigma around this issue. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">If you want to hear more about the project or see stories of other women from Ireland and NI who have already shared their experience, please contact her on </span><a href="mailto:inbar@livne.net" target="_blank"><span class="" style="color: #222222;">inbar</span>@livne.net</a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> <u>Your identity will remain confidential if you wish.</u></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">For more information about the project, click <a apple-style-span="" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1770038834/young-pregnant-and-irish/?ref=kicktraq" style="color: #222222;" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">, <a href="http://young-pregnant-irish.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YoungPregnantIrish?ref=hl" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div>
RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-56751458524060599762013-04-02T04:26:00.000-07:002013-04-02T04:30:26.202-07:00What is Anarcha-Feminism to RAG?<br />
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<b style="line-height: 100%;">RAG is very pleased to be participating in this year's </b><b style="line-height: 100%;"><a href="http://www.wsm.ie/bookfair" target="_blank">Dublin Anarchist Bookfair</a> on Saturday, the 6th of April in Liberty Hall. (Programme details can be found by clicking on the link). We'll be there with back issues of the Rag, our distro of magazines and books from around the world, and other exciting goodies. Please visit our table and say hello! </b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 100%;">Leading up to the bookfair, we thought we would share an essay by RAG that was recently published in the new expanded edition of <a href="http://www.akpress.org/quietrumoursnewedition.html" target="_blank"><i>Quiet Rumours, an Anarcha-Feminist Reader</i> by Dark Star Collective (published by AK Press)</a>. You may have often wondered, "What is Anarcha-Feminism?" and we hope this short essay will give you an idea.</b><br />
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<b>Why Anarcha-feminism?</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">RAG is a group of anarcha-feminist women in Dublin, Ireland. We are
all feminists, united in our recognition that women's subordination
exists. Our struggle needs to be fought alongside the struggle
against other forms of oppression, not treated as an afterthought or
as a distraction. We are all anarchists, united in our belief for the
need to create alternatives to this capitalist, patriarchal society
wherein all are dominated and exploited. RAG meets weekly as a group
to discuss topics which</span><span style="color: #4a86e8; line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 100%;">are important to
us. We have produced five issues of a magazine, <i>The Rag</i>, and we
hold occasional open meetings. The article below was written from
notes on an open discussion we held called “Why Anarcha-feminism?”
It touches briefly upon a lot of topics in a short article, so to
read a more in-depth analysis of the issues raised please refer to
<i>the Rag</i> magazine.</span></div>
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<b>What is Anarchism?</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Sometimes defined as libertarian socialism, <span style="color: purple;">the ultimate aim of
anarchism is total democracy – for each person to have a direct say
in issues that affect their lives, not rely on government to
represent them.</span> This requires the destruction of state, hierarchy and
class society, and the construction of non-hierarchical bottom-up
systems of organisations such as local councils and unions to replace
these. There is the need for strong grassroots action and
organisation in to prepare for radical change. As many people as
possible need to be personally invested in organising to take control
of our own resources and interests and to defend our right to do so.</span></div>
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<b>Class and Feminism</b></div>
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Anarcha-feminists have tried to develop an understanding of class,
race, ability and LGBTQ issues, paying attention to the fact that all
women do not have the same experiences in their oppression as women.
We try to be aware of privilege and to make ourselves aware of and
learn from women’s struggles globally.</div>
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From an anarchist perspective, some anarchists see feminism as a
divisive issue, distracting from the 'real' issue of class struggle.
Thanks to anarcha-feminism, the anarchist approach increasingly
accepts that sexism does exist, and is not just a minor side issue
which will fade away with the end of capitalism. <span style="color: purple;">When anarchists
constantly stress that all experience of patriarchy is linked to
class, they can gloss over another truth: the experience of class is
differentiated by gender.</span></div>
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In traditional anarchist dialogue the site for revolution has been
the workplace; from a feminist perspective the family and the body
are additional sites of conflict. This is our literal “means of
production” which we should be determined to seize.</div>
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<b>Anarcha-feminist Identity</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Anarcha-feminists often find it easier to publicly label themselves
as feminist than as anarchist. This is because many people who have
not considered either concept are more willing to accept the premise
that women and men should have equality than to question the core of
the current economic and political systems. Many people who profess
to believe in equality have not even considered life without
capitalism, or that economic systems affect equality. <span style="color: purple;">Anarchism also
suffers from negative connotations, for example the misassociation
with chaos and violence. Ironically, some anarchists are unwilling to
identify as feminist due to the negative connotations associated with
the feminist label. </span>The capitalist system is very effective in
muddying the meaning of concepts which pose a clear threat to that
system. It is important to us to be clear that we are feminists and
anarchists, and that we see this as a pathway to freedom.</span></div>
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<b>Equality not Sameness</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">We believe that true equality can never be achieved within any
capitalist system. Capitalism will only concede enough to give a
convincing illusion of equality. The ideals that early feminists
courageously fought for have now been entirely diluted and sold back
to us as pink and sterile girl power. We can be whatever we want to
be as long as it’s sexy - politician, athlete, scientist or
‘housewife’. We need to be clear that when feminist gains are
won, it is in the name of true equality for all people, not as a
concession or privilege. Real feminism requires complete social
restructuring which can essentially be equated with true anarchism.</span></div>
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One of the misconceptions of the feminist movement has been that for
women to be equal to men, we have to be the same. Women joined the
rush into the modern workplace to have equal access to exploitation.
Many women find they experience a double shift of work – both
outside and inside the home. Capitalism has made effective use of
patriarchy and in many ways is reliant on it – for example on the
nuclear family as the unit of effective consumption and control. <span style="color: purple;">The
work that women do in producing and caring for children, in keeping
the home and in caring for the sick and the old is not valued under
capitalism.</span> The value system of capitalism is profit-driven; only
that which produces profit is seen as productive.</div>
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<b>Queer Feminism</b></div>
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There are overlaps between feminism and queer theory (queerness might
be roughly defined as gender or sexuality non-conformism).
<span style="color: purple;">Anarcha-feminism recognises the fluidity of gender and its
construction from birth as a way of acting/talking/thinking. </span>While
recognising gender binaries as socially constructed, anarcha-feminism
sees that society divides people into ‘male’ and ‘female’,
oppressing women and those that don’t fit into strict gender roles.
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Although there is some acceptance by wealthy capitalist countries of
difference with regard to gender and sexuality, ultimately it is
acceptable only as a lifestyle choice, not as a revolutionary force,
which it should ultimately be. The destruction of the systems of
capitalism, state and patriarchy would lead to an explosion in
different ways of being – sexualities, gender identities, family,
structures etc.
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<b>Patriarchy and Men</b></div>
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The fight for women’s equality has been framed as a “battle of
the sexes”. However, <span style="color: purple;">feminism has led to a growing consciousness of
male oppression under patriarchy, such as strict adherence to
masculine gender roles, duty to “provide” in the realm of work
and lack of equal rights to active parenthood.</span> Male oppression has
been misconstrued as either a product of the feminist movement, or an
oversight of it. Yet it is often through feminist dialogue that a
space has opened up for discussing these aspects of men’s lives and
experiences. Pro-feminist solidarity between men and women can make
meaningful inroads into these issues.</div>
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<b>Meaningful reform</b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 100%;">Many very real changes have been made in women’s lives due to
feminist efforts. These include suffrage, the right to work outside
the home, equal pay legislation, anti-domestic violence legislation
etc. Unlike anarchism, feminist ideology can and has been accepted
into capitalist reform. Yet it is socialists and anarchists who have
mainly been behind meaningful reform – through the trade union
movements, anti-racism work, community work and women’s liberation
movements. Unfortunately, many of the ultimate aims of those who
struggled to create these reforms have now been lost. Their
achievements have been co-opted into seeming like the achievements of
“democracy”</span><span style="color: red; line-height: 100%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 100%;">when in fact they were
concessions hard won by activists condemned as radicals of their
time.</span></div>
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While continuing to fight for meaningful reform (<span style="background: #ffffff;">for
example,</span> abortion rights and free childcare), we also want to
remain completely clear about what we are fighting for: not just
women’s equality, but absolute equality. <span style="color: purple;">The ultimate endpoint of
feminism is anarchism. </span> </div>
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<b>RAG is always looking for new members, so if you'd like to get involved, please drop us a line either on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ragdublin" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, or by emailing <a href="mailto:RAGDublin@gmail.com">RAGDublin@gmail.com</a>.</b></div>
RAGDublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11265760343005145621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-23400916129566261182012-10-17T16:56:00.003-07:002012-10-17T17:17:32.138-07:00Clinic Violence, A Personal Account<br />
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The following is an article from the Rag issue #4, which was published three years ago in October 2009. It's a personal account of working in an abortion clinic, and its dangers. While we launch campaigns to achieve the right to choose abortion in Ireland, it should always be in the back of our mind that this will never be a cause completely won, because threats (legislative, violent, societal) will always remain.</div>
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<i>It seemed like any other Friday morning at work on 30 December 1994. The cold New England winter was in full effect as I scurried into the warmth of the abortion clinic<span class="s1">, </span>where I worked as a receptionist and telephone counsellor. I greeted Stan<span class="s1">,</span> the armed security guard at the door<span class="s1">,</span> and clocked in. Stan was a somewhat eccentric guy who had been in the US Army for many years. He had the affect of someone who had been in combat and never quite got over it<span class="s1">,</span> but would never admit it. His modus operandi seemed to be “tough guy with a soft side<span class="s1">,</span>” but on duty he was all tough guy. I was on phones that day<span class="s1">,</span> which I was thankful for because it was a busy Friday<span class="s1">,</span> and I didn’t feel like dealing with all the patients in the waiting room downstairs. So I sat down<span class="s1">,</span> coffee in hand<span class="s1">,</span> shut the answering machine off<span class="s1">,</span> and started to answer the ringing phones.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>When I told my parents I would be working at an abortion clinic on Beacon Street in Brookline<span class="s1">,</span> Massachusetts<span class="s1">,</span> my mother said<span class="s1">,</span> “I don’t suppose I can talk you out of that<span class="s1">,</span> can I?” She knew the answer. I had been adamantly pro-choice for years<span class="s1">,</span> and despite the dangers of working in a clinic<span class="s1">,</span> I jumped at the chance. Massachusetts had a “buffer zone” law designed to protect patients and staff that prevented protesters from picketing closer than 18 feet from the building. Sadly<span class="s1">,</span> this was mostly not enforced<span class="s1">,</span> and clinics didn’t have a method of screening who got into the building. Anyone could simply walk right in. </i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Later in the morning, I received a phone call from Stan’s wife<span class="s1">,</span> wanting to know if he was OK. “Um..I think so?” I answered tentatively. Why would he not be? I peeked downstairs and saw him standing<span class="s1">,</span> like always<span class="s1">,</span> at his post. After she called<span class="s1">,</span> a couple of other people called<span class="s1">,</span> friends and family of some of the medical staff<span class="s1">,</span> wanting to know if they were OK too. I told them that everything was just fine here. But by then I was really starting to wonder what was going on.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>That’s when my boyfriend called. “Thank God<span class="s1">,</span>” he said<span class="s1">,</span> when I answered the phone<span class="s1">,</span> “I nearly had a heart attack. Is everything OK?” He had been driving to work<span class="s1">,</span> listening to the radio<span class="s1">,</span> when a breaking news bulletin came on the air to say that two clinics on Beacon Street in Brookline had been attacked by a gunman. Several people<span class="s1">,</span> including each of their receptionists<span class="s1">,</span> had been shot. He heard the report on the radio and thought I might be dead. He nearly crashed the car pulling over to call me from a payphone. I insisted that I was fine<span class="s1">,</span> although inside I had started to panic a little.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>It seemed as though the moment I knew why everyone was calling the clinic<span class="s1">,</span> the phone lines truly started to light up. Bits of information poured in about the clinic shootings. But one thing was on my mind and the minds of everyone I worked with: Lee Ann.</i> </div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Lee Ann Nichols<span class="s1">,</span> our former co-worker<span class="s1">,</span> the woman who trained me to do my job<span class="s1">,</span> and though it sounds trite to say so<span class="s1">,</span> one of the most unique and fantastic people I’d ever met<span class="s1">,</span> had just left us to work at a neighbouring clinic only three months prior. So quiet and sweet<span class="s1">,</span> you would never expect her to be wry and hilarious at the same time. And I remember the day she told me she was 38. I couldn’t stop staring at her. She looked all of 24. We were sorry to see her go because she felt like the light of our office. But frustration at our overbearing boss forced her to find work elsewhere. She had been hired as a receptionist at Preterm<span class="s1">,</span> a clinic only a few blocks away. It had just been attacked. We hoped and prayed that she had had the morning off. I wish I could say that she did. But word quickly spread that Lee Ann had been shot. The gunman had walked into each of the clinics<span class="s1">,</span> verified with each receptionist that he was in the right place<span class="s1">,</span> and then pulled his rifle out of a gym bag and started shooting<span class="s1">,</span> starting with her. People ran for cover and out any door they could. Then he walked out. Neither of the clinics had armed security<span class="s1">,</span> so no one could stop him.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>The two clinics that were hit each sat a few blocks on either side of the clinic where I worked. We wondered why he skipped over us. The only thing we could figure was that our armed guard<span class="s1">,</span> surveillance cameras<span class="s1">,</span> and the awkward layout of our clinic deterred him from hitting us. You had to walk through two heavy glass doors and down the stairs to get to reception. He could have gotten in<span class="s1">,</span> but he never would have gotten out alive. Supposedly<span class="s1">,</span> our security cameras showed him walking around the building several days before the attack. But knowing that he literally hit one clinic<span class="s1">,</span> drove by ours<span class="s1">,</span> and then hit the other was truly sickening.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>We managed to finish out the workday in tears of sadness and fear. It may seem incredible that we saw all of our patients that day<span class="s1">,</span> and the only explanation I can come up with is that this clinic was a for-profit business. Lost patients meant lost revenue. But this for-profit status was also the reason why we had an armed guard<span class="s1">,</span> while the other two clinics<span class="s1">,</span> both non-profits<span class="s1">,</span> did not. My co-workers and I didn’t put up a fuss about continuing to work<span class="s1">,</span> but the perpetrator still had not been caught<span class="s1">,</span> and we felt like sitting ducks<span class="s1">,</span> as if a bomb could go off any second.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>When my shift was done<span class="s1">,</span> I went home and turned on the news. One man<span class="s1">,</span> who had been sitting in one of the waiting rooms talked about what happened. He said that as he sat in the waiting room<span class="s1">,</span> he was thinking to himself about the receptionists’ voice<span class="s1">,</span> and how it was the most soothing<span class="s1">,</span> beautiful voice he’d ever heard. I started to cry because I knew he was speaking of Lee Ann. Her voice was pure music<span class="s1">,</span> and I’d remarked on it myself. But the man on TV continued to say that his reverie was broken by the gunman coming in and shouting at her “This is what you get! You should pray the rosary!” while he shot ten bullets into the woman the stunned witness had only<span class="s1">,</span> seconds before<span class="s1">,</span> been lulled by. “How could anyone shoot this innocent woman?” he asked. Lee Ann and Shannon Lowney<span class="s1">,</span> Planned Parenthood’s receptionist<span class="s1">,</span> were pronounced dead. I turned off the television. </i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>My boyfriend came home early from work with instructions and cash from his boss who commanded him to take me out for dinner. We went to our favourite Thai place. But everyone at all the tables around us were talking loudly about the clinic shootings. I wanted to stand up and scream at everyone that they didn’t know the half of how horrible it was. It wasn’t just a news story! People<span class="s1">,</span> really lovely people with lilting voices and hilarious senses of humour<span class="s1">,</span> who were loved and cared for by friends and family were dead. And here we all were having dinner talking about it like it was a soundbite. But of course I didn’t. Instead we took home what was left of our food.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>The next day<span class="s1">,</span> the front page of The Boston Herald featured a huge photo of Lee Ann being wheeled out to an ambulance<span class="s1">,</span> smeared all over in blood. She had no shirt on<span class="s1">,</span> a cloth haphazardly thrown on top of her<span class="s1">,</span> but you could clearly see the side of her breast. It was a disgusting last image of a friend<span class="s1">,</span> put there to sensationalise and sell papers.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>A candlelight vigil was held in front of the statehouse as a reaction to the shootings. I went with a friend and co-worker. As we held little candles in our cold<span class="s1">,</span> chapped hands<span class="s1">,</span> we felt completely alienated by the chants and speeches given that night. Lee Ann Nichols and Shannon Lowney had become martyrs for the Pro-Choice cause. The occasion was not to remember who these two women were<span class="s1">,</span> but to declare what they would now represent. My companion and I couldn’t see beyond our grief to grapple with the big picture just then.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>On Sunday<span class="s1">,</span> I had to work again --my regular Sunday shift. I usually enjoyed Sundays because I was the only one in the building<span class="s1">,</span> so I had free reign to do whatever I wanted. Sometimes I even brought my guitar. But when I showed up less than 48 hours after the shootings<span class="s1">,</span> I found a cop car stationed out front guarding the building. The city provided this round-the-clock security to all of the clinics in case the suspect or anyone else wanted to have another go. At first<span class="s1">,</span> I thought I’d be brave and go in alone<span class="s1">,</span> disabling the security system in the dark interior of the clinic. But once I was inside<span class="s1">,</span> I went back out again and asked one of the policemen to come in with me and have a look around. I thanked the policeman<span class="s1">,</span> and he went back to drinking coffee in his car while I turned the answering machine off and started my work. It was New Year’s Day.</i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>The news that John Salvi<span class="s1">,</span> the killer<span class="s1">,</span> had been caught in Norfolk<span class="s1">,</span> Virginia<span class="s1">,</span> shooting at a clinic there from outside<span class="s1">,</span> wouldn’t be out until that day’s paper. (Luckily no one was injured.) He pled insanity<span class="s1">,</span> saying he was schizophrenic<span class="s1">,</span> but was convicted of murder on March 19<span class="s1">,</span> 1996. Ironically<span class="s1">,</span> that same day<span class="s1">,</span> the Supreme Court agreed to review the constitutionality of abortion clinic “buffer zones.” Salvi was found dead eight months later in his prison cell. When I saw his photo on the front page of the newspaper with the headline<span class="s1">,</span> I felt numb with hatred and anger: he’d never get to be punished for what he did. And since he died before his appeal could be processed<span class="s1">,</span> a judge overturned his conviction<span class="s1">,</span> essentially exonerating him after death. That’s justice for you<span class="s1">,</span> I guess.</i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>And clinic violence rages on. In May of this year<span class="s1">,</span> Dr. George Tiller<span class="s1">,</span> an abortion provider<span class="s1">,</span> was shot dead in his own church after repeated threats had been made to his life. In today’s world of anti-terrorism campaigns<span class="s1">,</span> I wonder if those committing abortion clinic violence will ever be seen as the true terrorists that they are. Sadly<span class="s1">,</span> I’m not holding my breath<span class="s2">.</span></i></div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">Since Roe vs. Wade made abortions legal in the US in 1973, protests against clinics have become progressively more violent. Arson, gun fire, bombings, and chemical warfare are just some of the more alarming tactics. However, anti-choice protesters also use cameras to intimidate clinic patients, regularly blockade entrances, try to stop patients and their escorts from getting out of their cars and stand outside of clinics with posters featuring mutilated babies. Their terrifying tactics are designed to instill fear in both the providers of abortion and anyone seeking their services.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2">The fight for choice doesn't end with making abortion legal. The battle against anti-choice terrorism is a fight for all time. Since 1993, their violent, murderous tactics have failed to get the media coverage and outrage they deserve. <a href="http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/violence/history_extreme.asp" target="_blank">The list of extremely violent acts, compiled by the National Abortion Federation</a> is truly impressive, and not in a good way. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
In the US, while law-abiding anarchists as well as activists taking part in direct actions to protect animals and the environment are being jailed without due process and convicted as terrorists, abortion clinic violence is not considered a terrorist act under the law, despite the fact that clinic staff are confronted with threats of violence every single day. Letters claiming to contain anthrax. Acid attacks. Arson. Stabbings. Shootings. Bombings. These are real threats, real dangers that people must face when going to work each day, not to mention the patients. </div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
It's pretty grim, to be honest. But that's why we must persevere. It's why it's our job to educate people on why abortion safety is important, why it's essential to de-stigmatise abortion, why it's ok to admit that we're afraid, but why we must soldier on with making our pro-choice voices heard, even after we win the right to choose.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
For an idea of the frustrations, fears, and dangers faced by patients and pro-choice volunteer escorts (and to learn more about escorting) at an abortion clinic in Kentucky, USA, check out the blog <a href="http://everysaturdaymorning.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">"Every Saturday Morning" at http://everysaturdaymorning.wordpress.com</a></div>
rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-25949264261798678222012-09-27T17:05:00.001-07:002012-09-27T17:05:40.581-07:00Weekend of CHOICERAG members are involved in organising two pro-choice events this weekend, come along. They're both going to be class.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">FRIDAY, 7.30pm - Screen for Choice, Filmbase, Dublin</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #330033;">You are cordially invited to </span></span><b><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Screen for Choice</span></span></b><br /><br /><img alt="Screen for Choice" class="pbs fbEventPhoto profile-picture img" itemprop="photo" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash4/373461_197669753700217_783294414_n.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">A programme of selected short films and works on Choice</span><br />supporting March for Choice in Ireland, Dublin 2pm 29.09.12 <br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> including the Irish Premiere of 'X is for Anonymous' </span><br /> followed by a discussion with filmmakers and participants<br />facilitated by Katie Gillum, Disposable Film Festival<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993399;">7.30pm Friday 28th Sept</span><br style="color: #993399;" /><span style="color: #993399;">Decriminalisation of Abortion Global Action Day 2012</span></span></b><br />at Filmbase, Curved Street, Templebar, Dublin 2 <br /><br /><br />All Welcome. Suggested Donation €5/€3 <br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/197669753700217/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/197669753700217/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.filmbase.ie/" target="_blank">www.filmbase.ie</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> </div>
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">SATURDAY, 2pm - March for Choice, meet at the Spire, Dublin</span><br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="268" data-width="188" height="268" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcROL62dI97X4In9jsIQ5LkVwiZsdBH_T6cSVlbwN3fhJUAuWARISA" style="height: 268px; width: 188px;" width="188" />rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-12828707246950626432012-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:002012-01-31T14:54:02.740-08:00Anti-authoritarian assembly - Saturday 18th February 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0IUlWaV3ATvn6_QBrIq7s73Xd8pDvYR45N2XTTXAFmOo-7Fveff7TNeSBefYddgOJnF3WZrEthgHDwhdCmeIo_KDRGCKXLeZA5w2V9XQxuETm3Xmk-1zYZHb1HnSCayvkK9v20fsJtQ/s1600/DublinMarket.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0IUlWaV3ATvn6_QBrIq7s73Xd8pDvYR45N2XTTXAFmOo-7Fveff7TNeSBefYddgOJnF3WZrEthgHDwhdCmeIo_KDRGCKXLeZA5w2V9XQxuETm3Xmk-1zYZHb1HnSCayvkK9v20fsJtQ/s320/DublinMarket.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,<br />
<br />
There's plenty going on in Dublin right now and never so many reasons to need to organise. RAG are calling an Anti-Authoritarian Assembly in Dublin 2.30pm, Saturday 18th February in Seomra Spraoi.</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
We want to invite any Dublin-based anti-authoritarian groups or individuals together for a couple of hours - a chance to chat, to network, to help others, to get advice and to find points of common struggle etc. The proposed format is to give each group five minutes to tell everyone what they are up to and follow that by some facilitated discussion. We aim for a respectful atmosphere and a productive afternoon.</span><br />
<br />
Hope lots of ye can make it along. Confirming your attendance in advance would be great to allow us to get a gauge of interest. Please feel free to forward to others who may be interested.<br />
<br />
Similar assemblies were held in Dublin before round 2005 - 2007. At these, the group facilitating the event rotated between each one. We are just calling one assembly for now, to see how it goes.<br />
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*Facebook event*: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/117625871693251/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.facebook.com/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>events/117625871693251/</a><br />
*Seomra Spraoi location:* <a href="http://seomraspraoi.org/copy_of_contact-us" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://seomraspraoi.org/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>copy_of_contact-us</a><br />
*RAG:* <a href="http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/</a> or <a href="http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/</a></span></span></span></h6>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-12669475572425185942011-11-28T15:08:00.000-08:002011-11-28T15:08:08.925-08:00RAG open meeting - 5th December 2011 - discussion on sexism in the workplace<div class="article-subtitle" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>RAG open meeting - discussion on sexism in the workplace</b></span></div><div class="article-subtitle" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="article-subtitle" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">RAG open meeting - Monday 5th December 2011 - all welcome</div><div class="article"><br />
</div><div class="article">There will be a RAG open meeting on Monday, 7.30pm, 5th December. This facilitated discussion will look at the issue of sexism in the workplace. This event will take place in Sin É, on Ormond Quay, in the basement room. <br />
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<br />
RAG, Revolutionary Anarcha-feminist Group, are currently working on The Rag no.6 which will be out in March 2012. If you'd like to learn more about RAG, find out who we are and what we do come along. We are also looking for new members (women and women-identified). If you have any questions or comments you can get in touch ragdublin at gmail dot com. The discussion on Monday will be open to everyone - all genders! <br />
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The RAG is a magazine produced by a diverse group of anarcha-feminist women in Dublin. We are all feminists, united in our recognition that women's subordination exists. We are all anarchists, united in our belief for the need to create alternatives to this capitalistic, patriarchal society wherein all are dominated and exploited. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/" title="http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/">http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/" title="http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/">http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/</a> </div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-69777327032321029812011-07-11T01:58:00.000-07:002011-07-11T16:20:01.147-07:00Rag TumblrRag have a new Tumblr blog- come and check us out! - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #494949; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #494949; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/" style="color: #0702c6; text-decoration: none;" title="http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/">http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/</a></span>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-70579440996023732272011-07-11T01:56:00.000-07:002011-07-11T16:35:31.409-07:00Kate Swift RIPRAG were sorry to hear of the recent death of Kate Swift, American feminist and activist. We were fortunate to interview this impressive woman in The Rag #3. We hope to post up the content of that interview very soon. Until then here is a link to two related articles:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://womensmediacenter.com/blog/2011/05/exclusive-kate-swift-feminist-wordsmith-1923-to-2011/">Kate Swift - Tribute from The Womens Media Center</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/education/10swift.html">Kate Swift - New York Times article</a>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-21458278057636636872011-02-21T03:49:00.000-08:002011-02-21T08:08:42.319-08:00Rossport anarcha feminist skillshare weekendSix RAG members attended the anarcha feminist skillshare weekend in Rossport, Co. Mayo, at the Shell to Sea camp this weekend. It was a great weekend full of a fun mix of practical and useful workshops including: rocket stove making, welding, consent, a trans workshop and abusive relationships workshop, to name but a few. One of our members gave a really relaxing workshop on massage- which included massages! The workshops generated insightful and interesting conversations. We even got to get our distro out!<br /><br />RAG also held a workshop: "Why anarcho feminism?"<br /><br />Here are some notes taken from the workshop:<br /><br />We started with a time line of the last couple of hundred years, as a group we tried to fill in, chronologically, the gains women have made historically, including stuff like women's freedom to cycle right up to the morning after pill being made available over the counter in Ireland (for a hefty price!). The most interesting outcome was learning how little we all, including the RAG, knew about our history!! Dates are clearly not our strong point :)<br /><br />We talked briefly about how there is no one type of feminism or feminist and also how you don't have to identify as a woman to be a feminist.<br /><br />We divided into four smaller groups, with each group taking one of these four topics for discussion: The body, family, work and society.<br /><br />Each group discussed what we need to achieve in each of these areas and fed back to the wider group.<br />Some of the topics discussed were: The failings of the medical system from a woman's perspective and an ungendered perspective, pregnancy treated as a health issue, the classification of 'work', the gendering of work roles in anarchist communities, nuclear families, consent, home birth as a legal issue, bodily ownership, equality not sameness... and the list goes on!<br /><br />The workshop was wrapped up by highlighting that these are all feminist issues but also intrinsically linked to anarchist politics. As RAG, we believe that true equality can never be achieved through the capitalist system which can only survive through oppression and exploitation. The workshop proved as a reminder of all the failings of this system from a feminist's point of view and increased the feeling of urgency to remove it-<br />smash the state! :)rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-49237876245006984802011-01-29T05:40:00.000-08:002011-01-29T05:54:40.849-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4p7of9JY0TJtx1r1uGn6n6TENFNK7WDSWyAVwih2wrXBHZwJH3fZgo5Loyfj3p4H-DRH_gYQRdfrG4NkiEso81KZ4StYBKo4aZ4RNN0ktmN_L8R6VIGzWrWBNmEtQ0BzZDSYvVPByeU/s1600/Rag1FrontBackSpread.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4p7of9JY0TJtx1r1uGn6n6TENFNK7WDSWyAVwih2wrXBHZwJH3fZgo5Loyfj3p4H-DRH_gYQRdfrG4NkiEso81KZ4StYBKo4aZ4RNN0ktmN_L8R6VIGzWrWBNmEtQ0BzZDSYvVPByeU/s400/Rag1FrontBackSpread.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567605308860336482" /></a><div>While you can't turn back the hands of time, you can now take a step back in history and read the very first issue of The Rag! Yes, you can see how it all began with our premier issue, Rag #1.</div><div>Free! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.4shared.com/document/YueP5dc3/RAGISSUEONE.html">Click here to download The Rag, Issue One</a></div><div><br /></div><div>RAG has been meaning to put this issue up on our blog for many months, so we are very pleased to be able to share this out-of-print magazine. And let us know what you think!</div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-72109378262378563602010-12-30T04:55:00.000-08:002010-12-30T06:14:50.506-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx8am7lHAsUyTZn1t6yGhzf4OpylHsoGYyWQQMrVIYikGPkZO83iviUfu28R_xyGro-cGNEqAGB-bDVWLsi1Bu1ffKWOr-fNuTe-fjDSk_omKh9V6V9STkXUKtR1jty0hSz69X9DIyLc/s1600/157435_1572295878_3799165_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx8am7lHAsUyTZn1t6yGhzf4OpylHsoGYyWQQMrVIYikGPkZO83iviUfu28R_xyGro-cGNEqAGB-bDVWLsi1Bu1ffKWOr-fNuTe-fjDSk_omKh9V6V9STkXUKtR1jty0hSz69X9DIyLc/s400/157435_1572295878_3799165_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556463022419112818" /></a><div><br /></div>Hey RAG fans and peops, <div><br /></div><div>In established RAG tradition, things are slow in the aftermath of producing and launching RAG issue 5. Although we are super excited about our new magazine and all it contains, I think the RAG Mammies needed a long rest. </div><div><br /></div><div>But don't despair! We have been receiving anxious emails from those of you seeking to acquire your own copy of Rag 5 and we are doing our very best to be efficient on the distribution end of things. </div><div><br /></div><div>So hold tight! We have high hopes that this issue will travel far and wide and quick, to lots of interesting and cool bookshops and distros so that you can have your fill of Dublin based anarcho-feminist voices, writings, art and general brilliant carry-on.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, you can definitely order a copy from the RAG etsy account: </div><div>http://www.etsy.com/shop/RAGDublin</div><div><br /></div><div>You can also pick it up from the following bookshops:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Dublin, Ireland: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Bookworms on Abbey Street</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Winding Stair at the Ha'penny Bridge</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Connolly Books on East Essex Street</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Books Upstairs on College Green</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Greater Rep. Ireland: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Cork: Solidarity Books, 43 Douglas Street, (opposite Fionbarras pub)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">UK:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Cowley Club, Brighton</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk/</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">STIMULANTS independent bookshop, Norfolk</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://www.radicalbooks.co.uk/product/rag-no-5</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">If you work in a bookshop, run a distro or want to make contact to order a RAG or just say hello, write to us ragdublin@riseup.net</span></div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-14237028223552491542010-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:002010-11-16T03:17:30.490-08:00RAG present the Queer Anarchafeminist Cabaret!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiEV4FhdfIjjiYq_8HRJ1PUHiXa3NWllSm2Ddf8WWA0gQWeZHt0DIlbVvPV65CTQ9GJWzddtfhQYdxggaSltzl-r48e9Ts6kqHx0gAB9YcGxO8xJ9w8EkB7V_3IBqZhyCgWwT9_L5koU/s1600/RAG5FrontCoverhires.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiEV4FhdfIjjiYq_8HRJ1PUHiXa3NWllSm2Ddf8WWA0gQWeZHt0DIlbVvPV65CTQ9GJWzddtfhQYdxggaSltzl-r48e9Ts6kqHx0gAB9YcGxO8xJ9w8EkB7V_3IBqZhyCgWwT9_L5koU/s400/RAG5FrontCoverhires.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540105129242380386" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Rag celebrates the launch of our 5th annual magazine with a Queer Anarchafeminist Cabaret. Food, feminists reading magazines, dancing, music fun fun fun fun.<br /><br />20th NOVEMBER<br />Seomra Sproai<br />6pm for food<br /></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">9pm for performances with popcorn and cake<br />Kids welcome<br />Fancy dress encouraged!<br />Dancing til late<br />8euro donation including a copy of the magazine<br />B.Y.O.B<br /><br />Confirmed appearances from:<br /><br />Mistress of ceremonies: JELL O'FISH! (Rag member)<br />Deirdre and Jonah (performance/ song singing)<br />Oscillate Wildely (queer boylesque)<br />Apollonia Tribal Bellydance<br />Coin Operated Girls (the wonderful D4 Von Teese and Lisa Connell, queer burlesquer)<br />The Lovecats' Azaria Starfire (Burlesque/ Comedy)<br />Leanne Harte (Gonna play us a few songs)<br />Blackbird (Rag's own burlesquer)<br />The Beast Woman (Emma) and the Crash Test Cabaret troupe (comedy and burlesque)<br />Julian Mandrews (The Gay (And rather dapper!) Drag King)<br />Jennifer Evans (Amazing, lady guitarist and singer!)<br />Maggie Hildrick (Another awesome guitar totting singer)<br /><br />GONNA BE THE BEST RAG LAUNCH YET!<br />Food, drink, performances, laughing, dancing, music, magazines and anarchy!</span></span></span></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis-vFrYeoA_vG-gGfXd46d8aVNz_oQqJs4CRkK9_3KqC2vMypuYu6KLYwncjoXu4CynvgFSoQp1HUgrYvkVrl7ZxOneyqyWKazG7zol_woSiBAZHIXjfTt3rj3cI5JxA9eKf4Dm4LLes/s1600/RagPosterQueerCabaretdetails.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis-vFrYeoA_vG-gGfXd46d8aVNz_oQqJs4CRkK9_3KqC2vMypuYu6KLYwncjoXu4CynvgFSoQp1HUgrYvkVrl7ZxOneyqyWKazG7zol_woSiBAZHIXjfTt3rj3cI5JxA9eKf4Dm4LLes/s400/RagPosterQueerCabaretdetails.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528689207251975906" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfxzkX-mBofjlLJqgW1CoASSZeg9MeNkrQY5OgoytMHxjIzJ61zemrfjiCPrUeMJOYLKJn4w7N4zeuxq-u-Ti93SQLcX_pL0WMF4J4eDpa2XF6QNy5klwkZLubbyfkckz36QcEdAHUUc/s1600/RagPosterQueerCabaret.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Illustration taken from the latest Rag, number 5, Image by Emma Wilson, poster put together with Emily's new found inDesign skills...</span></div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-7244553276151098872010-09-19T11:03:00.000-07:002010-09-19T11:06:47.012-07:00September 2010 - Feminist Open Forum discussion<p style="font-family: arial;">As usual, September is a very busy month for us, we are finishing off articles and thinking about getting The Rag no.5 to the printers!<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;">We've been invited to this event and hope to attend.<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;">FEMINIST OPEN FORUM:<br /></p><h2 style="font-family: arial;" class="with-tabs">Feminist Futures Thurs 23rd Sep 6pm</h2> <p style="font-family: arial;">FEMINIST FUTURES</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> Roundtable Conversation on Alternative Futures </p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> In these tough times, how and what are feminists thinking about the future?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> What do feminists think the future could and should look like?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> Do we have challenging alternative views of the future?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> What needs to change and how can we do it?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> How can we strengthen our creative, political and practical skills?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> How can we build unity and work in solidarity?</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> These are just some of the questions we’ll be talking about on the evening!</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> Please come along and join in the:<br /></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> FEMINIST FUTURES CONVERSATION</p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> Thursday 23rd September at 6pm </p> <p style="font-family: arial;"> Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin</p> <p><span style="font-family: arial;"> We're thinking ahead to the big CLAIMING OUR FUTURE assembly happening in the RDS, Dublin on Saturday 30th October, and are very keen to ensure strong feminist participation in it. So we thought one of the ways we could prepare for it would be to have a stimulating, provocative, exciting and altogether timely public conversation about how feminists are diversely thinking about (and working for) the future. More info about the assembly on Facebook and on </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.claimingourfuture.ie/" target="_blank">www.claimingourfuture.ie</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /></p>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-52047411634011671042010-08-19T02:19:00.000-07:002010-08-19T02:52:04.110-07:00Seminar: New Media and Human Rights<div>The website humanrights.ie are hosting a seminar tomorrow on New Media and the protection of Human Rights. Emily of Rag will be contributing to a panel on the subject, considering the following questions:<br /><br /><div>1. Do the media have a positive or negative impact on the protection of human rights?</div> <p>2. What role do you envisage for blogging and media/social media in:</p> <p>a. Informing the public on issues of human rights? </p> <div>b. Bringing together like-minded individuals and groups to campaign for rights protection?<br /><br /></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Panel III will be held from 3.40pm - 4.40 pm at the NUI in Merrion Square. </span><br /><br />There will be an opportunity for open discussion in the last 20 minutes of this session so please come and contribute or listen. It will also be filmed and streamed live online.<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div>A final copy of the agenda for the seminar is here:</div> <div><a href="http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-<wbr>content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-<wbr>PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-<wbr>Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf</a></div> <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.humanrights.ie/" target="_blank">www.humanrights.ie</a></div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-16399959072580841572010-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:002010-08-17T09:41:06.940-07:00Calling all women Illustrators!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMf3yQUbJ47ovDkJ4lBDIhZeeaTs_ArPvq55HYe5NiIkOcAYEaDHdkP0Pg_4-vfXoKiwStNEXLWfQRCj-3zKisHPCtixqQ2PuFEh5sPmIEN5OfOCJBQfNcQr3mBneOUcmM_84SBSXuAE/s1600/Page_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMf3yQUbJ47ovDkJ4lBDIhZeeaTs_ArPvq55HYe5NiIkOcAYEaDHdkP0Pg_4-vfXoKiwStNEXLWfQRCj-3zKisHPCtixqQ2PuFEh5sPmIEN5OfOCJBQfNcQr3mBneOUcmM_84SBSXuAE/s400/Page_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506416147050703650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIjpk67LbHnbmQYteZK5y8uaHBgjDhlTjUj6MkjrnYFaqK8ALuolRaXrZ-p3PcluVsmgtD-umgXtd0vcsV5FvGGgo7Bik7BUrc9tjbUR78ce1Y0zYz3xpAa1nk7TF02AtmrOH0PYwxl0/s1600/Page_1.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >We are in the throes of issue 5 and in need of your talented selves! Some of the topics covered in this years issue are:</span></span></a><br /><br />Widows curses and old wives tales.<br />The Witch Hunts in Ireland<br />Immigration.<br />Reading Fiction.<br />Death and Bereavement.<br />Water and clothes/ the fashion industry.<br />Pregnancy/ Midwifery.<br /> New media - the pros and cons.<br />Online sexism and the women taking it on in humorous and creative ways.<br />Interview with Lashings of Ginger Beer (queer feminist burlesque troupe <a href="http://www.lashings.org/" target="_blank">www.lashings.org</a> for some nice pictures!)<br />Gender Politics of the Black Panthers.<br />An Anarchafeminist Eyeballing the Recession.<br />Sex Work in New Zealand.<br />Protesting Creatively (Laughter/ Humour as Activism)<br />Women and Mental Health Services<br /><br />Looking forward to hearing from you!<br />ragdublin@riseup.net<br /></div>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-41089350884548431552010-06-28T14:51:00.000-07:002010-06-28T15:22:44.598-07:00Laura Sheeran and Exploding birds - Rag Benefit Gig!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVQ7Hx4wKAWWfU2AajIxamUytprGr-o2gdZSFLGMXn5gCDeiATvnvJcf_nBbtOqba05iTKhaszOGWmmA_PeTLCzoXrwDF141WOdzsmfQIRur9tX3lAnOaWrYY9hhz6Q7LMfttq2O1a5g/s1600/rag+3+july.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVQ7Hx4wKAWWfU2AajIxamUytprGr-o2gdZSFLGMXn5gCDeiATvnvJcf_nBbtOqba05iTKhaszOGWmmA_PeTLCzoXrwDF141WOdzsmfQIRur9tX3lAnOaWrYY9hhz6Q7LMfttq2O1a5g/s400/rag+3+july.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487946303533121906" border="0" /></a><br />Rag Presents:<br /><br />A night of great music and fun featuring -<br /><br />Laura Sheeran - <a href="http://www.myspace.com/laurasheeranmusic" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.myspace.com/laurasheeranmusic</a><br /><br />Laura Sheerans music has been described as “like an episode of Twin Peaks in female form”.<br />Her music combines ambient sounds, electronica and a range of instruments (notably the bowed saw, but also ukelele, accordian, flute, melodica, guitar, keyboards, etc.) to create an atmospheric soundscape that provides support for her voice and lyrics. The latter are often tinged with a sense of imminent threat, yearning, mortality and mystery.<br /><br />------------<br /><br />Exploding Birds - <a href="http://www.myspace.com/expoldingbirds" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.myspace.com/expoldingbirds</a><br /><br />Exploding Birds are an elusive Dublin group creating a caustic mix of hardcore/grind.<br />Loud. Fast. Slow. Noise.<br /><br />-------------<br /><br />+ Guest DJ's and vegan food<br />Zine distro with amazing feminist and diy zines from around the world<br /><br />Saturday 3rd of July 8pm untill late<br />In Seomra Spraoi,10 Belvedere Court, (off mountjoy sqaure) Dublin 1<br />Suggested donation €5 - more if you can, less if you can't<br /><br />BYOBrag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-91550215010704803032010-06-21T11:02:00.000-07:002010-06-22T12:10:51.143-07:00New Media open meeting: 1st part recording<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuplg6Foy2W-WLYytlMVgJUCDuNguAWAPHw-fXTBLDwYDgRcxH9ldQ6OcLGDLxypkXlD9OZe5X_tZ1ZTiWUnnTQ4t_9S4-UpX5QTBhVgSJFqwjx_GwFJvy6-THUlTcHCy9TcEsh58O2w/s1600/we-live-in-public.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuplg6Foy2W-WLYytlMVgJUCDuNguAWAPHw-fXTBLDwYDgRcxH9ldQ6OcLGDLxypkXlD9OZe5X_tZ1ZTiWUnnTQ4t_9S4-UpX5QTBhVgSJFqwjx_GwFJvy6-THUlTcHCy9TcEsh58O2w/s400/we-live-in-public.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485290894649074450" border="0" /></a><br />Hey folks,<br /><br />For those of you who missed the open meeting on New Media on the 14th June, here is a two part recording available from Indymedia:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97029">http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97029</a><br /> <br /><br />The discussion was left quite open and we covered topics ranging from security, privacy, copyright to identity and manifestations of sexism online. Because the discussion focused mostly on issues of security and privacy, Rag are hoping to host another meeting in the future which will focus primarily on the body, identity and gender in relation to New Media and the internet.<br /><br />Thanks again to the five fantastic speakers, those who came along and Seomra Spraoi for hosting us.<br /><br />Emily of RAGrag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-1143058600373958622010-06-14T04:38:00.000-07:002010-06-14T04:44:57.440-07:00A discussion on New Media and Social Media<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZU8iYGVNoz-4REETFWY7wBcu3lo0s6l6HQWNhXA8JTsBtB6TAOv9MgUzn3xk6McIcmsV_tQNJ339Lsjcl3FtlgnrupTKlVbw79Zbmbovlrn1yjAYPkj50UJt-agOpHDBOVF8KE86Bzo/s1600/we-live-in-public.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZU8iYGVNoz-4REETFWY7wBcu3lo0s6l6HQWNhXA8JTsBtB6TAOv9MgUzn3xk6McIcmsV_tQNJ339Lsjcl3FtlgnrupTKlVbw79Zbmbovlrn1yjAYPkj50UJt-agOpHDBOVF8KE86Bzo/s400/we-live-in-public.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476406834710836178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" >RAG open meeting Monday 14th June</span><br />On Monday 14th June at 7.30pm, RAG will host a discussion on the many uses and dangers of 'new media', the possibilities for positive change and 'radical democracy' via the internet, the dilemma of 'internet neurosis' where feelings of vulnerability and fears of exploitation need to be negotiated in order to utilize the internet as activists, artists and self-publishers and the potential of the internet as a force for oppression and control.<br /><br />The discussion will take place in <a href="http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone/copy_of_contact-us">Seomra Spraoi</a>. All welcome.<br /><br />Wikipedia describes new media in the following terms:<br /><br />New media is a broad term that emerged in the later part of the 20th century to encompass the amalgamation of traditional media such as film, images, music, spoken and written word, with the interactive power of computer and communications technology, computer-enabled consumer devices and most importantly the internet. New media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community formation around the media content. What distinguishes New media from traditional media is not the digitizing of media content into bits, but the dynamic life of the "new media" content and its interactive relationship with the media consumer. Another important promise of New Media is the "democratization" of the creation, publishing, distribution and consumption of media content.<br />(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media)<br /><br />This meeting will be facilitated by Emily Aoibheann.<br /><br />Speakers include:<br /><br />Angela Nagle:<br />I have an English degree and an MA in Popular Literature from TCD. I've just started working as a researcher for a TV documentary production company called Cashmere Media. I have worked as a script reader and script editor for Film Companies (Element and Samson Films) and have been writing for Film Ireland (magazine and website) as a film reviewer and feature writer. I have also written, more recently, for James Redmond's website 'soundtracksforthem', primarily doing feminist book reviews. I'm interested in writing more about New Media, particularly from a feminist angle and what I am looking at now is the preparation for a media conference that is a few months down the line.<br /><br />Fionn Kidney:<br />Fionn spent his early career with one of Ireland's top creative agencies, including a year as Director of Digital during which he lay the foundations for Strategem to win Best Digital Direct Campaign in 2008's An Post DMA awards. Since then he has divided his time between film, photography and consultancy work and concentrated on small-scale creative projects. Fionn has chaired seminars for both Darklight Festival and the EU Commission relating to online film. His interests in online relate principally to the projection and perception of identity.<br /><br />Andrew Flood: <br />Andrew Flood is a Dublin anarchist who has been using the Internet for organising since before the web came into existane. Today he is totally addicted to Facebook and finding ways to make social networking a powerful tool for building struggles in thereal world.<br /><br />Vanessa Monaghan:<br />I'm a mature student studying Multimedia. I went back to college after working in the music industry, which I still dabble in. I started blogging for a college assignment and forgot to stop. I was a finalist in the Student Media Awards for Blog of the Year this year. I love the internet, love twitter and love the freedom that its gives people, especially artists trying to get their art, whether it be music, writing, painting, out to a global audience. I love the informality of twitter and the ability to converse with people you may never meet with. One of the things I really dislike about Facebook it has seemed to turn some people's lives completely into the virtual world. They don't seem to function, or even have a real world. I get asked a lot what my blog is about. Why does it have to be about anything? My blog is a personal blog, probably an extension of diary writing. Its about my radio shows, college, video, photography, I don't want to spend all day writing about politics or whatever. I've made it enjoyable for myself so I keep doing it.<br />I try and link my blog, twitter and facebook, posting links if I blog on twitter and Facebook. I guess I'm finding that its a good way to show people what i'm doing now and what I'm capable of for when I leave college.<br /><br />Caroline Campbell:<br />Caroline Campbell is a filmmaker and lawyer who specialises in digital cultures. She has been on the programming committee of the Darklight Festival since its inception www.darklight.ie. where she has programmed events on open source and open-culture, social media and network cultures. She holds an M.A. Art in the Contemporary World from N.C.A.D. Current research interest in network cultures include the post-workerist writings on immaterial labour.rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-81790664651480714932010-05-28T12:20:00.000-07:002010-05-28T12:32:28.043-07:00RAG at Baby Beef stall at London Zine Symposium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM-5aKaODbDkzQx4Vt7tLnl3TnsPGh4Zyuu3fBciz21shZ9yyiA3NFrpmozIsVdxTFN2LgcfF1Rg_DVH6SmoY024HhqszHFjeE7F9CSoJvAzTHd-rf7uKMheTuTwtCIgCD2CKhAqhuEk/s1600/2010-tshirt-72dpi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM-5aKaODbDkzQx4Vt7tLnl3TnsPGh4Zyuu3fBciz21shZ9yyiA3NFrpmozIsVdxTFN2LgcfF1Rg_DVH6SmoY024HhqszHFjeE7F9CSoJvAzTHd-rf7uKMheTuTwtCIgCD2CKhAqhuEk/s400/2010-tshirt-72dpi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476405337999696162" border="0" /></a><br />Hey Folks,<br /><br />RAG were hoping to make it to this years <a href="http://www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk/">London zine symposium</a> happening tomorrow the 29th May in <strong>The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></strong>Girl does it look good!<br /><br />Thanks to Sarah of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/babybeefartpress">Baby Beef</a> art-zine, a limited number of RAG issue 4 will be on sale at the Baby Beef stall, alongside other Irish zine '<a href="http://www.loserdomzine.com/">Loserdom</a>' (or so I've been told...)<br /><br />So yeah, head along and have a mooch, looks to be a great day out! We're very sorry we can't be there ourselves, but thanks again to Baby Beef!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTlfsthqswJfYcZ3elVNBR494h-uunJwu7GhA4PFggT34FuBFihHC06F1B_LTBuubj0pQfMS6omBGocuiVPFsrfD92MRKYrayYCgHxmgPlP0dvCNdYSZWqpB0q7xf0xnNlDCYe4DNOfg/s1600/cover3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTlfsthqswJfYcZ3elVNBR494h-uunJwu7GhA4PFggT34FuBFihHC06F1B_LTBuubj0pQfMS6omBGocuiVPFsrfD92MRKYrayYCgHxmgPlP0dvCNdYSZWqpB0q7xf0xnNlDCYe4DNOfg/s400/cover3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476405774005257538" border="0" /></a>rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-85866186656307239152010-05-24T15:05:00.000-07:002010-08-19T02:48:19.553-07:00RAG news ...<div>The website humanrights.ie are hosting a seminar tomorrow on New Media and the protection of Human Rights. Emily of Rag will be contributing to a panel on the subject, considering the following questions:<br /><br /><div>1. Do the media have a positive or negative impact on the protection of human rights?</div> <p>2. What role do you envisage for blogging and media/social media in:</p> <p>a. Informing the public on issues of human rights? </p> <div>b. Bringing together like-minded individuals and groups to campaign for rights protection?<br /><br /></div> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Panel III will be held from 3.40pm - 4.40 pm at the NUI in Merrion Square. </span><br /><br />There will be an opportunity for open discussion in the last 20 minutes of this session so please come and contribute or listen. It will also be filmed and streamed live online.<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div>A final copy of the agenda for the seminar is here:</div> <div><a href="http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-<wbr>content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-<wbr>PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-<wbr>Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf</a></div> <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.humanrights.ie/" target="_blank">www.humanrights.ie</a></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />Bank Bailout protest Tuesday 25th May</span><br />Members of RAG will be along to the Bank Bailout protest on Tuesday (25th May). Details in post below.<br /><br />******************************************************************************<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" >Dublin Anarchist Bookfair Saturday 29th May</span><br />Come and join us at Dublin's Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, 29th May. RAG will have our zine/book/interesting things stall and a give a workshop. The bookfair starts at 10.30am in the Liberty Hall, Dublin. Our workshop, which will explore issues around mental health, takes place at 11.30am. The bookfair, organised by the Workers Solidarity Movement, hosts a day of workshops, discussions and of course lots of book stalls. Please drop in. More information can found be <a href="http://www.wsm.ie/bookfair">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjUNaSA4DAeMlQP_GYjsYNxY99sJvvFzHZmMe24DTP_TvD5d3ErMOARAtDhAkArVsZj8ouvsMXP0ip-CSl6q8d6_BGILRyJPhXew8oK3iSwXZp3Eu2Kt3Nhetr7VAux9pVMxkdi3FgeQ/s1600/posterfromFB.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjUNaSA4DAeMlQP_GYjsYNxY99sJvvFzHZmMe24DTP_TvD5d3ErMOARAtDhAkArVsZj8ouvsMXP0ip-CSl6q8d6_BGILRyJPhXew8oK3iSwXZp3Eu2Kt3Nhetr7VAux9pVMxkdi3FgeQ/s400/posterfromFB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475171496966107138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />******************************************************************************<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZU8iYGVNoz-4REETFWY7wBcu3lo0s6l6HQWNhXA8JTsBtB6TAOv9MgUzn3xk6McIcmsV_tQNJ339Lsjcl3FtlgnrupTKlVbw79Zbmbovlrn1yjAYPkj50UJt-agOpHDBOVF8KE86Bzo/s1600/we-live-in-public.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZU8iYGVNoz-4REETFWY7wBcu3lo0s6l6HQWNhXA8JTsBtB6TAOv9MgUzn3xk6McIcmsV_tQNJ339Lsjcl3FtlgnrupTKlVbw79Zbmbovlrn1yjAYPkj50UJt-agOpHDBOVF8KE86Bzo/s400/we-live-in-public.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476406834710836178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" >RAG open meeting Monday 14th June</span><br />On Monday 14th June at 7.30pm, RAG will host a discussion on the many uses and dangers of 'new media', the possibilities for positive change and 'radical democracy' via the internet, the dilemma of 'internet neurosis' where feelings of vulnerability and fears of exploitation need to be negotiated in order to utilize the internet as activists, artists and self-publishers and the potential of the internet as a force for oppression and control.<br /><br />The discussion will take place in <a href="http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone/copy_of_contact-us">Seomra Spraoi</a>. All welcome.<br /><br />Wikipedia describes new media in the following terms:<br /><br />New media is a broad term that emerged in the later part of the 20th century to encompass the amalgamation of traditional media such as film, images, music, spoken and written word, with the interactive power of computer and communications technology, computer-enabled consumer devices and most importantly the internet. New media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community formation around the media content. What distinguishes New media from traditional media is not the digitizing of media content into bits, but the dynamic life of the "new media" content and its interactive relationship with the media consumer. Another important promise of New Media is the "democratization" of the creation, publishing, distribution and consumption of media content.<br />(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media)<br /><br />This meeting will be facilitated by Emily.<br />Visiting speakers to be confimed.rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4059336495475461696.post-53822333978332638472010-05-24T09:51:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:06:15.282-07:00Rag Takes To The Streets - Stop The Bank BailoutsMembers of RAG carried our banner along to the anti-capitalist bloc of last week's right to work protest, demanding an end to the bank bailouts and also condemning the gardai's heavy handed dealings with an earlier protest outside anglo-irish bank.<br />Check out these links for details of the march.<br />http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96602<br />http://www.wsm.ie/c/anti-capitalist-protest-dublin-may-18th-2010<br /><br />We will also be attending tomorrow's march to the dail part 2 <br />http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96700rag dublinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12622655445416237573noreply@blogger.com