RAG - revolutionary anarcha-feminist group

Anti-authoritarian assembly - Saturday 18th February 2012

2012-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

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.
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.

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.

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.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/117625871693251/
Seomra Spraoi location: http://seomraspraoi.org/copy_of_contact-us
RAG: http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/ or http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/

RAG open meeting - 5th December 2011 - discussion on sexism in the workplace

2011-11-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

RAG open meeting - discussion on sexism in the workplace

RAG open meeting - Monday 5th December 2011 - all welcome

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.

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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!

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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.

http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/
http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com/

Rag Tumblr

2011-07-11T01:58:00.000-07:00

Rag have a new Tumblr blog- come and check us out! - http://ragdublin.tumblr.com/

Kate Swift RIP

2011-07-11T01:56:00.000-07:00

RAG 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:

Kate Swift - Tribute from The Womens Media Center

Kate Swift - New York Times article

Rossport anarcha feminist skillshare weekend

2011-02-21T03:49:00.000-08:00

Six 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!

RAG also held a workshop: "Why anarcho feminism?"

Here are some notes taken from the workshop:

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 :)

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.

We divided into four smaller groups, with each group taking one of these four topics for discussion: The body, family, work and society.

Each group discussed what we need to achieve in each of these areas and fed back to the wider group.
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!

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-
smash the state! :)

2011-01-29T05:40:00.000-08:00

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.

Free!

Click here to download The Rag, Issue One

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!

2010-12-30T04:55:00.000-08:00

Hey RAG fans and peops,

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.

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.

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.

In the meantime, you can definitely order a copy from the RAG etsy account:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RAGDublin

You can also pick it up from the following bookshops:

Dublin, Ireland:

Bookworms on Abbey Street

The Winding Stair at the Ha'penny Bridge

Connolly Books on East Essex Street

Books Upstairs on College Green

Greater Rep. Ireland:

Cork: Solidarity Books, 43 Douglas Street, (opposite Fionbarras pub)

UK:

Cowley Club, Brighton

http://www.cowleyclub.org.uk/

STIMULANTS independent bookshop, Norfolk

http://www.radicalbooks.co.uk/product/rag-no-5

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

RAG present the Queer Anarchafeminist Cabaret!

2010-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Rag celebrates the launch of our 5th annual magazine with a Queer Anarchafeminist Cabaret. Food, feminists reading magazines, dancing, music fun fun fun fun.

20th NOVEMBER
Seomra Sproai
6pm for food
9pm for performances with popcorn and cake
Kids welcome
Fancy dress encouraged!
Dancing til late
8euro donation including a copy of the magazine
B.Y.O.B

Confirmed appearances from:

Mistress of ceremonies: JELL O'FISH! (Rag member)
Deirdre and Jonah (performance/ song singing)
Oscillate Wildely (queer boylesque)
Apollonia Tribal Bellydance
Coin Operated Girls (the wonderful D4 Von Teese and Lisa Connell, queer burlesquer)
The Lovecats' Azaria Starfire (Burlesque/ Comedy)
Leanne Harte (Gonna play us a few songs)
Blackbird (Rag's own burlesquer)
The Beast Woman (Emma) and the Crash Test Cabaret troupe (comedy and burlesque)
Julian Mandrews (The Gay (And rather dapper!) Drag King)
Jennifer Evans (Amazing, lady guitarist and singer!)
Maggie Hildrick (Another awesome guitar totting singer)

GONNA BE THE BEST RAG LAUNCH YET!
Food, drink, performances, laughing, dancing, music, magazines and anarchy!

Illustration taken from the latest Rag, number 5, Image by Emma Wilson, poster put together with Emily's new found inDesign skills...

September 2010 - Feminist Open Forum discussion

2010-09-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

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!

We've been invited to this event and hope to attend.

FEMINIST OPEN FORUM:

Feminist Futures Thurs 23rd Sep 6pm

FEMINIST FUTURES

Roundtable Conversation on Alternative Futures

In these tough times, how and what are feminists thinking about the future?

What do feminists think the future could and should look like?

Do we have challenging alternative views of the future?

What needs to change and how can we do it?

How can we strengthen our creative, political and practical skills?

How can we build unity and work in solidarity?

These are just some of the questions we’ll be talking about on the evening!

Please come along and join in the:

FEMINIST FUTURES CONVERSATION

Thursday 23rd September at 6pm

Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin

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 www.claimingourfuture.ie

Seminar: New Media and Human Rights

2010-08-19T02:19:00.000-07:00

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:

1. Do the media have a positive or negative impact on the protection of human rights?

2. What role do you envisage for blogging and media/social media in:

a. Informing the public on issues of human rights?

b. Bringing together like-minded individuals and groups to campaign for rights protection?

Panel III will be held from 3.40pm - 4.40 pm at the NUI in Merrion Square.

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.

A final copy of the agenda for the seminar is here:

http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf

www.humanrights.ie

Calling all women Illustrators!

2010-08-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

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:

Widows curses and old wives tales.
The Witch Hunts in Ireland
Immigration.
Reading Fiction.
Death and Bereavement.
Water and clothes/ the fashion industry.
Pregnancy/ Midwifery.
New media - the pros and cons.
Online sexism and the women taking it on in humorous and creative ways.
Interview with Lashings of Ginger Beer (queer feminist burlesque troupe www.lashings.org for some nice pictures!)
Gender Politics of the Black Panthers.
An Anarchafeminist Eyeballing the Recession.
Sex Work in New Zealand.
Protesting Creatively (Laughter/ Humour as Activism)
Women and Mental Health Services

Looking forward to hearing from you!
ragdublin@riseup.net

Laura Sheeran and Exploding birds - Rag Benefit Gig!

2010-06-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Rag Presents:

A night of great music and fun featuring -

Laura Sheeran - http://www.myspace.com/laurasheeranmusic

Laura Sheerans music has been described as “like an episode of Twin Peaks in female form”.
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.

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Exploding Birds - http://www.myspace.com/expoldingbirds

Exploding Birds are an elusive Dublin group creating a caustic mix of hardcore/grind.
Loud. Fast. Slow. Noise.

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+ Guest DJ's and vegan food
Zine distro with amazing feminist and diy zines from around the world

Saturday 3rd of July 8pm untill late
In Seomra Spraoi,10 Belvedere Court, (off mountjoy sqaure) Dublin 1
Suggested donation €5 - more if you can, less if you can't

BYOB

New Media open meeting: 1st part recording

2010-06-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

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:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/97029

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.

Thanks again to the five fantastic speakers, those who came along and Seomra Spraoi for hosting us.

Emily of RAG

A discussion on New Media and Social Media

2010-06-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

RAG open meeting Monday 14th June
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.

The discussion will take place in Seomra Spraoi. All welcome.

Wikipedia describes new media in the following terms:

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.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media)

This meeting will be facilitated by Emily Aoibheann.

Speakers include:

Angela Nagle:
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.

Fionn Kidney:
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.

Andrew Flood:
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.

Vanessa Monaghan:
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.
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.

Caroline Campbell:
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 at Baby Beef stall at London Zine Symposium

2010-05-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

RAG were hoping to make it to this years London zine symposium happening tomorrow the 29th May in The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ
Girl does it look good!

Thanks to Sarah of Baby Beef art-zine, a limited number of RAG issue 4 will be on sale at the Baby Beef stall, alongside other Irish zine 'Loserdom' (or so I've been told...)

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!

RAG news ...

2010-05-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

1. Do the media have a positive or negative impact on the protection of human rights?

2. What role do you envisage for blogging and media/social media in:

a. Informing the public on issues of human rights?

b. Bringing together like-minded individuals and groups to campaign for rights protection?

A final copy of the agenda for the seminar is here:

http://www.humanrights.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/HRiI-PILA-Human-Rights-Ideology-Activism-and-Social-Media1.pdf

www.humanrights.ie

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Bank Bailout protest Tuesday 25th May
Members of RAG will be along to the Bank Bailout protest on Tuesday (25th May). Details in post below.

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Dublin Anarchist Bookfair Saturday 29th May
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 here.

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RAG open meeting Monday 14th June
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.

The discussion will take place in Seomra Spraoi. All welcome.

Wikipedia describes new media in the following terms:

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.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media)

This meeting will be facilitated by Emily.
Visiting speakers to be confimed.

Rag Takes To The Streets - Stop The Bank Bailouts

2010-05-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Members 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.
Check out these links for details of the march.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96602
http://www.wsm.ie/c/anti-capitalist-protest-dublin-may-18th-2010

We will also be attending tomorrow's march to the dail part 2
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96700

RAG Open meeting: Women's Groups in Israel/Palestine

2010-04-05T01:58:00.000-07:00

The next RAG open meeting will take place on Monday, 12th April, 2010 at 7.30pm.

An Israeli activist will share from her experiences of speaking out and standing against strong racism, militarism, oppression, and all odds, in struggling to end the occupation of Palestine. She will present a few projects that she had been involved in, including a screening or two, and will share lessons learnt about sustaining the activity and ourselves.

All welcome.

Seomra Spraoi,
(http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone/copy_of_contact-us)
10 Belvidere Court, Dublin 1.

Directions:
Directions: Walk north along Gardiner St, past Mountjoy Square and turn right at the next laneway(Belvidere Court). Seomra Spraoi is about halfway down the lane on the right hand side(number ten).

Feminist Walking Tour Sunday 7th March

2010-03-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

Join Choice Ireland, the RAG collective and the Lashback collective to celebrate International Womens Day with a Feminist Walking Tour on Sunday March 7th 2010 at 1 pm. Meet at the Central Bank , Dame Street.

The tour will tell the stories of women throughout our history from the women of the Ladies Land League and Irish Women Workers’ Union to the Dunnes Stores Anti Aphartheid strikers to today's women activists who work to reduce poverty and exclusion in our city, comments Sinead Ahern

More details regarding the route and stops will be published here later.
Related Link: http://www.choiceireland.org

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/95640

Be friends with RAG on facebook!

2010-03-02T05:57:00.000-08:00

Rag got back to the future and set up a a facebook!
Keep up with all our news and our events.
Come on, be our friend, you know you want to.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1572295878

Loserdom#20 launch on 10th March

2010-03-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

One of RAGs favourite zines....

Loserdom has invited everyone to the launch!

You are invited to attend the launch of Loserdom #20 zine at Seomra Spraoi café on Weds 10th March at 7pm! The new issue will be available hot off the press for the bargain price of €3!

It's also a great opportunity to check out the Forgotten Zine Archive, Irelands only public physical archive of zines and D.I.Y. press andconsider becoming involved in its' ongoing organisation!

Tasty veggie and vegan food served at suggested donation €5 from theSeomra Spraoi café at 7.30pm.

Seomra Spraoi is located at: 10 Belvidere Court, Dublin 1

Directions: Walk north along Gardiner St, past Mountjoy Square and turn right at the next laneway(Belvidere Court). Seomra Spraoi is about halfway down the lane on the right hand side(number ten).
Map here: http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone/copy_of_contact-us --

http://www.loserdomzine.com/

RAG open meeting - Monday March 1st

2010-02-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Next Monday is the first Monday of the month, so we are having an Open Meeting.

The topic for discussion will be bereavement and loss. The death of someone close can have a huge impact on our lives and is a universal experience. However it is a subject which gets little attention.

This discussion will take place in Seomra Spraoi at 7.30pm, Monday 1st March 2010.

All welcome - women and men.

PS.

Also the four programmes RAG made with DCTV can be seen here:

· DCTV/RAG television programmes:
o 1. http://vimeo.com/5128791 - diy publications
o 2. http://vimeo.com/5820021 - walking tour
o 3. http://vimeo.com/6905963 - community gardens
o 4. http://vimeo.com/4607329 - social centres

RAG Introductory Meeting

2010-02-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

Monday 22nd Feb, 7.30-9.30pm, Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvidere Court, Dublin 1

RAG - Dublin's Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group - are a publishing collective that produce a yearly magazine, the Rag. We finished Issue 4 at the end of last year and are now workshopping new ideas for issue 5. We are interested in involving new members with fresh anarchist feminist perspectives!

With this introductory meeting we hope to give prospective members an insight into how we work as a collective, what we stand for, and what we need from members. It is an opportunity for you to ask all those silly questions about anarchafeminism/us you were afraid to ask (and that we may or may not be able to answer!)

We hope that those attending will at least have read some of our magazine articles, but we will bring copies along with us too. This article might also be of interest: http://ragdublin.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-anarcha-feminism.html

* For the moment, our membership (and this meeting) is open only to women/women-identified. Though we are restarting our monthly open meetings soon. Most of these are open to people of all genders, keep an eye here and on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1572295878 for details.

Feel free to email us with any queries.

The Rag issue 4 is available in Books Upstairs, 36 College Green, Dublin 2.

2010

2010-01-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

Hey all,
We just had a Rag Hang-out to discuss and plan for 2010! If there's any women or female identified folks out there interested in getting involved with RAG or finding out more about us we'll be having a meeting for just that purpose on the 22nd Feb at 7.30 in seomra spraoi, 10 belvedere court, just behind Mountjoy Square. So come on down! It'll be a film night with popcorn, snacks and a discussion after.
We also talked about Rag #5, we're putting our thinking wheels in motion and planning lots of discussions this year.
We are also planning a RAG podcast so keep your ears peeled for that in the next month or so.
Hope you'll all be seeing lots of RAG in 2010!

COME TO OUR LAUNCH

2009-11-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

Our fourth issue has just come back form the printers!!!
We are very proud and excited about the new issue and we'd like you to
come along and celebrate with us.

The launch party will be this Saturday, November 14th, in Seomra Spraoi, 10
Belvidere court, just behind Mountjoy Square.

It will start at 6pm with tasty food, chilled out music, and is
child-friendly until 9.
At 9 we will have some live music starting, Djs and more. We'll be
partying away until 2am.
Entrance is €6 including food and a copy of the magazine!
BYOB

Hope to see all you good folks there

Lots of love
RAG

Film Screening Oct 17th - Abortion Democracy and The Coat Hanger Project

2009-10-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

Rag are hosting a film screening and discussion in Seomra Spraoi on October 17th, at 8pm.

Two filmakers are on tour with films they have made on the subject of abortion. The first one is called The Coat Hanger Project http://www.thecoathangerproject.com/
and the second is Abortion Democracy: Poland/South Africa http://www.abortion-democracy.de/
The film makers will be there to talk about the films so there should be some great discussion afterwards.

London Anarchist Bookfair here we come!

2009-10-04T11:41:00.001-07:00

Friday night, 7pm onwards in Housman's bookshop - a launch of The Rag no.4 in London. More details on the sites below.

All day Saturday RAG stall at the London Anarchist bookfair. Hope to see you over the weekend.

http://www.housmans.com/events.php
http://www.anarchistbookfair.org/

Social Solidarity Network - Sat 3rd October

2009-10-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Invitation to meeting Saturday 3rd Oct

Job losses, wage cuts, cuts in essential public services, pension levies..... Our living standards and our social services are under huge attack.

Mainstream media commentators and some politicians would have us believe that there is no alternative, that we have all been living beyond our means and that we have to tighten our belts in these recessionary times.

But we do not have to accept their reality. We do not have to accept that people on minimum wage, unwaged workers, those on social welfare, low-paid civil servants or working class people in general should be the ones who pay for the economic crisis. We do not have to accept that our health, education, infrastructure and social welfare services should be slashed in order to bail out the banks and the property developers.

Huge numbers of people recognise that we are being sold a lie. Huge numbers know that the attempts to create divisions between public and private sector workers and between different groups of ordinary people are an attempt to weaken us.

Communities all over the country have organised to resist hospital closures, cuts in hospital services, education cuts and other attacks on social services. Senior citizens fought valiantly, and ultimately victoriously, to retain the right to a medical card for over 70's.

Communities and workforces all over the country are organising resistance to threatened attacks and cutbacks. Groups such as Waterford Crystal workers, Visteon workers in Belfast, Thomas Cook workers, Custom House cleaners in Dublin, Marine Terminals Ltd. Workers (Dublin port) and Mr. Binman workers (Co. Tipperary) and many more have fought back against job losses and attacks on working conditions.

The Social Solidarity Network is coming together to provide a forum for workers and communities to unite to resist the attacks, and to build links across the many struggles which will break out over the coming months. On Saturday 3rd October we are holding a meeting which will provide a chance for people to come together and share their personal experiences, explore the economics of the crisis and plan ways in which we can build resistance.

We have identified 3 main areas for discussion – Workplace Resistance; Unemployed/Unwaged/Community Resistance; Education Cuts resistance. In each of these areas we want to explore how opposition to government cuts can be encouraged and co-ordinated. These are of course only our ideas and we are open to suggestions for alternative or additional workshops.

We hope that you will come along on the day, share your views and help to build a network which can share skills, knowledge and experience and which can help to bring reality to the old maxim that ‘Unity is Strength’.

Social Solidarity Network
Building a Network of Resistance
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvidere Court, Dublin 1 (off Gardiner Street - see http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone/ ... contact-us for map)

RAG Summer Party BBQ

2009-06-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

RAG Veggie BBQ and Kareoke Night
Support your local ragsters and stuff your face

BBQ Fundraiser for RAG and Seomra Spraoi

Veggie and Vegan Food Burgers, Salads, Skewers and yummy bits

Top it all off with Party Tunes followed by Kareoke fun

Host:
RAG Dublin
4 July 2009
7 pm
5 / 8 euros

At: Seomra Spraoi
10 Belevedere Court, Off Gardiner St, Dublin 1

Updates!

2009-05-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year again - where we have to concentrate on trying to get our articles written and edited and magazine together in time for the autumn! So we are suspending our monthly open meetings for the next few months. However, if you live in Dublin and want to get involved with RAG, just drop us an email at the address above. Also - there's a bit going on so here's some updates:

Queer Politics: Mainstream or Revolutionary?
Queer Spraoi/RAG/Seomra Spraoi Open Workshop
Wednesday 10th June 6pm sharp, Seomra Spraoi (map)

The contemporary Euro-American LGBT movement emerged out of the gay and lesbian liberation struggles associated with the radical politics of the 1960s, which in turn were inspired by mass revolutionary movements prominent at the turn of the twentieth century. Yet today the majority of men and women active in LGBT politics seek not revolutionary social change but inclusion within the boundaries of mainstream liberal culture. They tend to organise as a single-issue interest group seeking legislative reforms (for example, amendments to marriage laws), and unlike their forebears pose no radical challenges to either capitalism or the state.
In this workshop, sponsored jointly by Queer Spraoi, RAG, and Seomra Spraoi, we will explore the controversial question of whether contemporary queer politics can and ought to pursue a more ambitious political agenda. If so, what form might such a politics take, and how would it relate to its more conservative cousin?

This is a public and free event, and everyone is welcome! The workshop will be followed by a queer café and social night.

DCTV
Congrats to RAG member Eve, who has been busy producing documentaries for local station Dublin Community Television (DCTV). Here is a link to the programme she produced on Seomra Spraoi, Dublin's social centre. 3 more to come!

Lash Back
Congrats also to our fellow Dublin femos Lash Back. We had the pleasure to attend their magazine launch last week. It was a classy affair with wine, cheese and grapes, super cool posters with feminist quotes and even a chill-out room with a bed and a safer spaces policy! The magazine will be available in Tower Records soon - and in the RAG distro (on its rare outings - next one will be at the Queer Politics meeting 10th June) Big respect to the Lash Back women and look forward to working with you again in the future.

Shell To Sea
Resistance has stepped up in Mayo, where Shell continue with their plans for an onshore gas refinery in Rossport/Glengad. A local man, Willie Corduff, was badly beaten by shell security staff last month and many protestors have been arrested and prosecuted. Shell are planning for the return of the pipe laying ship, the Solitaire, next month, and the Irish government are sending in navy ships to help them. Retired schoolteacher, Maura Harrington, who last year went on hunger strike when the Solitaire entered Irish waters was yesterday jailed again for non-payment of fines. Now is a good time to consider visiting the solidarity camp in Mayo, organising solidarity protests where you live or getting involved in those in Dublin. See you there. Links: Shell to Sea, Mayo gas info

Network to Fight Cuts
In the coming months RAG will be working with the long established Irish anarchist organisation the WSM to help form a network to organise around the issue of the recession and the cutbacks that are currently affecting us all. More details to follow.

RAG Open Meeting

2009-03-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

Participatory discussion-based workshop on anti-racism and discrimination

RAG Open Meeting Monday 6th April
Anti-racism and discrimination

You are invited to a participatory discussion based workshop (no pressure!) exploring participants attitudes on the themes of anti-racism and discrimination.

When: Monday 6th April

What time: 7.30 pm

Where: Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvedere Court, off Gardiner St

Walking Tour Thanks!

2009-03-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came along to the Feminist Walking Tour - it was a great day. Thanks also to whoever organised the sunshine!

If anyone has any more good photos from the day, and wouldn't mind sharing, could you please email them to feministwalkingtour AT yahoo.ie.
(photo opposite thanks to Andrew Flood)

To those who would have liked to make it but couldn't: if you would like a booklet, (and/or activity sheet / colour-in map) you can send us a self addressed envelope (A5 - 55cent should do it in Ireland) to PO box 10785, Dublin 1. We can also email the pdfs.

A big thanks to Seomra Spraoi (Dublin's social centre) & to our guest speakers Bernie and Niav, and singer Cormac - and to co-organisers Choice Ireland and Lash Back.

Here we all are afterwards out the back of Seomra Spraoi. Photo by Karla Healion.

If anyone wants more details about any of the organising groups - or to be put on any of our mailing lists, you can drop us a line individually - or through feministwalkingtour AT yahoo.ie. (see links below)

www.ragdublin.blogspot.com
www.choiceireland.org
www.myspace.com/lashbackdublin

colour-in map =)

Don't forget!

2009-03-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

International Women's Day is this Sunday. Come celebrate with us on the Feminist Walking Tour! It starts at 1pm at The Custom House, Dublin 1. More info below. Promo here!

RAG at the Anarchist Bookfair

2009-03-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Some members of RAG will be giving a workshop at the Anarchist Bookfair in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1, Sat 8th March, entitled "Best positions for Anarchism" : discussing why sexual health is important for activists and activism. It is at 3pm sharp, is open to all, and should be interesting!

At 4pm, there will be a talk from American historian and feminist Martha Ackelsberg. Who wrote the wonderful book "Free Women of Spain". Her talk is entitled, “The Trials of Theory and Practice: Spanish Anarchism, Mujeres Libres, and the Struggle for the Emancipation of Women”

RAG will also have a stall at the bookfair, selling anarchist and feminist books, zines and other goodies.

For more info about the bookfair, see http://www.wsm.ie/blogs/bookfair09/

2009-03-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

At tomorrow evening's RAG meeting (Mon March 2nd; 7:30, Seomra Spraoi - address below) we will be having a discussion on the organisation of family life in capitalism today, its implications for women in particular and what alternatives there might be. This is an open meeting and all are welcome to attend. Apologies for the last minute nature of this notice!

Seomra Spraoi: The new building is at 10 Belvidere Court, off Gardiner Street in Dublin 1. Just north of Mountjoy Square. See map at:http://www.seomraspraoi.org:8080/Plone

Feminist Walking Tour 2009

2009-02-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

Join Choice Ireland, the RAG collective and the Lashback collective to celebrate International Womens Day

1pm Sunday March 8th 2009, International Women's Day

Meet at the The Custom House, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1

On March 8th 2008 over 150 people took to the streets to take part in the first Feminist Walking Tour of Dublin to mark International Women's Day. Following the enormous success of last year's tour, we are once again stepping out to tell the often forgotten stories of the Dublin women who have shaped the world we live in.

"The tour will tell the stories of women throughout our history from Granuaile to the women of the Ladies Land League and Irish Women Workers’ Union to today's women activists who work to reduce poverty and exclusion in our city," comments Sinead Ahern

Commenting further Anne Lynott says "The walking tour is an educational and entertaining way to celebrate the courage and achievements of women past and present and an ideal way to mark International Women's Day."

The Feminist Walking Tour will follow a new route this year and will incorporate different aspects of women in Dublin’s history. The tour will finish with a social lunch where soup and sandwiches will be provided.

There will be a free booklet to accompany the tour with a map and information about each stop.

This event is free of charge and is open to all ages and genders. Please contact us if you have any accessibility or other needs.

For a report of last years tour see http://ie.indymedia.org/article/86643

For further information please contact

feministwalkingtour AT yahoo.ie

Sinead Ahern +353 (0)86 398 3189

Anne Lynott +353 (0)87 910 9147

International Women's Day - Feminist Walking Tour of Dublin Sunday 8th March

2009-02-06T05:18:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, 8th March there will be a feminist walking tour of Dublin - along the lines of last year's event:
Feminist Walking Tour 2008

All wishing to attend are invited to meet at Custom House quay and the tour will kick off at 1pm.

It is being co-ordinated by Choice Ireland, Lash Back, RAG and other feminists. Watch this space - more information will be posted shortly.

The Dublin Anarchist Bookfair 2009, organised by the WSM, will also be held the same weekend - on Saturday 7th March. Promises to be a really great event. More details to follow.

Keep the 7th and 8th of March free in your diary!

Open meeting Monday 7pm, 2nd Feb

2009-01-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

RAG open meetings will take place on the first Monday of every month from now until we get too busy with issue 4! So check blog or email us to see what is coming up. This Monday's meeting is a discussion on the topic of prostitution. All welcome. 7pm, Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvedere Court.

See www.seomraspraoi.org for directions.

Email us for more details/ accessibility info etc.

Why anarcha-feminism?

2009-01-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

The follow are notes taken from an open meeting held by RAG in early 2008.

Introduction
The introductory round of the discussion invited the women present to state their general ideas about anarchism and feminism. All the RAG women present identified as anarchafeminist, although each had come to anarchafeminism from different perspectives. One member said that while feminism was a given for her, she realised that we can’t have meaningful liberation with capitalism intact; thus her belief in anarchism.

Identity
Another held that it was easier for her to identify herself to others as a feminist than as an anarchist – or at least to defend her position. She felt that people who have not considered the concepts before tend to be more willing to accept the premise that women and men should have equality than to question the core of the economic and political systems in place.

Dirty Words
Others noted that they were unable or unwilling to identify as feminist for many years due in part to the negative connotations associated with “the F word!” (There was mention that perhaps Anarchism was also seen as a dirty word – the mis-association between anarchy and chaos etc.) There was discussion around the fact that the capitalist system in place is very effective in muddying the meaning of concepts which pose a clear threat to that system.

Coming to Consciousness/ Global Consciousness
We spoke about our experiences of becoming conscious as both feminists and as anarchists, and how surprising it is that we can live happily blind to the oppressive systems around us until this change in consciousness begins to take place. It was noted that it takes a certain level of understanding to find real conviction about feminist and anarchist ideas – as to do so we must expand our view of the world to look at the global systems of oppression in place. We have to identify our own somewhat limited struggles with the very struggle for existence of many of those in the global south for example. There was more talk of migration issues and how traditionally feminine economic roles, such as care, childrearing and even sex-work are being filled by a new generation of migrant women travelling to Ireland to escape poverty in other countries. Thus greater equality for western women does not mean greater equality for all.

The Radical Feminist Threat
While feminism seems to be a more accessible concept than anarchism – or less threatening for many, it is in fact multi-layered and multi-disciplined. Even though, in recent years there has been a growth in feminist academia, it is a ghettoised thing, and little in the way of truly radical feminist ideas have seeped out into the public consciousness. Yet real feminism requires complete social restructuring which can be equated with anarchism.

What is Anarchism?
There were some women present who were unfamiliar with the term anarchism. While no “definition” was offered, it came out during the discussion that the ultimate aim of anarchism is total democracy – that each person would have equal say in every aspect of their own lives. This requires the destruction of state, hierarchy and class society, and the construction of bottom-up systems to replace it. There was some discussion around the idea of Revolution, and the need for strong grassroots action and organisation in preparation for radical change. Ultimately this would lead to an ability to take control of our resources and to defend that right. While the site for this has often been the work-place in traditional anarchist dialogue, it was noted that from a feminist perspective, the family and the body are additional sites of conflict (our literal “means of production” which we determined to seize!)

There was an aside which noted that while as anarchists we attempt to be the change we wish to see, creating non-hierarchical structures and modes of working for example. As one participant noted, however, it is not enough to try to create a utopian present, but we must remain conscious of the broader political and worldwide struggle and attempt to engage with it, not ignore it in order to work on own small circle.

Equality not Sameness
It was pointed out that one of the misconceptions of the feminist movement so far has been that for women to be equal to men, we had to be the same. Thus we have joined the rush into the workplace to have, as one participant put it, “equal access to exploitation.” We also have the added bonus of the double day at work – both outside and inside the home. The value system of capitalism is profit-driven. Only that which produces profit is seen as productive, and women’s work in producing and caring for children, in keeping the home and in caring for the sick and the old, is not valued under capitalism.

The question was placed whether capitalism would ever be able to fully adapt to feminism. It was observed that although feminism has made progressive changes for some women in the west, it cannot succeed in creating global equality under capitalism: a complete overhaul is in order. While patriarchy (the system of male dominance over women) has existed thousands of years longer than capitalism has, capitalism has made effective use of it and in some ways it may be reliant on it – for example on the nuclear family. It was suggested that capitalism would never arrive at complete equality. For it, the perception of equality is as good as actual equality. It would only concede enough to give a convincingly muddied image of equality. As the nature of capitalism is exploitation, it would be naïve to chase an equality ideal within it.

Reformism
There was some debate around the value of “reformist” feminism. No-one doubted that very real changes had been made in women’s lives due to feminist efforts. These range from the right to vote to the right to work outside of the home, equal pay legislation, anti-domestic violence legislation, etc. Unlike anarchism, feminism can and has been accepted into capitalist reform. Yet it is the socialists and anarchists who have always been behind meaningful reform – through the trade union movements, anti-racism work, community work, and women’s liberation movements. It was questioned how much has been lost to the ultimate aims of those working to create these reforms. Their achievements have been co-opted into seeming like the achievements of “democracy” when in fact they are the small rights pulled back by those who have fought against the oppressive systems in place.

It was mainly agreed that while we would always fight for meaningful reform (for abortion rights and free childcare for example), we also want to remain completely clear about why we are fighting – due to a belief not just in women’s equality – but in absolute equality. For us, the ultimate endpoint of feminism is anarchism. Yet this endpoint would never be an endpoint in itself. Someone mentioned the need for a constant state of revolt – that the reality of anarchafeminism in action would be a continual striving to do better. There can be no hand-book on how life would be after the revolution!

Patriarchy and Men
Threatened systems of oppression have always been adept at misrepresenting that threat, or causing arguments to be framed in a certain way. Thus the fight for women’s equality has been framed as a “battle of the sexes”. Certainly, male privilege is a reality, and one which feminists have focused on in the past. Yet abolishing male privilege is not the end-goal of feminism (and certainly not of anarchafeminism!) Feminism has led to a growing consciousness of male oppression under patriarchy. For example: strict adherence to masculine gender roles, duty to “provide” in the realm of work and lack of equal rights to active parenthood. Male-oppression has been misconstrued as either a product of the feminist movement, or an oversight of it. Yet it is through feminist dialogue that a space has opened up for discussing these aspects of men’s lives and experiences. At the moment, it is only anti-feminist “backlash” groups which are addressing these specifically male issues. It is only through pro-feminist solidarity between men and women that meaningful inroads into these issues can be made. This would be truly revolutionary anarchafeminism! Yet there seems to be an unwillingness, or unreadiness as yet for anarchist men to take this on.

Queer Feminism?
There was a question about the link between feminism and queer theory - or what anarchafeminism could offer queer people (queerness might be roughly defined as gender or sexuality non-conformism.) We talked about anarchism as the freedom to be yourself within only the confines of not harming others. 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. Presently, although there has been some acceptance by wealthy capitalist countries of difference, ultimately difference is acceptable only as a lifestyle choice, not as a revolutionary force, which (with anarchafeminist analysis?) it should ultimately be.

The meeting finished with a closing circle where all acknowledged the value of the discussion, some professed to have found nothing new, and some everything! Yet most were somewhere in-between. Certainly it provided food for thought and opened the way for further debate.

RAG Open Meeting Monday 12th Jan: Feminism and Disability

2008-12-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Below is the event notice for our first open meeting in a while - now that the push to get the Rag #3 on your shelves is out of the way! Please forward it on to whoever you think might be interested. All welcome - just turn up - or drop us a line for more info. Updates regarding Seomra accessibility will be edited into this post.

7/1/09 - Update! There will be a ramp and meeting will be on the ground floor, but sadly, work on the toilet is behind schedule and it will not be accessible in time. But the good news is that the meeting has been the impetus to get work started on it! Apologies to all who this inconveniences.

**********************************************************************************
RAG Open Meeting: Feminism and Disability

The first RAG open meeting for 2009 will take place on Monday 12th Jan at 7-9pm in Seomra Spraoi (see below for location/access details). The purpose of our open meetings is to explore issues from different perspectives to contribute to the production of an article for the next issue of our magazine.

The title of this meeting is Feminism and Disability. With it we hope to open a dialogue between disabled and non-disabled feminist and queer activists. All are welcome to attend. Any further action arising from the meeting is up to those who participate.

If you would like to participate/ share your hopes/ideas but are unable to make the meeting, you are welcome to email us ragdublin@riseup.net.

For more information, email or ring 086 0794776.

*Seomra Spraoi* is a voluntarily-run social centre recently reopened at 10 Belvedere Court. Map and more info here: www.seomraspraoi.org. Room can be somewhat cold. Buses serving: 10, 10a, 121, 122, 145, 38, 41b/c, 46a/b/c/d/e, 63. Stop is on Mounjoy Square. Some parking available outside. If you need a lift or you intend to drive and can offer a lift, please email RAG. Work is ongoing to make building more accessible at the moment - there will be a wheelchair ramp and accessible toilet in the new year. Please make sure to check ragdublin.blogspot.com - we will confirm when building has been adapted. If you have childcare or other specific needs please email us in advance and we will attempt to help out.

*RAG* is an anarchist feminist publishing collective. Issue 3 of our annual magazine "the Rag" is now available. See www.ragdublin.blogspot.com

Thanks to all who attended our launch

2008-12-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

A massive thanks to all who attended the launch of The Rag no.3 on Saturday, we had a fantastic time. Thanks to Drunk Granny, Jakko's amazing karaoke, DJs Natalia and Eilis and everyone who danced.

A special mention to Seomra Spraoi we couldn't have had a better venue and greatly appreciate the serious work put in to get the building ready for the night. It was perfect. Thanks to those who worked for the night and also helped with the tidying up afterwards.

Feminism and disability

2008-12-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

The next RAG open meeting will look at feminism and disability. All are welcome to attend.

***NB date for this meeting was to be on 5th but it is now 12th, watch this space for confirmation and further details ***

When: 7pm, Monday, 12th January 2009.
Where: Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvedere Court, near Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.

More details to follow.

Launch of the Rag 3 - Saturday 29th November

2008-10-31T03:25:00.000-07:00

The Rag no. 3 magazine launch

The RAG Collective are launching issue 3 of our fantastic magazine 'the Rag'.

This Saturday, 29th November 2008 from 6pm til late.
Food, music, dancing. BYOB.

Aren't you excited?

The launch will be on Saturday 29th Novemeber from 6pm.
at the all new Seomra Spraoi social centre
(www.seomraspraoi.org)
10 Belvedere Court, off Mountjoy square.

Yummy veggie food from 6pm!
Child friendly events from 6-9pm!
Bands from 9pm, including Clodagh Kerley, Drunk Granny and more.
Funky DJ's and disco dancing (your input requested...)
BYOB

Only €6/€5 including a tasty vegetarian meal and your coveted copy of our new mag. An excellent chance to see the new Seomra Spraoi building.

The Rag 3!

2008-10-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

Issue 3 of the Rag magazine is ready! We brought it to the anarchist bookfair in London over the weekend, sold heaps at our stall and got bundles off with some distributers - Housmans bookshop, Freedom Press, AK Press, Active Distribution, Natterjack Press, and Handmedown distro. (Handmedown in particular is a wonderful anarcha-feminist resource - do have a look at their website.)
We couldn't carry enough for everyone but will be posting more off to distibuters shortly.

Oddly enough we have yet to launch in Ireland - or get it to distributers here! We will have to get it the right way around next year. It may have been because we only managed to get it printed the day before we were due to go to the bookfair - last minute has never looked so good! So watch this space for details of Irish launch and international availability. We welcome new distributers - mail us if you want us to post you any in bulk (5+) .

We will also get this blog updated with the new cover etc over the next week, and hopefully get a whole new website together soon (we are actually working on this!)

On a side-note, it was gratifying to witness the (almost equal) gender balance at the anarchist bookfair this year. Just two years ago, the place was so empty of women, and the RAG table so ignored, that we were driven to sketch a little sign for our stall which read "Anarcha-Feminism is for men too!"

Hi and thanks to all the amazing anarchist feminists we met over the weekend.The time was too short for proper discussion but it was great to be able to check in at least.

RAG article in adbusters

2008-10-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

In issue 1 of the Rag, I wrote an article called "Anger: Birthed and Transformed". We recently got a reprint request from Adbusters magazine, and I worked with them to edit it a bit for its readership. Here's a link to it on their website http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/80/industrial_childbirth.html - or search for it - it's now called "Industrial Childbirth".
Shonagh

Alliance for Choice - Belfast

2008-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Here is an update from Belfast Alliance for Choice:

Dear All,

A quick update of AfC events over the next few weeks. As you will be aware, this is a crucial period in our campaign to extend the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland. Next week parliament will reconvene and we should hopefully be given an indication of when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology will be debated.

In anticipation of this AfC will be organising a series of events over the next couple of weeks.
<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23645570204#/event.php?eid=76922995388>
EVENT: Pub Quiz Fundraiser
DATE: Wednesday, 8 October @ 8pm
PLACE: John Hewitt, Donegall Street
£3 fee! Come, test your astounding knowledge of trivia, bring your friends, family and colleagues. ALL WELCOME!
For further details see http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23645570204#/event.php?eid=26766248947

EVENT: Public Meeting – Reproductive Rights are Human Rights
DATE: Monday, 13 October @ 7.30pm
PLACE: Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue
Public Meeting with Dr Wendy Savage, one of the first female obstetricians in the UK. ALL WELCOME!
For further details see
http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=38652341807#/event.php?eid=38652341807

EVENT: Public Rally – 40 Women Protest
DATE: Saturday, 18 October @ 2pm
PLACE: City Hall, Belfast
Rally to show publicise the current situation where 40 women a week travel to have abortions outside NI. WE NEED 40 WOMEN to wear t-shirts and others to come and show their support! ALL WELCOME
For further details see
http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=38652341807#/event.php?eid=27662523934

------------

------
Also a reminder that we have stalls outside Gap on Saturdays from 2-4pm to encourage people to sign our petition and letters. Come show your support.

Every Tuesday there are campaign meetings in the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre, Donegall Street at 7pm. Come and get involved.

------------------

Don’t forget to sign and circulate the ePetition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/abortionNI/

Also check out the FPA campaign website at
http://www.fpa.org.uk/news/campaigns/current_campaigns/detail.cfm?contentid=993

------------------

Finally we urge you to get involved in any way you can to support this campaign at this crucial stage.

Thanks for your support

Claire
Alliance for Choice

London Anarchist Bookfair

2008-10-01T02:05:00.000-07:00

We're still working very hard at getting The Rag no.3 together.

RAG will be attending the anarchist bookfair in London on 18th October. Be sure to drop by and say hello. The event will include lots and lots of stalls, workshops and meetings.

We'll be sharing our stall with Anna-Kaisa, and we're also looking forward to meeting women from the new anarcha-feminist groups which have been formed in London and Glasgow.

More details on the bookfair:

http://www.anarchistbookfair.org/

Thanks to all at the Belfast Anarchist Bookfair

2008-09-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

We brought our RAG distro/shop to the Belfast Anarchist Bookfair last Saturday, 6th September. the event was hosted by the Just Books collective and was held in the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre. It was a great chance to meet some deadly new anarcha-feminists/anarchists and find out what others are up to. During the day, there was a range of interesting workshops and discussions.

Thanks to everyone in Belfast for the organising and the welcome.

More details available here:

http://belfastanarchistbookfair2008.blogspot.com/
http://belfastanarchistbookfair.blogspot.com/

Human Rights Watch in Ireland

2008-08-27T01:05:00.000-07:00

Email message from Human Rights Watch:

Human Rights Watch are doing a country report on Ireland on the harm that the ban on abortion does to Irish women. I along with Marianne Mollmann will be in Ireland from August 25th-29th doing fieldwork.

I am also available in London to do phone interviews and background research from August 20th. I have already done fieldwork in the UK with abortion service providers on the experience of Irish women travelling to Britain to obtain an abortion.

If you might be in a position to help Human Rights Watch with this ground breaking report, you can contact me by phone at the number below from August 20th or email hrwireland@gmail.com

We are particularly interested in interviewing women who have had to travel to obtain an abortion. Confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed to all women who may wish to be interviewed. During the week of 25 August, our priority will be to interview women about their experiences – and would ideally like to interview the following categories of women:

- Women with fetal abnormalities pregnancies

- Adolescents

-Rape survivors

- Immigrant women

- Traveller women

We are also interested in interviewing any woman who has had to travel for an abortion on their experiences.We would also like to be able to access any women who were not able to travel and who therefore continued with the pregnancies? I am not sure how easy it would be access this group and whether they would be willing to talk to us?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Liesl Gerntholtz.

Director, Women's Rights Division

Human Rights Watch

2-12 Pentonville Road

London N1 9HP

United Kingdom

+44 (0)207 713 1995 (general)

+44 (0)207 713 2796 (direct line)

Updates from RAG

2008-07-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

Just to let everyone know we've started to concentrate on getting The Rag no.3 together and will be working hard on it for the next few months. If anyone would like to submit images for the magazine or even ideas for the front cover please send them on to ragdubin at riseup.net

Also, check out the most recent editions for Women's News (a feminist magazine from Belfast) and the anarchist magazine Black Flag #227 for articles about RAG.

Choice Ireland demo again the WRC - Sat 26th July

2008-07-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

Choice Ireland Calls on all Organisations to
Join their Big Demo Against the WRC

1pm Saturday, 26th July 2008, 50 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1.

Choice Ireland is finishing a month of action against the rogue pregnancy counselling agency the
WRC this Saturday July 26 2008. Choice Ireland has undertaken this month of action to raise local
awareness about the operation of the clinic in the area and to generate support for our upcoming
Oireachtas hearing where we will argue that legislation should be introduced to shut down rogue
agencies. Choice Ireland therefore asks all like minded organisations to come and show their support
for our campaign to shut down the WRC this Saturday July 26 2008 at 1pm at number 50 Upper
Dorset Street. Bring your banners and flags!

Some Background information: Choice Ireland is engaged in a campaign to shut down the WRC
because we believe that vulnerable women in crisis pregnancies deserve help and support in
coming to terms with the difficult choices they face in their situation – not the lies, bullying, and
manipulation of the WRC. For this reason we are campaigning to have this rogue agency shut
down and as part of this campaign we will be maintaining a presence outside it every Saturday
this month of July.

This protest raises awareness about the WRC's activities and prevents them from
traumatising more women for as long as we are there. Choice Ireland is preparing for an
Oireachtas committee meeting to have rogues agencies like this regulated and we will be
collecting signatures for a petition to support this. We hope that you can offer us your support and
help spread the word about what is going on. If you can't make it this Saturday then come along to
our big demo on Saturday the 26th of July.

A rogue agency is a fraudulent pregnancy counselling service set up with the sole aim of taking
advantage of the vulnerability of women experiencing a crisis pregnancy in order to bully them out
of considering the possibility of abortion.The WRC is located at number 50 on Upper Dorset Street.
The sign above the door reads “WRC” but this rogue agency has many aliases. It was known as
“Aadams” from 1995 until 1999 when that incarnation was shut down in the midst of an illegal
adoption scandal. It reopened as the “Women's Counselling Network” and was more recently calling
itself “Alpha” until a Newstalk exposé led it to change its name once more to the “WRC”.

This agency is also known to misleadingly advertise in the yellow pages as “British Alternative
Pregnancy Services” and “Choice for Women” in order to give the false impression that they will
discuss all the options available to women in crisis pregnancy when they have no intention of doing
so.The agency uses many names because it has a lot to hide. This agency specialises in
traumatising vulnerable women. They give medically incorrect information to women about abortion,
stating that abortion causes breast cancer, child abuse, depression, fridgitity, promiscuity and
infertility. They also have told women that have been raped that it is impossible to become pregnant
from rape. None of this is true and the only reason they tell women these lies is to try to impede their
abilitiy to make an informed decision.

They have also been known to breach the confidentiality of people seeking counselling – informing
family members without consent that a woman is pregnant and may be considering an abortion,
giving a woman's contact details to priests, and posing as a boyfriend to try and persuade a clinic
to cancel an appointment for abortion.The agency promises women that they will be given contact
details for abortion clinics in England as soon as they have had an unnecessary and expensive
ultrasound at a private clinic that may take several weeks to procure. When the woman returns with
her ultrasound scans the clinic then uses the images to try and talk her out of her decision once
more. The reason they engage in such a tactic is to try and cause a woman additional delay and
expense in the hope that this will prevent her from being able to procure an abortion.

http://choiceireland.blogspot.com/

RAG: Next open meeting - Men and Feminism

2008-07-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Men & Feminism:

What does it mean to be a man in a patriarchal society? How
can men participate and offer solidarity in the feminist struggle against
patriarchy?

RAG open discussion open to all genders.
Hosted by RAG & an embryonic pro-feminist men’s group…
We’re hoping this event will help kick-start a regular
discussion/action group for men to explore feminist & gender politics &
actions.
Come along & be a part of it…

Monday, July 7th

7.30pm

Eengo on Camden St.
(Beside the petshop (to the right), black door, bottom buzzer - press it and we shall buzz you in)

Email: ragdublin@riseup.net for more information.

Last Week's Gathering!

2008-05-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

The first ever RAG feminist gathering took place last weekend and was a huge success. Around 120 people came along and participated in workshops and discussions in glorious sunshine. A proper report will follow here shortly - as you can imagine we are all still recouperating and catching up on all the other neglected areas of our lives! You can also send us any reports or photos to ragdublin@riseup.net. Thanks to everyone who came along and helped out. It was absolutely inspirational. xxx RAG

Feminist Gathering - this weekend!

2008-04-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

The Feminist Gathering will be taking place this weekend May 2nd - 5th. An email will be sent out shortly to all those who have registered to attend the event, this will include more information, what to bring, what not to bring etc.

Below is the provisional workshop timetable - it shows the workshops and discussions for Saturday and Sunday.

If you have any questions please contact us on ragdublin at riseup dot net or contact 086 3097622.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Provisional Timetable

With the exception of ‘female solidarity’ all the workshops are open to all genders.

FRIDAY

Time	Friday
9:00- 10:30am	Putting up marquee
10:30- 11:00am
10:30- 11:00am
11:00-12:00am
11:00-12:00am
12:30-2:00pm
2:00- 3:30pm
2:00- 3:30pm
3:30- 3:45pm
3:45- 5:15pm
3:45- 5:15pm
5:30-7:00pm
7:00-8:30pm	Welcome Session
7:00-8:30pm	Welcome Session
8:30pm-	Social
8:30pm-	Social

SATURDAY

Time	Saturday
9:00- 10:30am
10:30- 11:00am	Morning Circle
	Marquee
11:00-12:00am	Choice Ireland, Ideas	The Fire in our Bellies- Why Food Matters	Feminists as trans allies
	Big Shed	Marquee	Bender
12:30-2:00pm
2:00- 3:30pm	Capitalism & the exploitation of women	Personal Boundaries	Sustainable Living
	Big Shed	Marquee	Bender
3:30- 3:45pm
3:45- 5:15pm	Feminism in Muslim countries today	Parenting Discussion	Book binding
	Big Shed	Marquee	outside
5:30-7:00pm
7:00-8:30pm	What we’re at: contemporary feminist organising
	Marquee
8:30pm-	Barndance…yee haw!
	Barn

SUNDAY

Time	Sunday
9:00- 10:30am
10:30- 11:00am	Morning Circle
	Marquee
11:00-12:00am	Family Structures	Cross stitch and crochet		Choice Ireland, Action
	Big Shed	Marquee		Bender
12:30-2:00pm
2:00- 3:30pm	Queer Feminism	Feminism and Women in Prisons		DIY publications
	Big Shed	Marquee		Bender
3:30- 3:45pm
3:45- 5:15pm	Challenging our own privilege: why men should be pro feminist allies	Chakra Dancing*		Female Solidarity (women only workshop)
	Big Shed	Marquee		Bender
5:30-7:00pm
7:00-8:30pm	Free space…continue discussions, chill out, go for a walk, do the washing up

8:30pm-	Reggae and games night in Ballinmore		Cinema
	Moo’s bar Ballinmore		Big Shed

This weekend - April 25th-27th

2008-04-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

Volunteers welcome again this weekend or next week to help with last minute work for the gathering in Leitrim. If you want to help or have any questions email: ragdublin at riseup dot net

Also, some of us will be attending this deadly event in Cork - Ladyfest:
http://www.ladyfestcork.org/

The timetable for the Feminist Gathering will be out soon so check back here soon. It was decided at the last meeting that for those attending the gathering there is a requested donation of €20. If you can afford more or less that is also no problem.

REMEMBER REGISTER NOW:
http://ragdublin.blogspot.com/2008/04/registration-for-gathering-and-things.html

Volunteers needed this weekend

2008-04-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Rag are looking for volunteers for work weekend (this weekend 19th/20th April) in preparation for our May Feminist Gathering in Leitrim.

Work will include making paths, clearing sheds and building a bender. A number of us will be travelling to Leitrim on Friday night and Saturday morning. If you can lend a hand please get in contact with us asap. email ragdublin at riseup.net

REGISTER NOW FOR THE FEMINIST GATHERING MAY 2ND-5TH:
http://ragdublin.blogspot.com/2008/04/registration-for-gathering-and-things.html

Why Anarchafeminism?

2008-04-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

Report on discussion hosted by RAG

RAG, the Revolutionary Anarchafeminist Group is now in its third year. The collective was set up in order to explore our ideas and produce a magazine, the Rag. Meetings are held weekly on Mondays, but the first Monday of every month is an open meeting, in which non-members are invited to a workshop or discussion.

On Monday 7th April, the open meeting was entitled “Why Anarchafeminism?” The purpose of the meeting was to encourage women outside of RAG to question and explore their ideas about feminism and anarchism and to draw links between the two. Also, it gave members of the group a chance to revisit the fundamental aspects of our beliefs. The following is a personal account by two of us of the discussion. It is limited by the quality of our notes and recollections. It does not present a RAG position on anything, but is simply an attempt to share some of the ideas that were touched upon with those who were unable to attend.

Introduction
The introductory round of the discussion invited the women present to state their general ideas about anarchism and feminism. All the RAG women present identified as anarchafeminist, although each had come to anarchafeminism from different perspectives. One member said that while feminism was a given for her, she realised that we can’t have meaningful liberation with capitalism intact. Thus her belief in anarchism.

Identity
Another held that it was easier for her to identify herself to others as a feminist than as an anarchist – or at least to defend her position. She felt that people who have not considered the concepts before tend to be more willing to accept the premise that women and men should have equality than to question the core of the economic and political systems in place.

Dirty Words
Others noted that they were unable or unwilling to identify as feminist for many years due in part to the negative connotations associated with “the F word!” (There was mention that perhaps Anarchism was also seen as a dirty word – the mis-association between anarchy and chaos etc.) There was discussion around the fact that the capitalist system in place is very effective in muddying the meaning of concepts which pose a clear threat to that system.

Coming to Consciousness/ Global Consciousness
We spoke about our experiences of becoming conscious as both feminists and as anarchists, and how surprising it is that we can live happily blind to the oppressive systems around us until this change in consciousness begins to take place. It was noted that it takes a certain level of understanding to find real conviction about feminist and anarchist ideas – as to do so we must expand our view of the world to look at the global systems of oppression in place. We have to identify our own somewhat limited struggles with the very struggle for existence of many of those in the global south for example. There was more talk of migration issues and how traditionally feminine economic roles, such as care, childrearing and even sex-work are being filled by a new generation of migrant women travelling to Ireland to escape poverty in other countries. Thus greater equality for western women does not mean greater equality for all.

The Radical Feminist Threat
While feminism seems to be a more accessible concept than anarchism – or less threatening for many, it is in fact multi-layered and multi-disciplined. Even though, in recent years there has been a growth in feminist academia, it is a ghettoised thing, and little in the way of truly radical feminist ideas have seeped out into the public consciousness. Yet real feminism requires complete social restructuring which can be equated with anarchism.

What is Anarchism?
There were some women present who were unfamiliar with the term anarchism. While no “definition” was offered, it came out during the discussion that the ultimate aim of anarchism is total democracy – that each person would have equal say in every aspect of their own lives. This requires the destruction of state, hierarchy and class society, and the construction of bottom-up systems to replace it. There was some discussion around the idea of Revolution, and the need for strong grassroots action and organisation in preparation for radical change. Ultimately this would lead to an ability to take control of our resources and the defend that right. While the site for this has often been the work-place in traditional anarchist dialogue, it was noted that from a feminist perspective, the family and the body are additional sites of conflict (our literal “means of production” which we determined to seize!)

There was an aside which noted that while as anarchists we attempt to be the change we wish to see, creating non-hierarchical structures and modes of working for example. As one participant noted, however, it is not enough to try to create a utopian present, but we must remain conscious of the broader political and worldwide struggle and attempt to engage with it, not ignore it in order to work on own small circle.

Equality not Sameness
It was pointed out that one of the misconceptions of the feminist movement so far has been that for women to be equal to men, we had to be the same. Thus we have joined the rush into the workplace to have, as one participant put it, “equal access to exploitation.” We also have the added bonus of the double day at work – both outside and inside the home. The value system of capitalism is profit-driven. Only that which produces profit is seen as productive, and women’s work in producing and caring for children, in keeping the home and in caring for the sick and the old, is not valued under capitalism.

The question was placed whether capitalism would ever be able to fully adapt to feminism. It was observed that although feminism has made progressive changes for some women in the west, it cannot succeed in creating global equality under capitalism: a complete overhaul is in order. While patriarchy (the system of male dominance over women) has existed thousands of years longer than capitalism has, capitalism has made effective use of it and in some ways it may be reliant on it – for example on the nuclear family. It was suggested that capitalism would never arrive at complete equality. For it, the perception of equality is as good as actual equality. It would only concede enough to give a convincingly muddied image of equality. As the nature of capitalism is exploitation, it would be naïve to chase an equality ideal within it.

Reformism
There was some debate around the value of “reformist” feminism. No-one doubted that very real changes had been made in women’s lives due to feminist efforts. These range from the right to vote to the right to work outside of the home, equal pay legislation, anti-domestic violence legislation, etc. Unlike anarchism, feminism can and has been accepted into capitalist reform. Yet it is the socialists and anarchists who have always been behind meaningful reform – through the trade union movements, anti-racism work, community work, and women’s liberation movements. It was questioned how much has been lost to the ultimate aims of those working to create these reforms. Their achievements have been co-opted into seeming like the achievements of “democracy” when in fact they are the small rights pulled back by those who have fought against the oppressive systems in place.

It was mainly agreed that while we would always fight for meaningful reform (for abortion rights and free childcare for example), we also want to remain completely clear about why we are fighting – due to a belief not just in women’s equality – but in absolute equality. For us, the ultimate endpoint of feminism is anarchism. Yet this endpoint would never be an endpoint in itself. Someone mentioned the need for a constant state of revolt – that the reality of anarchafeminism in action would be a continual striving to do better. There can be no hand-book on how life would be after the revolution!

Patriarchy and Men
Threatened systems of oppression have always been adept at misrepresenting that threat, or causing arguments to be framed in a certain way. Thus the fight for women’s equality has been framed as a “battle of the sexes”. Certainly, male privilege is a reality, and one which feminists have focussed on in the past. Yet abolishing male privilege is not the end-goal of feminism (and certainly not of anarchafeminism!) Feminism has led to a growing consciousness of male oppression under patriarchy. For example: strict adherence to masculine gender roles, duty to “provide” in the realm of work and lack of equal rights to active parenthood. Male-oppression has been misconstrued as either a product of the feminist movement, or an oversight of it. Yet it is through feminist dialogue that a space has opened up for discussing these aspects of men’s lives and experiences. At the moment, it is only anti-feminist “backlash” groups which are addressing these specifically male issues. It is only through pro-feminist solidarity between men and women that meaningful inroads into these issues can be made. This would be truly revolutionary anarchafeminism! Yet there seems to be an unwillingness, or unreadiness as yet for anarchist men to take this on.

Queer Feminism?
There was a question about the link between feminism and queer theory - or what anarchafeminism could offer queer people (queerness might be roughly defined as gender or sexuality non-conformism.) We talked about anarchism as the freedom to be yourself within only the confines of not harming others. 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. Presently, although there has been some acceptance by wealthy capitalist countries of difference, ultimately difference is acceptable only as a lifestyle choice, not as a revolutionary force, which (with anarchafeminist analysis?) it should ultimately be.

The meeting finished with a closing circle where all acknowledged the value of the discussion, some professed to have found nothing new, and some everything! Yet most were somewhere in-between. Certainly it provided food for thought and opened the way for further debate.

The Next Step
RAG will hold their first ever weekend-long gathering on the Mayday bank holiday weekend May 2nd-5th. There will be workshops, discussions and entertainment. Feminists of all genders and ages are welcome to attend.

This Saturday (April 12th) there will be a fundraiser for the gathering in the Lower Deck, Portobello, with music from Truck, Party Weirdo, Zing and Clodagh Kerley. Doors 8pm. €6/ €5 unwaged.

Registration for Gathering and things you need to know

2008-04-09T05:09:00.000-07:00

Below is the registration form. Cut and paste, fill in and email back to us. We are all very excited and will be working hard over the next two weeks to make this event as enjoyable as can be. If you can help out let us know! We will post preliminary details about workshops shortly.
x RAG

Registration for RAG Feminist Gathering Fri-Mon May 2nd-5th
(Please fill this in and return to ragdublin@riseup.net as soon as possible. Initial deadline for registration is Thurs 17th April, as we need to prepare for numbers. We need a decent estimate by this date. It is also especially important to register soon if you are hosting a discussion. However, if you have missed this date, let us know. Final date for registrations is Thurs 24th April.)

1. Name:

2. Address:

3. Email:

4. Phone No:

5. Date/ estimated time arriving to gathering:

6. How do you plan to travel to the gathering. Can you offer others a lift?

7. Is camping accommodation ok? Will you bring your own tent/ can you bring a spare tent?

8. Do you want to give a workshop/ facilitate a discussion? If yes give

Title:
Short Description:
Any Requirements for workshop?
If you would like to provide some “recommended reading” links for those planning to attend your workshop, let us know and we can put a link up on our site.

9. Do you have any special dietary needs?

10. Do you have any other special requirements/ allergies/ medical conditions/ anything we should know:

11. Are you bringing any children?
If yes, give details, name, age, any special requests/requirements:

12. Do you have any skills you can bring to the gathering? Can you bring a musical instrument?

13. Will you be able to come early or stay late for set-up/clean up?

14. Briefly, what aspect of feminism would you be most interested in exploring at the gathering, or in some other way explain why you wish to come along (for us to gauge people's expectations!) Would you like to suggest a workshop or topic for discussion?

15. Political views/affiliation (or leave blank):

16. Anything else?

Things you should know!
Please be aware that this Gathering has a DIY ethos. Everyone will be expected to help out in some way. There will be work rotas on which you can volunteer and fill in your name. Everyone can participate in workshops and discussions. Your initiative is also expected and welcomed. We are fundraising for the gathering but would also appreciate financial donations from participants.

The food provided for the weekend will be vegan. The land we are going to has a strict no-meat policy. Rubbish from the meat attracts a lot of wild animals (foxes and pine martins) that then might try to eat the hens. Similarly no dogs or other pets are allowed.

You must also be prepared to take special care with any rubbish. There is a recycling area and instructions will be provided. You will have to take any non-recyclable rubbish you produce away with you.

There will be a washing area – but no shower – so shower before you come. Since all will be going into the groundwater, we ask that you only bring biodegradable toothpaste and personal stuffs. The toilet facilities will be constructed outdoors. There will be separate areas for pee and poo - so – ahem - practice doing one at a time now!

The nearest bus and train station to the Gathering is at Carrick-on-Shannon. Search on www.irishrail.ie, www.buseireann.ie.
Decide which time you will arrive and let us know so we can get you collected.
If you are driving, contact us for map/directions.

To Bring!
Tent
Sleeping mat (some of the ground is quite uneven)
Warm Sleeping bag
Torch
Warm Clothes and change of clothes
Boots for ground which might get muddy
Wellies
Rain gear
Own plate or bowl, mug and cutlery
Biodegradable sun-cream/ toothpaste/toiletries
Note-taking material
Treats (we are far from shops)
Instruments (if you wish)
Talents
Enthusiasm
Open Mind!

Open Meeting Mon 7th April

2008-04-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

Our next open meeting takes place on Mon 7th April at 7.30 pm in St Nicholas of Myra hall, off Francis St. All women (incl woman-identified / trans) are welcome. It is entitled "Why Anarchafeminism?". It is intended to explore our ideas about both feminism and anarchism and how/if they intersect. To explore what the term anarchafeminism means to us. For those who do not identify as anarcha-feminist, to learn more about the ideas behind feminism and anarchism in an open non-threatening environment. You are welcome, whether you feel you have a lot to say on this topic, or you just want to find out more. The discussion will be held again in the future for an open-gender group.

Benefit Gig for RAG Feminist Gathering

2008-03-31T03:36:00.000-07:00

Sat 12th April, 8pm, Lower Deck, Portobello.
Benefit gig in aid of the RAG Feminist Gathering (Mayday weekend)

Truck: Deinm-clad taco-eatin' whiskey-drinkin' demon cobra rock!
Party Weirdo: Furiously melodic blob pop noize!
Zing: Electrifying alt-rockin' three-piece
Clodagh Kerley: Bjork-influenced folk rock

€6 min donation / €5 unwaged

Don't miss it!

RAG Feminist Gathering Fri 2nd- Mon 5th May

2008-03-31T03:33:00.000-07:00

RAG are organising a feminist gathering to take place on the Mayday bank
holiday weekend in a rural setting in Leitrim. There will be workshops,
discussions, skill-sharing, music and fun.

Feminists of all persuasions (and all genders!) are welcome to attend.
Bring your enthusiasm and ideas. We also hope to make the gathering an
inclusive space for children.

Costs will be kept to a minimum. Accomodation is camping, though we will
help those with any special accomodation needs.

If you wish to attend, join the organising list asap to guarantee your space:

Send a blank email to: feministgathering-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk

(To Post message: feministgathering@yahoogroups.co.uk)

Any problems with that, or any questions before subscribing, just email us
here ragdublin@riseup.net.

Please forward this msg to anyone you think might be interested.

Solidarity

RAG

ps!
Sat 12th April, Lower Deck, Portobello - Fundraising gig for Gathering
Truck, Party Weirdo, Zing, Clodagh Kerley.
€6 min donation/ €5 unwaged

Report from Feminist Walking Tour

2008-03-31T03:14:00.000-07:00

At half past two on a crisp, sunny Saturday, over 140 people, of all ages, gathered at St Stephen’s Green front arch – exceeding all expectations – to attend the a Feminist Walking Tour marking International Women's Day.

Organisers with red screen-printed t-shirts (the image showing a high heel shoe and a boot – ready for walking!) mingled with the eager crowd, chatting, handing out information booklets, distributing green and purple suffragette ribbons and stickers to organise people into the two tours. There were activity sheets for the kids (and the big kids) and free lollipops for all!

The tour was organised by Choice Ireland and RAG, who came together to share their expertise and enthusiasm to promote a strong feminist message. “We didn’t want a protest march,” says one tour organiser, “but the walking tour was a fun way to get women out on the streets and celebrating feminism”.

The tour guides for the day were Carol Hunt – a history graduate and veteran tour guide – and Sinead Ahern, one of Choice Ireland’s finest spokespeople. Carol joked that she used to run a women’s history walking tour around Dublin, but that it was often not that well attended by men – until she changed the tour’s name to “A Sexual History of Dublin.” Same tour – different name – far better male attendance!

The tour meandered across town, tracing women’s history in the city – from the Brehon Laws, to the Ladies Land League of the 1880’s, through the suffragette movement, the women involved in workers and republican struggles, to the radical feminist movement of the 1970’s and the anti- domestic and sexual violence movements to present-day pro choice struggles.

There were also a number of guest speakers along the route. Edel Cribbin, of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre spoke about the organisation, its vital role, its lack of funding and reliance on volunteers. A community development worker, Amel Yacef, spoke about the particular difficulties facing migrant women in Ireland. Alan Mc Simoin, who was involved in the Contraception Action Programme in the 1970’s and is still active in pro-choice campaigning today, spoke about the X-case and the thousands of people who came out on the streets to support Miss X in 1992.

Helen Keyes from Choice Ireland spoke outside the “rogue” pregnancy-counselling agency on Dorset St. The so-called Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) is a fundamentalist Christian front which advertises, falsely claiming to provide information on all crisis-pregnancy options. However, once inside, it subjects vulnerable women to extreme anti-abortion propaganda. It was the existence of this agency and the fact that pregnancy counselling still goes unregulated in Ireland that first prompted Choice Ireland to form. Helen described how members of the group visited the agency to investigate what was really happening inside the WRC – even going as far as to source “pregnant pee” and conceal it on their persons! As she spoke during the tour on Saturday, a potato was thrown from a third floor window of the building, injuring one woman. The tour hastily reconvened around the corner, a safe distance from the WRC.

At the end of the tour, happy hungry walkers were invited back to the Teacher’s Club on Parnell Square, where free soup and sandwiches were well received by all. Two short, recently-made, feminist films were shown. These were “The Future of Feminism” by Cara Holmes and Breaking the Silence” by Katie Gillum – who also filmed the walking tour for Dublin Community Television. RAG had their distribution table at the back of the room selling their magazine as well as books, zines, moon cups, badges and more. There was information and leaflets from Choice Ireland. There was also music from the extremely talented young singer-songwriter duo Heathers.

There was a fun atmosphere with lots of lively discussion and reflection on the day. People chatted, old friends met and new ones were made. There was some struggling over dot-to-dot puzzles and word-searches from the kid’s activity sheet (though not only from the kids!) In the corner, some organisers were counting up donations to see if they had covered their costs. “We’re not sure,” one said, “the printing is the biggest cost, we don’t know exactly how much it will be yet, so we’ll see what happens!”

The booklet printed for the day is attractive and well put together - a mine of information to take away from the event. Its 24 colour pages include an introduction, map and background information on all the stops on the route; further sites of interest are also marked around the city. The booklet is interspersed with remarkable facts and stories of Irish women’s struggle down through the years. A listing of women’s and feminist organisations of interest are provided in the back pages. If you didn’t make the tour, but would like a copy of the booklet please email to request a copy: feministwalkingtour AT yahoo.ie. Information on the organisers is available at www.choiceireland.blogspot.com and www.ragdublin.blogspot.com.

The Walking Tour organisers would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who came along and helped make the event such a great success.

Choice Ireland is a pro-choice group formed in 2007 with an explicitly feminist agenda. “Feminism is the focus which keeps the group on track,” says one member, “and the reason why we are fighting.” RAG is an anarcha-feminist group, formed two years ago, which publishes an annual magazine, “the Rag” and holds regular open discussions and workshops.

Feminist Walking Tour - Saturday March 8th

2008-03-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

International Women's Day
Feminist Walking Tour - Saturday March 8th
Starting at 2.30pm from Stephen's Green

Press Release: Feminist’s boots were made for walking!

This year feminists in Dublin will be celebrating
International Women’s Day, 8th March 2008, by taking
to the streets for a Walking Tour of Dublin. This
guided walk will visit several sites relevant to the
history of Irish women. This entertaining and
educational tour will begin at St Stephen’s Green Arch
at 14:30 on Saturday, 8th March and will last
approximately two hours.

The walking tour is being organised by Choice Ireland
in association with the RAG collective and other
women's groups and individuals. An information
booklet and map has been produced to accompany the
Walk and includes the route of the walk. The walking
tour will be followed by a social event in the
Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Commenting Niav Keating said:

“From the Monto to the Magdalene laundries, the tour
will bring the sexual history of Irish women to life.
We are delighted to have Carol Hunt conducting the
tour. The aim of the tour is highlight the many
achievements of the women’s movement in Ireland.
However, we still have a long way to go”.

Niav Keating added:

“In 2008, women are told that they are equal to men
and that there is no longer a need for feminism.
However, thirty years after equal pay legislation
women earn on average 15% less than men. Ireland has
one of the worst parliamentary gender balances in the
democratic world. Currently, only 22 of the 166 TDs
in Leinster House are women. Ireland also has one of
the most draconian abortion laws in Europe”.

Quotes end.

For further information and comment:

Niav Keating 086 329 3741

Choice Ireland is a diverse group of Pro-Choice
activists campaigning for free, safe and legal
abortion services in Ireland. The RAG is a magazine
published annually by an anarchafeminist group based
in Dublin.

Related Link: http://www.choiceireland.blogspot.com
Related Link: http://www.ragdublin.blogspot.com

Why aren't there more female political activists?

2008-02-26T06:32:00.000-08:00

The March open meeting will look at gender imbalance in political organising and what can or has been done to address this.

This will take place at 7.30pm on Monday, March 3rd.
St Nicholas of Myra Hall (creche room), Carmen Hall, Francis St, Dublin 2

Everybody is welcome, bring your experiences and ideas.

Map to St Nicholas of Myra Hall (creche room)

Guerrilla Girls in Dublin

2008-02-21T08:10:00.001-08:00

Anonymous Feminist Theatre Troupe Guerrilla Girls On Tour to hold
Press Conference and Photo Call: Friday, February 22nd, 11.15-12.15

Performances on Monday, February 25th, Trinity Player's Theatre at 6.30pm and 9.00pm

The Guerrilla Girls on Tour are "Changing the World, One Sexist City
at a Time" as their tagline goes, and Dublin is next on the list. The
American feminist theatre group, who all use the names of dead female
artists and wear gorilla masks during appearances, have adapted their
live performance Feminists Are Funny to address the past and present
of women in the Irish theatre. The Guerrilla Girls will hold a press
conference at 11.15 on Friday, February 22nd in the Elizabethan Room
of House Six, off Trinity's Front Square. A question and answer
session will be followed by a photo call in Front Square.
On the current state of feminism in Ireland, Guerrilla Girl on Tour
Coco Chanel comments: "I feel the abortion laws in Ireland are archaic
and was shocked to find that in Ireland divorce has only recently been
allowed by law. Is the God we worship in the United States more slack
than the God you worship in Ireland? I feel that the lack of
separation of church and state in Ireland has only hindered the
woman's movement and it is not God's fault".

For additional information please see attachment, or contact ggot@tcsc.tcd.ie.

Friends of RAG!

2008-02-20T07:40:00.000-08:00

We're gathering nice photos of our RAG fans - thought this would be a good one to share! This photo shows Kate Bornstein and Barbara Carrellas who we met last weekend at the Lesbian Lives conference in UCD.

Demo at "WRC". Close The Rogue Agency!

2008-02-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Demo at "WRC". Close The Rogue Agency!

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86198

Following several successful pickets at the rogue crisis pregnancy agency, an action will be held on Saturday 16 February at 1pm. The rogue agency is at 50 Upper Dorset Street.

The agency, called "Women's Resource Centre" and also using the name "British Alternatives Pregnancy Services", is advertised as a pregnancy counselling agency. It subjects women in crisis pregnancies to psychological manipulation, misleading and deliberately lying about pregnancy and abortion services to prevent women from travelling for abortion services. The lies they tell clients are designed to force women to feel guilt and shame for even considering abortion as an option.

Full Story: Rogue Anti-Choice Agency, Dorset St. - A History of Lies and Deceptionhttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/81414

Related Link: http://choiceireland.blogspot.com

RAG distro at Lesbian Lives 15th/16th Feb

2008-02-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday, 15th and 16th of Febraury, the interesting RAG distro will be at the Lesbian Lives conference in UCD. Our distro has zines, books and other bits and pieces on feminism, anarchism, diy, health and more. Come along and check us out (well our distro, not actually us...!!).

Lots more information and programme available at
https://www.eventznet.com/295/ac/womensstudies/lesbianlivesxv/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Saturday night social event for the conference on Saturday 16th Feb

Lesbian Lives Party
in association with
Affinity @ Oslo Bar, Connolly Station.

Door Open 10pm until late, late bar,
DJ Paris
€10 entry

RAG open meeting - Monday February 4th

2008-02-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

RAG Open Meeting

Monday 4th February, 7.30pm
St Nicholas of Myra Hall (Creche room), Carmans Hall, off Francis Street (turn at O'Sullivans Antiques), Dublin 8.

"We Don’t Need No Education!?" Well, not one like that maybe...

Facilitated group discussion on critical and radical approaches to education
Everyone welcome

Feminist Gathering May 2008

2008-01-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

*** Attention all feminists! ***

RAG, the Dublin-based anarcha-feminist collective, are organising a gathering in Ireland on the 2nd–5th May 2008. This will be a chance for feminists to come together to discuss, learn and share in a radical but supportive environment. As plans for the weekend are being drawn-up, we want to ask you to scratch these dates into your diary now.

It is intended that this wonderful event will take place in a rural setting away from Dublin - location to be confirmed. Costs will be kept to a minimum. Feminists and children are all very welcome.Lots more details to follow, keep an eye on www.ragdublin.org. Also check out our website to find out more about RAG and our activities. (Our website is temporarily out of action so keep an eye on www.ragdublin.blogspot.com for the time being.)

If you are interested in attending this gathering, or have any questions or suggestions please email ragdublin at riseup dot net

Unfortunately places will be limited so get in get in touch soon.

Solidarity and strength,

RAG Dublin

Where is The Rag no.2 available?

2008-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

The RAG no.2 is available at the following shops and distros:

THIS MUST BE UPDATED:

ireland:

books upstairs - 36 college green, dublin 2
book worms - 75 middle abbey st, dublin 1
the hemp co - 167 capel st, dublin 1
connolly books - 43 east essex street, dublin 2
tower records - wicklow street, dublin
charlie byrne's - cornmarket, galway
amnesty international shop - middle street, galway
barracka books - 61 barracks street, cork
walnut books - 50 cornmarket st, cork
the hemp co - lancaster house, western rd, cork
skullduggery tatu - belfast
stitchy press - leitrim
sligo steve - flabbyvegan@hotmail.com
just books (belfast) - jst_books@yahoo.co.uk

uk:

FAG club - cardiff
kebele infoshop - bristol
now or never - norwich
56a infoshop - london
ak press - scotland
active distribution
the cowley club - brighton
brassbuttons (UK) - breakdancevietnam@gmail.com

elsewhere:

stone henge records - bordeaux, france
agera distro (Sweden) - info@ageradistribution.net
emancypunx (Poland) - emancypunxrecords@o2.pl
blue stockings - new york, usa
global aware kensington - toronto, canada
the toronto women's bookstore - toronto, canada
spartacus books - vancouver, canada
dark horse books - victoria, canada
novel idea bookstore - kingston, canada
librairie l'insoumise - montréal, canada
octopus books - ottawa, canada
brian mackenzie infoshop - washington dc, usa
tarantula distribution (Portland OR) - dave@socialwar.net
beating hearts (Australia) - beatingheartspress@hotmail.com
acclaim Collective (Japan) - acclaim@nomasters.com