From Suffragettes to Slutwalk - Newcastle meeting

FROM SUFFRAGETTES TO SLUTWALK: The Struggle for Women’s Liberation

Tuesday 17 July, 6:30pm

Bar Loco, 22 Leazes Park Road, Newcastle, NE1 4PG

Hosted by Counterfire

Kate Connelly, who is currently writing a book on the great suffragette and socialist Sylvia Pankhurst, is visiting Newcastle to give a special talk on the history of movements for women's liberation. She will suggest some key political and practical lessons from this experience for confronting today's challenges. There will be time for questions and discussion.

The website New Left Project reviewed Kate’s session at the 'The Festival of Dangerous Ideas' in London in March, stating that: ‘From suffragettes to Slutwalk' was an informed and intelligent talk, and I came away feeling I had learnt something interesting about the role of working class women in the suffragette movement; something that all too often gets overlooked.’

Please RSVP on the facebook event page here: http://www.facebook.com/events/309573745801106/

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Newcastle Slutwalk - video

A short film documenting the Newcastle Slutwalk on 4 June.



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A comment on Wikileaks, Assange and Pilger

John Pilger

Here's a comment of mine from a Liberal Conspiracy thread, where I respond to a dreadful, ill-tempered and badly-written article attacking this John Pilger article.

'This is an awful piece and indicates the disorientation of those from left/liberal backgrounds who have joined in the attacks on Assange. Pilger wrote a perceptive, principled and serious piece, which deserves a much more thoughtful and honest response.

It is absolutely reasonable to criticise those feminists who have got this so wrong. That isn’t an attack on feminism. Left-wingers like Pilger and Michael Moore have quite correctly located this issue in its proper context, i.e. the attacks on Wikileaks and freedom of information by a number of Western states (most significantly the US) with a vested interest in hiding the crimes of the ‘war on terror’.

None of us know what Assange did or didn’t do in Sweden. But not only is someone innocent until proven guilty after they have been charged, it’s worth recalling that Assange hasn’t been charged and there is no evidence in the public domain to support the allegations.

Everyone who regards themselves as remotely liberal, left-wing or progressive should unequivoically defend Wikileaks from attacks on the site’s ability to function freely, and oppose the violation of Assange’s human rights. They should also avoid smearing either Assange himself or those like Pilger who oppose the appalling treatment of him.

It’s got nothing to do with assuming the worst of those who allege rape or with treating rape lightly. It has nothing to do with ‘standing shoulder to shoulder with misogynists and conspiracy theorists’. Such silly and personalised abuse – a poor substitute for reasoned argument and engagement with the facts – is unacceptable.

I’m not aware of anyone on the left or in the anti-war movement vilifying the complainants or reinforcing sexist assumptions. Pilger certainly doesn’t do it in his article. The various signatories to a recent letter to the Guardian opposing the attacks on Wikileaks don’t do it. There may be misogynistic idiots on the internet doing it, but it is dishonest to tarnish the reputations of others by falsely associating them with such nonsense.'

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What kind of feminism in the 21st century? - Newcastle public meeting

Women, recession and resistance: what kind of feminism in the 21st century?

Public meeting hosted by Tyne and Wear Counterfire

Wednesday 10 November, 8pm start (please note new time)

Upstairs at Salsa Cafe, 89 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 4AE

See Venue page and Facebook Event page

Working class women will bear the brunt of the government's savage and unjust cuts to welfare and public services, whether as users of public services or as public sector workers. But women will also be on the frontline of fighting back.

This meeting will raise and discuss a number of questions about women, class and British society today, including the question of how women and men alike can achieve fundamental social change.

The starting point for this public forum will be Lindsey German's short but powerful Feminist Manifesto, which can be read HERE 

Speakers: Elaine Graham Leigh, a London-based activist who is on Counterfire's national organising committee and Campaign Against Climate Change's steering committee, and local activist Lindy Syson.

Image: Zita Holbourne of BARAC and Coalition of Resistance

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Welcome to Britain, Your Holiness

It's probably a good idea for you to first read this rather sublime little story from the BBC News site.

OK, so which one is it to be?

A) Launch a range of 'Benedict' condoms
B) Open an abortion clinic
C) Bless a gay marriage
D) Apologise for the Spanish Armada
E) Sing a duet with the Queen
F) Photo opportunity with Susan Boyle

Cast your votes...

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way

This blog's tagline is a great visionary statement - inspiring and hopeful - from Arundhati Roy. I'm thrilled to discover I'm not its only fan. Someone has realised it would look great on a shirt and - hey presto! - this new creation from Philosophy Football, who have this to say:

Philosophy Football launches their 'women of dissent T-shirt range featuring Angela Davis, La Pasionaria, Emma Goldman and Colombian political prisoner, Liliany Obando. And fronting the range the feminised version of 'another world is possible' authored by Arundhati Roy, inspirational writer and campaigner. Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel The God of Small Things Arundhati is now perhaps now best known for activism on issues of social justice and economic inequality, in her home country India but also worldwide. Available from Philosophy Football.

I gather Philosophy Football organised a very successful International Women's Day event for the TUC - 350 people turned up for entertainment and politics including comedian Josie Long. Congratulations to the organisers on a refreshing example of how to combine politics and the desire for A Good Night Out.

See HERE to order the shirt.

New left?

This is from one of the most interesting and intelligent blog posts I've read in a long time, reflecting on yesterday's climate protests (pictured), mental health, political alienation and more:

'My generation, overwhelmingly, faces a choice between becoming politically active or becoming massively despondent, 'going crazy' with frustration at a world that has turned out so much harder and crueler than we thought it would be even when we'd grown up enough to realise that politicians and business leaders would repeatedly and inevitably let us down.'

Read in full: 'World on Fire (1): blue waves and black dogs' at Penny Red.

Since we're on the subject of fresh thinking by a new generation of left-wing feminists, I think I'll also link to this review of Nina Power's short book 'One Dimensional Woman'.

The photo is from a flickr set that can be viewed HERE.