UK UK Newswire Archive
Stop Praying on Our Bodies @ Westminster Cathedral
26-03-2012 16:55
A piece explaining why a group of protesters including members of feminist group Femcells and South London Solfed took the pro-choice fight to the steps of Westminster Cathedral on Sunday 25th March.
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“Bishop Hopes, Shame on You, Come to Us, We’ll Come to You!”
On Sunday 25th March a group of twenty protesters took up position outside the doors of Westminster Cathedral. We went with the aim of drawing attention to Bishop Alan Hopes, and the support he is giving the 40daysforlife movement who have been harassing women outside abortion clinics around the country. He intends to lead one of their “vigils” on Friday 30th – we think he should stay away.
Although we had a lot of support for the action we received a number of criticisms from pro-choice activists who felt that to protest outside the cathedral during the midday mass was ‘dodgy’, ‘inappropriate’ or would ‘drive people away’. Presumably these criticisms were leveled because as a place of worship the cathedral and its environs have a special privilege as a sacred space, and the activity there is defined as private. Unfortunately the hierarchy of the church has not shown the same respect to the rights and sacred spaces of others. The Bishop of Westminster has identified with a movement that thinks the area outside an abortion clinic is an appropriate space to launch an attack on women’s rights, decimating their privacy by photographing and haranguing them during an intensely personal time. As such we refuse to meet with them on their chosen battlefield - our sacred space - and instead chose to demonstrate that this agreement to respect goes both ways – and so can its violation.
In addition to queries over the chosen location were also told that many catholics are pro-choice. To that we say excellent – then they should be telling their Bishop exactly what they think of his behaviour. But more broadly if you step into that cathedral under the auspices of the Pope and his Bishops you cannot expect to fully distance yourself from the policies they implement. The so called “pro-life” stance is a deadly, marginalizing, misogynistic viewpoint that the hierarchy of the church actively condones, encourages and if possible enforces. It kills women. If our presence meant a pro-choice catholic had to endure a small reminder of that reality then all the better.
And in the end the demo itself went well. We kept a distance from the cathedral that would ensure no-one felt too pressed - which is more than the women attempting to gain access to the clinics have been allowed - and the responses we got ranged from clapping and lively debate, to cries of ‘keep your legs together’, ‘bitches’ and ‘stupid little girls’. This was coupled with minor attempts at physical intimidation not to mention a few acts of somewhat aggressive prayer.
But where to go from here? Hopefully the Bishop will withdraw his support for 40daysforlife, but even if he does back down the recent actions of both religious organisations and the state have made it clear that our rights are not secure. Nadine Dorres continues to push for a reduction on the time limit on abortions and Andrew Lansley complained this week that abortion clinics were not respecting ‘the letter nor the spirit of the law’ in reference to the allegations of doctors ‘pre-signing’ abortion certificates. In that case, perhaps it is the law needs to be challenged. In 1967 the ‘spirit’ and ‘letter’ of the Abortion Act essentially required that a women seeking abortion first get her decision sanctioned by (most likely) two men in a position of authority. In a time when abortion was still a controversial issue it also safeguarded the doctor from liability and ensured the bill had enough support to get through parliament. This requirement was not constructed with easing the process for the women involved in mind. So perhaps the reason for this ‘lax’ approach to the paperwork is that in 2012 it just isn’t appropriate to expect a woman’s choice to be first judged, or for it to be so controversial a procedure that two doctors need to sign off on it in such convoluted a way. Maybe now it is time for us to say full choice, no compromises, we will only go forward.
For more information, or to find your local London Femcells group contact femcells@riseup.net.
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Chile: Students demo in Santiago (video from riots)
26-03-2012 12:36
Students demo in SantiagoIsraelis and Iranians Against War
26-03-2012 11:22
Israelis aren't all like Netanyahu and Knesset extremists like him. Most want peace, not war. On March 24, Haaretz headlined, "Hundreds of Israelis march in Tel Aviv to protest war with Iran," saying: A Ronny Edry/Michal Tamir "Israelis against a war with Iran" Facebook campaign linked anti-war Israeli and Iranian citizens. It inspired protesters after it went viral, saying: "The newspaper headlines tell the tale: The prime minister is trying to legitimize an Israeli attack on Iran, which is expected soon." Another post read: "Most of the Israeli public is opposed to an adventure of this sort that may have catastrophic consequences. Many experts warn of the results an attack on Iran and a declaration of war of this sort may bring. Iran is expected to respond, meaning there would be many Israeli casualties." Quotes from supportive prominent Israelis were added, including former Mossad head Meir Dagan opposing an attack.Frontex eyes drones to further war on immigration
26-03-2012 10:59
Last September the European Parliament granted EU border control agency Frontex the right to purchase its own equipment, such as navy ships and helicopters. Up till then Frontex was depending on EU member states defence and police forces for its equipment. The decision of the European Parliament opened up new profit opportunities for the arms industry.While no orders so far have become public, several military companies started courting Frontex, especially with offers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones).
Smash EDO: Summer of Resistance info night, today in Brighton
26-03-2012 10:17
There will be an open Summer of Resistance info night tonight, Monday the 26th, at the Cowley Club in Brighton, 7.30pm. Come and learn more and to find out how to get involved.Insurrectionary ecological struggle continues (Papua)
26-03-2012 02:46
news from the struggle against the Indonesian state, mining and logging companies by Papuan people.a drilling rig is set afire in kampung Tablasupa
five logging camps burned by Arso villagers
Mass deportation by charter flight to Afghanistan, 28th March
25-03-2012 21:33
Was 26th March, postponed to 28th March, 00.10 hrsMany people know that the UK has embarked in a disastrous war in Afghanistan, alongside the US and NATO.
What most people do not know, or are not aware of, is that the people who arrive in UK fleeing the war in Afghanistan are routinely detained, denied protection and sent back to Afghanistan, on regular charter flights London - Kabul: there is a deportation charter flight to Afghanistan about every two weeks– charters to Afghanistan are the most regular of the mass deportation flights from the UK.
Fire station beats IPO
25-03-2012 20:55
The Fire Station Social Centre near Lambeth Bridge will start running activities this week after a judge ruled the issuing of its IPO was illegal.The judge threw out the London Fire Service's Interim Possession Order (IPO) on Friday after it arose that papers for the 48-hour fasttrack eviction process were received FOUR days after it was squatted.
A Year of Screenings from OARC & OxIMC
25-03-2012 19:42
Noise bomb against the Center for Social Reinsertion in Puerto Montt (Chile)
25-03-2012 17:20
claim of responsibility for action against gendarmia offices, 21 March in Puerto Montt (chile) by anonymous anarchists in solidarity with imprisoned combatant Luciano TortugaPortsmouth Thugs Sought Over Racist Attack
25-03-2012 14:41
A student who says he was racially abused by three men managed to drive past them in his car and take their photographs, police have said.SMASH HLS – Email AstraZeneca!
25-03-2012 12:31
AstraZeneca March Madness:::Week of Action:::
Monday 26th – Saturday 31st March
The Syrian People’s Revolution, One Year On: Torture, Disappearances and Exile
25-03-2012 11:27
A year ago, when the Arab Spring began — or, as the events were then called, the revolutionary movements in the Middle East (which had already toppled two western-backed dictators in Tunisia and Egypt) — I remember being surprised, and also worried, when Syrian activists held a “Day of Rage” in Damascus on March 15, and, the day after, other protestors in Damascus — mostly well-established human rights activists — called for the release from prison of other human rights activists, many of whom had been held for many years.
Bradley Manning Solidarity in Wales: 11 - 29 April
25-03-2012 10:13
Anti Fascism: Bolton Blunderers
25-03-2012 09:45
http://www.schnews.org.uk/stories/Bolton-Blunderers/ Oranges and Warfare - Greece
25-03-2012 08:54
Oranges or arms - economic and other violence