[Anarchafeminists] Fwd: UK: Shut down the "Rape Guru"

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Subject: UK: Shut down the "Rape Guru"

Dear friends across the UK,

In Japan he told his students, “Dude, just grab her.” He chokes women
in his promotional videos and in his seminars he encourages men to
“short circuit the emotional and logical mind” of women -- to get them
into bed against their will. Now this evangelist of rape culture is
coming to the UK -- unless we shut him down.

A self-described “pick up artist,” Julien Blanc charges thousands for
his sleazy advice, and in a week his school is running a sold out “boot
camp” in London. But Julien is running into a PR problem: campaigns in
Australia, Canada, Japan and Brazil have gone viral, asking governments
to keep him out -- Australia revoked his visa this week! Now voices in
the UK are catching up and calling on the Home Office to deny him a
visa. It’s the perfect moment to put his sexist snake oil operation out
of business.

To allow this man into the UK sends a message that women are objects to
be manipulated and preyed on, and legitimises sexual assault. Not on our
watch. Sign now, share with everybody you know, and let’s add the UK to
the list of proud countries standing up for the rights of women:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/To_Theresa_May_Home_Secretary_UK_Shut_down_the_Rape_Guru/?bDaOpcb&v=48455

Rape isn’t just a physical act of violence, it’s a culture. And every
culture has its teachers, evangelists and gurus. Julien Blanc is one of
them, and the UK is better off without his “lessons.” The Ministry of
Justice (MoJ) has reported that over 400,000 women are sexually
assaulted each year in England and Wales, and one in five British women
have been victims of sexual violence since the age of 16. Another recent
study by the National Union of Students found out-of-control levels of
sexual assault and harassment at British universities. Julien Blanc is
the last kind of "professor" Britain needs right now.

Some of Blanc’s defenders ask what’s the big deal, he’s just teaching
shy guys how to get laid? No, he’s not. Julien Blanc’s line of
“schooling” purposefully diminishes the importance of consent. Because
rape in a dark alley by a deranged stranger is actually a rarity. More
often than not it’s a drug poured into a drink. It’s a girl coerced into
going somewhere she doesn’t want to. It’s a family friend going into a
room at night. International organisations say in most cases of sexual
violence the victims knew their rapists. Classes teaching insecure men
how to better manipulate, coerce or degrade women perpetuate this reality.

Julien Blanc’s school for “pick up artists” is offering a seminar in
London on November 21, and it’s already fully booked. Home Minister
Theresa May has the discretion to keep people out of the UK who are a
serious threat to the public good. So let's pile onto the pressure from
Change dot org and other groups, and when we get to 100,000 we'll join
with survivors of sexual assault to deliver the petition directly to her
door -- and keep Julien Blanc out of the UK:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/To_Theresa_May_Home_Secretary_UK_Shut_down_the_Rape_Guru/?bDaOpcb&v=48455

Across the world the Avaaz community has stood up fiercely for the
rights of women and girls, against the War on Women and the rape culture
it perpetuates. Putting Julien Blanc out of business is just one battle
in a longer journey, but it shows that when our community unites in the
right place, at the right time, we make magic together.

With hope,

Joseph, Pascal, Luis, Caroline, Andrea, Alex, Ricken and the whole Avaaz
team


MORE INFORMATION

Sick 'seduction guru' who tells men to woo women by CHOKING them (Daily
Mail)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2832069/Sick-seduction-guru-tells-men-woo-women-CHOKING-th...
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2832069/Sick-seduction-guru-tells-men-woo-women-CHOKING-them.html)

Julien Blanc: petition urges UK to deny visa to controversial US
‘pick-up artist’ (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/10/julien-blanc-petition-urges-uk-deny-visa-pick-up-artist

Sexual harassment rife at UK universities, says NUS (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/15/sexual-harassment-rife-universities-nus-survey

'Dating coach’ Julien Blanc kicked out of Australia for crude ‘pick-up’
schtick (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/10/dating-coach-julien-blanc-kicked-out-of-australia-for-his-controversial-tactics/

International “Pick-Up Artist” Julien Blanc Facing Worldwide Boycott
(Buzzfeed)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/canada-considers-banning-pick-up-artist-julien-blanc