[LAF] {Disarmed} FW: [londonfeministnetwork] Statement on the 25th of November

Thu Nov 29 00:13:27 UTC 2007

Wow, thanks for telling me about "No Answer for a Dancer" Mich, i just googled the lyrics because I've never heard of Consolidated and they're really good, I've posted them below.  Also, you're exactly right, the march WAS a Reclaim the Night march and it was followed by a mixed rally at ULU.  Do come next year - it's always around The International Day to End Violence Against Women (which was Sunday this year so we marched on the Saturday night just before).

The Channel 4 video you say you sent, if that was a link to Mark Thomas's documentary on Coca Cola, yes I definitely got your post and it was brilliant.  If you're talking about something else, though, Mich, I don't remember seeing it.

Joy

"No Answer for a Dancer" by Consolidated

it was after the show and i’m loading out the van it could’ve been anywhere but in this case atlantaa woman walks up while i’m packing she says have you got a minute i say yeah just a second how are you did you enjoy the show she said i did but i still have a question though ‘cuz some of your remarks were confusing especially the ones about pornography and prostitution now let me understand this that for women and children this is violence well i appreciate the messages you’re giving but i happen to dance for a living and i want to know why you want to be my voice try to take away that which should be my choice to seek some meaningful and gainful employment even if it means giving dirty old men enjoyment now exploitation of anyone is wrong i agree but this doesn’t apply to me i’ve never been harassed while i work and my bottom line’s phat now sir can you deal with that

you could already call the situation i wasn’t even speculating about her occupation but this debate’s insane and i was on the spot so i had to try to explain her points were intelligent and simple and i’m already feeling like mr. guilty white liberal just try to be sensitive don’t act like i have any advice to give let me make it clear i support you in a man’s world a woman does what she’s got to if this is your profession your sexual expression your internalized oppressionhey i won’t doubt you my only problem is with a society that forces women into sexual commodity where a third of all women are known to be sexually abused before they’re grownthe most raped most homeless and addicted if this job were described to you would you have picked it

average age fourteen hell yes obscene made to look aroused by pain children being raped with guns and knives that ain’t speech but the taking of innocent’s lives if you happen to be the exception that’s cool but let’s consider the overwhelming rule

we parted ways with no resolution you could go back and forth and never find a solution the only point i wanted to make to her is while all the liberals and pornographersdecide where the line between porn and erotica is this is what prostitution really is a question of censorship alright of women’s and children’s basic rightsand there’s no first amendment protection for those unable to raise an objection if they weren’t silenced they’d sound an alarm and we’d all know the difference between speech and harm you want to mutilate yourself on film that’s your choice but can we protect those without a voice i’d never get in your face i just don’t want you to end up like linda lovelace the bottom line is i’m a man and i listen to you because i could never understand and i haven’t got shit to say but if i don’t say anything well how long will it be this way

[Hear the clip from Consolidated at the Listen to Samples section of the Business of Punishment page at Amazon]

> Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:49:12 +0000> From: kj10680 at yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Re: [LAF] {Disarmed} FW: [londonfeministnetwork] Statement on the 25th of November> To: joy_helbin at hotmail.com; laf at lists.aktivix.org> > Cheers for posting this Joy. Horrifying and unsetting> to read, but necessarry also. Am rubbish at computers> but hope i have managed to 'scan and save' it to my> computer! > It is obvious that all other forms of violence become> heightened during periods of 'official war', and i was> aware of quite a bit of this; but is useful to have> the statistics to hand.> I have read a lot of your posts before with interest,> for examp[le the ones on pornography and prostitution> - an area i am conflicted on. > Cos i believe in freedom and liberty, and know a> couple of friends who are working girls, or used too,> and they would be stuck without the money.> However, i think it is horrible in the attitute> towards sexuality it sort of gives off. > Obviously under capitalism, everything is comodified> and fetished(?) and sex is very interesting as can be> the most passionate beautiful intense feelings you can> share - to a frightning, coerced abuse of a minor, and> of course a million variations inbetween.> It worrys me that porn leads to not seeing women as> human beings also by some men, and also i think maybe> leads to violence.> What is most clear to me however, and i am> uneducated,etc, so hope i am expressing it right, is> that rape is a crime of violence and power, and not> that much to do with sex.> Cos if someone just wanted sex, they would get in less> trouble with polis , etc, if just shoplifted or done> a bit of kiting or that, and then paid a prostitute.> I know everyone is aware of that on this forum, but> really pisses me of when u hear judges and others who> should know better - tal;king shite like 'she was> asking for it', 'he couldn't help himself' and other> such assorted bollocks.> I suppose the one piece that sums up my attitude or> come extremely close, is actually a song lyrics. > Is no answer for a dancer by Consolidated, have u> heard it, or seen the lyrics.> > am glad the march type thing went ok, i would have> liked to come to that, but am not always able to get> to the computer, and get too much e-mail and spam, so> miss lots of posts - i just hapened to see this cos> was sitting here writing an e-mail to do with a irish> prisoner, who even by bourgeious law, should be> repatriated, and his life is in danger having been> almost killed in attack already. I do not agree with> his organisation, but is a human rights issue and i> see their point.> > Next time there is one , perhaps it would be kl for me> to tag along. i take it is like the old 'bring or take> back the night things?> > solidarity, mich> > p.s. does anyone know if the e-mail i sent via channel> 4 turned up as i have gone back thru my e-mails and> cannot find it. > --- Joy Wood <joy_helbin at hotmail.com> wrote:> > > > > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:53:08 +0000> > > > > > > > > > > > Last night's march in London was brilliant and> > everything was so well organised -Thanks to> > everyone. This statement is a reminder that this is> > a worldwide issue that we need to work on all the> > time.> > Sheila> > > > WILPF Statement on the International Day for the> > Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16> > Days of Activism Against Gender Violence > > > > The 25th of November is International Day for the> > Elimination of Violence Against Women. For the last> > 15 years, from this day until UN Human Rights Day> > (10 December) 16 Days of Activism Against Gender> > Violence are observed, recognized by the UN since> > 1999. Protecting women’s human rights and> > eliminating violence against women has advanced> > through the United Nations. Since 1995 substantial> > work has been done to implement the Beijing> > Declaration and Platform for Action arising from the> > 4th UN World Conference on Women; 185 countries –> > more than 90 percent of the UN member states – have> > now ratified the 1979 Convention on the Elimination> > of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women> > (CEDAW); and, United Nations Security Council> > adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security> > in 2000.Despite this recognition, violence against> > women is a reality that cuts across borders, wealth,> > race, religion and culture. Every day women> > experience extensive violence, particularly in> > countries at war, in crisis or conflict where> > women’s rights deteriorate and are under pressure: > > > > One in three women has been beaten, raped, coerced> > into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime; 1 > > Every fifth woman is subjected to rape or attempt to> > rape; 1 > > 70 percent of the casualties in recent conflicts> > have been non-combatants. 80 percent of these are> > women and children; 1 > > Systematic rape, sexual violence and abuse in> > Darfur, in Sudan, is used as a weapon in the war; 1 > > During the conflict between 1991 and 2002, it is> > estimated that a third of all women and girls in> > Sierra Leone were subjected to sexual violence; 1 > > Since the 1999 war Kosovo has become a major> > destination country for women and girls trafficked> > into forced prostitution. Around 15-20 percent of> > the women are allegedly under 14 years; 1 > > In Colombia 3.5-4 million people are displaced. The> > majority of these are women with many children.> > There are reports of increased violence against the> > women; 2 > > Every year 14,000 Russian women die as a result of> > violence in the home; 1 > > Every fifth day a Spanish woman is killed by her> > partner; 1 > > One in three Native American or Alaska Native women> > will be raped at some point in their lives; 1 > > Every fourth minute a woman in the USA is raped; 1 > > In fourteen countries a man can get mitigation of> > his sentence or impunity if he perpetrates violence> > or kills a woman in order to protect the so-called> > honour; 1 > > According to law in nine countries a rapist gets> > impunity if he marries his victim. 1 > > Violence against women in war areas has, according> > to UNDP, reached epidemic heights. The common> > denominator for the 1990’s conflicts and the> > conflicts in this millennium has been comprehensive> > sexual abuse, forced pregnancy as a tool in ethnic> > genocide, kidnapping, intentional infection with> > HIV/AIDS and trafficking in women and children for> > sexual purposes. 3 Changes in the pattern of gender> > roles are one of the consequences of conflict, war> > or occupation. Violence and aggression becomes> > integrated into everyday life. When killing becomes> > legitimate, it also becomes legitimate to rape or> > buy and sell human bodies; a systematic> > brutalization of the whole society occurs resulting> > in numerous and grave assaults on women who are> > abused by family members as well as by unknown men,> > civilians as well as soldiers.Every day and> > everywhere women are working for respect of their> > rights and for better conditions. WILPF honours the> > courage and endurance of women and recommits itself> > to eliminating violence against women, achieving> > disarmament and an end to violent conflicts. Since> > 1915 when it was founded, the Women’s International> > League for Peace and Freedom has worked to> > eliminating war and militarism as the best way to> > reduce and eliminate violence in our societies and> > in the world. Ensuring that women are active> > participants in the decisions that affect their> > lives before, during and after conflicts is the best> > way to ensure that women’s concerns and needs are on> > the agenda and get the priority they need. > > --------------------------------------1) Amnesty> > International, international and Danish websites; 2)> > Women Building Peace Around The World: The Case of> > Colombia in a 1325 perspective, WILPF Delegation to> > Colombia, July 12– 20, 2007; 3) UNDP, Newsletter> > from the Nordic Office, 23th of April 2003.
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