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<STRONG>Welcome to the Reading Grassroots Action update for May 2009!<BR></STRONG> <BR>We've had a busy month behind us and an even busier one coming up. <BR> <BR>First things first; We've got events planned and 1000 copies of our new newsletter to distribute so if you are able to lend a hand with publicity distribution please get in touch by calling Stu on 07956 104415 or by emailing <A href="mailto:rgacollective@hotmail.co.uk"><FONT color=#0068cf>rgacollective@hotmail.co.uk</FONT></A>. <BR> <BR>We recently held a meeting with local residents of Katesgrove to discuss plans for a long-term community garden to follow on from the succesful Common Ground Garden direct-action campaign. For more information or to get involved please drop us a line.<BR> <BR>Meanwhile, the Reading branch of the Industrial Workers of the World union (<A href="http://www.iww.org/" target=_blank></A><FONT color=#0068cf><A href="http://www.iww.org.uk">www.iww.org.uk</A></FONT></A>) continues to meet and grow, as well as helping new branches set-up in Cardiff and Kent . The next Reading branch meeting is Sunday 31st May - please see Upcoming Events for information.<BR> <BR>RGA has also launched the 'Recession Resistance' newsletter, a special bulletin detailing resistance to the impact of the financial crisis. This covers events such as the workers occupation of Ford Visteon factories (<A href="http://visteonoccupation.wordpress.com/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>http://visteonoccupation.wordpress.com/</FONT></A>), the workers occupation and then buyout of the Prisme factory in Dundee, parents occupations of closure-threatened schools in London and Glasgow and more. If you would like a copy or would be willing to help distribute them please get in touch.<BR> <BR>On the Wednesday 3rd of June RGA is holding an open event entitled "Left of Reading", an informal discussion evening for all trade unionists, socialists, anarchists and other progressive/leftwing people. This event is planned to be the first of several, and this time will focus on the topic of workers struggles and the fight for strong unions, inspired by recent examples such as the occupation of Ford factories in London, Belfast and elsewhere. The event will include short introductions from members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Unite, the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) and the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) and an open discussion on how to build strong working class organisations today as well as plenty of time for informal chat, publicising of campaigns and projects and swapping experience and advice.<BR> <BR>Beyond that, preparations continue for the launch of a Reading-based direct action casework group inspired by the London (<A href="http://www.lcap.org.uk/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.lcap.org.uk</FONT></A>) and Ontario (<A href="http://www.ocap.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.ocap.org</FONT></A>) Coalitions Against Poverty and other similar groups. This group will be launched in the summer, with a training event taking place in mid to late August.<BR> <BR><STRONG>Upcoming events:</STRONG><BR><BR>Saturday 23rd May - Cardiff Anarchist Bookfair. 10am – 6pm at Cathays Community Centre, 36 Cathays Terrace, Cardiff CF24 4HX. Free admission. Info: <A href="http://www.southwalesanarchists.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.southwalesanarchists.org</FONT></A><BR><BR>Thursday 28th May - No Borders public talk and film showing to promote migrant-solidarity protest camps at Calais this June. 7pm<BR>Conference Room, Reading International Solidarity Centre (<A title=www.risc.org.uk href="http://www.risc.org.uk/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.risc.org.uk</FONT></A>), London Street, Reading. Info: <A href="http://calaisnoborder.eu.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>http://calaisnoborder.eu.org/</FONT></A><BR> <BR>Sunday 31st May - Reading Industrial Workers of the World branch meeting. 3pm, Great Expectations, London Street, Reading. Info: <A href="http://www.iww.org/" target=_blank><A href="http://www.iww.org.uk/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.iww.org</FONT></A>.uk</A><BR><BR>Wednesday 3rd June - "Left of Reading" Theme: Rebuilding Fighting Unions. Talk and open discussion. 7.30pm Global Cafe, RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS.<BR><BR>Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June - Anarchist Conference. Where are we going and how to we get there? Weekend conference, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London E14NS. Info and registration details: <A href="http://www.conference09.org.uk/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>http://www.conference09.org.uk/</FONT></A><BR> <BR>Saturday 20th June - Oxford Working Class Bookfair. 11 am till 6 pm at Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford. Info: <A href="http://www.oxfordworkingclassbookfair.blogspot.com/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>http://www.oxfordworkingclassbookfair.blogspot.com/</FONT></A><BR> <BR><STRONG>More information:</STRONG><BR><STRONG></STRONG> <BR>For more information on who we are and what we do as well as updated news from struggles around the world please visit our website at <A href="http://www.rgacollective.org.uk/" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>www.rgacollective.org.uk</FONT></A> <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><br /><hr />Get the New Internet Explore 8 Optimised for MSN. <a href='http://extras.uk.msn.com/internet-explorer-8/?ocid=T010MSN07A0716U' target='_new'>Download Now</a></body>
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