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Events 14 July – 20 July

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Diary, women-centric events in the UK this week,Here are some dates for your diary of woman-centric events going on around the UK this week.

National:

Now until 9 August: Wool Against Weapons: join lots of knitters and crocheters knitting a Peace Scarf to run between the Women’s Peace Camp at Aldermaston and Burghfield (the other Nuclear Weapons Establishment site) in Berkshire.

Here is “why?”: The UK Government is going to spend over £80 billion on renewing the Trident Nuclear warhead. That’s a lot of money at a time of financial austerity and recession. And you know what? The world has a global arms trade worth USD1.74 trillion.

Now, it doesn’t seem like rocket science to me – let’s invest in people instead – let’s move from a war economy to a green economy. Cut the military, address the root causes of violence, wars and terrorism.

Lots of you have been asking when the deadline is – good question, I keep asking myself that too. Well, 9 August is the obvious one. But seriously, if we were to have your pieces sent to us (Jaine in Stroud, CND in London, or certain Lush stores – so far: Birmingham, Brighton, Chester, Oxford, Preston and Sheffield) by the end of July latest then it would just about give us enough time to stitch them into the main scarf.

If you are coming on the day – and please do join us! – then bring your piece(s) with you and we will stitch it there and then! Thanks lovelies! xxx

Glasgow:

19-20 July: Glasgow Women’s Liberation Conference at Kinning Park Complex, 43 Cornwall Street, Glasgow.

Although this conference is being held in Glasgow on 19 and 20 July it is to commemorate the 1974 women’s liberation conference held in Edinburgh.

Forty years on, we will come together to reminisce, to celebrate our achievements and the fact we are still here, and to look to the future.

We envision a return to a politics of women’s liberation – moving from single-issue campaigns drawing on feminist ideas to a women-centred revolutionary movement.

The Edinburgh conference gave rise to the sixth demand of the WLM – ‘ An end to all discrimination against lesbians and a woman’s right to define her own sexuality’ and therefore there will be two sessions specifically focusing on the activism and community of lesbian feminists then and now.

There will be workshops, talks, exhibitions and an evening event with an open stage and then disco on one floor, and a quieter space to talk to one another on the other floor.

There will be a few plenaries and lots of workshops including:

On the Problem of Men: Challenging fathers’ rights movements and their impact on women and children – by Lynne Harne

Building a lesbian feminist sisterhood – with Julia Long

Race and feminism: building solidarity among women – a workshop with Jennifer Kim

Prostitution – legal perspectives and the Nordic model – by Gunilla Ekberg

Exploring lesbian feminist activism through the years – a workshop with Elaine Hutton

The nature of oppression for mothers under patriarchy – a workshop with Angela Soudjoukdjian

Male violence against women – naming the problem – a workshop

Women’s bodies, objectification and racialised misogyny – a short presentation and discussion

Women, trauma and recovery – women’s mental health and the way we strive to recover from trauma including women’s sector support, consciousness-raising and feminist therapy

Engaging women in state politics, and a look at the independence debate through a feminist lens – a workshop

Creating a women’s culture – archives, art, writing, music – a workshop and an exhibition.

There will also be a small library in a quiet space.

London

16 July: ‘Working Together for Women’ at Menier Gallery, Southwark Street, London SE1, from 6.30pm.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is hosting a networking event in London for campaigners working to influence public policy on behalf of women.

Although we face similar challenges, opportunities to meet and share our experiences are limited and funding cuts have had a significant impact on advocacy work.

Whether your focus is on domestic violence, economic inequality or maternity rights, you are welcome to join us at an informal reception where you will hear from some speakers offering us their thoughts on the challenges faced by the women’s sector.

There will then be plenty of time to chat about the issues with others campaigning for women.

Speakers include Scarlet Harris, Women’s Equality Officer, TUC and Clare Laxton, Public Policy Manager, Women’s Aid.

Wine, soft drinks and nibbles will be provided.

Admission to this event is free and open to all working in and around the women’s sector but please book your place in advance.

16 July: Women in Leadership – What Needs to Change? at St. Pauls Institute, London at 7pm: doors at 6.30pm.

Creating greater opportunities for female empowerment has been designated as one of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

It is clear that the tide is turning and large strides are being made to overcome problems of institutional inequality; many voices have joined together to call for our leaders to represent the diversity of the people they govern, but there is still work to be done to remove impediments that have restricted female advancement.

How can we remove the institutional and cultural barriers preventing many women from reaching positions of leadership?

What can different sectors learn from one another in the fight for true equality?

What actions can we take to create lasting change?

Join us at St Paul’s Cathedral for a public discussion led by: Liz Bingham, Managing Partner for Talent at EY, Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, Ceri Goddard, Director of Gender at the Young Foundation, The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress. Chaired by: The Very Rev David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Entry is free.

16 July: She Grrrowls: City Stories at The Gallery Café, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2, from 7.30pm

She Grrrowls showcases a range of talented women and includes poetry, comedy and a musical finale.

Come along and take part in the all-inclusive OPEN MIC section, with this month’s theme: City Stories.

Guest hosted by Catherine Woodward, Poetry by Jess Green, Comedy by Elizabeth Carola and Music by Oh Boy

17-18 July: Women, migration and development: Investing in the future: at the Overseas Development Institute at 203 Blackfriars Road, London. SE1 8NJ and streamed online

This two-day conference hosted by ODI and CARE International UK and funded by Big Lottery Fund will focus on two key thematic areas: vulnerabilities faced by women migrant workers and challenges in developing lasting policy solutions.

Swansea:

17 July: Do You Want Your Say On … Domestic Abuse Services? at Swansea Women’s Centre, 25 Mansel Street, Swansea, from 11am.

Swansea Women’s Centre are looking for women who have experienced domestic abuse in heterosexual, same-sex or family relationships and would be willing to share their views of the services they have received by Police, Health, Housing and Social Services.

Buffet lunch provided. Travel and childcare expenses available for refund.

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