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RISC News Archive 2004

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Exhibition: Indian Block printed Fabrics; Chhippas & Chhints

Exhibition; Bogolan, Mudcloths from Mali

Coffee and Fair Trade

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Published this article about the RISC roof garden

Band Aid 20

An african perspective on 20 years of Saint Bob & Live Aid - Africa is calling for justice and fair trade and a way back from indebtedness, its time for an end to world poverty.

E News special, causes a hot debate. Questioning Band Aid

Risc's Bente Maderia invites Geldof to come to RISC and consider the Band Aid message from an African perspective.

Over 40 guests gathered at RISC in September to remember Andrew Errington who died last year. The assembled crowd was a testament to the varied, interesting and committed life he has led and brought together people from the diverse corners of his life.

A former Reading university professor of agriculture Andrew had also taught and studied in Nairobi with a long involvement with projects in East Africa, many of which he has been responsible for initiating. Acedemics, people from VSO, several NGOs, students from Uganda, friends and family joined Andrew's wife Sue in planting an apple tree of a popular local variety on the roof garden in his remembrance.

Jobs @ RISC

Cook Wanted: 16 hours per week. £5.50 per hour. To prepare organic speciality baguettes, homemade soups and other snacks. Hours: 9.00 - 12.00 Tues - Fri & 9.00 till 1.00 Sat, (flexible). Ideal candidate would have a commitment to using fair trade, local & organic products.

Supporter of RISC's ethos would be an advantage.

This is not your average Cafe-Bar! If you want to work for an independant Cafe-Bar and want to work towards making the world a fairer place to live in, this is a job opportunity for you. Application forms available from RISC. Send your completed application form to:
Leslee Hopper RISC/Global Cafe 35 - 39 London Street Reading RG1 4PS 0118 958 6692 for more info

New Feature on the Coffee industry

From Charity to Justice, 20 years of Fair Traided coffee

Whilst producing the 'Cost of coffee' teaching pack RISC researcher Dave Richards compiled this collection of the best links and articles from the project, exploring the burning issues of the global coffee industry .

"Coffee is the second most valuable traded commodity globally -- after oil, yet we producer countries are amongst the world's poorest, Fair Trade? for us this is so much more than being an issue of charity -- its one of justice!"
Tanzanian coffee producer

Debate Iraq, speak to Claire Short, celebrate Russion culture, hear first hand news from Palestine, see Farenheit 9/11 and much much more!!
The ever popular Reading International Festival is a celebration of Reading's global links and a chance to hear about global issues first hand
Download the full program of this years events (pdf 110kb)

Reading Gay Pride

RISC's Leslee Hopper headed the team that made Reading's first ever Gay Pride festival a huge success. The picturesque setting of King's Meadow played host to Reading's first ever Gay Pride festival on Saturday 4 September. 4,200 people flocked to the free event that was awash with colour, entertainment and glorious sunshine. It could not have been a better day! It was great to see lots of children with their families, just what was wanted, a good mix of the community coming together on this harmonious day to celebrate diversity.

The feed-back has been really positive too with lots of people saying that they liked the size of this event, adding that some Pride events around the country being too crowded. Among all the huge wigs, tight cocktail dresses and killer heels of the drag queen hosts, were other singing acts such as the blue platform-booted Urban Cookie Collective, who belted out their 1993 hit 'The Key, The Secret', sultry brunette Natalie Powers and acclaimed vocalist Charlene, who had the hit I've Never Been To Me. Angie Brown drove the crowd wild and got festival goers to their feet dancing under the beautiful sunshine.

There was also a VIP/backstage area, a Wynford Arms tent, Granby dance tent, a Sun Spa beauty parlour and a Pink Weddings blessings tent as well as scores of clothes, food and information stalls and of course RISC. Even the burly firefighters parked up with their fire engine to hand out leaflets about joining the Reading brigade.

Reading Amnesty group hi-lighted the plight of imprisoned Gay people around the world on their stall, whether you were listening to a story in the Global Kidz story-tent or picking up a leaflet from the 'Grey & Gay' stall everyone left having taken part in a piece of Reading's history.

Lets hope Reading Pride Festival becomes an annual event that slots nicely into Reading's calendar of festivals making it the last festival of the summer.

And finally... a big thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success!

Are you ready?
For Readings' first Gay Pride event.

Free entry and open to all,
Kings Madow
Saturday September the 4th.

Risc is proud to be a founding member of Reading Pride and hopes everyone who can make it will come along and make the most of this fun event.
Its never too late to get involved get in touch with Leslee@risc.org.uk to find out how to help. or just come along on the day.
Pride event poster

RISC at WOMAD 2004

Top: Main stage arena,
Below: Red Hat Salsa take everyone through the steps from the popular One World Platform which ran a full program of events and speakers over the weekend, covering issues from Palestine to nano technology.

A big thanks to the organisers and volunteers who did such a great job on making the One World tent and platform such a success this year, you know who you are but a special thanks to Caroline and Bente especially who co-ordinated the Reading International Forum.

RISC Internet Launched
Follow the link to find out more...

RISC has a long standing involvement with the World Of Music And Dance festival over the 15 year period of staging the event here in Reading. As lead partners in the Reading International Forum, which a collection of Reading based charities and voluntary sector organisations,. we fill a marquee with information and campaign stands and programme a stage of events over the weekend.

The aim is to reflect and energise Reading's cultural and global links, adding an important dimension to this fantastic cultural festival and stimulating local action here in the UK. With a focus on developing awareness and support for positive social and economic change the forum presents both specific campaigns as well broader responses such as Fair Trade in a balanced and informed way.

For more information on the Forum contact Bente Madeira.

Below: Scenes from the festival
Mora Brothers, art workshops from Cuba

David Byrne headlines on the Friday

The RISC Roof Garden has been invited to take part in the prestigeous National Gardens Scheme, with public open days in July and August, and again in Sept as part of the Reading Heritage Trail. Features half hour guided tours, packed with information: See Garden Pages for opening dates and more details.

Members of local after school club at the garden opening event in May

RED HAT SALSA in Reading

Salsa is a street dance, popular all over Latin America and produces some of the most exuberant and fun music around.
RISC plays host to the Red Hat Salsa group every tuesday and one saturday each month. It's regularly the best attended event at RISC, it's really good fun, you meet new people and burn off calories, what more could you ask for from an evening's entertainment?

There is always room for one more, you don't need to come as a couple and don't need any special clothes or shoes. So come and get in touch with your Latin Self and learn to dance SALSA and of course Global Cafebar is open downstairs so you don't need to go thirsty either!: More details

Volunteers Party
The 4th Volunteer's Party was held at RISC on Friday 4th of June and was a great success! These parties are organised to allow the voluntary sector to give something back to the many volunteers who give their time freely. This party is to say a big 'THANK YOU' to ALL volunteers in Reading. As part of National Volunteer's Week, volunteers Co-ordinators; Leslee from RISC, Tahmeena from Millennium Volunteers, Thea & Deb from Children's Information Centre and Richard & Michele from Reading Voluntary Action Centre, made sure the evening went smoothly.
Learn how to belly dance with www.letsbellydance.co.uk info@letsbellydance.co.uk

Volunteers were presented with Special certificates by the Mayor of Reading, Jeanette Skeats, thanks Jeanette for presenting the certificates for the second year running.

The struggle to end aparteid brought together activists and all people with a conscience from around the world crossing continents and generations.

The struggle for justice and democracy has now become a battle against poverty and the relentless spread of HIV-AIDS. Optimism still remains high for the future but the continued support from countries like UK remains important.

Art workshops
- see a photo gallery of art workshops celebrating 10 years of freedom in South Africa

Visit by award winning author, Beverly Naidoo.

Beverly mainly writes for children and young adults and is popular around the world. She grew up in South Africa which fueled a desire to write about the injustices there under the previous Aparteid regeme. Later books tackle subjects of injustice issues around the world.
- see photo galley of Beverly Naidoo's visit to RISC
- See Beverly's website

Global Kidz

Global Kidz is a pre-school playgroup, with a global perspecitve. this highly popular group has sessions every week in the main hall at RISC. Story telling, creative play and healthy fair traded snacks.

For details see Global Kidz page

Find out how to get so much more from your website and reduce costs. Risc is evolving its own internet community of up to 20 sites. It seems important to make the most of what is the potentially both the cheapest and the most powerful communication tool ever - if your buisness is organisation is working for positive change tehn why not find out more!

Phone co-op, new rates!
Phone co-op are now offering a flat rates + 1p per call packages as well as thier standard low rates
RISC has teamed up with the Phone co-op as a way to save you money on phone calls and support RISC at the same time. Since the phone market was deregulated anyone can sell phone calls, but only one company that does it is a co-operative, highly ethical and first in service. Risc's offices and many of our staff and friends already use this service so we can vouch for how good it is.

Phone Co-op offer some of the cheapest phone calls anywhere, can offer all the services you require like itemised billing, and there is no need to dial a prefix number if you so wish. Click the banner below to see more.

This collection of Khaya bowls from South Africa is available for loan via the Risc loan service 'world in their hands'. The are made from labels from old sardine cans and match boxes. They embody some of the incredible ingenuity and resiliance of the South African people who made them. The World in their hands hands loan service is a free service for teachers and eductors, please get in touch with our education team to find out more.