Activism

Anne Bitsch, born in 1978, currently lives in Oslo, Norway, where she is currently working as a programme adviser for Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS), is engaged as the theme coordinator in the Norwegian Amnesty International Campaign ‘Stopp vold mot kvinner’ (‘Stop violence towards women’) as well as writing on a free lance basis for various media such as Aftenposten, the weekly news magazine Ny Tid, the Norwegian feminist magazine Fett, Aftenposten. Since recently, she is also writing column for Dagsavisen.

In Solidarity with “Out of Place”
(posted on behalf of ‘In solidarity with “Out of Place”, London’)

This statement is written by a group of white non-Muslim queer activists in solidarity and support for the writers of the article “Gay Imperialism: Gender and Sexuality Discourse in the ‘War on Terror’” (2008) by Jin Haritaworn, Tamsila Tauquir and Esra Erdem. This article problematises the role of the white queer activist Peter Tatchell, amongst others, in the construction of Muslim communities as homophobic, highlighting the racist and imperialist effect such constructions have in the context of the ‘War on Terror’. Haritaworn et al. point out that in many of Tatchell’s campaigns and political statements the discourse he uses reinforces the idea of Muslims as dangerous extremists, and constructs Muslims as “the other” of white gay people, and that in doing so he dismisses and marginalises the voices and experiences of queer Muslims, in particular those who object to having Tatchell as a spokesperson for their struggles.

Sometimes giving the time of day to a sexist isn’t the best way of dealing with them. But sometimes… sometimes… you’re at sea with them and there’s no getting off the boat, you just need some quick answers to the biggest sexist jibes, to right it and stand up straight again. This ‘zine will give a bit of that.

On Sunday, June 7th a group of anarcha-feminists took the stage at the Anarchist Conference 09 to protest about sexist oppression within the movement. They projected a film and read out a statement, both of which you can find below.

Their actions went on to provoke a huge response – with comments ranging from undiluted misogyny to militant solidarity.

The misogyny provided more examples of the sexism we all battle with when we try and make our voices heard. Such attitudes make the prospect of fighting back more intimidating, but also increasingly urgent.

Wir Frauen, a volunteer produced magazine, represents more than 25 years the same questions: Who benefits from the relationships? Who creates the conditions? Who pays the price? How can women resist, here and elsewhere? Where and how can they realize their ideas and concepts of life, their rights to self-determination and participation?

A feminist news-service and bookstore based in Warsaw, Poland.

By sessions, as a feminist news service, and a feminist bookstore, founded in 2001 as an initiative completely independent, not subject to any organizations or institutions, but cooperating with many of them.

From October 10, 2005 by sessions was transformed into a Foundation and was inducted into the National Court Register KRS No 0000242885 pd

Objectives

1) action to eliminate discrimination based on sex in literature, culture, art and public life,
2) encourage and promote women's issues, gender issues, feminism,
3) promoting authors and writers, publications, publications devoted to the wider problems of women,
4) to promote the equality of women and men,
5) violence against women,
6) against discrimination based on sex,
7) promoting women's participation in public life and culture,
8) removing barriers related to access to knowledge about new technologies
9) dissemination of knowledge about new technologies among women.