supporters Q. Do you, or people in your local campaigns see positive legislation as an important part strategy for building the abortion campaign? Judith: It's difficult moving having to defend the limited PAIns of the 19tr Actio a more positive campaign The first G.M. COOKSON [Socialist Challenge)
SARAHHOCLOPS SO SEECTORE a DOLLUL attitude to positive legislation, and crach waa wo mean ora right to choose.
Sarah: There's certain v strong possibility that the Labour Government will tEV 10 wrap up the abortion helore a peneral cechan bi supporting some private mem ber's bill focussed reduction in the time linsit for abortions. We'vegot to be clear whetber or not we are willing to compromise.
1 think that if a woman can only choose up to viability, wecks or abortion is not in Fact cloice. A bill lowering the time Our series of articles on the future course for the National Abortion Campaign concludes this week with Dodie Weppler talking to Socialist Challenge CHRIS WALTON (Leeds NAC and Labour Abortion Rights Campaign), JUDITH ARKWRIGHT (S.W.London NAC and IMG), PAULINESIMMONDS (Oxford NACand IMG), and SARAH ROELOFS (IMG Rep., NAC Steering Ctte.).
limit would simply be the thin end of the wedge in losing the BREWS AC RYE WON That's why I strongly disagree with Belly Underwood of the nonsense to refer to the draft Abortion Law Reform Assoc DOn Blanco would give women the right to choose up to 2b woeks.as a compromise Chris: Leeds NAC isagainst any compromise on this. We had a series of discussions with the local Socialist Women's Group on the ALRA bill, the principle of a woman's right to choose, and so on. The SWG supported a woman srighttochoosealt the 8 issue way up to term if necessary. 1think this wasa big step forward forour campaign.
No Bill should be conditional acceptable either to MPs or the parliamentary experts, Ifit was, we would compromise our right to control our own bodies. then latepregnanc abortion facilitiesso women can have abortions as Cars possible with the minimum delay.
2. Has the criticism tha AChas a parliamentar approach been made to you.
Sarah:
WEED ZHENG OUSED L parliament, and I don't think it. But wedon'twant to rely on a few sympathetic MP's. Defending the 1967 shouldn't prevent us developing positive and offensive tactics.
campaign, national campaign day-care facilities that Sheftield c NAC broadly-based movement outside parliament that takes up all Fighting atlacks from parlaInent is an seleeral nart cfthis. Judith: Wecould learn from the inovenient there was unclear abouT Now many concessons it was prepared to make. We've Rot to te clear now that we are going for a woman's right to choose, in law and in practice, which necessitates free abortion On deenari is CHRIS WALTON Q. What kind of appNo roach have you made to the labour Chris: We've not had much response going official channels locally, except in cases where we vealready bad sympathetic contacts.
facing an Act certainly We bood a positive focus for such as the around are proposing. and a involve movement?
through the The passed Chreatened working class We really need people liaison subvery can give was Routing his gives What have been the Pauline: Mainly chat NAC hasn'tlaken up what a woman's right to choose means in terms of sexuality. One of the things re hope 10 discuss at our de hool in December is that woman's right to choose should include the right to detine ber own.sexualityaswellastberight months?
Community We have money: to choose whether or not to have a child. This discussion oould people who haven't been active in NAC before.
Judith: I think a lot of people don't see the importance of the abortion issue right Dow defeat on rhis issue will be a defear for women's liberation.
We need to explain that sexism is used to divide the working cinss in the same way as racism — UCEE weaken the struggle of the whole Sarah: I would like to see more women from the women's movement contributing to the steering committee discusions groups like Feminists Against Beavon who organised the occupation of Westminster Cathedrallast Junc Q. What ideas have your local groups discussed for activity in the coming Chris: Leeds NACisinvolved in facilities We barodone quite a campaien for day-care Tot of rescarch around it. Weare TOLER Health Council il nubht meeting planted to explain why we are campaigning for these abortion day-care faculties.
Pauline: it srelativelyeasytoget an abortion in Oxford — ir's a rescarch centre, and women are basically used as guinea pigs! We have a campaign for out-patient clinic based on this The area health auchority has recommended cutting the number of abortions to save to be prepared for a drastic change in Q. How do you see Socialist Challenge relating to NAC?
Sarah: [think one of the major factors that alienates women Trom left groups • not only within NAC but in the women': movement as a whole is the constant bickering and squubblins, rather chan clear political debate, about perapectives. By space for these debates to be carried out openly think Socialist Challenge can do a lot to help build a united OBELL ABBIT SACEMET on abortion. So I would like to sce activisis in NAC and in che worDen's mosement contribute this basis.
Left
Hates 3p perword. Display te Po calumn in. beechne: 3.00pm Saturday before pubilcation EDINBURGH:
Pickel Sherritte Bemard Cavanash DSo Lonl 200 from Dave WatzA Hounalow. Middleans TO GrOUD.
ROADGANG touring woman's socialist theatre group baded in the North East nood antress trom Swinburne St. Galoshoad, Tyn RECITARE огир яравка м 7.30, 9 Deg, Room SO Houghton Bt, London WC2 BLACK YOUTH under atlack Colln Prespod, soolblogy locturer NEW PEE or party She pm. December 6.30pm numbers limiled, Ring 720470 happening?
Meeting with speakers from Workers Autonemy Autonomia Opera al 7pm, Mon 12 Dac, South COMRADES MORI CO SHARING COLAR STEH write!ring to the Contre, PO Box 50.
Redmond Roger. NATIONAL •Bacialis Feminist 29/9 Regent's Park Ad NW1.7229621 NE ANTI-RACIST demonstralio noraly in Middlesbrough, Satt NISHIIDOT SUCCO DY EDINBURGH Socialial Unity:
ПалОлн!
election campaign in Edinburgh Tues 13 Dec. Trades Counsll Picardy Place, 7.30pm Speakers IMG and Big Flame MANCHESTER NAO anD Big Flame party attraction:
- Music Socialism 8-11 30 To Sail Denot of Ordere MANCHESTER Big Flame: The Wed 14 Deo 45pm BF Office, 14 Piccadily Rule Britainmia lollowed Sones no Discussion CAN TINNIER HEYULU UNAHY Group public masting The Law and the working clas Speakers: Jenner Tail SIRCG Brian Hose-Smith and a ,30om alC WO1. Semiss on 200 Square, REPRESSION in iran: masting FA Council and Wandsworth Trada Colneil CAMPAIGN Against Repression London Sub-Gree Dec Imperlal Cullcoe Studenis Union ALMOSTFREE THEATRE A PINPRICK OF HISTORY Mor-Sati, 15pm untl: 23 De