Galway Advertiser 1993/1993_02_25/GA_25021993_E1_011.pdf 

Extracted text

LETTER BOX LETTER BOX R A P E CRISIS C E N T R E O N S C A N D A L O F F U R C O A T S M A L E COUNSELLING The most common Dear Editor,
Dear Editor, Two letters have recent ly appeared in the Adver tiser (17th Dec., and 31st Dec.) referring to our ser vices at the Galway Rape Crisis Centre. We would like to clear up any confu sion there may be regarding who we see at the Centre. We provide support and counselling to women of 16 years and over who have been raped or sexually abus ed. Calls received from men are referred to other counsellors in Galway. Calls regarding children are refer red to Community Care. Rape Crisis Centres were set up as a result of the Womens Movement in the 70's and the growing awareness that sexual and physical vilence against women is clearly a form of control of women. Being in volved in a Rape Crisis Cen tre was an opportunity for women to challenge such oppression and take back their power. The role of a R.C.C. also included cam paigning for changes in legislation and sentencing and encouraging women wishing to report to the police, with the aim that women could begin to find justice for the horrendous crime committed against them. Another important role for the R.C.C. was the provision of emotional sup port and counselling for women who were raped, from other women. This is also how the Galway Rape Crisis Centre was set up in 1985. Within a few years we were ap proached by so many women who'd experienced sexual abuse as children, we felt it was important to ex tend support to them, as there was no woman-centred service in the West. When male survivors of sexual abuse began to con tact us, intially we offered them counselling. However, for the following reasons we decided not to continue with this: 1. For the safety of the workers here, we felt we were not set up to deal with the kind of anger that come come up for some of the male clients. On occasion this was a problem for the Centre. 2. We work as a womans group. Some men prefer a male counsellor. 3. Out waiting list grew even longer, which we felt was unacceptable. 4. Many women sur vivors of rape or sexual assault live in great fear of men and are very relieved that there are only women involved in the Centre. I would like to use this page to protest at the everincreasing number of fur coats that are finding their way onto Galway's streets. I know that they say beauty is only skin deep, but do these people really have to prove the point by wearing other animal's skins? I know it can be cold here sometimes, but it's hardly arctic enough to justify furs for any other reason than vanity. defense is "but I bought the coat ages ago - not wearing it now won't bring the animals back to life". That's true, but by wearing furs in public you give moral sup port to everyone else who wants to wear fur. You make it socially acceptable. The same can be said about fake fur. I don't object to people trying to beautify themselves. I do object to people causing suffering for vanity. Further information on furs, or any animal welfare topic, is available through the Galway branch of AFAR - the Alliance For Animal Rights - c/o The Sunflower Restaurant, Galway, or at our stand in one of the main shopping areas any Saturday. Yours etc., Andrew McDonagh Attending the Galway Newsagents Association dinner in the 18, Oakley Cres., Ardilaun House Hotel were Carol O'Regan of Salthilland Highfield Pk., Brigetta Reck of Renmore. Galway.

LETTER BOX

A JOBF O R M R . SPRING?
Dear Editor, On February 25th, the new President of South Korea, Kim Young Sam, of the ruling Democratic Liberal Party, will be in augurated. He is the first president in thirty years with no military background and his election has aroused much speculation about democratic reforms in South Korea. The election coincid ed with the trial of a socialist publisher, Il-bung Choi. Mr. Choi was found guil ty in December under the national security law which imposes severe restrictions upon civil liberties on the grounds of military threat from North Korea, he has been sentenced to 2 years in prison. Yet Mr. Choi is not a supporter of the South Korean regime. In fact he has published a range of Marxist literature opposing undemocratic regimes in both North and South. These books are widely available in the West. Despite the official claims of a move to democracy, there are good reasons to believe that South Korea is still dominated by the military security apparatus which took control of the country in 1960. We in Galway Socialist Workers Movement call on Kim Young Sam to prove his commitment to democratic change by releasing Mr. Choi, gran ting amnesty to him and all other political prisoners in South Korea. We call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dick Spring, to raise this issue at international level. All who are concerned with civil liberties are urg ed to protest. Purchase one of the postcards available from Socialist Worker paper-sellers on Shop St. every Saturday, 1-2 p.m., to be forwarded to the South Korean Ambassador. There will be a picket outside the South Korean Embassy, 20, Clyde Road, Dublin 4, on 25th February at 6.00 p.m. All are welcome. Big enough pro tests around the world could force the South Korean government to release all political prisoners. Bernadette McLoughlin For Galway Socialist Workers Movement.

At the same time we feel there is a need for a counselling service for male survivors of sexual abuse in the West and we would be happy to encourage and sup port anyone who wishes to do this. We already work under huge pressure with an in Fur-farms are cruel and creasing number of women barbaric. The animals are coming to the Centre each kept in tiny cages and are year. As we are the only often fed whale meat, so by R.C.C. in the West of wearing a fur coat you are Ireland, we cover a huge subsidising whaling as well. area from Donegal to Mayo, Wild-trapping is worse Westmeath to Clare. While snares are only periodicaly we always see a woman is checked, so an animal can crisis immediately, we are be left in agony for days. In also forced to operate a deed, it's not unusual for waiting list of 10 to 12 trappers to find their prey weeks for ongoing has gnawed its own leg off counselling. to escape. Considering there is such a need for our service it is outrageous that we still receive no guaranteed fun Dear Editor, ding from the state and rep I read with great amuse ly on once off grants and ment Mr. Peter McGraths voluntary fundraising. letter in last weeks issue in Yours sincerely, which he expressed his The Galway Rape Crisis mounting alarm at new age Collective. spiritual views. If he wishes to educate READER LOOKING FOR himself as to the specifics of INFORMATION ON new age thinking, there are many books available and I SHANDLEY/SHANLEY would recommend that he ANCESTORS read ' 'The Aquarian Guide to the New Age" by Eileen Dear Editor, Would any of your Campbell and J. H. Brenreaders have any knowledge nan. The Catholic Church of a Shandley family, has had a very long time to perhaps spelled Shandlay or work out with rigour its Shanley or O'Shanley, who views. The New Age is an had a son, Peter Shandley, emerging culture which is born in 1798 in Galway? To fast becoming mainstream the best of my knowledge he and covers a whole range of married a Catherine Wild, interests including health born in 1800 also in and well being, the many Galway. The wedding pro forms of therapy or self bably took place between help, the practise of an 1817 and 1826 in Galway esoteric or spiritual tradition because in 1826 Catherine that focuses on the divinity gave birth to their first child, and the potential for good John Shandley, in Warr within us, concern for the rest of human and the en ington, Lancashire. vironment and respect for Yours truly, feminine Ralph Edward Shandley nature and '905 Sandover Crescent, wisdom. The new age movement is Sidney, British Columbia, a spiritual movement for all Canada V8L 4W4. kinds of people including many who have had the NOTES FOR courage to question the LETTER-WRITERS mumbling platitudes of or Short letters are preferred to thodoxy and take a stand in long ones: space is limited, the fight for progress and in and the more points of view deed a gradual shift towards that can be published and the clear thinking has produced more subjects discussed the it. better. Short letters also tend If Mr. McGrath can come to have more readers than up with nothing better than long ones. a gloating admiration of so Letters must be clearly called christian logic he signed and the writers full should spare us his negativi address and telephne No. ty. The res enough of it appended - which is not for around. publication if requested; but Yours Sincerely to verify the authenticity of John Bradsha v > the writer. The Claddagh

AN EMERGING CULTURE
NEW AGE FAITH DOES NOT DEPEND ON LOGIC
Dear Editor, In reference to P. McGrath's letter in the issue of the 4th February where he strongly criticises "New Age" thinking for being unscientific, I would ask him the question: does faith in God or Jesus depend on logic? Of course not: "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." Science and the scientific method deals with the fact of existence and answers ques tions of " w h a t ? " and "how?" Religion and faith Also attending the Galway Newsagents Association dinner deal with the purpose of ex- were Laura Heffernan of Nuns Island and Donny Farragber of Mervue. istenceand gives reasons "why?". To defend the logic of Catholic dogma,, which tie himself does not believe in, is simply an attempt to smear a more spiritual view TAMPAX of life which the "New Age" proposes. I believe its a serious attempt to "marry our profoundly religious view of life with the vision of personal growth and development" (see the last paragraph of Anthony Clare's talk quoted in last week's Advertiser). If Christianity does not take on board the positive The Galway Advertiser in association with Tampex elements within "New are offering 100 Tampax Compak trial packs as Age" thinking, it will con part of a reader write in offer. tinue in its role of "Old Tampax Compak is a new line in feminine Age" Christianity until its protection. The first 100 readers who write to the death. If that's not based on hard facts and clear thinking address below will each receive a trial pack. maybe Mr. McGrath can Advertiser Tarn pax Compak Offer enlighten me! Tambrands Ireland Limited Yours, Code GAIP Bernard Naughton Rosanna Road, Tipperary Htghfield Park, Galway.