Veronica Deneuve

Consultation Response – Draft Mandatory Regulations on Adult Entertainment in Scotland

2006-11-13T13:30:00.000Z

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

C. S. Lewis

Context

In the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, women in Britain who wanted to pussue an acting career were labelled as prostitutes. In Scotland in the twenty-first century it is depressing and opressive to see the same myth being used to disproportionately limit the freedoms of dancers who choose to perform erotic entertainment for consenting adults in safe venues. Whilst I do not think that the Executive’s position is total abolition of AE, certain Local Authorities are ideologically opposed to it and will interpret and use these regulations to try to strangle the industry to death. People have fought long and hard to be able to read and watch what they choose in our democracy. Government should not be interfering with those freedoms without a very good reason. Ideology and disapproval are not good enough reasons. The proposed interference also engages and very probably breaches our Human Rights under Articles 2, 8, 10 & 14 of ECHR. Parliament should be very sure that these regulations are made in a way that meets its obligations to safeguard our fundamental rights.

It is also very ironic that Scottish Executive ministers and senior opposition politicians were lining up during October 2006 to defend womens’ rights to choose to dress and act as they wanted to mark their faith. It seems that the message in Scotland that a woman has the right to choose how she dresses and behaves, but only as long as government at all levels approves of their choices. How patronising, with the emphasis on "patron".

The AEWG research process and report did not find, far less prove, anything like a good reason for this censorship and disproportionate interference with dancers’ rights. The only evidence found was an academically and ethically discredited report commissioned and paid for by an ideologically opposed council and information from a U.S. based evangelical christian website. It is the worst and least reliable form of grey literature & is no basis for making regulations. All of the other research, including all of the research commissioned by the AEWG, was at worst inconclusive and at best actively supportive of Adult Entertainment.

The reason given for making these regulations is to prevent prostitution. It is worth re-stating that there is no prostitution or trafficking in the Scottish Adult entertainment industry as it is. No dancer has ever been prosecuted, far less convicted, for any offence. The Executive is regulating a non-existent risk. Adult entertainment performers in Scotlland are entertainers and performance artists, they are not prostitutes and they do not sell sex. A fully nude private lapdance is not a sexual service. The fact that the entertainment they provide is erotic and sensual is irrelevant. There are far more explicit forms of entertainment available at less cost on our television screens, in our cinemas, and on the internet.

Effect of the Draft Regulations

Taken together, regulations 11, 12(4) and 14(3) will effectively ban the private lapdance in Scotland. The regulations are also silent on the question of whether or not full nudity is to be permitted. I assume this silence means that local authorities will have the discretion to decide as per the AEWG report. Since some are already being petty enough to try to enforce partial nudity, the regulations will also mean that nude dancing in of any discipline, including lapdancing, full striptease and nude poledancing will be effectively banned by stealth.

I have warned in previous consultations and in my response to the AEWG report what the negative effects and unintended consequences of these specific provisions will be. Some of it is already happening in anticipation of these regulations becoming law. There are now web-based agencies operating in Scotland offering "home delivery" lapdancers.

For the record they are:

There is a global demand for private, fully nude lapdances, and dancers who make a good living or second income supplying that demand. The Executive cannot uninvent the lapdance. If fully nude, private lapdancing is banned from our clubs, it will just move to unlicensed venues like hotel rooms, private homes and parties. Dancers will be killed or seriously sexually assaulted when this happens as a direct result of these provisions. It’s inevitable, it’s just a question of where and when. I hope Tom McCabe feels up to defending these regulations in court when the victim or, god forbid, her relatives sue Scottish Ministers and local authorities for damages.
Dancers incomes will be drastically cut by these provisions. The fully nude private lapdance is the central product in any proftable strip club. A dancer makes most of her money from private dances. The danger this introduces is that some full time dancers will be forced into escorting and prostitution, or into pornography to make up for the loss of earnings. These provisions are a perverse incentive for escort agencies and will create the harm that they pretend to prevent.

Adult Entertainment will become a de-skilled, low-waged, robotic and unattractive way of earning money. The experienced, skilled dancers will diversify or leave Scotland altogether. This is not only a waste of intelligent, talented people but it will also create an opportunity for the gangmasters to supply trafficked dancers who are willing to work for little or no money and who will be tempted to provide sex outside the clubs to make up the difference. The demand will not vanish because it is regulated, it will just change into a sleazy paradise for organised criminals.

Scotland’s AE sector will deteriorate markedly in its contribution and significance to inward investment. The AEWG commissioned an Economic Impact survey that expressly said that successful international cities needed a functioning AE sector. Shame that the Local Authorities who have driven this policy from the start, and the developers who negotiate with them, do not recognise this reality and help the sector grow properly and safely rather than seeking to kill it. The economic cost of these regulations will be bigger than you think or have the tools to measure.

Consultation Question at Regulation 14(4)

(4) [Consultation question: We would particularly welcome views from performers, club operators, Licensing Boards and others, on whether there is a need for these Regulations to specify the types of activity that may/ may not be performed as part of adult entertainment. Recommendation 3 of the Adult Entertainment Working Group Report refers.]

If this additional provision is introduced it will further exacerbate the harms described above, and further aggravate any breach of Articles 8 & 10. It is unnecessary and disproportionate. It will also be impossible to frame a meaningful or enforceable provision of this nature. The range of what human beings of both genders find erotic is massive. This provision would need to be the length of an encyclopaedia to be comprehensive.

As one small example – many men find women’s feet and painted toenails more erotic than any other part of her body. Is it intended that dancers should be prohibited from wearing nail polish on their toes or prohibited form wearing open toed shoes? I could name a hundred others, but one is enough to make the point. The idea that you can make a meaningful provision is deeply silly, and panders to those whose opposition is ideological, not evidence based.

Conclusion

Most of the draft regulations are reasonable, some of them will actually improve dancers’ working conditions and for that we thank you. Please reconsider and remove regulations 11, 12(4) and 14(3). If you do not, you are likely to breach our human rights and may even have the sexualised murder of one of us on your collective conscience. Use your powers wisely – help the adult entertainment industry to grow safely and continue its contribution to Scotland’s growth. Do not unnecessarily censor what adults in Scotland are allowed to see or what performers are allowed to do. We are all consenting adults, we need your understanding, tolerance and assistance – not labelling, misplaced sympathy or judgement. Don’t confuse your disapproval of what we choose to do with the common good. You are not infallible.

My Darlings, Sweetpeas and Superstars,

2006-10-18T13:55:00.000+01:00

After four long months of pondering, the Scottish Executive have issued a response to the AEWG report.

As all of you regular visitors will remember, the report was issued at the beginning of May, and is available to read with the help of one magical click on the link on the right hand side - as is a reply that I issued to those concerned.

The response has been issued as a fresh consultation on a series of draft mandatory regulations. The fact that the consultation was issued during a parliamentary recess and buried in a wider consultation about the new licensing act is deliciously amusing. Jo " good day to bury bad news" Moore would have her little heart swell with pride to see a lesson so well heeded by Tom McCabe's special advisers.

Due to my current running around the country like a crazy woman I have still to finalise a full response to the consultation, but with a bit of luck it will be ready in a couple of weeks, when I shall endeavour to make it available on this site. The Executive most likely won't be publishing until after their two-week Christmas Holidays.
I have to admit that my first thoughts are that the regulations are mostly reasonable, except that they contain two ideologically driven draft regulations that will have the serious potential to get dancers killed or seriously sexually assaulted.

The first is that they propose an absolute ban on private dance spaces - there is a global cultural and economic demand for private fully nude lapdances and dancers who make a decent living and enjoy supplying that demand. If this ban is enforced, private dancing will migrate to unsafe venues like hotel rooms, private parties and people's houses, with the inevitable results. It only takes one nutter who hates or fears women, to act in an environment that lacks the current working precautions that dancers and venues alike put into place. Good capitalists like first mover advantage, and there are already two agencies trying to recruit "home delivery" dancers in Edinburgh, in anticipation of these regulations coming into force. Our livelihoods will be threatened by this ban & some will be tempted into unsafe practice or driven into the sex industry proper.

The second is the specification that there should be no physical contact at all between customer and dancer - the small-minded implication being that physical contact must inevitably lead to sex. This must be revised to the existing, functioning, universal practice that customers are not allowed to touch dancers, but dancers are free to use customers as part of the dance space to execute precision dance moves."

I've put the consultation links onto the list on the side. If you feel that it is to help protect us from harm and you believe that adults can be trusted, and you object strongly to censorship, please take a few moments to fill in the consultation and return it to the Executive - The consultation period closes on 8th December, but do it now while I have your attention - you can request that your name and address is kept confidential. It is really important that we have a proper, accessible democratic debate about this. So far our national politicians have uttered not a word!"

Please remember, lapdancers are not prostitutes and lapdancing is not a crime (unless the censors get their way). We provide erotica, we don't sell sex.

Information for Edinburgh

2006-09-10T14:04:00.000+01:00

Hello Darlings,

For those of you working, living or just visiting in the National Capital the IUSW have kindly found a copy of the policy on Adult Entertainment for the City Council. I think it is well worth a browse.

Cover Letter.

The City of Edinburgh Council Policy.

Just in case you were still in the dark on the proposed policy of the City of Edinburgh Council to obliterate anything other than a Disneyland version of a city complete with strong financial incentives for those involved new developments I have below a link to the Edinburgh Evening News article explaining a little about the situation.

Edinburgh Evening News: 21st July 2006.

Ever yours, but with a heavy heart...

Veronica, xxx

Paul Stokes Blog

2006-07-18T13:51:00.000+01:00

It has come to my attention that Paul Stokes of Scotland on Sunday fame has his own blog now I would heartily recommend a perusal of his pages, you will find both news and a delightful wit within.

V, x

Well Hello There...

2006-07-16T12:11:00.000+01:00

Well it has been a long time since I have written anything for the blog. I saw another news article that I clicked with, I have the link here for you all to see. it would appear that everything has gone quiet at the moment on the news and events front but I am assuming that this means that the Scottish Executive are simply putting their plans into effect without revealing anything to the meddlesome public. For now though try to live for the moment and for all of you in Edinburgh, enjoy festival time, I hear it is starting to hot up over there!

BBC Radio Scotland

2006-05-23T17:52:00.000+01:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, we have managed to get on the radio today, I have to admit that I do get a little kick out of the exposure that the issue gets.

However I wanted to say a big thank you for all the hard work and well done to all involved in supporting dancers in the BBC Radio Scotland discussion.

You can listen to it here but I am not sure how long it stays on the BBC database so you might have to go through the "missed a programme?" section at the top right hand corner and choose Tuesday’s (23.05.06) edition of "Scotland Live".

'If God had a stag night, he’d probably have it in Edinburgh.'

2006-05-21T10:32:00.000+01:00

I feel like I should be running around scanning in the newspaper articles linking to other web pages etc. but I came across this quote on this webpage and thought it was worth sharing for the Edinburgh based Ladies and Gentlemen:

Chances Of Shaming Yourself

The Grass market is stag heaven with cobblestones. Guinness galore, chasers, real pubs with real people; the kind of place where groups of welsh rugby fans can bring into close harmony singing without anyone batting an eyelid. It’s impossible to feel remotely self-conscious here, a world away from the plastic dross that many city-centres have based their drinking around in the last five years. If God had a stag night, he’d probably have it in Edinburgh.

Quotes are good.

2006-05-13T19:59:00.000+01:00

C. S. Lewis

Matahari.

2006-05-11T09:36:00.000+01:00

I thought that the blog needed another picture to brighten it up (it is my blog I can do what I want).
Apparently this lady was a spy!
James Bond eat your heart out......

Still lovin' your work,

V, x

Spreading the Word.

2006-05-08T19:55:00.000+01:00

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, I the press never cease to amaze me. The continued interest in the lapdancing ban was not a situation that I predicted when I started and we have been fortunate to have been covered by both the Scotland on Sunday and the Herald so that we can get our point across. My particular thanks to:

Paul Stokes - Scotland on Sunday

(scroll down to 'a well balanced response lands in McCabe's Lap')

For taking the time to look into some of the issues surrounding the current situation in lapdancers in Scotland at the moment.

On another note I have managed to find some webspace to host the "Veronica Deneuve Response to the AEWG Report to Parliament". If you can get a chance I would ask you all to take a look at it, every effort has been made to provide a sound and educated response to the AEWG's report and I think that some very good points lie within (if I do say so myself). As usual I will put the appropriate links up on the right hand side.

A shower of kisses on your pretty little heads,

Veronica, xxx

A Response to the AEWG Report.

2006-05-05T11:06:00.000+01:00

For those of you who have signed up to the yahoo group, I have posted a copy of the response to the AEWG report in the files section. For those of you who are unable to access this, I am still working on a way to post files here on the blog. In the mean while if you would like a copy then let me know here on the blog or you can email me and I will try to send one out to you by over the internet superhighway!

All my lovin'

Veronica, x

A Big Welcome!

2006-05-04T13:36:00.000+01:00

A very big welcome to those of you who are new to the page especially all of you lovely ministers of our best of small countries. Especially those of you who have taken the time to read the response to the AEWG report.

This site is primarily an information site to ease access for information for those who would like to know more about the lapdancing ban and it's legislative repercussions.

So make yourself at home! Browse the pages, look at the images, read the information, leave any messages or comments that you think are appropriate. Perhaps then the real discussion may begin.

All the best,

Veronica, x

Adult Entertainment Venues

2006-05-04T09:11:00.000+01:00

There has only been 5 official complaints to the Comminity Council and none at ALL to the City Council since January 2004.

The amount of complaints other licensed venues (such as pubs and restaurants etc) have managed to acquire dwarfs A.E. venue complaints by comparison. If you don't believe me please check the published minutes of Tollcross Community Council as published on their website.

'Residents in the area have complained about being hassled and harassed by gangs of men on stag weekends. And local businesses are worried the image of the area is going steadily downmarket.'

Ian Swanson,evening news27-Apr-2006

Points to think about.

2006-05-04T09:08:00.000+01:00

'' The three foot lap dance exclusion zone is another wee goosestep towards a nanny state, not good , not good.

Three foot away ain't a lap dance, that's just a burd standing over there.

The Adult Entertainment Working Group has also a list of '' more respectable '' dances to thrill the public. Whatwill that be I wonder ?

The Slosh,the Alley Cat ?

It is complete lunacy for these self-styled '' do-gooders '' to suggest that close-up lap dancing will lead women into prostitution, it is also an insult,women who make their living through this form of adult entertainment surely know their own mind more than most.

AEWG demean women by assuming they can't make their own decisions and that's a bigger insult than me assuming that every AEWG member is a hairy-faced, ugly, militant, God-bothering feminist.

The AEWG are the kind of people who think pregnancy can be caused by rubbing two knitting patterns together.

With all the automatic fines now out there you could technically leave the house, get clocked at 31 mph [£40], then leave your car idling [£20] on a yellow line {£30] when buying ten fags [fifty quid]. Inadvertently drop a part of the packaging [50 quid] then have a wee smoke in an enclosed space, such as a lap-dance bar, where you are a mere 35 inches away from a dancer [50 quid plus 50 quid for the smoke]. The tally ban total £290

'' It's a fine day '' is no longer a comment on the weather in Scotland it is a social comment on the early 21st century. ''

Rikki Brown in THE SUN , May 1st 2006.

BBC Radio Scotland Interview.

2006-05-02T00:19:00.000+01:00

'' I really don't care if these new laws affect jobs or not, as those concerned will always find other avenues to make a buck, but isn't it just so typically British that the authorities recognise some of us might be up for a thrill then decide we can only half enjoy it by imposing a three feet rule for dancers or other laws that cramp these particular showgirls's working conditions.

Bottom line, we either approve these clubs or we don't, we either recognise this section of adult entertainment is a part of some peoples lifestyle or we just close it all down. Right now the goverment is certainly going off half-cocked, if you'll pardon the pun. ''

Graham Dunn, prospective club owner speaking on BBC Radio Scotland.

Thanks to A.H. for this.

Let's Get Down to Business.....

2006-04-29T19:36:00.000+01:00

OK, it has been some week!

My apologies to those of you who tried to contact me when I was unavailable but there has been so much happening in the past week it has been hard to keep up. And so now it is time to begin making amends.

I am going to try to post all of the articles that i can from the last week in the newspapers, this way a gauge of the press articles is possible. I am going to try to get as many as possible on an online format to try to save the time it takes for some of these images to download. So here it goes:

First up:

Tuesday

The Herald - 25.04.06
Edinburgh Evening News - 25.04.06
Glasgow Evening Times - 25.04.06
The Daily Record - 25.04.06

Wednesday

Edinburgh Evening News - 26.04.06
Edinburgh Evening news editorial - 26.04.06
Edinburgh Evening News Cartoon - 26.04.06
The Scotsman - 26.04.06
The Sun - 26.04.06

Thursday

Edinburgh Evening News - 27.04.06
Edinburgh Evening News - Ian Swanson - 27.04.06

Friday

Edinburgh Evening News - 28.04.06
The Times - 28.04.06

Round One.....

2006-04-26T15:12:00.000+01:00

Well, after the setback that the campaign took yesterday, I just wanted to take a time out to say a big thank you to all of the girls from the following clubs for their help and support in compiling the information on the blog.

Angels
Aristokats
Bugsy Browns
Teaserz (webmaster@teaserzclub.com)
Private Eyes (enquiries@private-eyes.co.uk)
Paradise Club
Big Daddy-Os Showbar
Bottoms Up Showbar (bottomsupshowbar@hotmail.com)
Burke & Hare Fantasy Palace (enquiries@fantasy-palace.co.uk)
Hooters Show Bar
Liquorice
Western Bar
Diamond Dolls (enquiries@diamond-dolls.co.uk)
Legs N Co
Seventh Heaven (arthur.7thheaven@btconnect.com)
The Truffle Club
Stringfellows (peter@stringfellows.com)

I did notice that the Sun was hitting back at the proposed legislation as well, i'll see if i can find the article.

Veronica, x

Yet More BBC Coverage.

2006-04-25T21:24:00.000+01:00

My thanks to the BBC team for their continued interest in the issues surrounding the proposed lapdancing ban. We have managed to post a response to the AEWG on the BBC website which you can view HERE.

In the mean time I am going to go home and take a long soapy bath in my very own champagne glass. I feel like it has been a long day.

Veronica, x

An Alternative Consultation.

2006-04-25T14:57:00.000+01:00

It seems that the BBC have managed to take on board the notion of a balanced discussion about pole dancing. I think that the AEWG could learn some lessons from this.

Take a look.

V, x

BBC News Website!

2006-04-25T14:06:00.000+01:00

We have managed to get onto the BBC!

Check it out....... HERE

The AEWG Publish

2006-04-25T13:30:00.000+01:00

The AEWG have published their report. See it here.

I am just in the middle of trying to digest all of the information but at the first look it seems that the fundamental point has been missed. Performers will suffer because of this unnecessary and unenforceable legislation if it does come into force.

I am raging, the executive are trying to turn us into criminals.

V.

A Fresh Lick of Paint.

2006-04-23T23:38:00.000+01:00

I thought that I would personalise the page a little to make it appear a little more homely, so welcome one and all to the new look Veronica Deneuve Weblog! 'Veronica's ability to procrastinate knows no bounds' I hear you call.

Well, I hope that you all find what you are looking for...

Veronica, x

2006-04-23T16:44:00.000+01:00

'Information is the Oxygen of Democracy'

Steven Aftergood

hmmm....

2006-04-23T16:20:00.000+01:00

As this site originally began as an information gathering and distributing tool, I thought that while I was waiting to hear ANYTHING from the AEWG, I could write a wee reminder that any information that has been sourced will also have been listed on the links to the right hand side.

Also that any of the previous posts can be accessed from the Archive links on the bottom.

Stay classy,

V, x

Human rights issue?

2006-04-23T15:35:00.000+01:00

To my dear dancing activists (and anyone who is interested),

Quite a lot of people have suggested that any proposed legislation needs to be looked at in the context of human rights. I have made a link to Wikipedia's article on Human Rights for anyone who would like to read up on this.

I thought that a neutral point of view might help when reading up on the subject and so I will make a link on the side panel for future reference.

As always, a firm believer that information is key.

Veronica, x

Even Prince Harry Supports us...

2006-04-20T09:45:00.000+01:00

I thought that it would be sensible to highlight the fact that even the royal family seem to think that it is ok for young men to visit lapdancing clubs (see the full story here). Last time I checked, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive were still serving under the British Monarchy. Perhaps I should try to get in contact with the Queen....

Veronica, x

Back to work

2006-04-17T18:15:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to the kind soul who forwarded this article onto me. I am unsure where it came from but for those who wish to pay for it (unlikely?) there is an article in the Evening Times that you can access here.

The article does touch on a very important point, the reality of implementing and policing this legislation is bound to be nightmarish, clogging up even more time from the authorities who have been over zealous in their interpretation of our legal system and appointing themselves as untouchable figureheads who can disregard the rights of those people they disapprove of whenever it suits their whim. Authoritarian states scare me something chronic.

Veronica, x

Easter

2006-04-15T21:13:00.000+01:00

A very happy Easter to one and all.

I think it would be understandable if some of you were a little confused as to when the AEWG report is supposed to come out into the public, especially when much of the AEWG's work has not been published in the first place. The standard releases are the publishing of the minutes of their meetings, inaccurate site visit reports, and the outcomes of some consultations.

However in my anticipation I have elected to adopt Lauren Hutton as this year's Playboy Easter Bunny, as she does look rather classy.

Veronica, xx

letters continued

2006-04-13T15:55:00.000+01:00

This letter is perhaps more political than I would have expected, but I find the sentiments ring true with what I think the lapdancing legislation is about. I personally think that Tartan Week in the U.S. is a good thing though, and am quite happy to see the first minister fighting his corner to publicise Scotland.

Yours, in deep thought,

Veronica, xx

More messages

2006-04-10T18:28:00.000+01:00

These messages were found on the Evening News letters page today.
They are small but perfectly formed…

If you would like to have your say in the newspapers you can use the following methods:

Good old fashioned mail - Letters Evening News,
108 Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh
EH8 8AS

Text – Start your messages with ENVIEWS, leave a space and write your full name and address, write the remainder of your message and send it to: 07736 10 10 10.
(texts are charged at the standard network rate).

Fax – 0131 620 8696

Email – letters_en@edinburghnews.com

Happy writing.

Veronica xx

2006-04-08T17:55:00.000+01:00

"We must remember that a right lost to one is lost to all."

William Reece Smith, Jr.

Letters pages 2!

2006-04-08T17:04:00.000+01:00

Hark! The second of the letters pages that we found! I am getting all flushed with excitement! The images may be quite big for those of you with slower Internet speeds, so bear with it if they don't pop up immediately. Also, feel free to contact the newspaper themselves if you would like the contact details are in the bottom right hand corner of the articles in the "your say" box.

Think about it you saucy readers ;-)

Veronica xxx

Letters Pages.

2006-04-08T15:46:00.000+01:00

There has been some responses to the press coverage in the Edinburgh Evening News this week, it seems that there are a few people out there who are willing to voice some support for what we have been trying to publicise using this blog. Thanks to you all who have written on the issues. I believe this is the first of two this week. I am in the process of getting hold of the other issue. More soon.

V. xx

A Credit to the Profession.

2006-04-05T23:23:00.000+01:00

In all of the recent rush of activity I forgot the story of two young women who helped catch a hit and run drink driver (see here). Well done ladies, you are a credit to both yourselves and the rest of us.

Also I would like to express my thanks to the velvet-lipped beauty that notified me of my sudden bout of poor spelling.

V. xx

2006-04-05T23:11:00.000+01:00

Majority rule only works if you're also considering individual rights. Because you can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for supper.

Larry Flynt

Oh the Excitement!

2006-04-04T18:12:00.000+01:00

Ladies, Gentlemen and newshounds, now the newspapers are picking up the thread!

A big thanks to anyone who helped to get the story up and running. At last someone is asking some questions. I did think however that the story given by the AEWG didn't seem to line up with the information that has been made publicly available.

Perhaps someone could remedy this, or if that is not possible change their tune to the papers next time. I honestly thought that the Working group would have managed to bring out their recommendations by now but I suppose that Government funded bodies have as big a problem with their deadlines as they do with the quality of their unfounded research.

Regardless, this site is not for government bashing, it is here to provide information and a platform for discussion in a more public arena. It just makes my heart beat a little faster to see the message spread a little more.

Kisses all round,
Veronica xx

New discussion page

2006-03-30T14:01:00.000+01:00

Some of you have emailed to say that it has been difficult to get onto the discussion page for the group. I have set up a Yahoo Group, which seems to have a little more flexibility but i am afraid that like every other page that i could find it needs a membership. I have tried to make this as painless as possible though so that as many of you as possible can use it.

Enjoy.

V, x

In the Back Seat Driving Position Again

2006-03-29T11:24:00.000+01:00

After a little time away I am back in the land of the living and it is nice to see that the AEWG have got around to posting their minutes from almost two months ago, it is a shame that they seem so tight lipped about their message though.

However there does seem to be some mention of our phonecalls that have been directed towards the consultation process (although the subject matter and message have been conveniently left behind). Perhaps "Riff" is right (see comments from previous post), perhaps a message can still be pushed through. I’ll have to get on the phone to Peter Stringfellow and Pink and see what they have to say.

Don't forget, this blog is seen by those in the AEWG and the Scottish Parliament if you would like to post an opinion on the current process or anything you think is relevant, please feel welcome to do so either on the discussion board or post a comment on this page.

More soon.

Veronica, x

Discussion Page

2006-03-24T10:14:00.000Z

In order to enable those who would wish to join the discussion to do so I have set up a discussion page here please feel free to join in. Alternatively you could click on the link on the right hand side.

2006-03-22T13:39:00.000Z

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master.
Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”

George Washington

minutes

2006-03-22T00:04:00.000Z

Now... Call me impatient, but shouldn't the new set of minutes have come out for the February AEWG meeting? I hope that the proceedings in question are not being closed off to the public.
I think that they have already been hidden enough behind the proposed smoking ban (of which a great deal more fuss has been made).
Take a look for yourself....

Don't leave us hanging on now.....

Veronica. xx

During a lull in the action........

2006-03-18T22:39:00.000Z

Dear angels in the night time,

After a hectic week I feel I must have ran the length and breadth of the country trying to gain some support for our grass roots campaign. I now find myself with a moment to spare.

Everywhere I have turned it seems like the same story is played out, the frustration is plain to see. The continued self-imposed ignorance of our government bodies, which serves only to marginalize performers further, does not go down well in the dancing venues of Scotland.

However the true sadness of the situation is that there are so many of us who feel that we cannot speak up. I hope that the anonymity offered by our postcard campaign has helped somewhat for those who feel comfortable enough writing to parliament.

The true test though I guess is still to come; can parliament show some enlightenment and ability to deal with an issue with such complexities as this? Or will it be seen as the stroppy runt of the litter only capable of bludgeoning it's way through the lives of those it sees as easy pickings. I for one hope that even with what has amounted to an inadequate start to the proceedings that it is the former. That is why I voted for the parliament in the first place, so that they could deal with Scotland in a way that would help it's people, not try to keep them under the thumb of a decision making body that seemed too remote to understand or listen to those that mattered.

You'll have to forgive me if I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve, until next time keep yourselves safe, warm and sheltered from the storm.

Yours (while performing the pole swing......)

Veronica xx

images taken from:

http://www.mypole.co.uk/cutoutandkeep.htm

A Response? With just two weeks to go...

2006-03-14T00:21:00.000Z

Mr Tom McCabe MSP has seen fit to respond to us, let me just say how much I personally appreciate this gesture and the spirit in which it is offered... to take a look you can enlarge the document by clicking on it.

However I would add that there seems to be a little bit of discrepancy between what both he and the AEWG have to say in the slightly patronising round up of events.

When I last checked there were only 52 opinions stated in the Scottish Executive Report, not the stated 1000, in the words of the Executive themselves:

"The consultation paper was issued to 274 recipients comprising of individuals and a range of groups/organisations on 29 June 2005 - 52 responded"

Let's please first get our numbers straightened out, but even so, this does not answer the fundamental point...
The only people that any proposed legislation will affect are those behind the doors of the clubs involved, and the potential impact is quite destructive to the conditions and well being of the performers. It is precisely these members of society who have been left out from the consultation process. For a process that will impact these people so much, lethargy on the part of the AEWG is no excuse.
For the regulation zealots out there who would try to cast the first stone, their flippant use of manipulative side issues in this regard marks their true intentions out as an attempt to get another notch on their whipping birch to brag about to the tea party. The only difference it could make to them is, at most, a new lick of paint or a different sign on a shop front.

Here endeth the lesson...

Stay cheeky one and all, xxx

2006-03-10T20:19:00.000Z

The meeting minutes for the AEWG have been posted on the Scottish executive website.
Follow the link if you would like to take a look.

Adult Entertainment Working Group Minutes 18 January 2006

A Big Welcome.

2006-03-09T10:50:00.000Z

I would like to extend a big welcome to everyone visiting the site, especially to those of you who are visiting this site after seeing our postcards, and those of you who work as exotic dancers or performers.
Yes the message is being spread through the printed word and this site is here to backup our little card campaign.
Please feel free to browse the page and have your say, this is YOUR page and YOUR campaign, our humble network is here to facilitate a communication process that the Scottish Executive has seen fit to largely ignore.
So please if you have any suggestions, opinions, disagreements, messages of support or wish to air a grievance, by all means leave a message on here, you don't need to tell us your name or give us any details. We are all ears and we are doing what we can to promote a real and involved discussion with the people who will be affected the most by any new legislation… the dancers themselves.

The best of health and the best of luck. x

Veronica.

Table Dancers Union (TDU)

2006-03-07T18:03:00.000Z

I have just seen this article on the Sunday Herald website outlining some of the issues tackled by the TDU (part of the 700,000-strong GMB union) in Glasgow in 2004.
Perhaps it is worthwhile contacting someone and asking if they have spoken to the AEWG. Any thoughts?

I will post the links for these on the side bar for anyone who wants to use them.

'Live Nude Girls Unite!'

2006-03-07T17:27:00.000Z

This is perhaps a little different from the issues that we are tackling, but I found the story of how this group of women came together to achieve something for themselves, quite inspirational.
I urge all of you in the industry to take a good look.

http://www.livenudegirlsunite.com/

2006-03-05T23:23:00.000Z

"Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after."

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift From The Sea

A Call to ...... blog?

2006-03-05T23:05:00.000Z

Several strip bars have shut down in London.
Several horny men walk through London, unsatisfied with their supply of adult entertainment.

Strip bars in the whole of Scotland face the same threat. Annoyed? Join the debate:

This blog is being viewed by people that can make a difference.
A little birdie told me that Tom McCabe, the MSP in charge of this issue, has at least visited this blog... twice, Not bad. Not bad at all. Keep it coming. x

2006-02-28T17:18:00.000Z

A big kiss to the folks at Metro.co.uk for showing us on their blog directory.

It all helps to get the word out. XX

2006-02-28T09:56:00.001Z

Hello Lovelies,

Here are several opinions that I have received via email showing the reactions to the perception of the AEWG. I feel they should be on the blog.
1. "they have probably already decided what they are going to do and this whole process is just cosmetic "going through the motions".
2. "...if this oppressive government don't listen to the thousands who say 'not in my name' re the Iraq war and blanket ban smoking without creating the more sensible 'smokers' and 'non smokers' environments as a first step to changing peoples habits [or not... the individual will decide] do you really think they give a toss about adult entertainment ?"
3. "The big picture is the creation of a conformist society, they want us healthier so we can work longer and shore up the powers that be, they want wars and strife to keep us all in fear and watching our neighbour instead of pulling down the outdated establishments that are Westminster government, the Royals/those with inherited wealth..[who are the real unemployed in the UK by the way] plus the overpaid footballers, pop stars and 15 minute celebs who are used to distract us from the injustices in what we loosely call 'society' ."
4. "the fools in suits now think they can even control human nature."
5. "We can't have the males distracted... there is work to be done and wars to be financed."
6. "These bans ?...It starts with smoking, then it moves onto alcohol until eventually it's a case of '' get your knickers on girl and get back in the kitchen because the males have to work until they drop now and if you ain't gonna do likewise make sure you have him fed and watered for another day's toil..... oh yes and produce some more worker ants if you don't mind.''
7. "Personally I feel an Independent Scotland might be a bit more tolerant of adult entertainment and most other things the Labour party want to stamp out but the chances are slim, I'm afraid most Scots are under the influence of sectarianism and low self esteem. Very difficult to overturn 300 years of London rule, forget the Scottish parliament, Westminster is still calling the shots."
8. This chap must have spoken someone at the AEWG:
"The B**#! I spoke to wouldn’t know a good night out if it hit the c** on her head."

Lets keep it clean folks, so that everyone can hear what we are saying.
Generally, each statement is a pertinent enough point though, huh?
Many thanks for the influx of support from all of you. Lets keep spreading the message.
xxx

2006-02-25T19:37:00.000Z

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I believe a decision has been made...

Look out for it at a venue near you!
I hope you are all taking care of yourselves and doing fantastically well. xx

2006-02-23T19:10:00.000Z

Postcard Campaign

As some of you may already know we now have a little postcard campaign in the making.
The idea is to register our dissatisfaction with the AEWG by putting the cards in the perhaps one of the most important places that the Scottish Executive neglected to advertise the consultation process. Here are a few of the suggestions that have been drummed up. If any of you out there have more good ideas then please don't hesitate to let us know about them by leaving a message. If you want to view any of these up close just click on the image.

2006-02-23T18:54:00.000Z

A number of you have chosen to react to the AEWG challenge.

Thank you.

The AEWG will submit their report to Tom McCabe MSP, the minister who instigated this process.

The Contact Details for Tom McCabe are:

Constituency:

Mr Tom McCabe MSP
23 Beckford Street
Hamilton
ML3 0BT

Telephone: 01698 454018
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Fax: 01698 454222

Parliament:

Mr Tom McCabe MSP
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Telephone: 0131 348 5830
Fax: 0131 348 5125

Holyrood E-mail: Tom.Mccabe.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Let's hope a gentle push from us all sways some opinions.

2006-02-20T00:06:00.000Z

Did you know that the legislation surrounding adult entertainment in Scotland is being reviewed?

The government has set up an 'Adult Entertainment Working Group' (AEWG) to investigate the scope and impact of adult entertainment activity across Scotland.

They are carrying out research to identify and assess any impacts on people who work in the industry, consumers and suppliers of the industry, and society in general.

They are doing this to identify any law changes required to regulate the industry.

As part of the AEWG's research they are inviting EVERYONE'S VIEWS on adult entertainment.

Submitting your view is SIMPLE and CONFIDENTIAL. You don't need to give your name, number...nothing at all.

Phone Catherine Bisset from the Scottish Executive on:

- 0131 244 0427 and give her a piece of your mind.

Other numbers - Catherine's assistants:
-Louise 0131 244 7571 and
-Anna 0131 244 2794

2006-02-19T17:40:00.000Z

Hello Cherubs.

I think it fitting at first that I post the link to the Scottish Executive Consultation Page here you can view and download the neccesary information to make your voice heard in the descision making process. So here it is. AEWG Consultation