page six RAPE: by Scott Peters Rape is a highly sensitive and provocative subject. It is and provocative subject. It is, however, a subject that must be adressed by society if we are to regard ourselves as a dignified race. Because society has plac- ed a burden of guilt and blame on the victims of rape, rather than the rapists, the victims are reluctant to report attacks making. it extremely difficult to gather Tape statistics. Most experts agree, however, that the approxiamately 45,600 rapes reported last year in the USA are just the tip of the iceberg. According to an article written in September 1971, in ‘‘Ramparts’’ entitl- ed ‘Rape: The All American Crime’ (reprinted by Van- couver Rape relief), you must multiply the number of reported rapes by a factor of ten to even approach accur- acy. Whatever the exact Statistics are, it is obvious that rape is a prolific crime. To bring things into prospec- tive, if you are sitting in a room with 25 people, one of them has probably been involved in an act of rape. Kate Millett, the author of Sexual Politics, describes rape as an where, ‘The emotions of hatred, cont- empt, and the desire to break or violate personality takes place. Rape is, put simply, a violent act of domination.’’ Lodged deep within soci- ety, rape is an exceedingly problem difficult to deal with. Rape is the final act of physical and psychological combat in a war being waged by men as a group against women as a group. That is not to say, as a member of the Vancouver Rape Relief staff stated, ‘‘all men are rapists or potential rapists.’’ It should not be overlooked, however, that the problem is deeply rooted within the patriarchial soci- ety we live in. Until our society changes The Other Press What it is and how to prevent it. from a male dominated one based on conflict and viol- ence to a more humane and sensitive one, rape will con- tinue to éxist. Because that change is hardly likely to occur soon, here are some suggestions from Vancouver ape Relief on how to protect yourself from the rapist. AT HOME -There should be lights in all entrances. -Leave a light on in the house if you plan to return after dark. -Be sure all doors have dead bolt locks and use them. -All your windows should have secure locks (they sho- uld be used) plus curtains or blinds. This is -especially important if you live alone or on the first floor of a building. -Don’t put your full name on the mail box or in the phone book. Use your initial and last name. -Always know who is at your door before opening it. A peep hole or chain lock may be helpful. -If a repairman is at the door, ask for identification. A real repairman would un- derstand. -If a stranger wants to use your phone, offer to make the phone call while he waits outside. -If you find an intruder in your home, throw something through a window. This will attract your neighbours’ at- tention. -If possible work out a buddy system with a neigh- bour or someone in your building. -If you think you hear a prowler, or feel otherwise suspicious, don’t hesitate to call the police. IN YOUR CAR -When in your car alone, lock all-:your doors. Also lock the doors when you get out, and check the back seat before you get back in. -Try to park in a well-lit area, or near the entrance of a shopping centre. -Have a functioning over- head light in your car. -If you pick up hitchhikers, pick up only women - that’s one way you can help reduce the incidence of rape for them and yourself. -If you have car trouble, raise the hood, then stay in your car and close your windows. If someone stops, ask them to call for assist- ance for you. -If you feel you are being followed in your car, drive to a busy well-lit area, or to the police station. If necessary, you can attract attention by violating traffic regulations, or causing a minor accident. -If you see someone having car trouble, note the location and call for assistance for them. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION -Try to wait in a well-lit place. -Notice who is getting on and off with you. -Sit near the driver of the vehicle. -Be asleep. SELF DEFENCE COURSES -Contact your local Rape Relief Centre, Women’s Ce- ntre, or community colleges and school boards for infor- mation on self-defense cour- ses for women. Investigate both physical self-defense and emotional self-defense (assertiveness training). REMEMBER!! EXPERIEN- CE WILL BUILD CONFID- ENCE. aware, don’t fall Friday, Can By Gene Jamieson , CUP prairie bureau chief The scene could be any newspaper in the country. The new editor chortles as he picks another Polish strike story for the front page. ‘Isn’t that hilarious,’’ he muses, ‘‘these people in Poland don’t even control their own trade unions.’’ ‘*Someone should teach these people some good old-fashioned Canadian democracy,’’ he proudly said. ‘*Canadian workers would never stand for having some one else running their unions.’’ Or would they? The bare facts tell us that Canadians have never con. trolled the unions to which most of them belong. For those 1 1/2 million Canadian workers who are members of ‘‘international’’ unions like the United Steelworkers of America, the United Mine Workers, or the United Automobile j Workers, firm control rests & in the union’s American head office. It is misleading to call them international unions for in fact they are Ameri- can with branches in Cana- da. Consider these facts which apply to many inter- national unions. - before Canadian locals of some international unions can go out on strike they must get approval from the American head office. - dues paid by the Cana- dian members of many in- ternationals are sent straight to the United States headquarters, whether it be New York, Pittsburgh, or Cincinnati. approval from the American head office must be received before strike pay will be given to Cana-= dian members of the union. the American head quarters also control pen- sions, welfare benefits, and most property and other assets of their Canadian branches. - the American head off- ice hires and fires all the union’s staff in Canada who are paid from the interna- tional office. , - the U.S. headquarters can force members in Ca- nada to accept collective agreements. - and if Canadian locals begin to buck this American control, the local can be placed under trusteeship and the local’s executive fired from the-States.