26.9.16

Donate to Blank Noise and the Akeli Awaara Azaad project



Thank you for interest in supporting Blank Noise financially. Blank Noise was registered as a charitable trust in November 2015 and its 80G tax exemption certificates ( certificates that grant donor and donee tax exemption) are being processed. The 80G certificates for any donation will be sent as soon as possible, but we will confirm the receipt of any donation immediately.We are grateful for the financial support you offer. Your donation, however big or small is much appreciated. There are other ways you can be involved, financially, so please get in touch if you think of something else.


* Given its current status, Blank Noise can accept funds from Indian Bank Accounts only.  


Immediate funding towards: Events/ Programmes/ Seed


Support An Event : I Never Ask For It Week * Sept 25 - ongoing
Blank Noise hosted I Never Ask For It week, bringing together three events


Walk Alone: Global
Action Heroes will wear multi lingual t-shirts that read Akeli, Awaara​, Azaad, meaning​ Alone, Wanderer, Free. To be alone, wandering, and free asserts our right to live unwarned. We ask for freedom from fear.
Action Hero Dialogues:
A dialogue with organizations, individuals and institutions examining warning, blame, fear, resistance. Most women and girls remember the clothes they were when they experienced sexual violence or harassment. We are raised in an environement that warns women and girls to “ be careful” , also translates as “ If you experienced violence, maybe you were not being careful enough. You ‘asked for it.’” There is no excuse for sexual or gender based violence. I Never Ask For It.


A Very Deliberate Manel : Suspicion
The programme begins in Bangalore, bringing together 21 men who wish to step in, to end violence against women, sexual and gender based violence. This is in the context of the I Never Ask For It Week, where all identifying as male respond to trust, blame, warnings, fear and suspicion.


Total event cost = Rs. 69, 480
Budget list here

Support A Programme: Internship
Blank Noise will host three interns for a six month period.
Monthly remuneration per intern per month= Rs.20,000/
Total remuneration per intern for six months= Rs.1,20,000/
Total remuneration for three interns, for six months = Rs.3,60,000/
Support A Programme: I Never Ask For It Writing Project
About programme:  I Never Ask For It writing project has been launched by Blank Noise. It is aimed at launching several conversations around victim blame- featuring personal stories, analysis of the legal framework, the media’s role and responsibility in shaping narratives as well as citizens who are fighting to keep our public spaces safe. The project will compel us to reframe the conversation around victim blame.
Editor fee- Rs. 50,000 per month; Contributor fee- Rs. 5000 per contributor
Support Blank Noise Seed Fund: Blank Noise requires Rs 100,000- 150,000 a month to function. The budget list can be found here
Details For Blank Noise Account:

Bank Details:
Bank Name: ICICI Bank Limited
Account Name: Blank Noise
Blank Noise Account Number: 041105001534
IFSC Code:
ICIC0000411
Branch Name: Yelahanka

Blank Noise Address:
Blank Noise
c/o Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology
CA Site No. 16
Yelhanka New Town
Bangalore 560106
Karnataka
India


Thank you for supporting Blank Noise.

24.9.16

#WalkAlone #INeverAskForIt credits

This event has been made possible with the force strength and support of various Action Heroes and allies including:

Annie Zaidi
Amrita Tripathi
Abhisikta Dasgupta
Atreyee Majumder
Eeshita Kapadia
Gayathri Rajarathinam
Lijya Perayil
Lisa Heissenberg
Jennifer Fatogun
Karuna Nundy
Sascha Hughes Caley
Satya Gummuluri
Sayali Patwardhan
Shreyasi Kar
Tamanna Jaisinghani
Vasundhara Myaning
Vira Mistry
Bidisha Das

Rajesh Umadevi Srinivas
Christy Raj



A big thank you also to the following:
Mr Swamy for translating english to kannada.
Vipin Bhati for sound recording the event.
Shubham - sound assistant to Vipin.
Seema Seth for printing and communication.
Renu and Shahrukh Mistry for their support.
Nita and Narinder Pal Singh
Ravindra Gutta
Anand and Kartik


Thank you to Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology for supporting Blank Noise


Delighted to share:
Uber Bangalore has Stepped in to support #WalkAlone!
To any #ActionHero in Bangalore who would like to take Uber back home, between 10 pm and 12 30 am, please give us a shout for a promo which gives you Rs.100 off per ride! Thanks Uber


Also delighted to share , Action Heroes in Bangalore will be fed


Thank you Goethe Institut for being a generous host, and also for the tasty snacks and tea after.


Thank you Gayathri and The Donut Baker for the donuts #ActionHeroes take along to the walk.


Action Heroes in Pune are also being fed. A big thank you to Mary's Bakery (also Lijya’s mum)for the cake!
* incase we missed you, please don't hesitate to spell it out.

Sunday 25th September






Is there somewhere in your city/ town/ district, you would like to walk alone in but have not?  
100 Action Heroes #WalkAlone

100 Action Heroes #WalkAlone on Sunday 25th September anytime between 8 pm and midnight. Action Heroes assert their right to live without warnings, to be free from fear. #WalkAlone to experience the night. Gaze at the stars. Stop to smell the night blooming flowers. Walk Alone. Together.

To #WalkAlone Onti Alemari Svatantra / Akeli Awaara Azaad  register here . Read Event faqs here

contact: 9886840612 / actionhero@blanknoise.org


* for those in Bangalore
Action Hero Dialogues : investigating warning, blame, fear, resistance at the Goethe Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan on Sunday 25th September 6: 45 pm. We would like to hear from you, especially in the context of your work with communities and hope can join in to co create this dialogue.

Do you remember the clothes you wore when you experienced sexual or gender based violence? Most women and girls across the world do.
To be raised in an environment that warns women and girls to “ be careful” , also translates as “ If you experienced violence, maybe you were not being careful enough. You ‘asked for it’”
There is no excuse for sexual or gender based violence. I Never Ask For It.

200 Action Hero testimonials as garments will be installed at Max Mueller Bhavan. You are invited to add your garment to it. Step in, shape the Action Hero Dialogues and add to building installation of I Never Ask For It testimonials.

I Never Ask For It is a five year public engagement, initiated and facilitated by Blank Noise to end victim blame by building testimonies of clothing ;individuals contribute the garment they wore when they experienced sexual or gender based violence. The garment is witness, memory and voice to the senders experience. In 2020, the ten thousand garments will be installed in sites of public significance.The mission is envisioned to be co created by citizens, communities and allies in Bangalore, India and globally.

Event #WalkAlone begins immediately after , Action Hero Dialogues at Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan


22.9.16

Registration Open: #AVeryDeliberateManel / Examining Suspicion



An invitation to men, boys, gents, all who identify as male to an open dialogue on violence against women, sexism, rape culture. This is a call to men, to take a step beyond solidarity and support.

#AVeryDeliberateManel series is being launched during #INeverAskForIt week.
In Session 1, Suspicion, we investigate warnings, blame, trust, fear.

Register and join the event.

If you wish to nominate someone for this panel, please email us at actionhero@blanknoise.org

A total of 21 men and 8 women will inform this dialogue on the 27th of September at Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan between 6-8 pm . Conversations will be audio recorded and made publicly available.

Action Heroes Across The Globe : Bring In I Never Ask For It Week, Walk Alone

100 ‘Action Heroes’ #WalkAlone:




Action Heroes assert their right to live without warnings, to be free from fear. #WalkAlone , experience the night. Gaze at the stars. Stop to smell the night blooming flowers. Walk Alone Together.

Is there a place in your city you would like to #WalkAlone? Where in your city would you like to do this? ( Is it a place you fear, desire, or is unknown to you?)
Between 8 pm- midnight
September 25th 2016
Be an Action Hero too!

Register here so we can map/ list/ connect #ActionHeroes  

Amplify the call for action. Share and tag.Reach out to your communities, friends and networks

email connect: actionhero@blanknoise.org

BANGALORE ACTION HEROES REPORT TO DUTY - IT'S I NEVER ASK FOR IT WEEK!

Hello Action Heroes!

Join in to bring the I Never Ask For It Week starting September 25, 2016.

Do you remember the clothes you wore when you experienced sexual or gender based violence? Most women and girls across the world do.

To be raised in an environment that warns women and girls to “ be careful” , also translates as

“ If you experienced violence, maybe you were not being careful enough. You ‘asked for it’”


We repeat.
There is no excuse for sexual or gender based violence.
I Never Ask For It.

You are invited to participate in Action Hero Dialogues , investigating warning, blame, fear, resistance at the Goethe Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan on Sunday 25th September 6: 45 pm.

I Never Ask For It is a five year public engagement, initiated and facilitated by Blank Noise to end victim blame by building testimonies of clothing ;individuals contribute the garment they wore when they experienced sexual or gender based violence. The garment is witness, memory and voice to the senders experience. In 2020, the ten thousand garments will be installed in sites of public significance.The mission is envisioned to be co created by citizens, communities and allies in Bangalore, India and globally.

200 Action Hero testimonials as garments will be installed at Max Mueller Bhavan. You are invited to add your garment to it. Step in, shape the Action Hero Dialogues and add to building installation of I Never Ask For It testimonials.



I Never Ask For It




100 Action Heroes #WalkAlone
Event begins after , Action Hero Dialogues at Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

100 Action Heroes in Bangalore and around the world #WalkAlone on Sunday 25th September between 8 pm and midnight. Action Heroes assert their right to live without warnings, to be free from fear. #WalkAlone , experience the night. Gaze at the stars. Stop to smell the night blooming flowers. Walk Alone Together.



Is there a part of Bangalore you would like to walk alone in but have not?
To #WalkAlone Onti Alemari Svatantra / Akeli Awaara Azaad  register here .

To #WalkAlone Onti Alemari Svatantra / Akeli Awaara Azaad  register here . Read event faqs here







1.9.16

Being Responsible. Your Turn.

Two Ola Cab Drivers have raped and murdered a twelve year old child in Kolkata. The girl was forced into the taxi by Shankar Shaw and Guddu Singh, where they took turns to rape her, following which they strangled her and threw her off the bridge. The child’s body was found in the canal.

Both the drivers were reported to be drunk and have said that they were out to have fun.
Both have been arrested.

Sickened, shocked, horrified.
This isn’t a first.

Ola sent in a statement
via ndtv source

"We are saddened by the reports of the alleged misbehaviour of a driver in Kolkata. On preliminary identification of the cab details shared by authorities, we have suspended the account associated with this cab with immediate effect. As per our records, this incident has not occurred while on the Ola platform. We will work with the authorities to share any information that will help support their investigation."

To All Taxi Companies,
To Whom It May Concern
To Ola

  1. What measures are you taking to ensure safety of  all women , girls, children, individuals? To place an emergency button is to say , “ we did our job”, and frankly that’s doing nothing, or help us understand what it is doing/ has done so far.
  2. Do you invest in training ? If yes, we would like to know more.
  3. Employ and invest in women drivers, ‘Action Hero Drivers’, not in pink taxis, not for women by women, but for all. Envision. Initiate. Empower.
  4. Own up to a lack of focus and responsibility in this territory beyond calling incidents of violence, rape and murder, as ‘saddening’ , and or ‘unfortunate’. This isn’t about one incident or three. This is about an attitudinal shift, systemic change. This is a long path. Commit to a collective vision for a safe and inclusive world. You have the potential to make immense contribution, if you can see it too.
  5. If business language is most easily heard, here goes: you lose out on women customers if they don’t trust your service.
Blank Noise Team

I Never Ask For It Writing Programme : Apply To Intern


We are offering an internship starting September 7th, 2016 towards the I Never Ask For Ittext series. Do apply and share this call in your networks too!

We seek Action Hero individuals who :
i) Are thorough on the discourse on sexual and gender based violence. Have a keen interest in tackling victim blame
ii) For whom word is medium. We are open to applications from a range of writing practices and form ( poetry, report, essay + )
iii) Those who identify, connect and feel passionate about Blank Noise's approach towards addressing sexual and gender based violence.
iv) In addition, we also seek individuals who can do outreach and community enabling work with university students.

The intern towards this programme could be located anywhere. The programme editor is based in Delhi- applications from Delhi and nearby are further encouraged, however, not the criteria.

Apply here : internship
Deadline: Sept 3rd, 2016