In Harm’s Way: Unsafe Abortion in Kenya

The Center for Reproductive Rights, a global legal organization dedicated to advancing women’s reproductive health, self-determination and dignity as basic human rights, has launched a new video and campaign about Kenya’s restrictive abortion law.

Some of the findings from their fact-finding mission –

Unsafe abortion accounts for 35% of Kenya’s maternal deaths

800 abortions, spontaneous and induced, occur every day in Kenya

Over 2,600 Kenyan women die from unsafe abortions each year

Approximately 21,000 women are admitted each year to Kenya’s public hospitals alone for treatment of complications from incomplete and unsafe abortion

At this very moment, the Kenyan government is reviewing proposals to include even more severe abortion restrictions into its constitution. There’s never been a more important moment to get the truth about Kenya’s abortion policies out to the public and to start a conversation.

Find out more about the impact of Kenya’s restrictive abortion law here.

View the video – In Harm’s Way: Unsafe Abortion in Kenya – here.

In Harm’s Way: Unsafe Abortion in Kenya from Center for Reproductive Rights on Vimeo.

View, discuss and then share.

Thanks.

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Who Has A Right To Protest Womens Reproductive Health?

The weekend started slow here in Roswell. Not much happening beyond the usual small town crap and kinda mundane/average news on the world level. Saturday a young friend got the letter accepting him into the Eastern New Mexico University School of Nursing, where he wants to persue his RN license, so he celebrated with the “Old Folks” before going out with friends his age. His dream of taking medical care to impoverished people is coming true. We are all happy for him.

Saturday was a bore on the news and the forums I visit. The newest arguments there are about the SCOTUS nominee and whether she is a racist, anti gun rights activist or a socialist. The standard Rush O’Reilly spew being discussed there so I just gave the internets a rest and kicked back to the usual sofa gelling.

Sunday’s NASCAR race wasn’t going like I had hoped and Kevin Harvick was a lap down early. I checked my Facebook page and saw where my friend Dusty had posted the sad news of the Kansas doctor George Tiller had been murdered in his place of worship. Apparently churches are no longer places of sanctuary, even to the religious nuts who would kill “for God”.

Following the story closely I saw that the suspected killer was from a suburb of Kansas City and knew in my gut that he was part of the terrorist organization known as Operation Rescue based in K.C.. Turns out he actually had ties to them so my early theory was somewhat right. The whole tragedy was horrible to say the least and the impact of Dr. Tillers death on womens health issues is yet to be seen.

Reading posts of my fellow forum-ites I came across this one sentence that sums up the whole issue for me. The posters screen name is “radicalfanatical” and although we often differ in opinion we agree on most of the important issues. He said, “It is one thing to fight for children to be brought into the world, but in doing so, there is some collective responsibility to support those who do, not necessarily for the sake of the parent, but definitely for the sake of the child.”.

That made me think back to a time when I was living in Baton Rouge in the early ’90’s and Operation Rescue came to town to terrorize our womens clinic there. The only city on that tour that police set up barriers to keep the protesters away. The anti choice mayor also took into account the illegality of stopping medical care in his town as well as hating the outside agitators bringing havoc to the medical district of town. I took classes on how to help defend the clinic and was assigneb a time to be an escort on that Saturday. Friday was free so I went to the barricades to stand firm.

Totally unrelated the weekly ad mailer included an advertisement from the state depicting kids who needed Foster Homes and the plea to folks to take them in. I tore the page from the rest of the ads and when I was manning the barricade I held it in front of me. If I was confronted by any of the people attacking the clinic I would calmly ask them how many unwanted children they fostered/adopted. None had anything to say and moved on. I baked in the sun…well, I should say boiled considering the humidity in south Louisiana…and helped hold the line from the pressing crowd. The pro choice clinic defenders had made a pact to keep mellow and not to get into a shouting match with the anti choice crowds. It mostly worked even though our excitement levels were as high as our convictions were.

Then this beautiful couple showed up on the anti choice side of the barricades. The man said he had heard of my ad and wanted to speak with me. They were both so serene in the midst of the agitated crowd that it was almost as if that fabled angelic light surrounded them. Then the guy pulled out his wallet and spread out his pictures in their plastic sleeves. With loads of pictures of 16 different kids he proudly told me these were his children.

The pics showed kids of all ages. Brown, yellow,and white faces smiled at me from all of the pics. Some of the faces had the classic Downs Syndrome look and some didn’t. All were of the “unadoptable”, non white unhealthy group so often talked about.  All of them looked happy and healthy. They proudly proclaimed that all were adopted and they all had the parental love and guidance that all children need desperately. Then he told me his story.

He had once been a womens health provider in New Orleans. He had performed over a thousand legal abortions and along with his regular OB/GYN practice he had become wealthy. He talked about seeing the despair and hopelessness in the faces of most of the women who had chosen to terminate their pregnancy and saw the need for compassion and care for all. Then he met a homeless patient who would rather have her child adopted but because of the probability of mental and physical problems (stemming from alchohol abuse during the pregnancy) she knew there would be no adoptive parents who would want the baby. He told his wife, who could not have children, and she jumped at the chance to take the unborn child in. 18 years and 16 adoptions later they were part of the protests but also were advocates for the anti’s to find unwanted children and take them in.

I knew in my heart that these folks were two of the minority of the protesters. In fact in the 3 days of working the defense line for the clinic as well as escorting patients on the 4th day I never encountered another “Pro-Lifer” who had even Fostered a child, let alone adopted one. My feeble way of thinking made me know that they were the only folks there who actually had a right to be out there protesting.

A couple of years later I ran into them at a grocery store in New Orleans. We recognized each other immediately and they proudly showed off their new children to me. Beautiful twins of mixed race who were born with crippling physical defects. Their smiling 6 or 7 month old faces looked up fromthe baby carrier and their twisted arms reached out to me. I was so in love. With the babies as well as their new parents.

Yesterday I thought about that kind doctor and his family as I followed the Kansas story with horror. I thought about his loving way of protest and the good he has done. He is outspoken in his anti abortion views and although he is not a religious man he is much more of a Christian than all of those involved in the “Christian” group Operation Rescue.

He fights his fight without violence.

He truly believes in life.

He would never kill a doctor.

Only those who don’t believe in their own message would.

Rest In Peace Doctor George Tiller

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Obama’s complete ND speech

It should be noted that the vast majority of protesters were not students or faculty..they were outsiders. From MSNBC:

On campus, Obama entered the arena to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from many in the crowd of 12,000. But as the president began his commencement address, at least three protesters interrupted it. One yelled, “Stop killing our children.”

The graduates responded by chanting “Yes we can”, the slogan that became synonymous with Obama’s presidential campaign. Obama seemed unfazed, saying Americans must be able to deal with things that make them “uncomfortable.”

The president ceded no ground on abortion. But he said those on each side of the debate “can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.

“So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term.”

The religious folks must come to terms with protecting embryo’s that become children. They must protect the child that is born and make sure he or she can grow to become a viable member of our society as their job isn’t finished when the child is born. They can not just scream and holler about protecting the embryo, they must continue to protect the human being. That is the biggest hypocrisy to me with regard to the anti-choice crowd.

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Ten Post Round-Up: Superman Edition

By the time you read this post you will either have recovered from the Palin Speech Drinking Game or had enough Pepto to settle your tummy.  Of course, if you are like me, you probably opted for a refreshing rerun of CSI.

For those of you who prefer your Republican/Conservative news in bite-size portions, today’s Ten Post Round-Up will not disappoint.  But, before you proceed, you might want to indulge in a little musical interlude and remember that you are (or may very likely know) a Superwoman.

• Going for gold? Palin earns her compassionate conservative credentials.

• When all else fails, blame a Clinton!

• Remember kids: IOKIYAR (sexism edition).

• Palin: The gift that keeps on giving.

• Looks like McMaverick’s game plan backfired.

• May the Great Pumpkin bless and keep him: Voice of Snoopy goes to the Great Pumpkin patch in the sky.

• Pu ff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puff the Magic Diddy, Diddy, um, Sean Combs has spoken.

• Remember kids: If you really want privacy, then um, stay out national politics…

• Let us remember that like a firearm, when in the proximity of a microphone, always assume that it’s loaded (I very recently discovered how embarrassing that can be…thankfully, I’m not a national figure)!

• When The Maverick Met The Palin. *warning: adult-language*

(originally posted at: The Sirens Chronicles)

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Ten Post Round-Up: We Won’t Get Shafted, Again

You’ve got to give McCain credit. By welcoming Palin into his campaign, he sure livened things up quite a bit in this election (and no, I’m not referring to you-know-what, unless you know what is a bridge or something).

Truth be told, I don’t blame him for his (apparently) monumental screw-up. There was not much more he could do after Obama pretty much drop-kicked McCain during his awesome speech, last week. McCain can only hope that Palin will continue to be a distraction, especially if his big speech does not get the audience and/or the viewership that Obama’s did.

Looks like I got more to dish about Palin in today’s Ten Post Round-Up (after all, forewarned is fore-armed). I heard that Jerry Reed (of Smokey and the Bandit fame) died today. Searching for a song to link to, this one made me think of the Republican party and how we have been treated since GWB got the WH (S/He got the goldmine–I/We got the shaft).

• Get ready to have your access capped or pay more for internet access.

• More Gestapo tactics at the RNC. Welcome to Republican America, indeed!

• There goes “the neighborhood”. What would King Friday XIII decree?

• As Gustav passes, we still have our hearts and minds on Katrina.

• More things that make you go “Hmmmm…” in regards to Palin-gate.

• The Republicans continue to party-hardy despite McCain’s call for solemnity because of the approaching hurricane.

• McCain’s POW cred makes him unfit to be Prez? He doesn’t think so.

• Fitness may simply be a process of mind over matter.

• Progressives (and probably some Conservatives) have started a Palin Pull-out Pool. Will and when will she make her grand exit? I’ve placed my bet.

• From the annals of “Foods That Should NEVER Be Put Together In One Palate”.

(originally posted at: The Sirens Chronicles)

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Ten Post Round-Up: Coming Out Of The Dark

Finally back from my much needed summer break. Not sure if anyone really missed me, but I have to send a shout-out to all my chicas (and hombres) who had my back while I had my guard down.

Let’s jump right in, to today’s Ten Post Round-Up, why don’t we? The last few days have shed a lot of light on things supposedly known, things we probably wish we didn’t know, and will continuing shining light until November 5th. And, after being out of the loop for the last two weeks, I definitely feel like I am coming out of the dark. Read more

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Ten Post Round-Up: Ball of Confusion Edition

I don’t really know what to say about today’s Ten Post Round-Up, except that I’m thankful for my morning cuppa (it keeps my head from spinning too fast, upon reading the news). It’s all just a reminder that this world is just a giant ball of confusion.

• Well, it looks like the anti-choice/anti-contraception crowd jus’ got a new talking point. Apparently, women who are on the pill, smell bad (or something like that).

• On the other hand, one of the anti-choice talking points has been debunked.

• Who would have thought that the son of a Pennsylvania congressman would be sued by the Pennsylvania attorney general for violating the Do Not Call laws by using an India-based call center. Of course, this is just more proof-positive that the Do Not Call laws do not actually stop the illicit calls.

• Let’s here for American Airlines and their efforts at supporting the troops!

• Big Business: means never having to say you’re sorry…about not paying taxes.

• Wanna go green in your neighborhood? Better check your HOA agreement.

• Pssst! Wanna house, cheap?

• With the economy on shaking ground and health insurance so hard to attain, a lot of couples are marrying simply for “in sickness”, “to death do us part”, not, necessarily, an option.

• There’s no love in the city for those who try to take care of themselves. The man always wants to get his piece of the action.

• Remember the high school where teenagers supposedly made a pact to get pregnant? Well, the school principal really wishes you would forget all that nonsense.

(originally posted at: The Sirens Chronicles)

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just reminding people

lest we forget- that the religious wingnuts are still around- george w. bush proposes:

“The proposed rule defines abortion as “any of the various procedures–including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action–that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.”

original post 8/27/08

“I don’t know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is One Nation under God.”

“An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist knows that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist thinks that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue, and enjoy it. An Atheist thinks that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man he can find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment. Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to know a god. An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethic al way of life. He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end to troubles in the hereafter. He knows that we are our brother’s keeper and keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now.”

madalyn o’hair

yep- i can certainly tell the difference.

original post- 8/23/07

the cache doesn’t seem to stay put- so i will post as best i can. this is what i mean about americans destroying america. like it or not, these sheeple share citizenship with thinking, sentient beings. these people aren’t as small of a minority as you may think- and coupled with the post below- doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how things are headed. i’ll see you at the secret prison.

family security matters

Exclusive: Conquering the Drawbacks of Democracy
Philip Atkinson

Author: Philip Atkinson
Source: The Family Security Foundation, Inc.
Date: August 3, 2007

While democratic government is better than dictatorships and theocracies, it has its pitfalls. FSM Contributing Editor Philip Atkinson describes some of the difficulties facing President Bush today.

Conquering the Drawbacks of Democracy

By Philip Atkinson

President George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2005 after being chosen by the majority of citizens in America to be president.

Yet in 2007 he is generally despised, with many citizens of Western civilization expressing contempt for his person and his policies, sentiments which now abound on the Internet. This rage at President Bush is an inevitable result of the system of government demanded by the people, which is Democracy.

The inadequacy of Democracy, rule by the majority, is undeniable – for it demands adopting ideas because they are popular, rather than because they are wise. This means that any man chosen to act as an agent of the people is placed in an invidious position: if he commits folly because it is popular, then he will be held responsible for the inevitable result. If he refuses to commit folly, then he will be detested by most citizens because he is frustrating their demands.

When faced with the possible threat that the Iraqis might be amassing terrible weapons that could be used to slay millions of citizens of Western Civilization, President Bush took the only action prudence demanded and the electorate allowed: he conquered Iraq with an army.

This dangerous and expensive act did destroy the Iraqi regime, but left an American army without any clear purpose in a hostile country and subject to attack. If the Army merely returns to its home, then the threat it ended would simply return.

The wisest course would have been for President Bush to use his nuclear weapons to slaughter Iraqis until they complied with his demands, or until they were all dead. Then there would be little risk or expense and no American army would be left exposed. But if he did this, his cowardly electorate would have instantly ended his term of office, if not his freedom or his life.

The simple truth that modern weapons now mean a nation must practice genocide or commit suicide. Israel provides the perfect example. If the Israelis do not raze Iran, the Iranians will fulfill their boast and wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Yet Israel is not popular, and so is denied permission to defend itself. In the same vein, President Bush cannot do what is necessary for the survival of Americans. He cannot use the nation’s powerful weapons. All he can do is try and discover a result that will be popular with Americans.

As there appears to be no sensible result of the invasion of Iraq that will be popular with his countrymen other than retreat, President Bush is reviled; he has become another victim of Democracy.

By elevating popular fancy over truth, Democracy is clearly an enemy of not just truth, but duty and justice, which makes it the worst form of government. President Bush must overcome not just the situation in Iraq, but democratic government.

However, President Bush has a valuable historical example that he could choose to follow.

When the ancient Roman general Julius Caesar was struggling to conquer ancient Gaul, he not only had to defeat the Gauls, but he also had to defeat his political enemies in Rome who would destroy him the moment his tenure as consul (president) ended.

Caesar pacified Gaul by mass slaughter; he then used his successful army to crush all political opposition at home and establish himself as permanent ruler of ancient Rome. This brilliant action not only ended the personal threat to Caesar, but ended the civil chaos that was threatening anarchy in ancient Rome – thus marking the start of the ancient Roman Empire that gave peace and prosperity to the known world.

If President Bush copied Julius Caesar by ordering his army to empty Iraq of Arabs and repopulate the country with Americans, he would achieve immediate results: popularity with his military; enrichment of America by converting an Arabian Iraq into an American Iraq (therefore turning it from a liability to an asset); and boost American prestiege while terrifying American enemies.

He could then follow Caesar’s example and use his newfound popularity with the military to wield military power to become the first permanent president of America, and end the civil chaos caused by the continually squabbling Congress and the out-of-control Supreme Court.

President Bush can fail in his duty to himself, his country, and his God, by becoming “ex-president” Bush or he can become “President-for-Life” Bush: the conqueror of Iraq, who brings sense to the Congress and sanity to the Supreme Court. Then who would be able to stop Bush from emulating Augustus Caesar and becoming ruler of the world? For only an America united under one ruler has the power to save humanity from the threat of a new Dark Age wrought by terrorists armed with nuclear weapons.

# #
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Philip Atkinson is the British born founder of ourcivilisation.com and author of A Study of Our Decline. He is a philosopher specializing in issues concerning the preservation of Western civilization. Mr. Atkinson receives mail at rpa@ourcivilisation.com.
read full author bio here

© 2003-2007 FamilySecurityMatters.org All Rights Reserved

If you are a reporter or producer who is interested in receiving more information about this writer or this article, please email your request to pr@familysecuritymatters.org.

Note — The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of The Family Security Foundation, Inc.

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The Libertarian View of Abortion

I got such a great response to my post from last week: You Can Have My Womb When You Rip It From My Cold, Dead Body, that I wanted to post the opinion of another Libertarian blogger.

Please welcome, The Mudslinger, who is a true and personal friend of mine and my family (politically and personally, speaking).

For Libertarians on Abortion
(Re-posted with permission from Muddy Thoughts)

Read more

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You Can Have My Womb When You Rip It From My Cold, Dead Body

I am actually stunned and somewhat speechless over the news from Colorado, today. (Warning: “bad words” and cursing lay ahead; not meant for sensitive eyes)

Coloradoans will get to vote on whether or not a fertilized human egg should get the same constitutional rights as a full-term human baby, in November.

This so-called “anti-abortion” measure is an insult to all thinking human beings. It assumes that women are not capable of determining the difference between an egg and a real living baby.

Please note, that the bill is to give a fertilized egg “human” status. Also note, that the egg is fertilized before what doctors consider “conception” transpires (that is, when the egg is implanted in the uterus). Also note, that before “conception” this fertilized egg will most likely be flushed down the toilet before the woman even realizes that “the law” considers her pregnant.

Read more

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from my google reader

this gem appears:

Abortions Soar Where Religious Zeal Abounds

tell me again why religion of any kind is relevant? they haven’t gotten anything right yet.

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Those Asshats are at it again..

I was being polite in the title..I really wanted to say Those Bible-thumping Fuckwits are at it again…

I construe Abortion Clinic fire-bombings and attacks as hate crimes. I know most government entities do not. So be it, but it ain’t right and they need to nail these fuckas post haste..before someone gets hurt or dies because some fundi mutha fucka can’t handle a female getting a perfectly legal medical procedure.

The Doctor who’s office was firebombed has been practicing medicine for 22 years.. he doesn’t need this shit.

The article has the statistics for abortion clinic attacks since 1977. They could be right, they could be way off..but still:

According to a statement from the National Abortion Federation, there have been seven murders, 17 attempted murders, 41 bombings, 100 butyric acid attacks, 656 anthrax threats, and 175 arsons against abortion providers since 1977, including Thursday’s Albuquerque incident.

It’s a legal medical procedure, get over it you sick sumbitches.

The video with a very irony-laden title is just to calm me the hell down after reading about this crap at P2’s blog

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