Picket in support of women's right to choose!

by mary c Sun Apr 30, 2006 19:07

Too many assumptions.

I am not in the least bit worried. I am confident that any rerum would only emphasise the opposition to liberalizing the availability of abortion.

I totally support the availability of contraception. I always have.

I have always supported gay rights and equality of esteem for gay people and gay relationships under the law. I also believe that the legislation which decriminalized sexual relationships between men has overwhelming public support , and possibly even lagged behind public opinion on the issue.

One of the more interesting socio-political phenomena in recent decades in the western democracies is the growing consensus on equality for gays, and at the same time, the hardening of attitudes against abortion (or where it is already legal - towards restricting it)

by Gaz B -(A)- Sun Apr 30, 2006 18:49

"I would not particularly relish a rerun." - worried?
artifical contraception, the ban on homosexuality, divorce - free, safe, legal abortion is next.

by mary c Sun Apr 30, 2006 18:35

The last referendum could only be interpreted as emphasising the public opposition to abortion, which was clearly decided by the electorate in the earlier referendum. The same divisions (and people) as in the original referendum clearly ranged themselves on the respective opposing sides. It is probable that the percentage that supported recognizing the risk of suicide as a ground would probably be rather greater than the percentage supporting a general right of a 'woman to choose/kill her unborn child' (whichever terminology you prefer).

The present situation clearly reflects the overwhelming view of the electorate that abortion should only be allowed in this country where objective medical opinion considers it necessary to preserve the life of the mother. The electorate decided that a demand for an abortion made on subjective or claimed psychological grounds should not be allowed. It seems that opposition to abortion is hardening among younger voters, and that it is the 30s-50s who are most liberal on the issue. The attitude of most Irish people is, that if you want to 'choose' a procedure which is held in distaste by the Irish people, and is illegal, you are perfectly free to go to some place where it is considered acceptable. You might well consider this position hypocritical, but it is perfectly logical when you consider that there are many procedures which you are free to obatin abroad but which are regarded with abhorrence here (I listed some of these previously)

However, I would welcome another referendum insofar as the result would only reinforce the results of the earlier plebicites. However, given that it would be a futile exercise and would predictably degenerate into a screeching-match between the tiny groups on the opposing extremes of this debate, I would not particularly relish a rerun.

by Gaz B -(A)- Sun Apr 30, 2006 17:42

"The electorate, freely exercising it's own right to choose, decided that if you wish to kill your babies you will just have to go elsewhere."

a pro-choice referendum has never been put before the people of Ireland. It has been 23 years since the 8th Amendment - thats a whole generation thats never had its opinions taken into account. The last pro-life referendum to remove suicide as grounds for a termination was rejected by the electorate.IIf you believe that the majority of people are still pro-life then you should welcome a pro-choice referendum ...if you think most people share your views you have nothing to be worried about.

by mary c Sun Apr 30, 2006 16:44

The electorate, freely exercising it's own right to choose, decided that if you wish to kill your babies you will just have to go elsewhere.

This isn't too onerous or oppressive if abortion is your thing. After all, you can fly "Aer- O'Leary" to the abortion destination of your choice for just €1.

And if your preference is poligamy, FGM, 'bride-burning', honour-killings and the like, you can't have those in Ireland either. You will just have to go to places where these things are considered 'rights'.

By the way, the 'size' of your demo clearly and starkly underlines the level of support for 'freedom to kill your unborn child'. (ugly language I know, but isn't it so so telling that the abortion crowd prefer to use euphemisms like "terminations" rather than the real thing!)

by magdalenatotlany - woman in struggle Sun Apr 30, 2006 14:41

OUR BODIES, OUR LIFES
OUR RIGHT TO DECIDE !!

Attached you'll see the ban and the leaflet. Feel free to copy, spread and improve it.

Slan !

LEAFLET:

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OUR BODIES, OUR LIVES,
OUR RIGHT TO DECIDE

Some answers to the pro-life arguments

Late abortions and sensationalist pictures?

“87% of abortion are performed under 13 weeks of gestation (2002, England and Wales)
Teenagers are more likely to have later abortions because of lack of information and understanding and inability to recognise a pregnancy, lack of appropriate accessible services and fear of being judged for accessing a procedure that is still so stigmatised.
Abortions over 24 weeks account for less than 0.1% of the total”.

Psychological effects for the woman?

“The consensus of all authoritative psychiatric and medical opinion is that, for the large majority of women, the effects on psychological health of having an abortion are neither major nor long-lasting.
Anti-choice organisations claim that abortion causes women to suffer severe psychological effects which they call "Post-Abortion Syndrome" (PAS). They liken PAS to post traumatic stress disorder, a real syndrome sometimes experienced by people who have suffered a terrible trauma. However, research in the UK and the USA shows that there is no evidence of such a mental illness. To describe the possible emotional problems that women may experience after an abortion in this way is a distortion of the facts.

Safe, legal abortion rarely has negative psychological effects. The denial of access to abortion, however, can have serious consequences for the woman and for the resultant child.

Several research studies have compared the effects on women and their children of those granted abortion and those forced to continue with their pregnancy. The evidence shows that the psychological and social consequences of refused abortion are frequently more serious than the consequences of abortion.”

Link between breast cancer and abortion?

“The largest study looking at a possible link between abortion and breast cancer followed 1.5 million women in Denmark. It found that women who had abortions had no greater risk of breast cancer than those who had not. Research showing a link between breast cancer and abortion has been discredited. A collaborative analysis of data from 53 studies reported in the Lancet stated that "worldwide epidemiological evidence indicates that pregnancies ending as either spontaneous or induced abortions do not have adverse effects on women's subsequent risk of developing breast cancer."

Do women have abortions instead of using contraception ?

“There is no evidence to support the assertion that women are careless about using ontraception because abortion is available. Unplanned pregnancy is a distressing situation for any woman nd choosing to have an abortion can be a difficult decision. The use of contraception is continuously rising but no method is 100 per cent effective. People's sex lives are often unpredictable so contraception may not always be used as effectively or regularly as it might be”.

Pro-choice is not advocation abortion as a mean of contraception but the right of every woman to decide for her body and her life.

Does a foetus have legal rights?

“No. Legal rights are granted at birth, when the mother and the baby are clearly separated and protecting the rights of the baby would not limit the rights of the woman. “

Adoption as an alternative?

It should be a choice not an imposition. Women are not incubators.

Protecting the right to live?

“Complications after an abortion such as serious bleeding, internal damage to the uterus or cervix and infection are possible but very rare when, as in the UK, abortions are performed by trained, experienced professionals in sterile conditions.
Worldwide millions of women are denied access to reproductive health services due to legal restrictions and poverty. Every year 19 million women have no other choice than to have an unsafe abortion and, appallingly, 70,000 women unnecessarily loose their lives every year as a result. Millions of others are permanently injured.”

Every day at least 17 women leave Ireland to access abortion services abroad, mainly in Britain but some women go further a field.
Moreover the fact that there are no facilities to perform abortion in Ireland put an additional pressure on women. The cost involved for traveling and for the operation (£500-£ 1000) makes it difficult or impossible to consider an abortion for women with no financial ressources.
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