Today we have a new and exciting tool for you: RH Glossary. You may have noticed certain words on the blog linking to a "coming soon" page -- now those words link to definitions. Glossary words are underlined with orange dots and provide definitions of common sexual and reproductive health terms, such as "family planning." These definitions are intended to help people who are just learning the issue to become more familiar with this topic.
Last week I discussed the manipulative tactics that are the foundation behind the propagation of the so-called "post-abortion syndrome" and my own experiences over the course of 34 years counseling women who need support and affirmation of their choice of abortion. What did we talk about in these "post-abortion counseling" sessions? Most women—some brought their male partners—simply wanted to talk and affirm their decisions because they weren't confident that they could trust anyone in their lives with this "shameful secret." Some women felt sad and were looking for resolution for the loss. A few felt doubt about their decision. We talked about what had changed from the day of the abortion to the present. What were they missing in their heads and hearts? What was happening in the rest of their live? How was their primary relationship (if there was one) affected by the experience of abortion? Where they searching for the road not taken—was "the baby that will not be" a fantasy unfulfilled? What would she say to "the baby" if she could? What ritual or process would be healing and helpful to say let go and truly say good-bye? When appropriate—if the woman raised the themes of faith—we would discuss religion and God. I referred to God as not punishing, but loving, and told them that he/she understands what we need to do to survive, live, and care for the others in our lives. I believe God grasps the profundity of our decisions and acknowledges abortion as a moral and loving choice.
Each year many pregnant Chinese women try and cross the border into Hong Kong in order to give birth. Apparently, in the past few years tens of thousands of women have crossed the border from mainland China into Hong Kong to deliver their children. Last year this number reached approximately 12,000. By making the trek into Hong Kong, women from mainland China are able to circumvent the country's one-child policy, and gain automatic residency rights (that come with health and education benefits) for their child in Hong Kong. The numbers of births by Chinese women from the mainland now account for almost a third of Hong Kong births, and are placing a burden on local hospital wards.
Last week, CBS Evening News featured a balanced story on the HPV vaccine and proposals to make the vaccine mandatory for girls entering the 6th grade. Several states are considering similar legislation, but the segment focused on the District of Columbia, which has the highest cervical cancer rate in the U.S. The video does a good job of addressing the facts about HPV and cervical cancer, as well as showing parents' perspectives both for and against the vaccine bill—without falling prey to myths about the vaccine encouraging promiscuity.
There's an excellent piece by British journalist Kira Cochrane in the January 29 edition of the New Statesman on the Global Gag Rule, and it's a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the United States' very special role in the global public health crisis that is unsafe abortion. The Gag Rule, FYI, denies USAID family planning funds to overseas organizations that provide safe abortion services, counseling, or information, even if they are using their own funds to do so, and even if abortion is legal in their countries. It was established in 1984 by Ronald Reagan, lifted by Clinton in 1992, and reinstated by Bush Jr. on the first full day of his presidency in 2001. Surprise, surprise.
Brian Ackerman is an intern at Advocates for Youth and a junior at the George Washington University, majoring in International Affairs.
I always shudder when I hear that young people aged 15-24 account for over 40% of new HIV infections. At 20 years old, I am halfway through college and focused on the youthful experience of "finding myself" and creating my future. I hope HIV never has to factor into my equation, but knowing that it is a daily reality for my peers around the world is an eerie truth. Helping young people protect themselves while still balancing the rest of the costs and needs of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasingly difficult.
According to an article in Infection Control Today and reported on Poz.com, overall, 56 percent of skilled nursing facilities, 47 percent of obstetricians, and 26 percent of plastic and cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles County would not accept HIV-positive patients for services commonly offered to HIV-negative patients. For example, when asked if he accepted HIV-positive patients, one healthcare worker responded, "We try not to. I'm just trying to be honest."
Plan B or Emergency Contraception's fifteen minutes of fame should be up by now, don't you think? It's beginning to feel more like a marathon month. First we experienced the never-ending battle for and the long awaited FDA decree that bestowed behind the counter access on Plan B. Concurrently, women have been needlessly challenged when trying to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception by pharmacists with a holier-than-thou chip on their shoulders. Catholic hospitals around the country have argued that women who receive their services following a rape or sexual assault should not have access to emergency contraception because of a religious definition of when pregnancy begins. And yet, women's advocates are aware of the power that emergency contraception can wield in women's lives, and continue to challenge efforts that restrict access. That's why, whensexual assault service organizationsrevealed that in 2006, 40% of women—and girls—accompanied by rape counselors to Connecticut hospitals after being raped were not offered emergency contraception or were not given the full dose (two pills taken twelve hours apart), reproductive rights activists and pro-choice legislators decided to act (not to mention a beauty queen).
Here's an international abortion item you won't read about in LifeSiteNews: after reflecting on it for five minutes, a range of Nicaraguan decision-makers from both the Church and the State have suddenly decided that criminalizing abortion to save a woman's life might not be such a great idea after all. Would that they had been captured by the spirit of reflection back in October, when they joined together in an unholy alliance to yank the 130-year-old therapeutic abortion provision from the Nicaraguan Penal Code in the space of a few weeks, thereby rendering the procedure illegal under any circumstances, including health- and life-threatening pregnancies.
We've had an overwhelming response to Andrea's post last Thursday exposing Eric Keroack's ridiculous assertions about oxytocin and premarital sex. (You remember him, don't you—the one in charge of the federal family planning program who believes birth control is "demeaning" to women?) Well, thanks to all of you who read Andrea's witty commentary or watched the slideshow, it has quickly become one of our most popular posts!
However, we realize that some people may not have wanted to wade through even one of Keroack's slides, let alone 68. So today we're giving you the trimmed version with Flickr notes. Check out our "Keroack Slideshow" photo set on Flickr (click on a slide picture then scroll over it with your mouse to see the notes). You can post comments under each picture to add your own commentary. Get creative—what do you have to say about this presentation?
68. So today we're giving you the trimmed version with