h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.care2.com/c2p/womensedge/moreaboutGGR.html

Abortion is a touchy subject, Zarq. There is a sizable group, apparenlt including Bush, that believes that abortion is murder. For these, such a rule makes perfect sense.

words fail me too..

would failing to give medical care not be murder too?

Notice, though, Gnomon that it applies to places that don't have abortion facilities, and that it also applies to places that only provide counselling about options. The net result is that the women who are unable to get contraception find themselves seeking abortions ... and could be putting themselves at risk from unsafe practices ... And as I know from experience, sometimes the result of considering abortion and being able to talk it through results in the choice to have the baby.

I knew about this, but I didn't know that Dubya issued the order 2 days after getting into power

Bit of an alarm bell you would have thought? So much for balanced, live and let live attitudes amongst our world leaders

I know that it makes sense to people who believe that abortion is murder, Gnomon, but there was a lot of murdering going on in various places in the world that Dubya did about. Rwanda? Zimbabwe? Oh, I shan't go into a rant here....

Fb

Yes, that shocked me too, Fb!

No surprise to me. He seems to think he can rule the whole world. It is time the US electorate brought him down a peg or two.

I know it is an issue on which men and women are divided, but it MUST be up to the individuals to decide for themselves, though I think under 16s should have to consult their parents unless there are very strong reasons for not doing so.

Websailor

I've known about this one for a while - isn't it awful? GWB has made lots of decisions that have very little to do with the 'will of the people' and a lot more to do with his own personal morality.

This is a site sponsored by Rep Henry Waxman, which talks about the Global Gag Rule and other conflicts the Bush administration has with public health and science.

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/

Abstinence only!

http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/example_abstinence.htm

Words continue to fail ...

i do agree, however, that the provision of education about sex appears to lead to people beginning sexual activity later, which can only be a good thing. However, if Bush is withholding money from advice providing agencies, then he is effectively enouraging earlier sex and abortions from unwanted pregancies. Effective contraception advice would reduce the incidence of both. I suppose he doesn't see it that way.

Dubya is increasing ignorance, which is just the worst thing to do

If people don't understand the consequences of their actions, they are more likely to do things that have poor consequences - through no fault of their own

What is it about sex that gets people so prurient anyway? Between consenting people, it's fun. It's natural. I just don't get it.

Fb

http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=8033

Actually, he didn't. He renewed an order that was made in 1984 by Reagan.

The order also prevents privately funded religious based organizations from counseling against abortions and federal monies
from reaching clinics that are actually government-run in other countries.
Physical self-determination does not exist in many cultures that treat good women as property and "bad" women as useless.
Regardless of what is told to women who make it to planned parenthood clinics, it is the women and girls who are culturally and religiously prevented from even hearing anything on the matter that we should be worried about.

Contraception is not an option when you are not supposed to be having sex in the first place or when your husband or your tribe owns you.
Thus, if you are pregnant, then either you and the child are outcasts, or your god and your culture really want you to have it and who are you to stand in the way of such authority?

Many women have no rights at all, let alone reproductive rights.

I also feel that Senor Bush's daughters are provided with the finest care that contraceptive science can provide and if one of them found herself suddenly in the family way, it would be dealt with.

*waves to TiT *

I hadn't heard of the 'global gag' until the other day, so I didn't know the history, tonsil.

I'm sorry to say you're right about women in certain cultures.

I can remember seeing a presentation by some women from Africa, who had set up an international organisation to promote women's voice in society. They had had to work really hard to get listened to at all.

On the other hand, I think of the efforts to improve healthcare in some countries, and how the most effective way often is through the women.

It's a big subject - very emotive.

A matriarchal society can make life very interesting, too.

You mean like killing the sacred king each year?