With Elizabeth’s permission, I’m pasting this wholesale from SexInThePublicSquare.org:
A few days ago JanieBelle wrote about the Senate vote that would end the global gag rule if it isn’t vetoed. A veto is a very real possibility, though. And before the President even has a chance to veto the bill, it has to get through a reconciliation conference with the House. NARAL Pro-Choice America is calling for 50,000 people to write to Congress to make sure that the gag rule repeal stays in the bill that goes to the President. That’ll also help build a good base to organize an override of the veto if it becomes necessary.
The “global gag rule” essentially prevents any US aid money from going to foreign clinics or organizations that provide information about abortion as an option, or that provide abortions, even if the clinics or agencies use only their own money to provide those services and even f those services are perfectly legal where the agencies are located. Because of this rule, clinics and organizations in poor countries. are bound to either reject US aid, or deny women medical care.
Click here for the NARAL Pro-Choice America call for action, or use the “Speak Out!” link on the left to get contact info for your senators and representatives and let them know what you think.
Photo Women’s Health Care Clinic, captioned, “Waiting extremely patiently for prenatal care, family planning, and basic OB-GYN services,” by Advencap and found on Flickr. Licenced using Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike licence.
Filed under: Biology, Blogs In Our MonkeySphere, Censorship, Education, Equality, Friends, Fundies, Politics, Religion, Science, Sex
What is the point of you having Congress if that fuckwit in the White House can single-handedly undo their good work? Our Queen has a similar power of veto but she always “rubber stamps” whatever Parliament (Congress) does. I suppose after Charles I and the problems he had, like being executed, she knows that fucking with parliament is not a good option! Could be a lesson in there for you guys.
I hate to double post, it seems so sad, but I have to share this with you. I was delivering to a lady yesterday and she had a large print of the two girls kissing that you use in your VVV (get the joke, by the way) logo, in her lobby. I guess she’s a lezzer. I was so gobsmacked I forgot to ask. Damn!
Unfortunately Martyne, we haven’t always learned from the lessons that were taught by our progenitor countries.
I certainly hope the country continues to awaken and throws off the yoke of dictatorial rule by a self-appointed Voice of God. It seems like it’s slowly do so.
Kisses
“lezzer”?
That’s a new one on me. That’s not derogatory in Britain? It falls grating on my ear, Martyne.
I don’t see “lezzer” as derogatory. To me it is simply a colloquialism of lesbian.
This is really good stuff to be putting out there. Atta girl(s).
*blush*
We do what we can, Dame WigglyButt.
Unfortunately, it will probably be vetoed by His Holiness, The Glorified Houseplant Who Would Be Caesar, and my understanding is that it’s unlikely there are enough votes to override that.
It’s important that we all stand up and tell Congress that such an outcome is simply not acceptable.
Kisses
Thanks damewiggy, I always appreciate your input. Especially when you are in a lyrical mood.
Hi JanieBelle-
Thanks for the comment and dropping by themadbohemian.
About this post…fantastic and, yes, we need to step up and speak out. I am an unhappy camper (though not shocked) that I have heard nothing about this. Apparently OJ and other good fun trumps this kind of news.
Thanks for putting it out there.
–tmb
tmb,
Well thank you for dropping by here. I’m also discouraged and unsurprised at the press coverage of different things.
Unfortunately, in this time and place, OJ sells newspapers, so to speak. That means that we not only get crap for news, we get crappy reporting of crap for news, as anything of intelligence or value seems to get weeded out of the reporters’ brains sometime around high school.
It might be a commentary on the specialization of our society in general that high schools seem to be moving in the direction of colleges, where a student is only expected to reach a minimum achievement of very specific courses.
I think a high school diploma (and also an undergrad degree from a university) should require at least a working knowlege of a much broader spectrum than it seems to now.
…but I’m not in charge.
yet.
Hi Janie Belle,
My name is Joey Appley-Epstein, and I’m writing to you on behalf of a project by the Women’s Campaign Forum called “She Should Run.” The goal of the project is to encourage both women and men to nominate inspiring pro-choice women to run for office — in every type of election from school boards to the United States Senate. So far, the project has collected 800 nominations and because of the positive feedback and response, we’ve decided to make a final push to 1,000 total nominations.
For this final push, we have decided to reach out to online communities for their help. The project focuses on the encouragement, empowerment, and election of pro-choice women. As you yourself are pro-choice I thought you might be interested in taking action for this movement. To reach our goal of 1,000, it certainly is going to be a community effort and we would really appreciate your help in discussing this special project before it concludes.
The greatest part of this project is that it’s the real thing, too, and not a superficial exercise by any stretch of the imagination. As the nominations have come in, the WCF has been following up to make sure these women receive the support and resources they need to run. They’re even planning their first training session with women who have been encouraged to run as a direct result of this project.
With that, here are some resources on the project:
1) The She Should Run website: http://www.sheshouldrun.org
2) A video overview of the She Should Run project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG55HNFmoNY
3) A great video by Congresswoman/Fellow Mom Debbie Wasserman Schultz on She Should Run, encouragement, and running for office: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk7NVr2RcIQ
Obviously, this isn’t a one-sided e-mail. As this project is all about participation, please send me any comments or questions that you have, and I’ll be sure to get them answered as soon as possible.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
- Joey
That’s an admirable cause behind which I will happily get.
I’m on my way out the door at the moment, but I’ll address this prominently later this evening.
Thank you Joey.
[...] a much more pleasant note about being approached, last night I got this comment, from Joey Appley-Epstein: Hi Janie Belle, My name is Joey Appley-Epstein, and I’m writing to you [...]