Pro-Choice Call to Action

Dear Pro-choice Supporters,

Please send a letter to your MP asking them to vote against the private member's bill C-510, "an act to amend the Criminal Code (coerced abortion)." The bill was introduced in April and is scheduled for 2nd Reading vote on Nov 1.

Please check out the following link to some media coverage:
"Abortion vote inevitable, MP says"
For more info on the bill, see the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada's press release in:

• English, and
  
• Français

How you can help defend women's rights?

Below is a sample letter that you can copy and paste into an email or a letter. Feel free to edit the letter or write your own. Address your email to your MP.

Look up your MP HERE.
________________________________
Sample Letter/Email:

Subject: Please vote against Bill C-510

Dear [insert your MP's name]

I'm writing to ask you to please vote against Bill C-510, an act to prohibit "coerced abortion", which is slated for a 2nd reading vote in Parliament on Nov 1.

Bill C510 is a private member's bill that would amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercing a woman into an abortion via physical or financial threats, illegal acts, or through “argumentative and rancorous badgering or importunity”. It was introduced on April 15 by anti-abortion Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge (Winnipeg South), who chairs the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus.

I'm pro-choice and part of Canada's pro-choice majority. I believe this is an unnecessary bill that promotes abortion stigma, paternalizes women, and puts providers at risk. The bill is redundant because threats and illegal acts are already illegal under the Criminal Code, and counselors at clinics already screen for possible coercion in women seeking abortion. However, the anti-choice movement falsely believes that clinics coerce women into abortions, so we fear this bill may encourage frivolous charges against providers, as well as harassment and violence. The bill patronizes women by implying they are frequently coerced into abortion, but the vast majority of women make their own decision to have an abortion and take responsibility for it. If the intent is really to protect women from abusive partners, we need better and more comprehensive solutions than this bill.

The bill is supported and promoted by Canada's anti-abortion movement. It represents their latest attempt to get a foot in the door towards recriminalizing abortion. The bill refers to a fetus as a “child,” making it another Trojan Horse for smuggling fetal rights into law. As you may recall, the "Unborn Victims of Crime Act" from 2008 (Bill C484) passed 2nd reading
because its deceptive language fooled a number of pro-choice MPs.

Thank you in advance for voting against Bill C510.

Sincerely,

We need fewer barriers to abortion, not more

"In recent days, a number of private clinics in Quebec – including the legendary Morgentaler clinic – have said they will stop performing abortions.

That access to abortion should be threatened, after decades of battles in the courts, is a shocking development.

It is also a reminder that the battle for reproductive rights is never done because there are a cruelly endless number of ways to undermine access. Prince Edward Island still offers no abortion services at all. New Brunswick requires referrals from two doctors. Women in rural areas of the country often have to travel hundreds of kilometres for care. Some provinces cover only the cost of abortions performed in hospitals, creating a financial barrier."

As Atlantic Canadian feminists, the struggle for access to abortion is not a new story to us, but the recent developments in Quebec have been a slap in the face for many women's rights advocates who thought we had permanently gained some ground. I am hoping this dismay continues and draws some more attention to the appauling lack of access in our provinces.

Ohio Law Would Give Men Final Decision in Abortion

A Republican lawmaker in Ohio has re-introduced a bill that would give a man the final choice on whether the woman he got pregnant could have an abortion.

Dubbed the “father’s right bill,” it would give the man the right to stand up and say he doesn’t want the fetus he contributed DNA to to be aborted. But it says nothing about then forcing him to be a good father or provide financial stability.

Its sponsor, Rep. John Adams (who has reintroduced a bill first put forth in 2007), has stated publicly that this is an attempt to “keep the two people who have created that child together.”

This is why feminists can't retire.

The Dangers of Knowing: Boy or Girl?

This article came through my inbox this morning, and I have to blog about it - there are so many things wrong with it, I don't even know where to begin.

The article talks about an at-home test you can take to determine whether your soon-to-be baby is a boy or a girl. First, I have a huge problem with the gender binary. What if your child doesn't identify as a boy or a girl once they have some time to think about it? What then?

Mostly, however, it unimpresses me greatly that people still want to know the sex of their child before it is born. What difference can it possibly make? The article mentions, TWICE, the need to know "pink or blue" (presumably referring to the child's clothing, room decor, etc.). Really? Really? I personally find our need to assign gender-specific colours to our babies incredibly weird. What would happen if you put your daughter in a blue nursery? Would she be damaged beyond repair?

From the article:

Manufacturer IntelliGender advertises the Boy or Girl Gender Prediction Test as “a fun way to discover more about your baby and share the news of pink or blue as early as possible.”

Besides the offensive "pink or blue" notion, there is the idea that the news of the baby's sex needs to be shared "as early as possible". Who cares? When someone tells you the news that they're having a boy, you would be excited for them, yes? Wouldn't you have the exact same reaction if it was a girl? So why on earth does it matter - wouldn't you rather know that the baby is healthy?

The other issue the article brings up is sex-selective abortion. Which, while appalling, has got to be better than sex-selective infantacide, yes? Wouldn't we rather that people disposed to this kind of behaviour found out the baby's sex as early as possible? It's a gruesome thought, I know. But what really bothers me about articles like this, and 99% of articles on sex-selective abortion, is that they refuse to acknowledge that the actual act of sex selection (whether through abortion, infantacide or neglect) is only a symptom of the problem. It cannot be stopped by outlawing abortion (or requiring a reason fitting with the doctor's standards). The root of the problem is quite obviously the cultural attitude towards women. If men and women are not equal, and especially if it is to a family's economic benefit to only have boy children, of course the problem will exist. It has little, if anything, to do with the availability of tests like this (and other sex-determining medical tests) or abortion and everything to do with the need/desire to do away with girls in the first place.

Thoughts?

Fredericton Vigil for Dr. George Tiller

Where: Fredericton, NB
When: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Time: 9:30pm
Location: Fredericton Morgentaler Clinic (554 Brunswick St.)

On Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at around 10:00am, Dr. George Tiller was shot to death at the church he attended in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Tiller was an abortion provider, one of a very small number of doctors who provided late-term abortions. Dr. Tiller was a kind, compassionate, intelligent and gentle person who had the courage to go to work every day to provide abortion care to women with nowhere else to go. He endured constant threats and attacks on his physical safety, including being shot previously.

Dr. Tiller dedicated his life to helping women. He saved many, many lives. His murder is a blow to his family and friends, his community, the women he helped and those he had yet to help, and to the international pro-choice community. He will be greatly missed.

We wish to gather together peacefully to remember and honour Dr. George Tiller. We also stand together against the continued marginalization of women’s reproductive rights in New Brunswick. We stand in solidarity against this province’s illegal abortion policies and restrictions, and against our own Minister for Health, Michael Murphy, who has stated publicly that he is “not entirely comfortable” fulfilling his role as health minister because of his anti-choice views.

We wish to come together as peaceful pro-choice people, to remember and celebrate Dr. George Tiller, and to stand against the continued restrictions to abortion care. We insist on abortion on demand, no exceptions, no apologies. We will support women in their choices, we will stand in solidarity with abortion providers, clinic staff and volunteers, and we will not give in to threats, violence and terrorism.

Please join us for a peaceful vigil on Saturday, June 6th, beginning at 9:30pm outside the Morgentaler Clinic (554 Brunswick Street). Everyone is welcome. We will walk together to City Hall.

Spread the word.

“Attitude is everything” – Dr. George Tiller.

New Brunswick Health Minister Resignation Demand

Hi friends,

Recently New Brunswick Health Minister Michael Murphy told CBC he is "not entirely" comfortable administering abortion policy because of his pro-life beliefs. As New Brunswickers, this makes us MORE than uncomfortable. We are joining with the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada to demand Mr. Murphy's resignation.

Please send the following letter (or one of your own!) to Mr. Murphy, at MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca, or you can call him at (506) 457-4800. Feel free to CC or BCC nbrebelles@gmail.com on your email!

Please circulate widely!

In solidarity,

NB Rebelles - Fredericton

Also check out the ARCC press release, and the CBC story.

***********************************
Dear Hon. Mr. Murphy,

I am writing to express my displeasure with your performance as Health Minister for the province of New Brunswick, and to demand your resignation.

Recently you spoke publicly, in your capacity as an elected MLA, at an anti-abortion rally in Fredericton. This was followed by your admission to the media that you are “not entirely” comfortable administering the province’s policies on abortion.

Mr. Murphy, this is appalling. You are free to hold whatever personal beliefs you like, but when they begin to interfere – by your own admission – with how you do the job you were appointed to do, it is my belief that you should consider whether or not you are capable of holding that position.

Added to this is the fact that your handling of abortion policies in New Brunswick has been severely lacking. Women still face long wait lists in hospitals for what is undeniably a time sensitive procedure, their other option being to pay up to $750 at the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton. The policy that requires women to obtain referrals from two different doctors is illegal and contravenes the Canada Health Act. You have turned a deaf ear to the women of this province. You do not deserve to represent us.

Mr. Murphy, because of your stated inability to do your job without your personal beliefs interfering, and because of your continued lack of compassion and care for the women of New Brunswick on this issue, I demand your resignation.

Sincerely,

ROCK 4 CHOICE 2009 - CALL FOR SUPPORT!

Rock 4 Choice Calgary is an annual festival in Calgary, Alberta dedicated to promoting sexual health awareness. This year, our aim is to host a series of concert benefits, documentary screenings, poster campaigns, art installations and other awareness raisers to draw attention to current sexual health issues including abstinence only sex education, the prelevance of "crisis pregnancy centers", and stigmatization and lack of support for low income single moms. We are looking for support from established pro choice organizations. Any access to information on grants or other financial support for such a project would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, any applicable literature such as fact sheets or pamphlets on reproductive rights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for helping make Rock 4 Choice a reality!

Kay Gallivan
Rock 4 Choice Collective

Check out their website for more details.

Let's Talk About Choice!

The following is a message from the super awesome organization Canadians for Choice:

Using the wonders of the internet, we want to bring together 15 pro-choice folks from coast to coast to participate in an interactive 7 week online course on pro-choice issues.



The course will be held once a week on Wednesdays (except for the July 1st holiday when we will hold it on the following day on Thursday) for two hours. You don't have to be an expert to participate, just interested in learning more about pro-choice issues and sharing your ideas, experiences, questions, doubts, convictions and whatever else you have with other under 35 folks.

Application Sheets will take into consideration provincial and regional representation as well as equal representation of diverse identities. Within the application sheet we will state that the course will be taking place again and that this is a pilot project. We will be requesting volunteers to evaluate the program at the end. Applicants will have to sign a form committing to participate in all the sessions and will sign consent forms (in case we want to record the conversations)

If you want to participate please complete our application and consent form. The consent form needs to be signed and either scanned and emailed or sent by regular mail. The deadline to apply is Friday May 22nd 2009 at 17:00.

If you have any questions just send us an email or give us a call at research@canadiansforchoice.ca (613) 789-9958 ext 225

Can't wait to hear from all of you!!!! Let's get together to create a movement....

In Solidarity

Denisse and Linzy