...where, unlike here at home, abortion laws are liberalizing - although not without the emotion that also surrounds the issue in the United States. From the LA Times:
Until this month, heavily Catholic Portugal remained one of the last countries in Europe forbidding most abortions. In addition, it was the rare country that criminally prosecuted women who had abortions and doctors who performed them — a legal regime that the Portuguese prime minister described as a "national disgrace" and that critics elsewhere branded as "medieval."
Abortions can now be performed without restriction during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and under some circumstances through the second trimester...Even with the law, numerous doctors are refusing to perform the procedure and are declaring themselves "conscientious objectors." Several public hospitals said they would not be able to offer abortions, despite the legal obligation to do so, because they lacked the doctors or necessary equipment...
The powerful Roman Catholic Church in Portugal condemned the proposed law as a "blow against civilization" that would authorize "an abominable crime"...The debate cleaved distinct lines in Portuguese society: Along with the refusenik doctors and the church hierarchy, conservative rural Portugal opposed lifting the restrictions, while the urban elite, the young and many women supported the legislation.
Nearly 60% of voters in a February national referendum approved of liberalizing the abortion law, but the poll was declared invalid because of a low turnout. The Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Jose Socrates, with a majority in parliament, decided to draft and enact the measure anyway. "We all thought we were behind the times," said Maria de Belem, a former health minister and congresswoman in Socrates' Socialist Party who championed liberalizing the abortion law as an urgent public health issue.
Without better family planning and access to birth control as a first step, and abortion as a last resort, she said, Portugal cannot fight a growing epidemic of unwanted children who end up on the streets, abused or crowding into the few government-run institutions. "We cannot deny the social reality when women cannot practice their reproductive rights," Belem said. "We cannot close our eyes to a very difficult situation for Portuguese families and couples with real problems, who cannot support the children they already have."
30 July 2007
Wore the Impeach shirts to OTL...
...OTL being Over The Line, a 3-on-3 version of softball that San Diego celebrates with a massive tournament every July. Of about 10 reactions, 9 were positive, in the form of waves or comments like "that's right!" The only dissenter who spoke up wasn't really that enthusiastic. As he passed us, he said "it's only a year, dude."
Anyway, the San Diego Union-Tribune had a few photographers at the event, and one of them liked our shirts:
Anyway, the San Diego Union-Tribune had a few photographers at the event, and one of them liked our shirts:
26 July 2007
The war machine marches on...
...just think, if it weren't for Bush and his cronies, this type of news item - from an LA Times article with the counter-headline U.S. troop deaths down in Iraq - would simply not be part of our world today:
An additional 28,500 U.S. troops have flooded Iraq this year, the vast majority of them taking up residence in Baghdad neighborhoods as part of Washington's strategy to stabilize the country.
The latest reported U.S. military deaths included a soldier killed in a gun battle in southern Baghdad on Wednesday. Three Marines and a sailor also were killed Tuesday in Diyala, the site of a massive campaign in June and July to reclaim the provincial capital, Baqubah, from Sunni Arab militants.
A soldier was killed in a bomb blast Tuesday in Baghdad, and a Marine died Sunday of noncombat injuries in the western province of Al Anbar.
These fatalities raised the American military death toll in the Iraq theater to 3,645 since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, according to icasualties.org, a website that tracks the number of troops killed and wounded.
The string of deaths were a reminder that the number could still mount substantially before the end of July or in subsequent months.
In September, for instance, 72 U.S. troops died in Iraq, but the following month 106 were killed.
An additional 28,500 U.S. troops have flooded Iraq this year, the vast majority of them taking up residence in Baghdad neighborhoods as part of Washington's strategy to stabilize the country.
The latest reported U.S. military deaths included a soldier killed in a gun battle in southern Baghdad on Wednesday. Three Marines and a sailor also were killed Tuesday in Diyala, the site of a massive campaign in June and July to reclaim the provincial capital, Baqubah, from Sunni Arab militants.
A soldier was killed in a bomb blast Tuesday in Baghdad, and a Marine died Sunday of noncombat injuries in the western province of Al Anbar.
These fatalities raised the American military death toll in the Iraq theater to 3,645 since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, according to icasualties.org, a website that tracks the number of troops killed and wounded.
The string of deaths were a reminder that the number could still mount substantially before the end of July or in subsequent months.
In September, for instance, 72 U.S. troops died in Iraq, but the following month 106 were killed.
16 July 2007
Here's an inspirational story...
...of one person doing their best to make a difference:
No Regrets For Walking War Opponent
by Michael Stetz, San Diego Union-Tribune Staff Writer, July 16, 2007
Think of it this way: A man is on the verge of walking across the United States more quickly than the United States can find a way to wrap up the war in Iraq.
Bill McDannell, 58, of Lakeside is about 350 miles from Washington, D.C., the end of the cross-country trek he is making in protest of the war. McDannell figures he'll be in Washington by the middle of August, ending a walk that began Nov. 4...
And the war? It goes on and on.
No Regrets For Walking War Opponent
by Michael Stetz, San Diego Union-Tribune Staff Writer, July 16, 2007
Think of it this way: A man is on the verge of walking across the United States more quickly than the United States can find a way to wrap up the war in Iraq.
Bill McDannell, 58, of Lakeside is about 350 miles from Washington, D.C., the end of the cross-country trek he is making in protest of the war. McDannell figures he'll be in Washington by the middle of August, ending a walk that began Nov. 4...
And the war? It goes on and on.
“I wasn't holding my breath,” McDannell said of the possibility that the war would end before he completed his walk. McDannell and his wife sold their home – a double-wide trailer – and many of their possessions to fund the walk, which he figures has cost him $30,000 so far. He quit his job as a chauffeur and now is almost penniless.
He has no regrets, he said.
“I feel good,” McDannell said. “I have the satisfaction of knowing that my grandchildren can look back at this tragic era and say my grand-pop tried to do something about it.” McDannell, a former Methodist minister, feels a tipping point has been reached and the war will end soon...
McDannell said he usually receives positive feedback from the people he meets as he walks. “There's been no hostility,” he said. “People are fed up and disgusted.” When McDannell left Lakeside, about 2,870 U.S. troops had died in Iraq. The number now has topped 3,600.
McDannell will take a short break from his effort on July 23 and drive to Washington, D.C., to join anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. Sheehan, who lost a son to the Iraq war, is spearheading an effort similar to McDannell's. She is stopping at cities on a trip from Texas to New York. She calls it a “Journey for Humanity."
After he meets up with Sheehan, McDannell will drive back to Ohio and start walking again. He is asking his friends and supporters to come to Washington and lend their voices to his anti-war effort. He thinks people now can make a real difference.
When McDannell restarts his walk and finally reaches Washington on foot, he plans to hand over a petition calling for an end to the war to anyone in Congress who will receive it. After 2,800 miles of walking he has about 4,000 signatures. Then? He's not certain.
“When the war is over, I'll celebrate,” he said. “But the work won't be over. We have an entire republic to reclaim.”
11 July 2007
Just got back from Crawford, Texas...
...where I spent a wonderful weekend with Cindy Sheehan, Bree Walker, and about 100 feisty and friendly peace activists, many of whom have been working with Cindy since August 2005, when she began railing against the injustice of Bush's war. It was my first visit to Camp Casey, but the group warmly welcomed me. I made about 100 new friends and came out of the experience with fresh enthusiasm for ending the war, for impeaching Bush, and for the potential power of the peace movement.
Below, I've pasted an excerpt of a poem I wrote at Camp Casey - an homage to Cindy and her devotion to peace and diplomacy, which has served as a guiding light for millions of people across the country and around the world. I'll share more from my Camp Casey visit - including some video - in future posts.
So folks went down to Crawford by the thousands,
drawn by the courage Cindy had shown
And though my country's war still puzzled me,
I knew I was anything but alone
Check the polls today: most Americans
are fed up with what George Bush has been doing
And maybe I'm just a hopeful hippie,
but I think there's a storm of peace a-brewing
It seems to me the seeds sown at Camp Casey
will soon flower,
And the gusts of change will blow through DC
and sweep the warhawks out of power
Sure, that hasn't happened as of yet --
but it's starting to get windy...
And when Bush and Dick finally get their due,
the whole world's going to thank you, Cindy.
Below, I've pasted an excerpt of a poem I wrote at Camp Casey - an homage to Cindy and her devotion to peace and diplomacy, which has served as a guiding light for millions of people across the country and around the world. I'll share more from my Camp Casey visit - including some video - in future posts.
So folks went down to Crawford by the thousands,
drawn by the courage Cindy had shown
And though my country's war still puzzled me,
I knew I was anything but alone
Check the polls today: most Americans
are fed up with what George Bush has been doing
And maybe I'm just a hopeful hippie,
but I think there's a storm of peace a-brewing
It seems to me the seeds sown at Camp Casey
will soon flower,
And the gusts of change will blow through DC
and sweep the warhawks out of power
Sure, that hasn't happened as of yet --
but it's starting to get windy...
And when Bush and Dick finally get their due,
the whole world's going to thank you, Cindy.
04 July 2007
Happy B-day, USA...
...what a nice gift an impeachment would make! From Democrats.com:
There's only one reason why Bush kept Libby out of jail: to keep him from ratting on Cheney and Bush about their direct involvement in the felonious outing of Valerie Plame....That means it's time for us to demand impeachment. Let's make this "Impeachment Summer!"
There's only one reason why Bush kept Libby out of jail: to keep him from ratting on Cheney and Bush about their direct involvement in the felonious outing of Valerie Plame....That means it's time for us to demand impeachment. Let's make this "Impeachment Summer!"
- Don't waste your time calling the White House (the switchboard is closed anyway). Call your Representative to impeach Cheney and Bush:
1 (800) 828 - 0498, 1 (800) 459 - 1887, 1 (800) 614 - 2803
1 (866) 340 - 9281, 1 (866) 338 - 1015, 1 (877) 851 - 6437 - Email your Representatives to Impeach Cheney: http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73
- Email your Representatives to Impeach Bush:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/88 - Email the House Judiciary Committee to Start Hearings on H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Cheney
http://www.democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary - Organize a Honk to Impeach on July 4 and throughout the summer:
http://democrats.com/honktoimpeach - Join our new Facebook group, The Nationwide Movement to Impeach Cheney and Bush
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3079705569 - Join your local Congressional District Impeachment Committee:
http://democrats.com/cdic-find - Youtube Your Rep. and Earn $100:
http://www.democrats.com/youtube-your-rep
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