Synchronicity . . . Following my post, two days ago, I find this in my mail, from the Feminist Majority, :
Dear Marguerite,
Today, over 200 million women who want birth control lack access to contraceptives. Please join the movement to reverse cuts to reproductive health programs, helping the poorest of women. During the Bush years, international family planning funding has been cut some 40% in real dollars, and funding to the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) has been withheld for the past six years.
We just spent the last week with Dr. Solomon Orero, a heroic Kenyan OB/GYN, who described to us in vivid detail the suffering and unnecessary deaths of young women and girls in Kenya. We also worked with Dr. Nafis Sadik from the United Nations, who described the harmful conditionality of US funding, such as wasteful abstinence-only programs and restrictive policies like the global gag rule. We must reverse the direction of US international reproductive health policies.
Take action now! Write to Senator Pat Leahy (D- VT) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), chairs of the House and Senate State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations subcommittees. Urge them to support an $530 million increase in U.S. assistance to international family planning, including $63.5 million to the United Nations Population Fund, in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for FY 2009. This brings the total funding for international family planning to $1 billion, less than the cost of 1 missile.
Without adequate access to birth control, more than 500,000 young women die each year from pregnancy related causes and complications in childbirth. Another 70,000 women and girls die from botched, unsafe abortions. Women want access to birth control, but our government’s policy of cutting family planning funding is contributing to unnecessary suffering and death.
Take Action! Tell the House Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Related Programs Chairs Senator Pat Leahy and Congresswoman Nita Lowey know you support empowering women and increasing international family planning funding to $1 billion.
For Women’s Lives,
Will you take action?
Hi,
I just signed the petition generated by the Feminine Majority Foundation. Thanks to all who have a hand in this effort.
Given the importance of this initiative, I do think it is time to propose that an amount of dollars equal to those spent in one week engaging in war and terrorism campaigns be allocated for this work.
Sincerely,
Steve
perhaps this org could piggyback or align with the work of http://www.good4girls.org?
I am for these types of initiatives, but truthfully feel that monies need allocation here in this country too
fundraising, non-profits and community service are being taught in american schools – money is leaving the country – lots and lots of money where the real needs are right in folks backyards … I think we need to get into the trenches rather than just write a check and say how cause – centric we are
Thanks Steven!
Karen, I totally agree. One does not exclude the other. We need to do work in our own backyards, while also lending our knowledge, economic strength, and technologies to our brothers and sisters in ‘developing’ countries. To echo point I made in response to thread in yesterday’s post, there is room for lots of different actions, and it is up to each one of us to choose what fits our personality best.
No wonder Treehugger featured your article on the 16th May.
In a world of water and air pollution, climate uncertainty and economic downturn; women need to protect their reproductive rights and the welfare of the children they nurture.
culturally and legally enforced practices cause misery in every society. It is easier to teach a few how to conserve and care, than to quell a quarreling multitude.
Free family planning is a reasonable bargain compared to the cost of conflict, war, and escalating armament caused by dwindling resources across the political landscape.
To ensure love and assure health care, feeding and education of the children who are indeed wanted on this planet is a true gift of humanity.