...well christo-facist conservatism anyhow. Here's the real face of the Bush Anti-Abortion gag rule applied to the $34 Million given in USAID fund to countries that want help funding their family planning efforts. (The emphasis in the quote is mine)
In the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan, influenced by anti-abortion fundamentalist Christians of the “Religious Right,” funds were withheld from foreign family planning agencies. The Reagan “gag rule” barred health providers from counseling women on abortion or providing abortions even with the organizations’ own funds. But in 1993, the Clinton government reversed the gag rule and restored family planning funding to the United Nations. Finally, in 1994, the declaration at the International Conference on Population in Cairo was ratified by 179 countries to help promote the campaign for women's reproductive rights. Not only had the aims of the UN Conference been endorsed by Clinton but Vice President Al Gore spoke at the opening plenary to pledge US support worldwide for women's rights.
On George W. Bush's very first day in office in 2000, he reimposed the Reagan gag rule. The Bush anti-abortion policy also withdrew $34 million from the United Nations family planning program, and at every international meeting on such issues the United States delegation lobbies against women's rights.
... But Bush plans to expand his “global gag rule” to HIV funding, disqualifying a large number of organizations -- especially family planning programs -- from delivering integrated HIV prevention services. Rather than saving lives, this policy will cost lives. Although their deaths could be prevented by humane and rational sex education and protection programs, very large numbers of women and girls not receiving proper sex education and protection will be condemned to infection, suffering, and premature death.
... Dr. Nirmal K. Bista, director general of the Family Planning Association (FPAN) of Nepal said, "If we were to accept the restricted U.S. funds I would be prevented from speaking in my own country to my own government about a health care crisis I know first hand.”
... At the UN Special Session on Children in New York City, the U.S. delegation led by Bush's Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson formed an unholy alliance with Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Iraq in the midst of Bush's “with us or against us” declaration of war on Islamic fundamentalists. Together, with the Vatican, they fought to purge the world of comprehensive sex education for adolescents, restrict STD-prevention and contraceptive information to heterosexual married couples, and redefine "reproductive health services" by excluding legal abortion.
... Françoise Girard of the International Women's Health Coalition said, “This is the fringe who've taken over U.S. policy on sexual and reproductive health.” Girard added, "Some people asked me, ‘Do you think they're doing this because they want to save our souls?’”
So there you have it...with us or against us, on abortion. I would have to say that this US policy is an abortion, but that would be too kind, and I could never apply for another Federal grant/loan/subsidy/tax relief (well, a well-placed donation could fix that) again.
Because I once used the a-word. And the christo-facist nazi's have spoken.
posted by Jo Fish on 06.30.03 at 01:15 AM
Comments:
Hey Jo
Remember to add in the $500 million given to Pat Robertson for that Faith Based assistance initiative in the tabulation of christo-fascist handouts. 8^(
Nice pics of the Pigboys of the trough on Rush Limbaughtomy today.