Too Many Abortions in Russia
The Russian government has passed a law restricting abortions in an attempt to raise the birth rate and save government money. At present, the health ministry spends approximately five percent of its annual budget paying for free abortions.
The abortion rate in Russia is the highest in the world. There are more abortions than births in Russia, despite the fact that the number of abortions has decreased in recent years. Russia is facing a demographic crisis. The country’s population is currently 2.2 million people fewer than it was in 1989, due to high mortality rates and low birth rates.
The new law allows unrestricted abortions up to 12 weeks gestation, as well as abortions at any time if the baby is deformed or the mother’s life is considered to be in danger. Abortions can only be performed between the 12th and 22th week of pregnancy for four reasons: rape, imprisonment, death or disability of the husband, or through a court decision taking away a woman’s parental rights. Previously there were 13 “social indicators” which would make an abortion legal, including poverty and unemployment.
(Sergei Blagov, “Population Decline, Economic Realities Sec Abortion Restricted in Russia,” CNSNews.com, 28 August 2003)
Condoms by Mail
The recent experience of 15,000 Canadians brings junk mail to a whole new level. Planned Parenthood in Canada has sent out 15,000 condoms in the mail as part of a fundraising program. The 15,000 recipients are not current Planned Parenthood (PP) supporters, but were taken from lists of people who support human rights and social justice groups. PP executive director Linda Capperauld defended the mailing saying. “Getting a condom in the mail shouldn’t be a shocking experience.”
(Joanne Laucius, “The condom is in the mail,” Ottawa Citizen, 28 August 2003, referenced in LifeSiteNews.com, 29 August 2003)
Excess Estrogen
There may be unexpected consequences of the enormous amounts of artificial contraceptives used in this country. Denton County, Texas reports that high levels of estrogen in the area’s water caused male fish to develop female characteristics. Not all the estrogen in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy is absorbed into the bloodstream. The excess makes its way into lakes, rivers, and streams. Researchers at the University of North Texas found male fish with lower levels of testosterone and “higher levels of secondary sexual female characteristics.” These males are unable to breed.
The researchers found that during the summer “the effects seem to lessen.” One possible explanation of this is that most of the students at the two local universities are gone during the summer, leading to less estrogen entering the water. (Mitch Mitchell, “Something Fishy,” Star-Telegram, 19 May 2003, quoted in LifeSiteNews.com, 27 May 2003)
Told You So!
Sometimes it’s hard not to say, “I told you so.” The leading liberal newspaper in the U.S. (and a prominent supporter of abortion rights) admits that the “overpopulation” scare is over. The Washington Post, of all things, has now said that the U.S. would be well off with more, not fewer, babies, I quote: “… countries with shrinking populations may stagnate economically, intellectually and militarily. If future generations are to carry on the American vibrancy and dynamism, the country must be prepared to embrace more babies, and more adults from around the world.”
Now will the Washington Post please reconsider its uncritical support of population control programs around the world?
(“The Baby Bust,” Washington Post, 6 July 2003)
Mom Stays
A victim of China’s one-child policy has been granted asylum in the United States. Xuan Wang had been forced to abort two of her unborn children under China’s law forbidding couples to have more than one child. The judge who granted her asylum stated that she showed, “a genuine and well-founded fear of future persecution, should she return to China.” Although in theory those who are victims of coercive population control are eligible for asylum in the U.S., other victims of China’s one-child policy have been denied refugee status. Hopefully Xuan Wang’s case sets a precedent which other judges will follow.
(“Appeals court grants Chinese woman asylum,” United Press International, 30 August 2003)
