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Volume 19, Number 3
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May/June 2008
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Mexico - Women DieMr. Jorge Serrano Limon,
who heads Mexico's pro-life group, says that officials have only
acknowledged one of eight known maternal deaths due to abortions, and that
over 6,000 babies have been killed since abortion was legalized in Mexico
City one year ago.
Switzerland Killing FieldsThe Swiss-based
Dignitas Euthanasia Center has reported that, since opening, it has now
killed nearly 900 people, most of them British citizens.
Columbia - Not Many AbortionsThere was wide
spread dismay two years ago when this nation's Constitutional Court
decriminalized abortion in cases of rape, incest, fetal deformity, and
threats to a woman's life or health. It was feared that this would open
the country to wide spread abortion on demand. Columbia's Attorney General
Edgardo Maya recently announced that only 40 abortions have been carried
out in these last two years. This was in the nature of a complaint from
him who thought that many more abortions should have been committed. It is
interesting to note that prior to this judicial legalization, the
pro-abortion folks claimed that 450,000 illegal abortions were taking
place annually. This replicates the same type of bogus claims that we have
seen in other countries.
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Nicaragua - Stringent Pro-Life Law - Results Are
InForeign critics charged that this law would result in
more maternal deaths because of illegal abortions. In fact, overall
maternal mortality has decreased 58% in the year since abortion was made
totally illegal. It dropped from 50 to 21 deaths, a stunning reversal and
proof that the foreign critics were all wet.
Pro-Abortion Law Passes in South AfricaThe
National Assembly has passed a controversial pro-abortion law. The thrust
of the law is to broaden access to abortion facilities. It is feared that
it will require health care workers to perform abortions in violation of
their personal rights. Pro-life leaders predicted that the law would
become one of the major campaign issues during next year's national
election.
Ireland - No For Embryo BillBritain is on
its way to pass a Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill. Northern
Ireland's officials have protested, stating that such a bill would allow
amendments that could spill over into Northern Ireland and legalize
abortion by the back door. Energetic campaigning against this bill in
Northern Ireland is proceeding.
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Angola - Pro-life and They Mean ItAngola is
currently in the process of reforming its Penal Code. It is clearly going
beyond mere criminalization of abortion. It will also add two new laws for
the protection of intrauterine life. They forbid "propaganda favorable to
the interruption of pregnancy" and "the circulation of means for the
interruption of pregnancy." All abortions are illegal in Angola, although
abortions in the case of forcible rape and fetal handicap tend not to be
punished.
Slovakia - Abortion Law UnchangedAn attempt
in this predominantly Catholic country to toughen the conditions that
permit abortion has met with failure. We note that the Slovak
Constitutional Court ruled last year that abortion until the twelfth week
at a woman's request is constitutional.
Ecuador - Ob-Gyns Reject AbortionThe
Ecuadorian Federation of Societies of Gynecology and Obstetrics meeting in
Guayaquil signed and sent to the Parliament a document strongly condemning
the legalization of abortion.
Belgium, EuthanasiaBelgium's ruling party
wants to force every hospital in that country to install protocols for
patients who request euthanasia. They already have a law that allows
doctors to kill patients. Under this proposed law, a physician may refuse
to administer euthanasia, but if the patient requests it, that request
must be carried out by another doctor. This law not only creates pressure
for a "duty to die" for the patient, but a "duty to kill" for the
physician.
Czech Abortions Continue DroppingThe Czech
Republic has very permissive abortion legislation. Even so, its record is
impressive. In 1970, there were 148,000 children born and 72,000
abortions. In 2007, there were 114,000 births with 25,000 abortions. To
partly dampen this good news, it is noted that hormonal contraception and
intrauterine devices have been increasing in use.
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Britain - Late Term Abortions IncreaseThe
number of abortions carried out in Britain in 1997 was 2,641. In 2006, it
had climbed to 2,948. Only one-fourth of these were listed as eugenic for
fetal abnormality.
Croatia Abortions DroppingThe latest
reports from Croatia list a total of 4,563 induced abortions in 2005.
These numbers continue to drop, as this figure is less than 10% of the
1989 total. Back in 1989, Croatia's 51,000 abortions were nearly equal to
its live births. The main reason for the change has been the aggressive
leadership of the bishops in this largely Catholic country. At this time,
it and Slovakia, both of which still have permissive laws on the books,
share the honors for the largest percentage drop of abortions of any
nations in recent years.
Scotland - Abortions IncreaseIts abortion
rate has continued to rise alarmingly. Earlier health officials had
claimed that increasing sex education, increasing access to contraception
for younger teenagers and the wider availability of the morning-after-pill
would reduce the pregnancy rate. Exactly the opposite has happened,
vindicating the Catholic Cardinal's prediction that such methods only
throw fuel on the fire.
U.S. Abortions Lowest In Thirty YearsThe
Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's research arm, reports that the
number of abortions in the U.S. has dropped to 1.2 million. This is the
lowest level since one year after the Roe vs. Wade decision by the
U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. It is interesting that this radical
pro-abortion organization admits that we now only kill 1 out of 5
pregnancies, rather than what was close to 1 out of 3 ten years ago. Not
surprisingly, they are suggesting that it is due to more contraceptives,
while offering no basis for such a claim. Rather it is quite obvious that
the continuing passage of state laws, increasing women's information and
other options, has led to this decline. We note that this is happening in
the face of a continuing overall increase in population.
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Uruguay - President Vetos BillAfter two
years of discussion and maneuvering the Senate approved a bill legalizing
abortion by a vote of 18-13. The President vetoed the bill, and thus
killed it. The bill would have allowed first trimester abortions on
demand.
London - Hybrid Cloning ApprovedBy a 2-1
vote, the British Parliament approved allowing scientists to create
hybrids combining animal and human DNA in human cloning attempts. All such
living human embryos would be required to be killed at fourteen days of
age (for now).
Germans Oppose Human CloningBoth political
and medical officials in Germany are reported to be "outraged" over a
recent vote by the British Parliament to legalize human cloning involving
hybrids. Reaction throughout the scientific community in Germany was
unanimous. "This is a serious mistake"… "It is scientifically irrational
and irresponsible"... "It is unethical to use a person for spare parts"…
"It will not likely provide any medical benefits."
Western Australia Defeats CloningFollowing
a vote in the Federal Parliament to overturn a human cloning ban, the
State of Western Australia has defeated an attempt to legalize such
cloning.
GLOBAL FUND Helping ChinaThis fund was
created to help fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. We now learn
that substantial funds have been given to China, which presumably can and
does use them to help support its draconian One Child Pro-abortion Policy.
China received 174 million of which the U.S. contributed 58 million.
Vienna Austria - Chimpanzees, Legal
Persons?Austrian animal rights activists have tried to
have a chimpanzee legally declared a person. That country's Supreme Court
rejected the request. These animal right's people have now taken their
case to the European Court of Human Rights.
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Fiji - Fewer Students Coming UpFiji's
Council of Social Services has stated that family planning policies need
to be revised because of a significant drop in the number of students
entering school. They would encourage population growth and have called
for a reduction in the use of condoms.
Humane Vitae - Forty Years OldThis
encyclical on human life, which was intensely controversial when
published, has survived the test of time. Now on its fortieth birthday, we
find reports from around the world in support of its message, noting that
its predictions have come true.
Chile - Birth Control Pills LimitedChile's
Constitutional Court has outlawed distribution of emergency contraceptive
pills in public health clinics. In September 2006, President Michelle
Bachelet ruled that such pills should be given to teenagers free in order
to reduce the teen birth rate. Since such distribution began, similar to
experience in other countries, the rate has not dropped.
Abstinence Education Equals Fewer Teen
BirthsDuring the past eight years, as funding for
authentic abstinence education in the U.S. has increased, the young
unmarried teen birth rate has been cut in half. The most dramatic decrease
has been among young (10 to 14) black unmarried teens, their birth rates
now are the lowest in recorded history. Birth rates for all teens, age 10
to 14, are also the lowest in 40 years. Birth rates for teens, age 15 to
19, are the lowest in 20 years. It is noted that in 1995 and 1998, when
abstinence education funding was significantly increased, the teen birth
rate began its sharpest decline.
New Head - Pontifical Council for FamilyTo
replace Cardinal Trujillo, who died April 21, the Pope has appointed
Cardinal Antonelli of Florence, Italy to be its new president. He is
described as "one of the Church's strongest advocates for life and the
family."
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Progress with New Stem CellsThe research
with induced pluripotent stem cells conducted in the last six months,
since they were first produced, has progressed into being able to grow
functioning heart and blood cells. This is a first, as differentiation
into the three types of cardio-vascular cells that are needed to repair
heart and blood vessels has now been achieved. Publishing in the medical
journal, Stem Cells, Dr. Robb MacLellan stated, "I believe these
IPS cells address many of the shortcomings of embryonic stem cells
obtained from human embryos and are the future of regenerative medicine."
IVF Fails in Older MothersAccording to
researchers at Aberdeen University, Scotland, in-vitro fertilization
success rates are approximately 30% at age 30, but drop to only 1% at age
44.
More Progress on Primitive Stem CellsThe
original work by scientists in Japan and Wisconsin showed that you could
turn skin cells backward to pluripotent (embryonic) stem cells. This work
was replicated and thus proven. Then Dr. Yamanaka from Japan reported that
these new cells would not create tumors. Now German scientists have been
able to use drugs rather than viruses to turn adult brain cells into these
new embryonic stem cells. This makes cell reprogramming technology simpler
and more practical.
Stem Cells for Lou Gehrig's DiseaseA new
study in animals, comparing adult stem cells with embryonic ones has shown
that the adult types, unlike embryonic cells, slow down the progress of
disease and can potentially treat this disease. It is also known as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Marrow stem cells were used. There were no
adverse effects.
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Anencephalic Baby SurvivesA Brazilian baby
born with only a partial brain is now 1 ½ years old. This has been brought
to the attention of the Brazilian Supreme Court which is expected to soon
rule on whether to permit abortions for anencephalic babies.
Australia - Stem Cells for Parkinson'sAdult
nasal stem cells have been used by Griffith University researchers in
rat's brains to reverse symptoms of Parkinsonism. Research continues.
Pregnant and StressedShe is pregnant and
stressed? So is her baby. The British Royal College of Ob and Gyn has
announced results of a study showing that unborn babies as early as four
months into the pregnancy suffer from maternal stress. Cortisol, a stress
hormone can easily be measured in the woman. They have shown that
simultaneously this stress hormone also rises in amniotic fluid which is
largely produced by the baby.
Vitamin A to Prevent Cleft
Palate?Researchers in Oslo, Norway, who studied more than
a thousand women, report that consuming plenty of this nutrient cut in
half the likelihood of cleft palate, when compared with women who received
very little of it.
Breast Feeding Limits Arthritis?Research at
Sweden's Malmo University Hospital reports that mothers who have more
children, and especially if they breast feed, have a significantly lower
risk of arthritis later in life. Oral contraceptives on the other hand
offered no benefit. Breast feeding for more than a year reduced the risk
of rheumatoid arthritis by 54% and if even for one month reduced the risk
26%, while each successive child decreased the risk by an additional 13%.
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www.internationalrighttolife.com
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J.C. Willke, President,
International Right to Life Fed.
1821 West Galbraith Road
Cincinnati,
Ohio 45239 USA
Phone +1 (513) 729-3600
Fax +1 (513) 729-3636
e-mail:
IRTLF@lifeissues.org
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International
Right to Life Fed., International Office
Ruitersweg 35-37 1211 KT Hilversum
The Netherlands
Phone +31 35 624-4352
Fax +31 35 624-9141
e-mail:
info@schreeuwomleven.nl
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