Choice in the news: our government is NOT pro-choice

I am often asked why a reproductive rights group is necessary in a pro-choice city like Vancouver, in a pro-choice country like Canada. We are needed. The anti-choice groups are organized and slowly chipping away at access to reproductive services thanks to the help of our anti-choice government. That's something most people don't know: Stephen Harper and the conservatives are not pro-choice. This has been in the news recently and I figured I would point it out as a friendly reminder that just because abortion is legal in Canada, doesn't mean we still don't have many battles to fight to defend our reproductive rights.

There has been much talk in the news lately about Stephen Harper and the conservatives as they head into the G8 summit with a proposal for international maternal health. They originally said contraceptives would not be included in this plan ( http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/conservatives-accused-of-willfully-ignoring-contraception-research/article1503743/). Now because of the backlash (I'm proud of you Canada!) they have changed their stance to something just as bad but more confusing: that they are "not closing doors against any options, including contraception". They then go on to say that any discussion of abortion is out of the question (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/03/18/birth-control-maternal-health.html), which seems like closing a door against that option, if you ask me. Basically Stephen Harper is silencing his pro-choice country by using confusing wording so that it isn't always immediately obvious that he is not pro-choice. He isn't. If he was, contraceptives and abortion would be included in a maternal health initiative plan.

Family planning and maternal health are two sides of the same coin, basic public health research supports this. Safe abortion, access to contraceptives, and comprehensive sex education save the lives of women. 61% of women seeking abortion are already mothers. If a mother chooses to have an abortion to better take care of herself and her children, why are we not supporting them in this by 1) preventing unwanted pregnancy in the first place, and 2) making sure abortion is safe so that she can continue to mother her children? And what if the mother's life is at risk during a pregnancy? In some cases abortion may be the only option. But if this is her choice we will just stand by and watch her suffer? We need to support women and families, not judge them. I am embarrassed by my government.

- Justine Spencer

GAP came and we showed them UBC is pro-choice

Today the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) was brought to campus by UBC's anti-choice group Lifeline. These are large, graphic images comparing abortion to genocides such as the holocaust and Rwanda. Needless to say, this is horrific, disturbing, offensive, and inaccurate.

We got the word out just in time for pro-choice students and community members to gather and protest this awful display. Among the enthusiastic crowd was a wonderful group of pro-choice students from UVic who came all the way from Victoria to show their solidarity. The protest was very successful. We handed out lots of accurate information and received a heartwarming amount of positive feedback and support from the passers-by. We greatly outnumbered them and I think it's safe to say we dominated their hateful message with our positive message of human rights, justice, knowledge, and compassion.

It's terrible that GAP was able to come to UBC in the first place. I don't think it's a stretch to call it harassment, and UBC students should not be subjected to harassment on their own campus. At our next meeting, SRR will discuss writing letters and taking action to prevent this display from returning. If you'd like to be part of this discussion, or just to talk about this powerful day, our next meeting is this upcoming Monday at 1pm in SUB 245.

A quick update on SRR other than the protest: before the break, we had our first pro-choice movie night and watched "Vera Drake". It was well attended and for anyone who missed it, I suggest you rent it because it's an amazing movie apart from sending a powerful message. SRR will host another movie night in about a week (exact date TBA), to show the documentary "Lake of Fire". A discussion will follow, since this is an intense and thought-provoking movie. During our meeting on March 22 we will be writing letters to Stephen Harper about the upcoming G8 summit to encourage him to include abortion in his discussion of international maternal health.

New Year, New Semester

Happy 2010! Welcome back to a new semester, both of SRR and of classes here at UBC.

We had our first meeting on Monday and we're off to a good start. There's already lots to plan, including a "Reproductive Rights 101" workshop. Knowledge is power, especially when our opponents are constructing dangerously convincing lies.

So let's get educated! Here are some links to great, informative websites. Thanks to Kelly of Med Students for Choice UBC for passing on this list.

NAF Canada - www.prochoice.org/canada/index.html

Canadians for Choice - www.canadiansforchoice.ca

Sexuality and U - www.sexualityandu.ca

Options for Sexual Health - www.optionsforsexualhealth.org

Canadian Federation for Sexual Health - www.cfsh.ca

Medical Students for Choice - www.ms4c.org

The next SRR meeting will be next Monday, January 18th, in SUB room 245. New members are welcome and encouraged to join! There's always room for more defenders of reproductive rights and women everywhere.

Tea Party for Choice!

SRR has been holding regular meetings and is alive and well. This Saturday will be our first official event. We're hosting an informal discussion, open to the pro-choice public, about reproductive rights issues in general. Although it will be useful to hear what is of most interest and concern so that we can take action in the new semester, mainly it's a chance to unite with pro-choice peers and feel safe in the community we're creating. The issues we face are difficult and will require support, and what better way to feel safe and connected than over a warm cup of tea? Dec. 5th, 2:30pm - 4pm in SUB room 245. Everyone is welcome, but we ask that you bring along your own cup or mug if you'd like tea.

There are many possible topics to discuss, one of which is the Stupak amendment in the US. This possible nation-wide restriction on a woman's right to choose is appalling and we Canadians will undoubtedly feel the ripples of this upset at some point. Our sympathies go out to the women who will be affected if this bill passes with the Stupak amendment and our hearts go out to the fearless pro-choice activists in the US who are working hard to protect women and families.

Finally, there was one more reason to be outraged this month. Here at UBC last week, an anti-choice presentation took place comparing abortion to the holocaust. I don't need to explain how this comparison is deeply offensive, oppressive, and inaccurate. Many believe Vancouver and UBC to be a pro-choice haven but this is obviously not the case. There is so much to protect and many reasons to speak up.

We hope to see you at the Tea Party for Choice this weekend!

SRR Update

SRR is officially born! We had our first meeting last Wednesday - a big thank you to the many of you who came out. We figured out some logistics, brainstormed events, and discussed the issues that have moved us to create this group and get active: reproductive health and access to abortion.

It's a busy time in the semester, but nevertheless we will be having at least one event before the year is out. This will be a tea and discussion, open to everyone but especially for members and their friends. The pro-choice movement is one of knowledge (and compassion and social justice, in my opinion), and as such we need to educate ourselves in order to be effective defenders of reproductive rights.

Here's a piece of knowledge from the WHO (2006) that is forever on my mind and in my heart:

An estimated 68 000 women die every year from unsafe abortion, and millions more are injured, many permanently. The underlying causes of unsafe abortion are apathy and disdain for women; they suffer and die because they are not valued.

In solidarity for women everywhere,

Justine

SRR President

Welcome to SRR!

Abortion doctors murdered, women made to feel shame, access is scarce: the anti-choice student movement has been busy. Let's get as organized and effective as they have been. Let's fight back and protect our reproductive rights!

Are you pro-choice? Students for Reproductive Rights (SRR) is UBC's new pro-choice club. Our goal is to educate and empower people of all ages and genders with knowledge of reproductive health so that they can make choices that are best for their individual needs. We will act to protect our right to make these decisions and to choose when to reproduce. SRR plans to hold various events related to reproductive rights that may include safe space discussions, sexual health education, and political activism in some of its many forms. We hope to begin a lasting discussion on campus around this issue and to create a network of resources and support.

Most importantly: our first meeting will be this Wednesday, November 4th at 5pm in Irving K Barber Room 317. This room is in the back corner of the library on the 3rd floor of Irving K. We will be deciding what form the group will take and brainstorming events, so come and have your say in this important process. Bring along all your pro-choice, pro-family planning, pro-health friends, open to all ages and genders! This might not be the permanent meeting time, I'll be sending out an online survey next week after the meeting. There are executive positions available if you'd like to be more involved.

E-mail us to be added to the mailing list, or if you have any questions or comments: srr.ubc@gmail.com .