Big family = "littering"?

Rutgers University Professor Helen Fisher, of the Center for Human Evolution Studies, appeared on the Joy Behar show a few weeks ago, to talk about women who decide not to have children. She said that in some circles, having more than a few children is called "littering".



The amazing thing about this interview is that throughout the whole interview they talk about women choosing not to have families and some of the reasoning behind it. Then, Joy Behar brings up the point that Italy is not even at replacement level, but none of the panelists see the danger in this. They just banter on and on about "over-population", but a fact that is mentioned during the show goes totally under their radar. Most of Europe is not at replacement level, and the rest of the world is following suit... America isn't far behind.

Parking Notice

My sister sent this to me...





So funny! I think I might need to get some of these printed to put on people's cars.

Lazy journalism and the consequences on human life

Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed extremely lazy journalism, which is not only lazy, but could have dire consequences on the Irish people.

I was always under the impression that journalists were to serve the people and not make their opinions known, and simply present the facts to the public. As I've gotten older, I have realized that this sort of journalism rarely exists anymore and more than ever, journalists are presenting their point of view, rather than concrete facts. While I have come to terms with this and have adjusted to the fact that journalists often present their own point of view; one thing I have a problem with, is lazy journalism.

I do recognize that journalists have the right to voice their opinion. I also understand that journalists can be unaware of some fact(s) or portions of the story that they are highlighting, when an article is published. But, what is absolutely preposterous is when journalists don't even look into the actual facts of a story, especially when these untruths have the ability to major alter the future of a country's laws and the lives of the nation's people.

Two weeks ago, I came across a post on Choice Ireland's blog, that stated,

"Choice Ireland have today confirmed that at least 1216 packages containing abortifacient drugs have been seized upon entry into Ireland. The information was obtained by Choice Ireland through a Freedom of Information request to the Irish Medicines Board."

I took notice of the huge number of packages that they claimed were being collected at customs... so, I read on. The spokeswoman for Choice Ireland Sinead Ahern went on in the article to say,

"It is time to face up to the reality that Irish women will go to desperate lengths and take huge risks to end pregnancies they feel they cannot continue. It is time to stop turning our backs on these women. The large number of women who still travel to access abortion services or try to access backstreet abortion services is further evidence of the need to make emergency contraception available over the counter."

Being intrigued by the information that Choice Ireland was putting forward and also noticing that TV3 and the Daily Mail had released the same figures when they were covering this story, I sent a letter to the Irish Medical Board to clarify this information. To my simple query requesting what (in fact) had been confiscated at customs, the IMB replied:

"In 2008 the products which were detained by enforcement officers, in conjunction with Revenue Customs, comprised:
Mifepristone (also known as RU-486) - 14 tablets
Misoprostol - 34 tablets
Total amount of abortifacients detained in 2008 - 48 tablets.

The figures for 2009 are:
Mifepristone - 98 tablets
Misoprostol – 1,118 tablets
Total amount of abortifacients seized in 2009 – 1,216 tablets

Figures for 2010 are not yet available."

TV3 and the Daily Mail seemingly used the figures promoted by Choice Ireland when they were covering this story. Or maybe they simply didn't read the actual information released by the IMB (Irish Medical Board). If it's the former, since when did a blog become a source for factual information? In college, blogs were not considered a source for facts... a source for information or opinion, maybe... but, definitely not for facts! If it's the latter, if you are reporting on a topic, especially something as controversial as abortion, don't you think you should try to get the facts straight? At least read the report by the IMB? Let me remind you that this was not a 10 year olds paper for school, where facts were misrepresented... rather, this is TV3 and the Daily Mail!

TV3, the Daily Mail, and Choice Ireland are all promoting completely false information. These groups all claimed that "3 Irish women a day" or "1,216 women throughout 2009" were ordering these abortifacients, which is completely false. As you can see by the facts from the IMB, "1,216 tablets" were confiscated, not 1,216 packs; nor does it even give you any notion that each pill was for a different Irish woman. This information does not say anything about individuals purchasing any of the pills and it seems most likely that someone is purchasing large quantities, that would be sold to women in Ireland.

After comparing the real statistics with the false figures that Choice Ireland put forth, one thing came to my mind... they are going to try and use these untruths to push for legislation legalizing abortion in Ireland.

A few days later, (BIG SARCASTIC SURPRISE) Choice Ireland released further comment on their 'apparent' findings saying,

"It must now be acknowledged that the official abortion statistics, as provided by clinics in Britain and the Netherlands, are hopelessly unreliable. Those of us who have consistently argued that those figures under-represent the true number of Irish abortions have also been proven correct. No doubt customs will respond to this by stepping up enforcement but any measures it takes will continue to sidestep the real issue: that Irish women, no less than women anywhere else in the world, need access to safe, reliable and affordable abortion and will go to great risks if that access is denied. What will it take for Ireland to face up to this reality?"

So, instead of facing up to the fact that they are publicizing false information, they are using this false information to campaign for abortion or at least abortion pills to be legal (over the counter) in Ireland?

It is appalling that these groups are using false claims and corrupt information, to push for legislation that would have a major effect on the respect of human life in Ireland. Again, I understand when journalists offer their own opinion in their writings (when they promote it as just that, opinion not fact) or when they might not be aware of certain facts/figures... but, this is appalling. The promotion of false information, which in turn, could have massive consequences on the current laws in Ireland that protect human life.

"We're all just grownup embryos"?

These billboards have been popping up all across Ireland over the past week.





What do you think of this billboard? What does this it say to you?