20 rubbish reasons for 20 weeks - Daily Mail Bollocks

The Daily Mail, that great bastion of 'truthful' reporting reached a new low yesterday with their article on Tory, Nadine Dorries MP's campaign to change the abortion limit from 24 to 20 weeks. I've already gone in to why there is absolutely no need or indeed scientific proof for this suggestion, but the fact that this plan is taken as credible by the paper really got my knickers in a twist.
Apparently, Britain is becoming the abortion capital of the world. Fair enough. If the statistics saying there was 193,700 abortions is true then nobody can deny that this is shocking. However, why do these people suddenly think the problem will go away by cutting the time limit? Attacking the limit just puts the people who are the most desperate at a severe disadvantage. Lets remember that only 2% of all abortions take place after 20 weeks and the majority of these women are suffering from severe hardships and situations. If you want to cut down the number of abortions then surely the answer is education. Nobody can argue that women like having abortions. Better sex and relationships education, more conversation in PSE and more support is the answer to stop unwanted pregnancies.
But instead of the logical answer, the ex-nurse and her pro-life cronies have come up with 20 ridiculous reasons for 20 weeks. You've got to admit that it's catchy but that doesn't make them credible. So here they are:

TWENTY REASONS FOR TWENTY WEEKS
Why the campaigners led by Tory MP Nadine Dorries say the abortion limit should be cut:
1. Two thirds of GPs and two thirds of public - including three quarters of women - support reduction in upper age limit, say polls

Ok, well this is different to Abortion Rights statistics but how do you judge these things? Nobody has ever asked me to be involved in a poll.

2. More babies surviving well below 24 weeks, including world’s most premature baby Amillia Taylor, born at 21 weeks in 2006

There is no overwhelming evidence to support this argument. There has been no significant improvement in foetal survival before 24 weeks.

3. High-resolution 3D ultrasound images showing babies ‘walking’, yawning, stretching and sucking thumbs in the womb

These images are highly emotive. These pictures are not 'babies' and could not survive outside the womb. They are foetuses and they are not 'walking' or 'sucking their thumb', they are moving. This is claptrap.

4. Two thirds of babies born at 23 weeks survive in top neonatal units

Surely this is still reason 2? Again no evidence.

5. Foetuses can feel pain as low as 18 weeks, research suggests

Whose research? I can do research but I'm no Doctor. The British Medical Association and The Royal Obstetricians and Gynaecologists defend the limit and surely they would think again if foetuses could feel pain.

6. Mothers first feel their babies kick at 19 weeks in a first pregnancy and at 17 weeks in a later pregnancy

Kicking is primitive movement. Not communication. This isn't a reason, next!

7. More babies being born alive after botched abortions - some as young as 16 weeks

Where is your evidence? I will repeat again, there is no evidence to say that babies are surviving better before 24 weeks. To say that these babies are born perfectly fine is rubbish. Most suffer severe brain damage and die before there first birthday.

8. Rising number of abortions being carried out between 20 and 24 weeks

How is this a reason against? Yeah maybe it is rising, but it still is a tiny proportion of overall abortions and the women who have an abortion are often in dire need. Are you suggesting that a women raped, suffering from severe trauma should be forced to have her child? These groups (or papers, like the Daily Mail) bemoan teenage mothers but by cutting the limit, they are increasing the number.

9. Leading public figures such as Tory leader David Cameron calling for a cut to at least 20 weeks

How is this a reason? Have I missed something? Is David Cameron somekind of demi-God that we should start praying to because he has all the answers? This is the most ridiculous reason yet.

10. Britain’s abortion laws among the most liberal in Europe: The 24-week limit is double that in France or Germany, and six weeks later than in Sweden or Norway

So we should all follow are friends in Europe? Is that in-line with Conservative policy now? Watch it, we will have the euro next! What would Maggie say, eh?

11.’Abhorrent’ methods used to abort a post 20-week baby, including a lethal injection to the heart, and dismembering the body and removing it from the womb limb by limb

Argh. It is not a baby. It is a foetus. And yes, abortions aren't nice but it is the living woman that should have priority. Foetuses at this age cannot feel pain and it is a group of cells.

12. A possible link with mental illness for late abortions, say psychiatrists

What for? The woman or psychiatrists? Hang on, what do you think would cause more mental illness: a late abortion or being forced to have a baby against your will? Women who have terminations after 20 weeks take the decision very seriously and often could not go through with it before.

13. Most late abortions take place in private clinics, charged to the NHS - meaning there are financial vested interests involved

This is crap. Yes some people make money from healthcare but there should be better provision for women on the NHS. A significant number of GPs actually obstruct women from having terminations or are lost in the system. Private clinics may not be ideal but they give women a way out.

14. Babies can now undergo surgery in the womb under 24 weeks, such as Samuel Armas who had surgery at 21 weeks for spina bifida

Why is this a reason? It still wouldn't survive if you took the foetus out the womb at that age.

15. Few UK graduates willing to perform abortions beyond 16 weeks and most who do so are from overseas

Oh here we go. You can almost here the Daily Mail singing 'Send the buggers back!'.

16. Guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, supporting 24 weeks, should be updated in line with latest evidence on neonatal survival

There you are folks. Leading medical UK bodies are out of date, apparently.

17. 1,000 doctors signed petition against the British Medical Association’s support for 24 weeks and the Royal College of Nursing has not consulted its members

How many Doctors are there in the UK? A bit more than a 1,000. Plus how many of these Doctors are women who would actually be affected by this limit.

18. Pregnancy testing kits are freely available at chemists, so there is little excuse for not diagnosing pregnancy before 24 weeks.

Some, often young women do not experience the typical signs of pregnancy such as regular periods stopping. Other women, like those nearing the menopause do not expect to get pregnant. Better education at school-level about women's bodies would make a difference. Also, pregnancy tests are expensive and embarrassing. A lot of young people are in denial about their sexual experiences and leave it too late.

19. The Commons science and technology committee was heavily influenced by pro-abortion witnesses

So the evidence you got is not heavily-influenced by pro-life and religious groups? And what eveidence do you have?

20. Picture of a 20-week foetus (Above)

Reason 3 repeated. Emotive picture of foetuses are not photos of babies that would be able to survive outside the womb.

Victory for Yapping Virgins

On Monday I heard conclusively that ASK, the developers behind Leopold Square in Sheffield had decided NOT to continue talks with the Hooters chain. They had finally realised that this proposal would mean shooting themselves in the foot. For the past year, ASK have worked hard to create an upmarket and prestigious dining area, safe for families and single people alike. Hooters would not only be a step backwards for the square and for Sheffield, but it would also be damaging for the surrounding businesses.

Lets take a look at the concept for a moment. Hooters claims to be 'tacky yet unrefined'. This is not only a motto but is sprayed across the back of the waitresses t-shirts, along with 'HOOTERS' across the chest. So not only are women labelled as a derogitary word for a woman's breasts but they are also told what to be. Tacky and unrefined.

Hooters likes to call itself a 'sports themed restaurant'. I've been to a sports themed restaurant, namely Champs on Ecclesall Road. None of the waitresses there where shorts and vests with the body parts labelled for easy viewing. Wings over England, the company behind the UK version of the chain also like to say that the bar is suitable for families. This is ridiculous. What kind of society do we live in where parents think is is acceptable to take their impressionable youngsters into a restaurant which had bikini competitions, stag nights and a soft-porn magazine? Because this is exactly what Hooters is: A bar which is based on sex. A bar where there online site sells calendars of the girls and where there girls pose naked in Playboy: http://www.wwedaily.com/the-women-of-hooters-from-playboys-february-2008-issue/

Don' t get me wrong, I do not hate sex. I'm not a virgin, a prude or a man-hater. What I do hate is sex appeal brought to the lowest common denominator. People telling us 'Look at that pair of breasts, aren't they great? Now lets get drunk.' I hate women being put into boxes, that of breasts, leg or thigh. I hate the fact that this company insults the intelligence of men out there, because not all men like this. Not all men read Zoo or Nuts. However the ones who stand up and express their opinions about this raunch culture we live in are vilified. Many men who have wrote on the 'Yes to Hooters in Sheffield' group have been called gay or poofs, just because they stood out of line.

Wings Over England contradict themselves, first saying their for families and then saying "Sex appeal is legal and it sells. Newspapers, magazines, daytime talk shows, and local television affiliates consistently emphasise a variety of sexual topics to boost sales." Oh so you admit it then? I want to be employed on the basis of my intelligence not how big my breasts are. I want my children to grow up without a t-shirts like this: http://www.hootersgear.com/Merch/MerchItemDetail.aspx?webitem_seq=872

Oh and I want them to figure out what sex appeal means, not this socially constructed raunch culture where women kiss each other to turn men on and girls where Hugh Hefners logo of crap.

I could probably go on and on but my fingers are tired and I'm fed up of writing on this french computer (where's good old qwerty when you need it, eh?)

This is what a Feminist looks like

Saturday 10th March 2007 saw FEM 07, a national conference for women and men at Sheffield University Union. The third FEM conference to discuss gender inequality in society offered a range of lectures, seminars and workshops ranging from a ‘Bluffer’s Guide to Feminism’ to ‘How to set up a Feminist Group’.

The day was just one example of the resurgence in the UK of the Feminist Movement. Some may have thought the campaign for gender equality was killed of by depictions of bra-burning, hairy legged, dungaree-wearing lesbians, portrayed by Viz’s ‘Millie Tant’ and discussed in the seminal book, Faludi’s Backlash. However, groups and magazines are cropping up everywhere, men and women, desperate to show how women’s inequality remains as entrenched in our society as ever.

The facts are staring at us in the face.

● Only 6% of reported rape cases end in the rapist being caught and punished.
● Two women a week are killed by their current or former partner.
● Men make up more than 70% of local councillors and 80% of MPs. The huge majority of judges are men and so are 96% of executive directors in the UK’s top companies. Black and Minority Ethnic Women are even more excluded from power in all these areas.
● The average woman working full-time is paid 17% less an hour than a man – and 38% is her job is part-time.

FEM 07 was an opportunity to learn about the issues surrounding gender inequality, make links with organisations and to find out how we can make a difference. Founded by Kat Banyard in 2005, the day provided lots of interesting opportunities for attendees. A presentation of films by Vera Media, a Leeds based group, told the history of Feminism in the Leeds area. The film showed how the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ murders in the 1970s caused thousands of women to live in fear of becoming the next victim in Peter Sutcliffe’s reign of terror. Advised by the authorities to stay indoors at night, the women took a stand and decided that they should not be the ones trapped in their homes. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches were formed where the groups marched through the city with banners and torches, proclaiming their right for freedom. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches are still popular, to protest about violence against women.

Seminars gave the chance for attendees to learn more about specific gender related issues, such as women in higher education. Evidence from Sheffield Hallam University Professor, Liz Doherty showed that women working in higher education are subject to a ‘glass ceiling’, often unable to reach the positions of Senior Management. The session provided suggestions to women for how they can improve their own career prospects and implement institutional change.

The most interesting seminar I went to was ‘Porn as the Norm – What can YOU do about it?’, a thought-provoking discussion provided by Dr Sasha Rakoff from the group, Object. Object is a UK group challenging media misogyny, targeting specifically lad’s mags. Passing round examples of Nuts, Zoo and Loaded and hanging up posters of typical responses to the debate (“It’s natural to look at porn”, “the women enjoy it”) was fascinating. But it wasn’t just lads mags that were under the microscope but Tesco and their ‘Peekaboo Pole Dancing kit' aimed at kids.
Charliegrrrl, a feminist blogger also spoke about her own campaign, where she goes into high street shops and defaces lad’s mags with permanent marker. The crusade is not all serious though. Rather humorously, she dresses up as a pink ‘Porn Detective’ and accosts men entering porn shops or buying magazines. Her actions achieved much publicity last year at the Labour Conference when she made banners featuring Tony Blair’s head on bikini-clad girls and shouted Lads mags headlines such as “Get your girl to dress like a Prostititute” (Front) and “Wanted: 100 Hottest Virgins. Do you know a lady who is still ‘intact’?” (Zoo).

Throughout the day, an Exhibition area showcased the work and services of organisations and groups such as The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading campaign for equality between women and men. Supporting the conference, the society traces its roots back to 1866, when Millicent Fawcett campaigned for women’s vote. The group advertise their campaign by getting celebrities to wear their “This is what a Feminist looks like” t-shirts. Other groups included Ladyfest Leeds, a festival supporting female musicians, bands, comedians and poets, and Subtext magazine, a new publication with stimulating opinion about feminist issues.

The day culminated in FemFest 07, a live gig and club night at the Raynor Lounge featuring all female DJs and bands with female members such as Sheffield’s Slow Down Tallahassee, Vile Vile Creatures, and Service Users.