Abortion in the Media

American abortion survivor, Melissa Ohden, has been featured in a television advertisement created by Emily's Voice. The advertisement has been played on free to air television in Toowoomba, as part of Emily's Voice's 'Not Born Yet' campaign. Check it out here: http://vimeo.com/21647436 

Melissa visited Toowoomba last September as part of a tour organised by Life Network Australia. She is returning to Australia this May, to be a keynote speaker at the Real Choices Australia conference - an event not to be missed.  

"Angel Baby" is the name given to a newborn baby boy who was abandoned at a bus shelter, and subsequently died, some two years ago. It is a sad story, with the tragic ending of a life so young - also sadly, his mother has not come forward to receive the care and support she is likely to need. A funeral ceremony, funded by Angel Baby's community of Shepparton was described as a beautiful ceremony, and was held recently following release of the infant's body by the Coroner.
 
However, a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper describes the hypocrisy of the Shepparton Member, Ms. Powell. Local resident Mr Ewan McDonald wrote:
 
"Has anyone else noticed the glaring double-standards of the Member for Shepparton? Commendably, Mrs Powell joined with other community representatives in mourning the death of "Angel Baby", however, less than two years ago she voted in the Victorian parliament to pass the "Abortion Law Reform Act 2008". This was the bill that saw abortion decriminalised in the State of Victoria which now has one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world. This Law eliminated all legal protection for Victorian children until the moment of birth.

And what has been the result? A recent Channel 7 News story reported an alarming 600% increase in late term abortions performed at the Royal Women's Hospital. These are babies only weeks younger than "Angel Baby" and yet Mrs Powell voted for their destruction. There is something fundamentally wrong with a society that mourns the death of an unwanted newborn baby whilst approving the deaths of tens of thousands of others in utero".
 
Another double standard in recent days  is an article in the Herald Sun by Felicity Williams that rightly warns of the risks, of consuming alcohol, to babies in the womb or being breastfed. However there is a much much greater danger to babies in the womb, some 20,000 Victorian babies die each year from abortion!! As Mr McDonald (above) pointed out, babies are being aborted (late term) at an increase of 600% at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. What do we hear about this from our 'lamestream media' outlets? Just one report, about item 4 on one television channel.
 
The loss of little "Angel Baby's" life is a tragedy, no doubt, but the destruction of tens of thousands of unborn babies who are betrayed every year by so many of our politicians, media representatives and society can be descibed as nothing but heartless. Every single one of these lives is precious and must be protected and nurtured!

The Herald Sun has reported on recent legislation in Oklahoma (US) that will require women to view an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion procedure.  Governor Brad Henry (Democratic) tried to block the Bills last week, but the Oklahoma legislature, the majority of whom are Republican, overwhelmingly overrode his veto with the help of Democrats.
 
According to the article, Pro Choice NSW spokesperson, Jane Caro, believes that "the new laws would strip women of basic human rights" and she advised women in Oklahoma to “keep their legs together." Ms. Caro also stated "The new laws are outrageous on every level and destroy the human rights of the women in that state. They no longer have equal human rights."
 
President of Life Network Australia and mother of five, Sonja Couroupis, believes this response is hypocritical, "How can 'choice' be 'choice', when all the information is not presented? - an ultrasound is information!"

As for human rights, Ms, Couroupis stated that "Ms Caro is obviously uninformed of the devastation done to women by abortion. Statistics of such damage have led to legislation such as that in Oklahoma".

Mrs Couroupis continued, posing the question, "And what of the (human) rights of the millions of babies, including baby girls, aborted every year throughout the world? Where are their rights?"

Born alive abortion survivor, Melissa Ohden considers herself a "voice for the voiceless" and asks the same question, "What were my (human) rights?"
 
The article goes on to state that "even women who are victims of rape or incest will be required to listen to a detailed description of the foetus and view the ultrasound image prior to terminating a pregnancy".

 Life Network Australia believes it is insulting to assume that women who have already been violated through rape or incest would automatically require and seek an abortion. It is unacceptable to make generalisations about women in this tragic situation and make statements on their behalf, based on these generalisations. Why shouldn't all women, facing any kind of unplanned pregnancy, be entitled to as much information as possible, including the viewing of an ultrasound?
 
Mary Spaulding Balch, Director of State Legislation for the National Right to Life (US), said that, "Ultrasound gives a mother a window to her womb," and Vice President of Right to Life Australia Margaret Tighe agrees that the new laws were "terrific news" and should be adopted in Australia.
 
Mrs Couroupis challenged Ms Caro's statement that "the new laws (in Oklahoma) would force abortions underground", describing her language as desperate and dramatic. Perhaps she is worried that such laws will not be good for (abortion) business, a business that thrives on the abuse of women, babies and families?

Women deserve better!

A GROWING number of induced babies are born alive following failed late-term abortions.

New Queensland Health figures show 19 babies were aborted at 20 weeks or more in 2007, but rather than dying at birth as intended, the newborns were able to breathe unaided.

The babies, some as advanced as 26 weeks, were aborted using drugs to induce labour. Once born, no medical help was offered and they died soon afterwards.

Former Queensland Health obstetrician Dr Caroline de Costa, now a professor at James Cook University in Cairns, said it was extremely distressing for parents and medical staff when terminations went wrong .

"If babies are born alive after this they are likely to die within a few minutes, although it can take up to half an hour," she said.

"We can only keep them wrapped up warm. It is up to the parents whether they want to see the child."

The figures - obtained under the Freedom of Information Act - reveal one in four abortions performed at 20 weeks and more went wrong in 2007, up 20 per cent on 2003.

The number of abortions carried out at 20 weeks and more is also increasing, up from 27 in 2003 to 75 in 2007. Medicare funds terminations up to 26 weeks.

In the same five-year period, there were 55 babies born alive after a termination procedure and not given medical treatment.

Ninety per cent of the 2007 terminations were due to congenital abnormalities.
Some were life-threatening, but they also included cleft palates and club feet.