Washington, U.S.A. — A recent vote showed overwhelming support for Personhood in Georgia, with 66% of voters showing support to amend the Georgia constitution to grant the paramount right to life to all innocent human beings.  The measure was passed in 158 of the 159 counties in Georgia.

The non-binding GOP primary results overwhelmingly supported Georgia’s Personhood amendment. Georgia Right to Life President Dan Becker has called on the State Legislature to approve the amendment to go before voters; acknowledging the clearly expressed will of the Georgia voters.

“The message has been sent,” Becker said, “the legislature needs to let every Georgian decide the human rights issue of the 21st century.”

Support for the Personhood movement has been growing rapidly; both in the US with Personhood USA’s attempts multiplying state by state, as well as internationally; with a similar, Vatican-approved amendment in Europe.

“Personhood amendments do not grant rights to anyone – they merely recognize the God-given rights of every individual human being,” explained Keith Mason, President of Personhood USA. “The people of Georgia have shown that they are ready to vote ‘Yes’ on personhood, and now it is time for the legislature to ensure that the Georgia Personhood amendment is on the ballot.”

In a statement, Georgia Right to Life calculated that nearly 1.5 million children have been killed in Georgia since 1973′s Roe v. Wade decision, with an astonishing total of 56 million children killed nationwide.

“We’re living in a society that sadly accepts death—either abortion or the willful neglect of the fragile—as a way to deal with perceived problems,” continued Becker, “and that violates both God’s will and our right to life guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence.”

Personhood USA is a grassroots, Christian organization founded to establish personhood efforts across America to create protection for every child by love and by law. Personhood USA is committed to assisting and supporting Personhood Legislation and Constitutional Amendments and building local pro-life organizations through raising awareness of the personhood of the pre-born in all 50 states and internationally.

Image Courtesy of  infomatique

The article Pro-Life Organizations Are Gaining Strength in Georgia appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Americans United for Life joined forces with other pro-life legal organizations to file the leading pro-life amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Obama Administration’s healthcare law, violates the Constitution by forcing Americans to pay for abortion.

AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest stated, “President Obama’s healthcare overhaul includes an ‘abortion premium mandate’ that blatantly violates the conscience rights and First Amendment religious rights of millions of Americans. Nowhere in the Constitution does it require Americans to violate their beliefs and pay for abortions.”

Yoest noted that courts agreed with her assessment. “The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Affordable Care Act, including the ‘abortion premium mandate’, was ‘an unprecedented exercise of congressional power.’ Today’s amicus brief demonstrates to the Supreme Court that the Eleventh Circuit was correct in their analysis,” she said.

Nestled within the “individual mandate” in the Act—that portion of the Act requiring every American to purchase government-approved insurance or pay a penalty—is an “abortion premium mandate.”

This mandate requires all persons enrolled in insurance plans that include elective abortion coverage to pay a separate premium from their own pockets to fund abortion. As a result, pro-life Americans will have to decide between a plan that violates their consciences by funding abortion, or a plan that may not meet their health needs.

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a clear abortion agenda hidden in the pages of the healthcare law through the controversy surrounding the abortion-inducing drug mandate,” said Dr.Yoest.

“Forcing either companies or individuals to pay for abortion-inducing drugs against their consciences is a clear violation of the rights of individuals under the First Amendment. This case is further evidence that abortion is included throughout the healthcare law.

The article Americans United for Life Challenges the Abortion Mandate appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

David Margulies, author of the book Crisis Management in the Internet Age, notes that Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s recent news headlines illustrate how important it is that every organization incorporates a devil’s advocate in their decision making process.

“In any institution, fully vetting proposals by debating the pros and cons leads to better decision making and helps avoid public relations pitfalls,” said David Margulies, author of the book Crisis Management in the Internet Age and president of the Margulies Communications Group. “A devil’s advocate tests an organization’s policies against how an average consumer, customer, donor, voter, regulator or the news media might react.”

The recent controversy surrounding the Komen Foundation illustrates a common problem; the foundation is supervised by a small, closely knit board of directors.  People with similar viewpoints and life experiences tend to reinforce each other’s beliefs or want to avoid disagreement and controversy.

A more diverse board of directors or the presence of a devil’s advocate from outside the foundation’s leadership could have easily identified the fallout from the decision not to grant further support to Planned Parenthood. ”In litigation it is common to stage a mock trial where a defense attorney argues the plaintiff’s side of the case to help find weaknesses in the defense,” said Margulies. “Many organizations neglect this process.”

A complete discussion of the issue would have provided an opportunity to evaluate the likely response from Planned Parenthood supporters, the Foundation’s own donor base and whether the justification for the decision would withstand close scrutiny.

Sometimes the process of utilizing a devil’s advocate leads a decision not to move forward with a controversial initiative.  Other times, it makes sure that the organization has fully evaluated the likely fallout and has developed a communications plan that addresses controversial issues immediately, instead of dealing with negative coverage as it occurs.

Without a communications strategy, organizations often mishandle their public response, and risk having controversies dragged out over an extended period of time.

Image Courtesy of   aceshot1 / Shutterstock.com

The article Devil’s Advocate Could Possibly Have Prevented Komen PR Problems appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

“Now that the lead National Cancer Institute researcher on the abortion/cancer link has reversed herself and warned of abortion as a significant risk factor for breast cancer,” says Lolita Hanks, nurse practitioner and president of American Right To Life, “the pro-life pressure on Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen is increasing.”

“Louise A. Brinton was largely responsible for getting the government-funded NCI to deny the abortion-breast cancer link,” said Darrell Birkey, research director for ARTL, “and she has now reversed herself and co-authored a study which includes ‘induced abortion’ as a significant breast cancer risk factor.”

Brinton and her co-authors wrote in the peer-reviewed Cancer Epidemiology journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, “Specifically, older age, family history of breast cancer, earlier menarche age, induced abortion, and oral contraceptive use were associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.”

Endocrinologist Joel Brind, Ph.D. of Baruch College in New York City, dissented at the NCI’s conference that rejected the abortion link to breast cancer, a conference organized by Brinton. Professor Brind says, “The 2003 conference of the National Cancer Institute which denied abortion as a risk factor for breast cancer refused to allow attending scientists to present the opposing position of the scientific research establishing the link, showing that abortion was declassified as a cancer risk for political and not scientific reasons.”

“Following that political correctness,” says Hanks, “Komen is claiming they have halted funding to Planned Parenthood because a Republican chairman of a House sub-committee has inquired into their financial practices. We suspect the real reason is the growing evidence that abortion significantly increases the incidence of breast cancer.”

“The NCI’s own statistics show that breast cancer has increased, and only in women who were of child-bearing age when abortion was legalized in 1973,” said Brind, “so much so that nationally, cancer would have steadily declined, except it has held steady at the expense of women getting breast cancer.”

And Prof. Brind suggests that Komen now correct a factual error on their website which claims that, “the breast is mature after puberty.” Actually, “third trimester pregnancy hormones begin the final maturation process and the differentiation of mammary gland cells,” said Brind, a recognized expert in the field. “Abortion prevents this, leaving the woman with more undifferentiated cells vulnerable to carcinogens, increasing her risk of breast cancer.”

An ARTL state chapter, Colorado Right To Life, has protested Komen’s Race for the Cure for a decade, and met with Komen officials in Denver. As transcribed from a recording of the meeting, Komen’s public relations representative, Dana Brandorff was asked by CRTL’s Leslie Hanks, “Why aren’t women being told that abortion is the most preventable risk factor?” to which Brandorff answered, “We tend to focus on the cure… we’re focusing our energies on that, rather than the preventative.”

The article Breast Cancer Link Is Reason Komen Pulls Abortion Clinic Funding appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Many regard the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade as a significant step forward in women’s reproductive rights. The decision, handed down in 1971, affirmatively answered the question of whether women had the right to terminate their pregnancies through abortions.

However, as the case celebrates its 39^th anniversary, there are concerns that the progress made in granting women full control of their bodies will soon be for naught.

“Despite the fact that the majority of Americans believe that women have the right to make deeply personal decisions about their health care, the attacks on abortion have been unrelenting,” said Lillian Tamayo, the CEO of Planned Parenthood.

Tamayo firmly contends that this progress must not see hindrance, an opinion that she made known outside the Federal Building in Broward, Fl. on January 22 at 3 p.m.  Tamayo was one of an estimated 100 attendees at a Pro-Choice Rally held at the courthouse to not only recognize the impact of Roe v. Wade on women’s rights, but to encourage those present to not allow their leaders to take those rights away.

Other persons who turned out at the Rally included additional members of Planned Parenthood, representatives from the Pro-Choice Coalition of Broward County, as well as a group of medical students from Nova. Each of these individuals spent equal amounts of time waving their signs on the sides of the street, to appreciative honks and waves from drivers, as well as listening to individuals make their opinions known about the tenuous state of women’s reproductive rights.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a senator from Florida and Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, also appeared at this rally, along with Patrick Murphy and Lois Frankel – two people who are aiming to join Mrs. Schultz in the Congressional halls. Frankel and Murphy are both aiming for the seat occupied by Rep. Allen West. Frankel expressed particular disgust at his obstinate attitude:

“He is uncompromising and bombastic at a time where we need to roll up our sleeves and work together,” Frankel said. Frankel chose to attend this rally to continue her fight for women’s rights. She thought it was important for women to have the tools necessary to make key life decisions concerning their pregnancies.

She was quick to point out that West has used his time in Congress to regress the rights of women. “He voted for the Ryan bill, a proposal that would have limited a woman’s access to maternity care. He has also voted to defund Planned Parenthood and has chastised women who support Planned Parenthood’s values,” she said.

Murphy also expressed revulsion at West’s actions and attitude, mentioning that voters deem his style of leadership unacceptable. “Voters want an individual who will move the country forward, as well as someone who is qualified enough to understand the issues of the day,” he said. Murphy expressed confidence that he could be that person; jobs are what voters are thinking about, and should he win, that issue will be top priority.

“The first action I would take should I be elected is to promote the President’s American Jobs Act,” he said. Wasserman Schultz also took the time to reference the President when it was time for her to address the audience; she noted his bravery in standing up to anti-choice groups by protecting the birth control coverage benefit portion of the Affordable Care Act.

“Having a president that will stand up for women and their rights is crucial,” she noted. As she continued speaking to the audience, she pointed out that legal abortion actually helps in keeping women safe, stating that in 1965, 20 percent of all reported maternal deaths were due to illegal abortions.

Moreover, she encouraged abortion detractors to find common ground with abortion supporters, rather than undermine their efforts. “Instead of working against us by voting to defund Title X Family Planning programs for women who need them most, work with us to make abortion safe, legal and rare,” she said.

Wasserman Schultz remarked on how the Republicans in the House of Representatives have addressed bills that aim to defund Planned Parenthood and redefine rape to where it only included “forcible” actions. “This is what we are up against,” she said, and used this point to emphasize the importance of speaking out to make sure that women are able to retain their reproductive rights.

The DNC Chairwoman’s speech brought cheers from the audience upon its completion. Lauren Bello, part of the Broward Youth Council, found Wasserman Schultz’s words “inspiring”. “It is a good eye opener for young people to vote on these issues, which are far more important than people give them credit for,” she said.

Estee Rosenberg Paviled, a realtor and artist, hoped that the DNC Chairwoman’s message would resonate with members of Congress and make them cease their assault on women’s rights. “I think it is terrible how they are trying to turn the clocks back on a woman’s right to choose. We need to keep government out of our bedrooms,” she said.

As a new Congressional session progresses, each of the attendees at the rally made it clear that they were going to keep a close eye on how members of Congress vote on women’s rights. “Women are going to be watching them closely and taking names,” said Tamayo.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/us-mission/

The article Roe v. Wade Anniversary Recognized at Broward Federal Courthouse appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In Ohio, the attacks on women’s reproductive rights continue. A state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would outlaw abortion after the fetus has its first detectable heartbeat.  Representative Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican, worked with Janet Folger Porter, president of Faith2Action who authored the so-called Heartbeat Bill.  The group had two fetuses “testify” in favor of the bill at a committee hearing.  Things keep getting weirder.

The heartbeat bill would forbid abortion in any case where there was a detectable heartbeat, which can occur as early as 18 days into a pregnancy.  “When a heartbeat of a baby is detected, that baby will be protected from abortion,” Wachtmann told the Hudson Hub Times last month. “It’s really as simple as that. … As technology improves in medicine, as it continually does, that protection will move closer and closer to conception, which is I think for many of us what our ultimate goal of protecting life is.”

In a press release, Faith 2Action said that the fetus would be the youngest ever to “testify”.  Am I the only one feeling like I am in Saturday Night Live sketch?  “For the first time in a committee hearing, legislators will be able to see and hear the beating heart of a baby in the womb–just like the ones the Heartbeat Bill will protect,” Porter said in the release.  Two pregnant women were given ultrasounds during the hearing and the images were projected onto a screen for legislators to look at. A flashing dot was identified as the beating hearts of the fetuses, one at 15 weeks’ gestation, the other at nine.

Not even all pro-life groups are behind the legislation.  “We don’t want to put our legislative focus and efforts on that. While it has good intentions, it won’t save lives. That’s the bottom line,” said Ed Sitter, Executive Director for Toledo Right to Life. The organization has drafted its own bill. It would outlaw abortions 20 weeks after conception.

Sitter said even if the Heartbeat Bill passes, it will get struck down by the courts.  Pro-choice groups also feel the bill is unconstitutional.  “At a time when Ohio is facing a crushing budget deficit, it’s absolutely appalling that the sponsor of this legislation and his allies would plunge the state into years of costly litigation,” said Kellie Copeland of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.

The article Fetus “Testifies” in Ohio Abortion Ban appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.