North Carolina is one of *many* states that for decades forcibly sterilized people it considered “undesirable,” without their consent and sometimes even without their knowledge. It sounds like a horrifying practice that must have been a long time ago, but there are people still alive who were violated in this way. Now, North Carolina is set to become the first state to compensate victims, setting aside $10 million to pay off about 1,500 people estimated to still be alive (the practice supposedly stopped in 1974). They estimate something like 7,600 people were forcibly sterilized on that state. They sure didn’t hurry, though. Most states seem to be simply avoiding this gross violation of human rights and dignity until everyone they victimized dies off and can’t
Tag: government
Sunday News Round-Up, Stay in the Air Conditioning Edition
Some of my recent posts over at Our Bodies Our Blog, the blog of Our Bodies Ourselves. There are links to lots of stories of interest on OBOS’s on Twitter and Facebook accounts as well.: Women Make Movies: New Releases Include Films on Virginity, Women in Prison and Body Image State by State: Laws Restricting Abortion and Family Planning as of Mid-2013 CIR Prison Investigation Opens Another Chapter on Sterilization of Women in U.S. Keeping Up With Anti-Abortion Attacks in the States Ask the FDA to Approve *All* Emergency Contraception Pills for OTC Access And some guest blogger posts at OBOS: Lessons Learned: Why Midwives Should Matter to Everyone Egg Donation is Made to Look Easy, but Questions and Health Risks Remain Emergency Contraception
Ohio Urgently Needs Your Support, Too!
Ohio pro-choice forces urgently need support. From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio: TOMORROW IN OHIO – The last votes that your lawmakers will cast on the state budget before it is sent to Gov. Kasich. It includes defunding. It includes transfer agreement bans that could close many abortion providers in Ohio. It includes the forced ultrasound amendment they added yesterday. Stand with Ohio women! From a Facebook event page: Inspired by Texan Women, please wear RED for Ohio and join us to show Ohio’s Legislature & Governor Kasich that we Stand With Ohio Women beginning at 10 AM Thursday with a Press Conference on the High Street/West entrance side. We’ll then pack the Gallery for what could a long day! (wear comfy shoes!).
Addicts in the UK May Soon Be Cut Off Welfare
As part of their efforts aimed at reducing the whopping £20billion benefits bills, the UK Government is examining the idea of a “financial benefit sanction” for applicants that fail to pursue treatment for their addiction. The strategy is intended to push addicts into recovery and back into the workforce and off welfare. However, besides the fact that this violates human rights, Simon Antrobus, from the drug treatment charity Addaction, cautions against such actions:“Remove financial stability during that time and you can severely damage someone’s chances of beating an addiction. More likely, you could increase their chances of turning to crime to find an alternative income.”Indeed society will find the idea attractive because it supports recovery and getting lives back in order. Who wouldn’t find