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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bald Eagle who wrote (768449)	1/22/2009 10:31:05 AM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	1 Recommendation Respond to of 769670

"show proof". No problem, BaldE: The Mexico City Policy, also known as the Mexico City Gag Rule and the Global Gag Rule.... en.wikipedia.org Critics of the Mexico City Policy refer to it as the "global gag rule", arguing that, in addition to reducing the overall funding provided to particular NGOs, it closes off their access to USAID-supplied condoms and other forms of contraception.[12] This, they argue, negatively impacts the ability of these NGOs to distribute birth control, leading to a downfall in contraceptive use and from there to an increase in the rates of unintended pregnancies and abortion.[12] Critics also argue that the ban promotes restrictions on free speech as well as restrictions on accurate medical information.[13][14][15][16] The European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development presented a petition to the United States Congress signed by 233 members condemning the policy. The forum has stated that the policy "undermines internationally agreed consensus and goals".[17] ...In January 2001, President George W. Bush reimposed a set of restrictions, known as the Mexico City policy, on international family planning assistance provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The policy prohibits private overseas grantees of U.S. family planning funding and technical assistance from using their own non-U.S. funds to provide legal abortions (except in the case of rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions), to counsel on abortions (with the same exceptions), and to promote less restrictive laws pertaining to abortion in their own countries.... sciencemag.org Direct US funding for foreign abortions will remain banned... but what the 'Mexico City policy' did was say that nomprofits could not EVEN USE THEIR OWN SOURCES OF FUNDING to 'council or provide' ANY abortion services... if even one dollar of US aid was received by the organization. However, after the coming REPEAL of the Mexico City policy... direct US funding for abortions will remain BANNED.

To: Bald Eagle who wrote (768449)	1/23/2009 1:38:20 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

Q+A: What is the Mexico City Policy or Global Gag Rule? Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:07pm GMT uk.reuters.com (Reuters) Jan 23 - U.S. President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on Friday on U.S. government funding for clinics or groups which provide abortion services or counseling for the procedure overseas. The restrictions have been dubbed the "Global Gag Rule" by critics. Q: WHAT IS THE MEXICO CITY POLICY/GLOBAL GAG RULE? A: Under the rule, no U.S. government funding for family planning services can be given to clinics or groups that offer abortion services or counseling in other countries even if the funds for those activities come from non-U.S. government sources. It has been called the Mexico City Policy because it was unveiled at a U.N. conference there in 1984 and became one of the centerpiece social policies of the conservative administration of Republican former President Ronald Reagan. Critics call it the "gag rule" because it also cuts funds to groups which advocate or lobby for the lifting of abortion restrictions, so they say it infringes on free speech. Q: WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? A: The policy has become a partisan "tit for tat" depending on which party occupies the White House. Support for abortion rights is a central plank of the Democratic Party while abortion rights opponents, many of whom are conservative Christians, comprise a key Republican base. Former President Bill Clinton rescinded the rule when he took office in January 1993. George W. Bush reinstated it on Jan 22, 2001, in one of his first policy moves as president, saying: "It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad." Q: WHAT'S AT STAKE? A: The United States spends more than $400 million on overseas family planning assistance each year. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said as of September 2008 it provided family planning assistance to 53 developing countries. Critics argue that the anti-abortion restrictions have resulted in huge drops for funding worldwide to organizations that provide family-planning services and basic healthcare, leading to back alley abortions and even deaths. They say this means many women are deprived of contraception and other health services in poor countries. The Center for Reproductive Rights says, for example, that in Ethiopia and Lesotho, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are no longer able to offer comprehensive and integrated healthcare services to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Abortion rights opponents and groups who support the Mexico City Policy contest the view that it has led to an increase of illegal abortions or deaths overseas. (Writing by Ed Stoddard, editing by Deborah Charles and Vicki Allen) (Sources: Reuters, The White House, Planned Parenthood, Population Connection, Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USAID)