Showing posts with label Activists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Activists. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Monday, December 9, 2013
Report on "Emergency Strategy Meeting to Preserve Abortion"
Report on "Emergency Strategy Meeting to Preserve Abortion"
By Carol Downer
We set a date and time for the next meeting of like-minded people. For now, this meeting will be called the Unfinished Battle Discussion Group, referring to the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court issued its Roe v. Wade decision at a time when the size of the abortion rights movement was exploding in size and picking up steam. Roe v. Wade pulled the rug out from under this movement; we shifted our efforts into opening clinics and working on other women’s issues.
For now, the next meeting will be at the same place on Saturday, December 14, at 2:00pm. See Facebook Event Page.
We decided that since the need to get organized is urgent, the ongoing-meetings will take place every two weeks. However, members do not need to come to each meeting. We will keep everyone posted on the group’s progress.
Topics of Discussion and Reports
- The Abortion Rights Freedom Ride Report of their month-long (July and August 2013) tour through 15 states nearly 10,000 miles, 2 dozen people caravanned, and hundreds rallied. They found the clinics under siege. They concluded that a new pro-reproductive rights offensive is needed that goes beyond using the electoral system to bring change. This 55 page, bound report is available for $10.00 or read online at www.stoppatriarchy.org.
- A report of the rally held at Hogue Hospital in Newport Beach held to protest the stopping of abortion procedures when Covenant, a Catholic corporation, bought it. We discussed doctor’s and hospital’s attitude toward doing abortion procedures, and we learned that the doctors at the rally are outraged that someone has come between them and their patients.
- I shared the rough draft of the article I am writing, “ARISE, YE MASSES OF WOMEN; OUR CLINICS ARE BEING SHUT DOWN! THIS IS THE TIME TO FINISH THE FIGHT THAT WE STARTED 45 YEARS AGO!” I reminded people that the reason that abortions are done in clinics is because the existing medical establishment refused to do them. One suggestion I had was that we could start our own hospital.
- Feedback on this article from veteran clinic administrators who have picketers every clinic day, but strong community support is that although the legal strategy is not working, the problem is not the doctors; we should choose strategies which focus on the anti’s and their effect. Their experience is that hospitals and medical societies have decided to coexist with the abortion clinics in their community.
- We have a beginning list of websites of over 50 pro-choice organizations. If you would like this list, or the hyperlinks for current articles about the court cases challenging various states’ new anti-abortion laws, you can e-mail us at whwh@womenshealthinwomenshands.org and we will e-mail it to you.
UNFINISHED BATTLE DISCUSSION GROUP
Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 2PM
2250 Fair Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Text message: 323 547 4119
Details: Open bi-weekly meetings to discuss news, strategy, and tactics. RSVP via text message if you’re coming. Or online at www.facebook.com/WomensHealthInWomensHands
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
MANA 2013 "Birthing Social Change" REPORT
Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA)
2013 Conference "Birthing Social Change" Report
by Carol Downer
BACKGROUND: I have been attending meetings and conferences of midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, lactation counselors and birth activists since 2010 to prepare myself to add Childbirth and Lactation pages to my website, womenshealthinwomenshands.org. I attended the National Conference of MANA in Portland, OR to meet a cross-section of midwives from a large geographic area.
I attended as a vendor, because I am able to have many face-to-face discussions with conference attendees, display our books and literature and insert a pro-choice presence.
SUMMARY: 300-400 persons attended, nearly all women. MANA’s members are primarily Certified Professional Midwives (most were either grandfathered in through their lay midwife experience or educated at midwifery school and certified by NARM (North American Registry of Midwives), and a few Nurse-Midwives. Also attending were doulas, student midwives, and a few birth writers (such as Suzanne Arms and Roanna Rosewood) and birth activists, such as Hermine Hayes-Klein and myself.
MANA, which is a predominantly white organization, was accused of racism by Midwives of Color who resigned as a group last year. MANA seems to be grappling with its problems of racism. The theme of the conference was “Birthing Social Change”. There were several plenary sessions, with open-mike discussion, plus several workshops dealing with how the MANA board and members can become less racist in the board’s decision-making process. Women of Color headed up several workshops and there was a Women of Color reception, organized and put on by International Center for Traditional Childbirth (ICTC). All were invited to attend.
Additionally, MANA seems to be open to the suggestions of Hermine Hayes-Klein and Roanna Rosewood which are to shift from the paradigm of “doctor versus midwives” resulting from the persecution of midwives and refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the practice of midwifery to the paradigm of a “woman’s human right to choose her birth setting and attendant”. The existence of an independent body of midwives promotes birthing mothers’ human rights because it makes home birth with a midwife accessible to women.
In the last couple of months a controversy arose between the Alliance for Ethical Midwifery Training (seems to include many Women of Color) and Midwife International, Inc (which seems to consist mainly of Sara Kraft). MI contracted with several birth centers in resource-poor third world countries to send American Student Midwifes to train. Charges of fraud and misuse of funding by MI arose. The only indirect acknowledgement of this dispute at the MANA Conference were the workshops: Midwifery, Colonialism, and Settler Identity: Deconstructing Colonial Norms in Modern Midwifery and Ethical Engagement and Midwifery Volunteerism which dealt with the problem in sending student midwives to train in foreign settings. If there were any other substantial discussions going on, on this subject I was not part of them. If you’re interested in hearing more about this controversy; contact me and I’ll supply you with the relevant websites.
Oregon leads the U.S. in home births and Portland is the capitol. (Dr Eugene Declercq gave presentation with statistics on childbirth.)
I was able to talk to many women. There was great interest in the Del’em, both as a tool for midwifery practice and for women to do together. A New View of a Woman’s Body is a beloved book. Janna Slack’s article of full-spectrum doulas and the book Radical Doula, were popular (I didn’t sell anything at my table). The idea of a Pro-Woman Agenda resonated very well with those who came up to the table. Several expressed the intent to “stop the silence” about abortion rights. I felt no hostility against me or my message from anyone.
WORKSHOPS: Workshops on colonial behavior by American midwives toward Indigenous American women and in 3rd world environments; and how and why to stop it.
An audio CD of this excellent presentation can be ordered. Also, a 4-page handout given out at the presentation gives a good place to start in your own thinking. If you want a copy, please contact me.
NOTEWORTHY CONTACTS, BOOKS, AND IDEAS:
Roanna Rosewood: Her Book and Her Talk
Roanna Rosewood is the author of Cut, Stapled, & Mended – When One Woman Reclaimed Her Body and Gave Birth on Her Own Terms After Cesarean. An excellent read for any women whether pregnant or not; or whether she ever intends to have a baby. Very good facts and well written.
Roanna submitted her paper on change – very lively, well-organized speaker (she held a mic and walked back and forth across the stage – paused to emphasize various points and point out things on the screen). Talked about needing a new paradigm; a perspective in which a woman’s right is uppermost. A woman needs support to achieve whatever birth she wants if at all possible.
Hermine Hayes-Klein: Organization - Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC)
Hermine organized a conference in Europe last year about HRiC; she left for Europe after MANA for the 2nd Annual Conference Birth Rights in the European Union: Mobilizing Change. The situation in Europe is changing – midwifery is under attack. She gave a one hour presentation at MANA which was carefully listened to and well received. She and Roanna are working together to establish HRiC.
Suzanne Arms: Her Vision and Her Books
Suzanne Arms has a vision of how gentle birth can change society. She founded Birthing The Future (a 501c3 Colorado non-profit and International NGO)
Since 1970, birth and the well being of women and babies has been her passion and her focus. She is a practical visionary, educator, renowned speaker, and author-photojournalist of 7 acclaimed books on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and adoption. Immaculate Deception was named a New York Times Best Book of the Year. Suzanne co-founded one of the first freestanding Birth Centers in the USA, and the world’s first resource center for pregnancy, birth and early parenting. She’s co-producer-director of the public television special: Birth.
Her Philosophy (as stated on her brochure):
The mother-baby bond literally shapes the nature of society. Modern Science and Ancient Wisdom both show us that…Every mother-baby pair is one system…resilient yet also very vulnerable.
The mother-baby bond, from conception to toddler-hood, is crucial and rooted in our biochemistry.
The experiences they have shape their lifelong brain and emotional patterns. Health or illness, happiness or depression is the result. Things could be so much better.
We can prevent most of these problems!
CONTACTS:
2013 Conference "Birthing Social Change" Report
by Carol Downer
BACKGROUND: I have been attending meetings and conferences of midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, lactation counselors and birth activists since 2010 to prepare myself to add Childbirth and Lactation pages to my website, womenshealthinwomenshands.org. I attended the National Conference of MANA in Portland, OR to meet a cross-section of midwives from a large geographic area.
I attended as a vendor, because I am able to have many face-to-face discussions with conference attendees, display our books and literature and insert a pro-choice presence.
MANA, which is a predominantly white organization, was accused of racism by Midwives of Color who resigned as a group last year. MANA seems to be grappling with its problems of racism. The theme of the conference was “Birthing Social Change”. There were several plenary sessions, with open-mike discussion, plus several workshops dealing with how the MANA board and members can become less racist in the board’s decision-making process. Women of Color headed up several workshops and there was a Women of Color reception, organized and put on by International Center for Traditional Childbirth (ICTC). All were invited to attend.
In the last couple of months a controversy arose between the Alliance for Ethical Midwifery Training (seems to include many Women of Color) and Midwife International, Inc (which seems to consist mainly of Sara Kraft). MI contracted with several birth centers in resource-poor third world countries to send American Student Midwifes to train. Charges of fraud and misuse of funding by MI arose. The only indirect acknowledgement of this dispute at the MANA Conference were the workshops: Midwifery, Colonialism, and Settler Identity: Deconstructing Colonial Norms in Modern Midwifery and Ethical Engagement and Midwifery Volunteerism which dealt with the problem in sending student midwives to train in foreign settings. If there were any other substantial discussions going on, on this subject I was not part of them. If you’re interested in hearing more about this controversy; contact me and I’ll supply you with the relevant websites.
Oregon leads the U.S. in home births and Portland is the capitol. (Dr Eugene Declercq gave presentation with statistics on childbirth.)I was able to talk to many women. There was great interest in the Del’em, both as a tool for midwifery practice and for women to do together. A New View of a Woman’s Body is a beloved book. Janna Slack’s article of full-spectrum doulas and the book Radical Doula, were popular (I didn’t sell anything at my table). The idea of a Pro-Woman Agenda resonated very well with those who came up to the table. Several expressed the intent to “stop the silence” about abortion rights. I felt no hostility against me or my message from anyone.
WORKSHOPS: Workshops on colonial behavior by American midwives toward Indigenous American women and in 3rd world environments; and how and why to stop it.
- Midwifery, Colonialism, and Settler Identity: Deconstructing Colonial Norms in Modern Midwifery
by Wicanhpi Iyotan Win Autumn Cavender-Wilson BA
The Midwifery tradition in the Americas is thousands of years old, but the history of white midwifery on these continents has been built as consequence of the genocide of Indigenous peoples, often exploiting the traditional knowledge that existed prior. Modern midwifery practice has inherited the legacy of racism, privilege and exploitation inherent in the colonial project.
An audio CD of this excellent presentation can be ordered. Also, a 4-page handout given out at the presentation gives a good place to start in your own thinking. If you want a copy, please contact me.
- Ethical Engagement and Midwifery Volunteerism
by Bonnie Ruder CPM, MPH, MA
In recent years there has been enormous growth in international midwifery volunteerism and service-learning programs in low-income settings. A controversy has arisen and many are saying that: it is imperative that midwives are able to differentiate between ethical engagement and less responsible/dangerous development. The politics of global health organizations shaping birth choices worldwide- often based on the exportation of U.S.-style obstetrics, with its dismal maternal and infant mortality outcomes. (Order audio CD)I did not attend this workshop.
NOTEWORTHY CONTACTS, BOOKS, AND IDEAS:
Roanna Rosewood is the author of Cut, Stapled, & Mended – When One Woman Reclaimed Her Body and Gave Birth on Her Own Terms After Cesarean. An excellent read for any women whether pregnant or not; or whether she ever intends to have a baby. Very good facts and well written.
Roanna submitted her paper on change – very lively, well-organized speaker (she held a mic and walked back and forth across the stage – paused to emphasize various points and point out things on the screen). Talked about needing a new paradigm; a perspective in which a woman’s right is uppermost. A woman needs support to achieve whatever birth she wants if at all possible.
Hermine organized a conference in Europe last year about HRiC; she left for Europe after MANA for the 2nd Annual Conference Birth Rights in the European Union: Mobilizing Change. The situation in Europe is changing – midwifery is under attack. She gave a one hour presentation at MANA which was carefully listened to and well received. She and Roanna are working together to establish HRiC.
Suzanne Arms has a vision of how gentle birth can change society. She founded Birthing The Future (a 501c3 Colorado non-profit and International NGO)
Since 1970, birth and the well being of women and babies has been her passion and her focus. She is a practical visionary, educator, renowned speaker, and author-photojournalist of 7 acclaimed books on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and adoption. Immaculate Deception was named a New York Times Best Book of the Year. Suzanne co-founded one of the first freestanding Birth Centers in the USA, and the world’s first resource center for pregnancy, birth and early parenting. She’s co-producer-director of the public television special: Birth.
Her Philosophy (as stated on her brochure):
The mother-baby bond literally shapes the nature of society. Modern Science and Ancient Wisdom both show us that…Every mother-baby pair is one system…resilient yet also very vulnerable.
The mother-baby bond, from conception to toddler-hood, is crucial and rooted in our biochemistry.
The experiences they have shape their lifelong brain and emotional patterns. Health or illness, happiness or depression is the result. Things could be so much better.
We can prevent most of these problems!
CONTACTS:
- Suzanne Arms: Birthing The Future - birthingthefuture.org
- Hermine-Hayes Klein: Human Rights in Childbirth (HRiC) - www.humanrightsinchildbirth.com
- Roanna Rosewood: Author of Cut, Stapled, and Mended - roannarosewood.com
- Dr. Eugene Declercq: Birth by the Numbers - www.birthbythenumbers.org
- Shafia Monroe, ED of ICTC: International Center for Traditional Childbirth - www.ictcmidwives.org
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Midwives Alliance of North America 2013
WHY DO WE NEED A DISCUSSION AMONGST WOMEN'S HEALTH ACTIVISTS ABOUT THE NEED FOR A UNIFIED APPROACH TO WOMEN'S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS?
By Carol Downer
I am attending the MANA conference this October 24-27 in Portland, Oregon. I will be setting up an exhibit table, distributing flyers, displaying our books, selling speculums and talking to conference attendees. I will have a display that draws attention to the main issues in women’s reproductive and sexual health and graphically shows that they are interrelated and inseparable from one another.
MANA is expecting between 300-500 conference attendees comprised of midwives, nurses, physicians, childbirth educators, doulas, parents, midwifery students, and childbirth advocates. I hope that 300-400 attendees will pass by my booth and see the display which features an array of photos of women in childbirth, women having abortions, birth control methods, nursing babies and our books “A New View of a Woman’s Body” to create the image of the interrelatedness of these events in women’s lives. I hope to to be able to have a meaningful interaction with at least one hundred people, and that many more will take one or more pamphlets or flyers to look at later.
I hope to get the conversation going around the need for pro-choice feminists to embrace the cause of natural childbirth and nursing and the corresponding need for midwives, doulas and other birth workers to wholeheartedly support women’s rights to sex education, birth control and abortion.
I also hope to learn more about the extent and the nature of the persecution of midwives.
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