• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

EDITORIAL BOARD Christine Byrd  Editor in Chief

Michael Litschi

 Managing Editor

Jonah Lalas

 Viewpoint Editor

Barbara Ortutay

 News Editor

Amy Golod

 Staff Representative

Timothy Kudo

 Staff Representative

Brian O'Camb

 Staff Representative

  Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors.   All submitted material must bear the author's name, address, telephone number, registration number, or affiliation with UCLA. Names will not be withheld except in extreme cases.   The Bruin complies with the Communication Board's policy prohibiting the publication of articles that perpetuate derogatory cultural or ethnic stereotypes.   When multiple authors submit material, some names may be kept on file rather than published with the material. The Bruin reserves the right to edit submitted material and to determine its placement in the paper. All submissions become the property of The Bruin. The Communications Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete procedure, contact the Publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall. Daily Bruin 118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 825-9898

President George W. Bush decided last week to disregard the health and lives of thousands of women around the world in order to advance his own political agenda. He announced his plan to cut U.S. funding to international family planning groups providing abortions and abortion counselling.

The federal budget this fiscal year allotted $425 million for family planning groups abroad. Since 1973, these groups have not been allowed to use this aid to directly pay for abortions, but they were not denied money if they used their own funds to cover abortion costs.

Though Bush said he does not plan to reduce funding this year, he made it clear that unless these groups exclude abortion as an option, they won’t be funded.

There are two major outcomes of such a move: clinics will either close or stop offering abortions so they can keep receiving money.

Undoubtedly, some groups will stop offering abortions, but this will not necessarily curb abortions. In desperation, some women will resort to dangerous alternatives – this is inevitable when clinical abortions are not legal and affordable. Lives will be put at risk and women will die when they go to unqualified individuals for abortions or try to abort the fetuses themselves. Then, not only will fetuses be lost, but adult women who are mothers, wives, and sisters will also die.

Family planning organizations don’t just provide abortions, they also provide contraceptives and family planning counselors. If they are denied funding for offering abortions, they may not have the resources to keep their facilities running.

Contraceptives are a crucial part of family planning – they can even prevent the need for abortions. With the intensity of population growth and populations in some areas outstripping their resources, contraception is essential. Providing contraceptives gives women more control over the number of children they have and helps keep population growth under control.

The AIDS epidemic also presents a major problem in developing countries, especially those located in Africa where AIDS has killed more than 17 million people. If these facilities shut down due to of lack of funding, it would be detrimental to efforts at controlling the transmission of AIDS and other STDs.

Ironically, in trying to protect lives, Bush will be responsible for losing them.

It seems as if Bush is impervious to these far-reaching, global implications.

But the passive response of Americans is equally reprehensible. Bush is playing a clever political game. To pay back the right wing that helped bring him into power, he is sacrificing the lives of people around the world who had no say in electing him.

Though some Americans do not support abortion rights and don’t want their tax dollars helping clinics that do, they must realize they are affecting people around the world. The clear message Bush is sending is that women’s rights outside of America should not be equal to those in America.

Had Bush made a similar decision about clinics in the United States, no doubt, the reaction would have been overwhelming. But, unfortunately, only a few people here have bothered to stand up for women overseas.

Citizens here must broaden their understanding of women’s rights all over the world and realize that an injustice to women anywhere is a threat to justice for women everywhere.

Though abortion is a heavily debated political issue in the United States, Bush should not forget that abortion is also a health issue both in this country and abroad.

As such, he must not allow his politics to blind him from the obvious health hazards associated with his decision.

People in the United States should be glad that their human rights cannot be extinguished by a leader in another country.

We must realize that showing concern for the rights of others abroad reflects our concern for our own rights. After all, given that this decision was made during Bush’s first week as president, it’s frightening to think how he will limit a woman’s right to choose in the future.