support a woman’s right to choice

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The problem

These organizations are primarily working with citizens of developing countries, who need these services the most. Two big organizations who will be affected are the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Marie Stopes International (MSI). MSI estimates that under the Global Gag Rule, a loss of its services will cause 6 million unwanted pregnancies within the first term of Trump’s presidency, while the IPPF claims that because of the $100 million in funding it will lose, sexual health services could be cut in at least 30 countries. The Trump Administration is attempting to make these NGOs choose between funding and advocating for a crucial service, but both MSI and the IPPF have vowed to go without global health funding if that’s what it takes to provide adequate care to the people who need it.

On top of all that, the Republican party is on a crusade to defund Planned Parenthood in the United States, jeopardizing the health of the 2.5 million Americans who depend on it annually. And Rep. Rick Mulvaney, a Republican from South Carolina, has just been approved as White House budget chief. Rep. Mulvaney has claimed things like, Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme”! And, Social Security and Medicaid are “unconstitutional”! He’s also spent a lot of time urging his fellow Republicans to “use every available tool” to defund Planned Parenthood.

Here’s Bernie breaking it down for everybody at Rep. Mulvaney’s confirmation hearing:

So, that guy’s no joke, but he’s not the only person with any power.

Here’s what you have to do. It’ll take less than 10 minutes and it will do a lot of good.

Make a donation — no matter how small — to Planned Parenthood in your favorite anti-choice politician’s name.

When you donate in someone’s name, they receive a friendly certificate. Since the election, hundreds of thousands of people have been doing this. In early December, Planned Parenthood reported that more than 82,000 donations had been made in Vice President Mike Pence’s name alone.

All you have to do is fill in the boxes with the office address of the politician you are honoring with the donation. Like so:

Donate here.

Call your senators and congress people.

No matter where you live in the U.S., all you have to do is dial 202-225-3121 to reach your senators and representatives. Just give the operator your zip code.

Just say this, or leave it as a message or a voicemail.

“Planned Parenthood provides quality healthcare to 2.5 million Americans every year, most of them low-income women. I demand that you vote NO on anything that would attempt to defund it.”

That’s all you have to say, but if you want to soapbox a little bit, you can improvise with these talking points.

If Planned Parenthood is defunded, millions of people will lose access to STD screening, family planning services, birth control, cancer screenings.

Defunding Planned Parenthood will not end abortion. It will only make it unsafe, and will ultimately cause hundreds of thousands of women to jeopardize their own lives and health out of desperation.

I, myself, depend on Planned Parenthood. When I needed ________ (health service) they were there for me.

Why is it that you are able to choose your healthcare provider, but mine is constantly under threat?

Abortion has been a Constitutionally-protected human right since 1973. Please join us in the year 2017.

The UN predicts that the world population will reach 8.5 billion by the year 2030. Just sayin’.

Challenge the stigma that comes with abortion.

One out of every three women has had an abortion. If you’re that one, and you feel comfortable saying so, consider sharing your story publically. You could post it to social media, or organize a time to speak with friends and family about your experience. You could even band together with other pro-choice people in your community to organize an abortion story-sharing event. (There’s a great toolkit on how to organize a Breaking the Silence event here.)

It’s difficult to begin a revolution in silence. If you can find the courage, take every opportunity to prove that abortion is a necessary, legal, and safe procedure that is normal, and very common. This basic and crucial human right is under attack, try not to remain silent.

You can take some strength from artist Favianna Rodriguez, who shares her story below.

That’s all you have to do. Time estimate: less than 10 minutes.

Source: matadornetwork.com