International Round-Up

Irish mothers rally for life

DUBLIN - A group of pro-life Irish mothers has collected over 80,000 signatures in a petition to an all-party committee on the constitution. The petition supports a green paper on abortion's option for an absolute constitutional ban on abortions.

The petitions were collected "to demand that the people of this country be given their democratic right to speak for those who, prior to birth, are unable to speak for themselves." said Ethna Cotter, who organized the effort. Cotter said the initiative was a spontaneous effort not linked to the work of any other group.

Meanwhile, the bogus "Catholic" group, Catholics for Free Choice, has come out in favour of an option where abortions would be permitted in cases where there was risk to the physical or mental health of the woman, rape or incest, gongenital malformation, economic or social reasons, and on request.

CFFC expressed disappointment that the green paper "did not more strongly address the need for separation of church and state in Ireland on this as well as other issues."

Nepal doctor charged in abortion

MORANG Nepal - A district court has remanded in custody a hospital doctor charged with causing an abortion. Police said Dr. Binod Kamat of the Charity Hospital in Duhabi committed the abortion and cut an intestine on Bishnu Kumari Rai, an unmarried woman who at last report was in critical condition in Koshi Zonal hospital. The preborn child was five months old at the time of the incident in December, 1999.

The court ordered the release, on bail of between 10,000 and 13,000 rupees each, of Rai, the person who brought her for the abortion, the owner of the Medical Hall of Duhabi where the abortion took place, as well as nurses involved in the incident - Meera Pokhrel and Kuku Tamang.

Uruguay leads in elder care

MONTEVIDEO - Uruguay has become internationally recognized for its treatment of the elderly. Besides financial assistance to grandparents' clubs and subsidized vacations at two government-owned resorts, the state provides psychological therapy to help citizens adjust to retirement.

Grants are offered to more than 400 retirement homes scattered around a nation that is only slightly larger in area than New York state, but which has the highest percentage of elderly in the Western hemisphere. The poor receive housing and low-cost access to private health care.

"Uruguay has become a guide for Latin America on how to treat and care for our aging populations in the future," said Jose Fiusa Lima, country director for the Pan American Health Organization. The general director of Uruguay's Labour and Social Welfare Ministry said it's a cultural thing, to take care of the country's elderly. "We go beyond the Latin tradition of family closeness," said Elbio Mendez Areco. "For us, it is a social crime not to give the elderly the attention they deserve."

Relaxation of law urged

AUCKLAND - The abortion supervisory committee is pressuring the government to relax the law so that all doctors can authorize abortions. It noted that the abortion issue is one of the last traditionally left to the conscience vote of MPs. "It is time for Parliament to address the inequalities facing many women who seek an abortion in rural and provincial New Zealand, where no ‘service' is provided."

In response, Justice Minister Phil Goff said he would draw up legislation implementing the recommendations, and submit it to a conscience vote of Parliament. Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she backs a law allowing for easier abortions, as does the Women's National Abortion Action Campaign.

Lesbian gala delayed

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - A planned "coming out" conference of lesbians was delayed after it clashed with presidential elections, but organizers said the event would go ahead soon. Companions on a Journey had been expected to attract 150 women. A former male priest now turned activist, Sherman de Rose, said logistics have been organized and funding is in place.