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LAST NIGHT, IRISH pro-choice activists stood in solidarity with women in Poland who went on strike in protest against proposed strict new abortion laws.
There were Black Monday protests in several Irish locations including Dublin and Limerick that mirrored others that took place elsewhere in the continent.
The proposed Polish laws would introduce an outright ban on abortion in the devoutly Catholic country, where the law is already among the most restrictive in Europe.
Pro-choice activists used social media to launch the country-wide strike by women, urging them to stay away from work and school to attend street protests.
Around 2,000 people rallied outside the Warsaw headquarters of the governing right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, forming a “wall of fury” human chain.
The proposals did not come directly from politicians but from a pro-life citizens’ initiative that gathered 450,000 signatures.
Despite this, lawmakers pushed ahead with a controversial bill that would allow terminations only if the mother’s life is at risk and increase the maximum jail term for practitioners from two years to five.
The citizen’s initiative tabled in parliament by the Stop Abortion coalition would also make women who have terminations liable for prison terms, though judges could waive punishment in their case.
Poland’s influential Catholic Church gave the initiative its seal of approval earlier this year, though its bishops have since opposed jailing women.
Poland already has strict abortion laws but at present Ireland’s are more restrictive and the latent influence of Catholic teaching in both countries has drawn comparisons.
Currently in Poland, all terminations are banned except in cases of rape, incest or when there is a risk to the health of the mother.
A fortnight ago, Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland spoke at an abortion rally in Warsaw and emphasised the potential synergies between campaigns in Ireland and Poland.
“They have issues with the Catholic church being very much in control over there as well, and I explained that we were in the same position,” she said, adding that women in Poland and Ireland are being similarly ignored by politicians.
They’re not being listened to but they’re on the streets protesting as well and I’m not sure the Polish state realises the amount of protest that is there against this, but we did raise it we got an opportunity to speak.
Atheist Ireland is part of the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment umbrella group and Donnelly explains that the Polish pro-choice movement is organised in a similar way.
She says that Atheists Ireland has begun sharing information with its Polish counterparts on the abortion issue and that will continue into the future.
It’s not a guarantee that these new laws will come into effect and Newsweek Polska magazine showed that 74% of Poles want to keep the existing laws.
The European Parliament is also expected to debate women’s rights in Poland tomorrow.
- With reporting from © – AFP 2016
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How to you go paperless and avoid electronic stuff at the same time?
Karl shoots and scores
I often want to go a day without electronics but the urge to Google something check Facebook or even check the Journal always prevails!
Some good advice there Ciara.
Been struggling to ease off the electronic stuff for the last 2 weeks.
Had no idea of the hold this stuff has over me.
Saying that, I read this on the journal!!
Sounds great…………… in theory!
I destroyed a smart phone by accident about a month ago and I’ve gone back to an antique phone, no apps or internet. It’s been bliss since.
I particularly appreciate the advice to drop multi-tasking as I’ve long felt we were being sold a pup with that particular piece of corporate BS!
Not good for thejournal.ie to be suggesting going electronics-free days!!
Here’s some additional tips for a carefree happy and less stressful life.
1. Stop paying your rent or mortgage – you’ll be amazed at how much money you can save
2. Cancel that pesky direct debit for the iPhone or mobile bill , you’ll easily save enough in 3 months to be able to afford that 100 euro property charge you keep putting off
3. Don’t go into work , it’s full of distractions and annoying people that makes your day more stressful
4. Be sure to leave only your mobile number with employers and banks who may want to call you and interrupt your more harmonious life
I like the sarcasm. That said there’s actually a strong philosophy being developed which urges people to minimise their wanton consumerism, their excessive borrowing and become more independent to enjoy the best the modern world has to offer without being a slave to the rat race….
Gave up using the Internet and mobile phones a week ago, so far so good.
How did you read this and post that then? Share your secret please!
They’re obviously using the paper edition of TheJournal ;-) http://jrnl.ie/400860
We adore chaos because we love to produce order.
Is this not a bit contradictory? Switch off yoir email notifications and then receive your bills by email?
Bills don’t HAVE to be paid straight away, you usually have a week or so to sort them out. Turn off the email notifications, check email once a day and make a note (diary or otherwise) to pay when due.
BOOM!
Had to laugh at tip 6. Sounds a bit harsh Ciara!
Shes just too nice to say DUMP LOOOOOOSERRRRRRRRRRRRRS :)
Shes right…
Was nodding “sensible, sensible..” until I got to this one. It is indeed a euphemism for “dump losers” and is depressingly common advice in so many articles that it’s become very acceptable. It’s even seen as healthy, being called a friend detox and other names.
It’s depressing, and a bit appalling. As far as I know, I’d have thought having friends was good for you and you never know when your positive buddies might feck off and the sad loser might be there for you when you need them.
That’s not to say frenetic social activity is good for us or that it isn’t useful to take a step back and avoid getting sucked into other people’s drama. And by “friends” I mean people you actually know, not “friends” in the facebook sense.
im currently in the process of scanning all my personal files and WinZip’ing them with a password into a gmx mail account, each one stashed in its own folder category ie medical, banking, receipts and so on, by scanning and emailing them to myself I’ve managed to remove about 20 manilla folders each 4 inches thick, the joy of tearing up my files afterwards is wonderfully therapeutic. try it
I am s Conlon by marriage . They are very controlling people. I don’t have a voice I’n my home.
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