What's New on Future Choices?
Additional 'breaking news' on Reproductive Health issues within Future Choices' scope
Last updated: October 4, 2011 7:06
News items are listed in reverse chronological order.
Planned Parenthood — Promoting Health and Democracy Worldwide
During October Future Choices embarks with the Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America on a (virtual) trip to Kenya, where by observing their work with local groups such as the Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers and Carolina for Kibera, we are struck by the importance of the Global Democracy Promotion Act, a bill recently introduced in Congress by Representative Nita Lowey which would ensure that family planning programs funded by the U.S. in developing nations shall be unfettered by unfair, non-democratic restrictions. |MORE
Where Abortion Rights Are Disappearing
By DOROTHY SAMUELS
September 24, 2011
New York Times
Thirty-eight years after Roe v. Wade recognized a woman’s right to make her own childbearing decisions and legalized abortion nationwide, a newly intensified drive by anti-abortion forces who refuse to accept the law of the land has seriously imperiled women’s ability to exercise that right. Opponents of abortion rights know they cannot achieve their ultimate goal of an outright ban, at least in the near future. So they are concentrating on enacting laws and regulations narrowing the legal right and making abortion more difficult to obtain. |MORE
How HIV Changed My Life
In “How HIV Changed My Life,” a young woman from Brownsville, Brooklyn, gives a touching personal account of how the challenges of dealing with her father’s death from HIV/AIDS when she was just 16 transformed her into a stronger and more loving member of our community.
Ebony Ross tells us that initially she was keenly hurt, disappointed, perhaps devastated by her father's death from AIDS. It took her years to learn to deal with the cruel blow the disease had dealt her and her family. Ebony tells her compelling story in the September 2011 episode of Future Choices.
Socioeconomic Status Linked to HIV in Heterosexuals, Study Finds
August 15 , 2011
Daily Women's Health Policy Report
Heterosexuals with a low socioeconomic status are at a higher risk for HIV infection, according to a study in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, MedPage Today reports. |MORE
Make Birth Control Affordable
July 19, 2011
Op-Ed
New York Times
Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, provides insights in an Op-Ed column of the New York Times about the importance of making contraceptive care an affordable choice for American women by defining it as presventive health care under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
My daughter, a divorced mother of three, called me recently to complain about the high cost of birth control. As a physician, I ’m familiar with this problem, yet it never fails to frustrate me. Our health care system could save billions — and improve the health of women and families — by placing birth control within every woman’s reach. Instead, |MORE
More about Dr. Cullins.
For a healthy planet promote women's health rights
This is the message of the Sierra Club promotes in "The Sierra Club Goes Green and Pink," the Future Choices video being aired in Westchester County during July and August 2011.
Sandeep Bathala, Sierra Club’s Global Population and Environment Program Director, informs us that Sierra Club has for the last 35+ years pursued an agenda which acknowledges that the long-term health of our planet Earth — our environment — is closely tied to ensuring of the reproductive health care and rights for all people. |MORE (including video on YouTube)
U.N. Set To Highlight Challenges of Growing Global Population
Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report
Kaiser Family Foundation
July 8, 2011
With the global population expected to reach seven billion by October this year, U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin told Inter Press Service that "seven billion represents a challenge, an opportunity and a call to action." |MORE
For those of you who care about population issues, Here’s a small thing you can do right now. Sign up to the Population Institute’s “Million for a Billion” campaign petition on www.millionforabillion.com.
Population Action International Suggest How To Save the Earth from Environmental Degradation
Fresh back from the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Roger-Mark De Souza of Population Action International addresses the environmental challenges facing our planet and makes it very clear that the best way to stem global warming is to give women what they want: family planning. See the full video: "How To Save the Earth: Empower Women".
Save the Date!
"The World at 7 Billion: What It Means for Women and the Environment" - Grassroots Public Event sponsored by
- The Center for Environment and Population (CEP)
- the Izaak Walton League,
- the Alliance for Global Conservation and
- League of Women Voters
Learn how you can take action to promote better resource conservation by raising awareness on issues like sustainable development and population growth.
When: Monday, May 9, 2011 7:30pm — 9:00 pm
Where: White Plains Public Library
100 Martine Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601
For more information: go here.
Hope's Door Is Open to Victims of Domestic Violence
Hope's Door, formerly The Northern Westchester Shelter, is a private non-profit organization, provides a safe haven and caring services to survivors of domestic violence. CEO CarlLa Horton describes to Future Choices the terrible need for these services even in wealthy Westchester County. She then goes on to assert that none of us needs to be a victim of abuse by a partner, gives us the tools to recognize the warning signs and suggests how we might help a friend who is in danger. See full video: “Hope’s Door: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence."
What are connections between reproductive health and climate change?
Blog 4 Global Health
Interactive blog from the Global Health Council’s Policy, Research and Advocacy team
11-30-2010
CANCUN, Mexico – Monday marked the official start to proceedings of the COP 16 conference here. This past weekend, however, international youth delegates, researchers and activists converged at the 6th Conference of Youth (COY 6) meetings to share information and resources, network and dialogue about all things climate change related.
Public Health Institute’s GoJoven program, which builds the capacity of youth leaders to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, participated in the discussions by co-organizing and leading two panel discussions focused on SRH and climate change connections. You may be wondering- how are these issues linked? Read on.
Young people under the age of 25 currently make up just under half of the world’s population of 6.8 billion, and are the largest youth generation in history. At the same time, at least 215 million women worldwide want to limit or space childbearing, but do not have adequate access to modern family planning methods. This unmet need for family planning is even higher among young people, many of whom are just entering their childbearing years. How does this impact climate change? |MORE
Confused about Health Care Reform?
Helpful information from Planned Parenthood
After all the debate and commentary, it’s no surprise that many Americans find the final health care reform law a bit confusing and overwhelming. There are so many questions: What kind of care is covered? Will I now pay more for insurance? When do all of these new provisions kick in?
To help sort things out for you and your family, please take a few minutes to watch two health care reform videos produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation and by Deloitte. They are short, to-the-point and very helpful.
Health Care Reform Hits Main Street by Kaiser Family Foundation
Health Care Reform, Are You Ready? by Deloitte
Another one-stop shop for health care reform answers is at www.HealthCare.gov .
Spanish speakers are invited to visit www.CuidadoDeSalud.Gov
Health Care Reform at Six Months: New Protections in Place for Reproductive Health
Adam Sonfield
Guttmacher Policy Review
Fall 2010 | Volume 13, Number 4
The end of September marked the six-month anniversary of the official enactment, with the president’s signature, of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—better known as health care reform. It also was the effective date for a number of new provisions designed to expand the rights of patients under private health insurance… Several of these provisions should have a substantial impact in the short term on the ability of women and men to meet their reproductive health care needs—although even there, important questions have not been fully answered. |MORE
Green Connections
Listen to Earthbeat Radio's interview of Kathleen Mogelgaard, Senior Program Manager for Population and Climate Change for Population Action International, a part of their series leading up to Copenhagen.
Women: The New Green Leaders
November 6, 2010
Giving women the right to make informed decisions about their health, their families, and their future is not just called women's empowerment. It's called saving the Earth. In the Future Choices episode entitled "Women: The New Green Leaders" Vicky Markham, director of the Center for Environment and Population, provides not only anecdotal evidence substantiating this assertion, but also introduces the growing body of scientific research demonstrating its accuracy.
Population Action International Names Roger-Mark De Souza Vice President of Research and Director of Climate Program
October 13, 2010Washington, DC – Population Action International (PAI) today announced Roger-Mark De Souza as its new Vice President for Research and Director of the Climate Program.
De Souza is a veteran of the population and environmental movements, with more than 20 years experience as an analyst, author and speaker on reproductive health, population, health and environment linkages, sustainable development, and demographic trends. He will lead PAI’s research team in establishing a strong evidence base to support advocacy and engage new allies in the effort to create healthier women and families. |MORE
Repairing and Preventing Obstetric Fistula in Sierra Leone
At the Aberdeen Women’s Centre (AWC) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, women from around the country receive life-changing surgery to repair obstetric fistula. This year, AWC opened an emergency obstetric services department so that more women have the chance to avoid developing this devastating and eminently preventable condition. |MORE