Slightly ranty...

[patu_paiarehe]

 Went to today's Women's Fest event. We watched a film called The Coathanger project and then held a discussion panel about abortion access and rights in New Zealand.

Did you know that our abortion legislation is written in the Crimes Act? So that it comes under jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Health, the only medical

Comments

[golden_horizon]

And people are being stupid on the forum I go on - oh my god, people binge drink! Think of the children! But I'm doing my best to bitch about them only behind their backs, so yeah.

I had kept away from that topic, because I think discussing it is kind of stupid (you can't just compare other cultures or countries, because no matter where you live, different people make different choices and not everyone fits into a particular stereotype etc.) but since you mentioned it, I went back and had a good read through.

There were a few things I didn't agree with, but then I got to where some people were...badmouthing my country, I guess you'd say, and making assumptions and being judgemental, which really pissed me off. Especially since the same people would then elsewhere in the thread make comments about how they don't judge.

>__On the abortion issue, that really sucks. It's hard to believe that something like that is considered a 'justice' issue rather than a health one. Are they considering changing the law or something anytime soon, do

[patu_paiarehe]

Yeah, they were getting pretty shirty about Aussie unis at one point!

I guess it's one of those issue when they can't understand how we think it's normal and we can't understand how they think it's awful and it's just kinda a mess.

[patu_paiarehe]

And re: abortion, no, there's currently no push to change the law. Our present government is leaning to conservative, so until we've got a more liberal govt in, no one wants to push the issue to much in case of backlash.

However, I've joined an abortion reform lobby group, so when the time is right, we'll be down on them like a ton of bricks.

[just_a_girl_511]

lolz - i see what you did there. NO, NOT TEH BINGE DRINKING!

honestly, i mean, i agree. i don't "binge drink" myself, but if i got my panties in a bunch over everybody who did i'd have my underwear permanently stuck up my butt. and i do agree that it's cultural. like in my father's homeland, drinking is mostly for aesthetic value; in america, at least in college, it seems like it's mostly to look cool or more to get drunk; and in australia it's something else (and since i've never been to australia and am not really familiar with it's culture i can't really say for sure). i mean, whatever! people do what they do! sigh.

also, boo that law. BOO.

[patu_paiarehe]

I *like* your post. I'm really not such a booze-hag myself, but when people start slagging off the behaviour of entire countries, it's a bit much. Good that some people have sense!

[kiwikathi]

I THINK the abortion law is not a matter of health in Germany too. I'm not 100% sure but I think we discussed that during the law course I once took. This is, because it is "killing"(one might see it whatever way) another creature, whether it's now able to feel, think or whatever. Or at least I think that was the explanation.
And we need to have a talk to the doctor about it and then let 3 days pass before we get the abortion. Only if it's like health threatening or a rape child you can abort it whenever.
I think it's handled as a legal crime over here ....
Thats as much as I know. Just to give another countries perspective. Surprising how similar our laws are.

[patu_paiarehe]

Yeah, it is surprising. I would've thought Germany more liberal with this sort of thing. I disagree with both of our laws in that case, because really, that attitude's pretty disrespectful to the pregnant woman.