This afternoon.
Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
To mark the one-year anniversary of the referendum vote in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment, a gathering of pro-choice volunteers met outside the project Arts Centre organised by the former Co-Directors of Together for Yes, Ailbhe Smyth (red Jacket), Orla O’Connor (glasses), and Gráinne Griffin (Red Dress).
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The amendment passed a year ago. What exactly is the purpose of this first anniversary media piece then? Is it going to be a yearly thing? If so – why?
( Do we have yearly celebrations of the Lisbon Treaty? )
…a bi-annual celebration?
It’s to celebrate abortion.
And celebrating that women will no longer have tests or treatment delayed or denied due to the risk of pregnancy. CTs, MRIs, xrays, all done when needed by believing a woman when she says she’s not pregnant, rather than treating her like a liar, or delaying vital tests to coincide with a period.
When was the last time you had an urgent test delayed because of your monthly cycle? Never, am I right? Well now, because the hated 8th is gone, I no longer suffer that dread, or suspicion.
Repeal was about so much more than abortion.
Mainly about abortion, obvs.
And mainly abortion for socio-economic reasons and as de-facto contraception.
It remains none of your business. It never was and never will be. A woman’s body, her contraceptive choices or lack thereof are absolutely none of your concern.
As ever Millie, when a human being is killed, it’s all of our concern. Whether we choose to accept that or not.
Seriously, that viewpoint is nonsense. As if a matter of public policy such as legalising the abortion of humans, and the implications of that, wouldn’t be of concern to people.
So is your determination to refer to abortion as “de facto contraception”. It’s insulting to women and says an awful lot about how you view us.
It is the last resort for any woman. It’s quite plain that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about when it comes down to it because no woman puts her emotional and physical wellbeing at risk in that way UNLESS SHE HAS TO.
You don’t have any idea why women are having abortions and frankly your attitude on here about this issue is condescending and obnoxious.
I’m still at a loss though as to why the first anniversary of the result of a referendum which is law now, has to be celebrated. What’s the point?
Because they’re really happy they fought a succesful campaign and defeated one of the shibboleths of Catholic misogynystic Ireland and they all bonded and would like to get back together again? Is it REALLY that much of a mystery?
“You don’t have any idea why women are having abortions”
Of course I do. The reasons were made clear by the pro-repeal side during the referendum. I just don’t agree with the reasons for most of them.
Millie – come down off your high horse.
You know full well that the vast majority of abortions that take place in countries like the UK and US, and to Irish mothers in the past and now, are due to the non-use, mis-use, and failure of contraception.
I have never denied that. But most women use contraception, and abortion is not something a woman would ever look to as a first choice. Women deserve, and now have, the right to choose. We are entitled to our bodily autonomy and that includes choosing if and when we bring a child into this world.
‘…the vast majority of abortions… are due to the non-use, mis-use, and failure of contraception.’
Thank God for abortions, then, nobody should have to go through with a pregnancy if they’re not ready and don’t want to.
The Iona “Institute” are using the anniversary to spread pro-life views and have put billboards up around Dublin so why should these campaigners look back on the successful attainment of rights that were a long time coming?
Ya know
The more they push back
The more I know we are right
This.
It was a great achievement but I do wish for more quiet humility over this and the marriage equality referendum. There are so many other injustices and national causes we now need to tackle, so let’s channel energy into those rather than expending it on causes won. Look forward, not back. This is where I feel that single-issue politicians, campaigners and journalists are only helpful in the short-term and struggle to maintain a purpose – hence ‘referendum anniversary’ celebrations. Ireland graduated to a fairer and inclusive society but like any graduation, nobody celebrates it every year- they move on to the next step on the ladder.
All off in search of a new bandwagon to board.
Isn’t one supposed to jump on a bandwagon?
In fairness them Americans are rowing back on rights for women all over the shop. This race is not run yet, not by a long way.
I think it’s a little bit crass. I absolutely admire what they achieved and am fiercely pro-choice but I’m not a fan of this.
It’s partly about momentum and keeping the push on for further liberalisation of the abortion regime.
The first item in their sights is the 3 day waiting period. Ailbhe Smyth spoke today about the importance of not losing this “precious time” in the early stages of pregnancy. It begs the question, what does Ailbhe think is happening during those 3 days to believe it is precious time? Is the foetus becoming more human? What’s the difference to someone who is pro-choice of aborting a baby at 10 weeks and 1 day versus 10 weeks and 4 days?
Other items on their agenda is making abortion more widely available and pushing medics who won’t participate in abortions in hospitals out of their professions.
As can be seen from their monastic silence over the publicised abortion of the baby at Holles Street, they also see nothing wrong with aborting babies who may be disabled….even if there’s just a chance of disability.
The stated end goal for most of them is abortion for any reason at any time.
A lot done, more to do. Those babies won’t abort themselves.
Some people want them to be meek as though they should be ashamed of fighting for and attaining their rights. They should not.