Mexico City Policy Shines

REUTERS, Sept. 24 — President Bush's pro-life Mexico City policy has left so-called “family-planning clinics” in developing countries without funding, forcing many to close.

Under the policy, no foreign agencies can receive U.S. funds if they provide or promote abortion. A survey of Ethiopia, Kenya, Romania and Zambia by the pro-abortion groups Population Action International and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America showed the rule had forced clinics that distributed contraceptives to close due to lack of funds.

Builders Boycott Facility

ASSOCIATED PRESS, Sept. 22 — A group of building contractors has organized a boycott of concrete, building materials and workers to prevent construction of a new Planned Parenthood facility where abortions will be performed.

“We're going to do everything we can to stop it, slow it down and make it more expensive,” said Chris Danze, owner of Maldonado and Danze Inc., an Austin, Texas, concrete contractor.

Danze is chairman of the Austin Area Pro-Life Concrete Contractors and Suppliers Association. He said every concrete supplier within 60 miles of Austin has indicated it will not supply materials or labor to the project.

Danze said his group sent letters to more than 750 Austin- and San Antonio-area contractors asking them to participate. He said 14 have agreed not to supply concrete for the project. He also said some have refused to join but would not identify those companies.

Michelman Steps Down

NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 2 — Kate Michelman will step down as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, ending 18 years at the helm of one of the nation's leading pro-abortion organizations.

Michelman said she would leave her post on April 30, 2004, to care for her ailing husband and their daughter. She said she gave the group's board at least six months' notice, allowing her to lead a pro-abortion march in Washington on April 25.

Michelman said her own abortion in 1970 spurred her to advocate abortion vehemently.

Ohio Abortions Hit Low

LIFENEWS.COM, Sept. 21 — The number of abortions performed in Ohio in 2002 dropped to the lowest level in 10 years, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Health.

The 35,830 abortions performed in Ohio, according to a report by the Department of Health, are 4% fewer than 2001. It is also the lowest number of annual abortions since 1992.

Approximately 79% of the women reported prior pregnancies, and 83% of the women were unmarried.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Dawn Slike of Lake County Right to Life, “but things are looking brighter,”