Victory in New Jersey!
 There's nothing better than to end the year with a victory! On December 12th, after years of effort made by Choice New Jersey, a coalition of organizations, including Sierra Club, Contraceptive Equity Bill A292 passed the New Jersey Assembly by a vote of 57-14. The bill mandates that insurance companies who cover wellness medication prescriptions such as those for diabetes, high blood pressure, and especially if they cover Viagra, must also cover female contraceptives.
Why the Bill is Important for Women and the Environment
Increased access to a full range of safe, effective and affordable contraceptives is vital to slowing population growth and is a basic human right. Today, the environmental consequences of a growing human population are seen everywhere. In New Jersey for example, as the population grows, farm fields are turned into housing tracts, drinking water becomes more polluted and food has to be imported from greater distances.
According to Planned Parenthood, there are 60 million women in the U.S. who are currently in their childbearing years. If a woman only wants two children, she will spend roughly 20 years of her life trying to avoid pregnancy, and pay 68% more in out-of-pocket costs to cover birth control pills or other devices.
Find out more about contraceptive equity and where your state stands at www.covermypills.org.
Check out the New Jersey Contraceptive Equity Bill victory in the news!
"Assembly OKs bill to cover female birth control"
"Assembly OKs birth control benefit bill"
Exciting New Resource
Jane Roberts, one of the founders of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA, has recently written a book about her grassroots fundraising and consciousness-raising efforts. In her book, 34 Million Friends of the World, Roberts describes the growth of 34 Million Friends from an idea and lots of e-mails into a grassroots movement to support the women and girls of the world. Her travels included a trip to Mali and Senegal where she saw first hand how UNFPA valiantly strives to provide reproductive health services to some of the world's poorest women. "Women and girls, their education and full human rights are the key," Roberts says, "to a better future for humanity."
According to Sierra Club National Global Population and Environment Program Committee member Ramona Rex, "Jane Roberts's book reminds us of the power of an idea. When women have access to voluntary reproductive health services, they improve their overall health, that of their families, and the environment in which they live."
Find out more at: www.ladybugbooks.com/34million
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