|
News From Capitol Hill:
On April 25th, we marked the one year anniversary of the historic March for Women's Lives, the largest march in Washington, DC history! As a co-sponsor of the March, over 80 Sierra Club activists marched alongside almost one million other advocates from around the world - ALL united in their outspoken opposition to Bush administration policies that deny women access to basic human rights. All were there to express their belief in a woman's right to basic health care, to voluntary family planning services, and to make decisions about their own bodies -- all of which help to save women and children's lives around the world - ensuring that communities are safer, and that families and the environment are healthier. The spirit of the March does live on! And we are still marching! The Global Population and Environment Program continues to see an increase in the number of people getting involved - especially students. There were a record number of students who attended our annual Population Activist Training in Washington, DC in early April, where over 170 participants were involved in a weekend of workshops and skill building to become better advocates for voluntary international family planning. One student reported, "I am so thankful that I had this opportunity! I was pretty sure that I wanted to go into the field of gender and family planning, but now it is cemented into my mind! Thank you for giving me so much this weekend. It was the opportunity of a lifetime."
Sierra Club, partnering with Population Connection, National Wildlife Federation, Audubon, Population Action International and the Izaack Walton League of America hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill at the end of the training. Honored guest Dr Jane Goodall gave an inspirational talk, "A Reason for Hope: Perspectives on Population, Family Planning and the Environment." Dr. Goodall called on the audience to recommit themselves to being activists and agents of change! Check out coverage of Jane Goodall in Sierra Club's Insider. Find out about the Jane Goodall Institute's TACARE program highlighted in her presentation.Political Update: In Early April, by a vote of 52-46, the Senate voted to pass the Boxer Amendment to the State Department Authorization bill in an attempt to overturn the Global Gag Rule. The amendment has the potential to help ensure that women and families around the world have access to crucial family planning education and services that enable them to choose the size and spacing of their families, ultimately leading to healthier and smaller families and reducing stress on the planet's natural resources. Although this victory sends a strong message that the health and lives of women around the globe are a priority in Congress, similar language would need to pass on the House side to move the issue forward. Unfortunately, President Bush threatened to veto any bill that includes the Global Gag Rule. Find out how your member voted. Photo courtesy Jane Goodall Institute.
Up to Top |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
