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11th September 2020
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** In this issue:
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WATCH (#CNvideo) : New video featuring Carol Nolan TD on Telemedicine abortions. Have you contacted your TDs and Senators yet? (#CNvideo)

NEWS: Euthanasia Bill due before Dáil next week (#EAS)

NEWS: Abortions in England and Wales increase during Covid-19 (#england)

NEWS: Poll finds global support for abortions falls by 5% during Covid-19 (#Global)

NEWS: Disney happy to work in region where cultural genocide taking place but threatens to cease production in pro-life State ey story (#Disney)

JOBS: Students For Life seeking Student Liaison Officer (#SFL)

VOLUNTEER: (#volcc) Community Connect seeking volunteers (#volcc)

JOIN: VHI Women's Mini Marathon Team Community Connect (#ccmm)

REGISTER: PLC National Conference streams live from Dublin on 31st October (#conf)

REGISTER: PLC Network - Free Communications Training on 23rd September (#commstraining)

SIGN UP: (#virtualintern) Virtual Intern Programme (#virtualintern)
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WATCH new video highlighting danger of 'DIY' home abortions ()

Click below to watch this short video featuring Carol Nolan TD and others highlighting why the Government must stop DIY 'at home' abortions immediately, in the interests of women and unborn children. If you haven't already contacted your TDs and Senators about this issue, you can do so here. ([link removed])

#stopdiyabortions ([link removed][0]=AZVvDc8lODnUTOrReHOXL0p0DfoTtIZow5NSkAUgYC5DQ_5lY3VSnBKCyvHrNDkjC34KdPN8MBOiJlNx5tsgybOWmXrjTazUzKrTdnoLUVWGocsOvdN_jpp6NFayXl0Jwb3cStln59JZdRFf2F5zFXye_7vSuJv2YACrU3u8Rf7hVWcaLLvH09wO-P4HLoO2Ol4&__tn__=*NK-R) #supportmothersandbabies ([link removed][0]=AZVvDc8lODnUTOrReHOXL0p0DfoTtIZow5NSkAUgYC5DQ_5lY3VSnBKCyvHrNDkjC34KdPN8MBOiJlNx5tsgybOWmXrjTazUzKrTdnoLUVWGocsOvdN_jpp6NFayXl0Jwb3cStln59JZdRFf2F5zFXye_7vSuJv2YACrU3u8Rf7hVWcaLLvH09wO-P4HLoO2Ol4&__tn__=*NK-R) #protectwomen ([link removed][0]=AZVvDc8lODnUTOrReHOXL0p0DfoTtIZow5NSkAUgYC5DQ_5lY3VSnBKCyvHrNDkjC34KdPN8MBOiJlNx5tsgybOWmXrjTazUzKrTdnoLUVWGocsOvdN_jpp6NFayXl0Jwb3cStln59JZdRFf2F5zFXye_7vSuJv2YACrU3u8Rf7hVWcaLLvH09wO-P4HLoO2Ol4&__tn__=*NK-R)
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Send an instant message to your TDs and Senators here ([link removed])
The campaign to urge our public representatives to add their voices to the call to immediately stop 'DIY' at home abortions is gathering momentum.

As you know, telemdicine abotrtions were introduced at the start of the Covid crisis.

A similar practice of allowing ‘DIY’ abortions was introduced in England around the same time and has already resulted in two women dying there as a direct result of the new regime for accessing abortions. Home abortions typically involve women taking abortion pills at home without any medical supervision or any face to face consultation with a medic.

So far over 3,000 messages have been sent to politicians from pro-life supporters. We aim to DOUBLE that number in the next seven days.

If you haven't already sent a message to your TDs and Senators urganing the to call on the Minister For Health to stop 'DIY' abortion, please take a moment to do so now.
Send an instant message to your TDs and Senators here ([link removed])
Euthanasia Bill due before Dáil next week ()
Next week, a Bill to introduce Euthanasia will be brought before Dáil Éireann. This legislation (corruptly called the Dying in Dignity Bill) was originally proposed in 2015 by John Halligan, a former TD and Minister, but it is being raised again by Gino Kenny TD of People Before Profit.

The Bill has been supported by a number of media figures in recent weeks, including by the cervical check campaigner Vicky Phelan.

This Bill is the latest attempt to strike a blow against the culture of life, and arrives hot on the heels of the shocking news over 7000 Irish babies had lost their lives in the first full year of the 2018 abortion legislation.

It is almost incredible that this proposal is being made in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many people – in particular the elderly – are suffering greatly. This shows great insensitivity on the part of those proposing this radical change in the law.

Proposals to introduce assisted suicide serve to marginalise palliative care, as if it is a futile option. Nothing could be further from the truth, and Ireland should be investing in the ongoing improvement of palliative care services to address the growing need for such care, instead of considering laws which would end people’s lives.

This law would also have serious implications for the medical professions. Euthanasia strikes a blow to the key goal of medicine - the preservation of life – and for that reason, representative bodies of the medical profession around the world are overwhelmingly opposed to assisted suicide, including the World Medical Association.

Those who support the legalisation of assisted suicide ignore the reality of what euthanasia has meant in other countries.

The Australian state of Victoria, which has the same population as Ireland, introduced assisted suicide in 2019. The government there predicted that there would be no more than “a dozen” assisted suicides per year, but it was recently revealed that there were 231 permits issued for the procedure in its first full year. In Belgium, the number of lives ended by euthanasia has risen tenfold from 235 to 2350 in the last 15 years. 300 people every year end their lives due to non-terminal illnesses, including psychiatric conditions. In the Netherlands, almost 1 in 20 deaths already occurs due to euthanasia. The government there has proposed that elderly people who feel their life is ‘completed’ should have a choice to end their lives.

This is the sad reality of euthanasia. Once a society decides that one narrow category of persons has a legal right to end their own lives, it becomes inevitable that there will be calls to extend that right over time.

This Bill should be strongly opposed by all TDs when it is debated.

Please consider taking a moment to send a personal email to your TDs before this Bill is debated. You can find email addresses for your local TDs here ([link removed])

To be kept up to date or get involved in the campaign to preserve true dignity at end of life, sign up to www.hopeireland.org below
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Abortions in England and Wales INCREASE during Covid-19 ()
The DIY home abortion regime recently introduced by the English authorities has coincided with a significant increase in abortions in 2020.

In the first six months of 2020 there were 4,296 additional abortions compared to the same period last year. The increase in abortions is particularly shocking given that 2019 had the highest number of abortions since records began.

The
interim report ([link removed]) on abortions in 2020 shows 109,836 abortions took place on English and Welsh residents between January and June. It was also during this same time period that leaked NHS emails showed that tragically two women died ([link removed]) from DIY home abortions. In addition, police have launched an investigation ([link removed]) into the death of an unborn baby following a home abortion at 28 gestational weeks.

A similar regime of DIY home abortions was introduced here in Ireland by the then Minister for Health Simon Harris in March of this year.
Poll finds global support for abortions falls by 5% during Covid-19 ()
A large scale poll of 17,500 respondents from 25 countries found that whilst support for legal abortion ([link removed]) remained high (at 70%), this is down from 75% in 2016.

Citizens of European countries had the most favourable attitudes towards abortion, with 80% agreeing that the procedure should be legalised in some or all circumstances. In contrast, 48% of Malaysians agreed with the statement that abortions “should not be permitted, except when the life of the mother is in danger”.

However, the way the question was asked masked the difference between abortions, which are never medically necessary, and life saving interventions, which may be necessary to save the mother's life, which unintentionally may cause the death of the unborn baby.

The
Covid-19 pandemic ([link removed]) has unleashed a new wave of uncertainty into the abortion debate. Some countries, such and Ireland, have changed practices to allow for dangerous DIY home abortions. These reckless actions are putting women's lives at risk, which has tragically become evident in England.

Leaked NHS documents describe how
two women have died ([link removed]) following DIY home abortions there. In addition, some UN agencies ([link removed]) have exploited the pandemic crisis to increase access to abortions.

As the deadly harm of abortion to mother and baby is increasingly exposed, it is understandable how support for abortion is decreasing worldwide.
Disney happy to work in region where cultural genocide taking place but threatens to cease production in pro-life State ()
Disney’s remake of the action drama “Mulan” has come in for sharp criticism from pro-life and human rights groups after it was revealed that the filming of some scenes in the €200 million budget drama took place in China’s Xinjiang Province where more than a million members of the Uighur population are housed in concentration camps by the Chinese government and where forced abortions and sterilizations are being carried out on a massive scale.

The decision to film in the Xinjiang Province stands in sharp contrast to the 2019 threat by Disney’s CEO to cease all filming in the US State of Georgia on foot of proposed new pro-life laws there.

The fact that a company like Disney is prepared to turn a blind eye to the cultural genocide taking place against the Uighur population while threatening to pull production from places where the right to life is protected tells us everything about the moral bankruptcy at the heart of the film industry at present.

Keep in mind the above the next time you’re considering promoting or buying a Disney movie.
Students For Life are hiring! ()
Students For Life is seeking a committed, highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate for a part time role as Project Coordinator/Student Officer.

The successful applicant’s responsibilities will include:
* management and co-ordination of Students for Life campus and online initiatives.
* providing assistance to existing student pro-life groups and encouraging new student groups nationally.
* management of Students for Life’s website and social media accounts.
* attendance at conferences and events to promote Students for Life nationally.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 18th September. Email [email protected] with your CV or for more information on the role.
Community Connect seeking volunteers. Get involved today! ()
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As you know Community Connect is a new volunteer-run national initiative to support pregnant women and new parents in a practical and tangible way.

Community Connect helps pregnant mums and new parents who are struggling to get the essentials for their baby, so that they feel more secure and supported in bringing their baby into the world. Community Connect operates as a practical support hub where parents in need can access items like pre-loved babygros and clothes, nappies and wipes, blankets and baby towels, pre-loved buggies, cots and other practical aids. Community Connect has five main volunteer-run hubs across the country, where people can donate baby items and parents in need can access them, and we also have groups of volunteers in many other parts of the country.

We have been working very hard to keep up with the demand for our service which is increasing at present.

Volunteers can help us by collecting, sorting and transporting donations, packing and sorting at the main hubs, working with lead coordinators in each area to promote the work of Community Connect to other charities and to those in need, and much more. There is a role for everyone.

Are you interesting in assisting in your area? If so, please email [email protected] and the team will get in touch.

Read more about Community Connect on the website www.communityconnect.ie
Join Team Community Connect at VHI Women's Mini Marathon 2020 ()
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Would you like to help raise much needed funds for Community Connect and get fit while doing so?

Community Connect will be taking part in the VHI Virtual Women's Mini Marathon this year. The goal is to do 10k in 10 days, your way. between 1st and 10th October. You can walk, jog or run!

Community Connect is looking for volunteers to take up this challenge and join their team and help raise funds to support mothers and babies.

Sign up here ([link removed] ) and we'll send you out further details and your race pack, including a gorgeous Community Connect T-shirt.

If you can't participate but want to support Team Community Connect at the event, you can donate here ([link removed]) .

For more information on Community Connect, to access support or to get involved as a volunteer, see www.communityconnect.ie
Are you a secondary school (TY or older) or third level student? Would you like to experience working with a pro-active Human Rights organisation and develop skills in advocacy, campaign management and project planning? We are seeking ‘virtual’ interns to work part-time from home at this time. Internships run for one week periods throughout the Summer.
Find out more and apply for virtual internship instantly ([link removed])
Save the Date: Pro Life Campaign National Conference 2020 ONLINE! ()
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Register instantly for PLC National Conference here! ([link removed])
The news during the Summer that 7041 babies lost their lives to abortion during 2019 was devastating. Our challenge is to find new strategic ways to reduce those massive numbers and fight for justice for unborn babies and their mothers.

Join hundreds of other pro-life advocates at the PLC National Conference 2020 which this year will be streamed live ONLINE on 31st October from 11am-1.30pm.

An amazing line up of speakers from Ireland, Britain, the US and elsewhere will join us for an informative afternoon which will include:

-Panels with grassroots, public representatives and students
-Interviews with change-makers within the pro-life movement discussing strategies for making positive change.
-Updates on local PLC Network projects and national campaigns
-Videos and live streams from around Ireland

This not to be missed event will be encouraging, and will remind us of how important it is to remain committed to our work of protecting mothers and their unborn babies!
Register instantly for PLC National Conference here! ([link removed])
PLC Network Communications Training with Wendy Grace - FREE but limited spaces ()

Want to learn how to explain the pro-life position (or advance your knowledge) and skillfully answer challenging questions? Our next online Communications Workshop will cater for all levels and will take place on Wednesday 23rd September from 8.30-9.30pm.
Register for PLC Network Communications Training here ([link removed])
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Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. We hope you and your families are keeping well in these unusual times. This email is to update you on what we have been working on recently, including news stories, project updates, and details of upcoming events. If you want to get in touch with us please do so by emailing [email protected]

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