In this latest edition of ‘Plugged-In’ Críostíona Ní Laimhín gives her take on some of the pro-life stories making the news.
She sheds light on the growing opposition across Africa to US President Joe Biden’s decision to use US taxpayers’ money to fund abortions in developing countries, comments on the latest abortion clinic to close in England and calls Newstalk out on their latest outrageous attack on the pro-life movement.
It’s well worth a look!! Be sure to share with family and friends as well.
Toyota’s heart-warming ad about adoption and respect for life that aired during last Sunday night’s Super Bowl in the US was extremely well received by viewing members of the public.
It’s estimated that 96.4 million people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, the annual Championship game of the National Football League in the US.
Research carried out afterwards by a leading US advertising platform found that 63 percent of viewers had a very strong emotional reaction to the ad, which advertising experts say is almost double the emotional reaction to the average US ad.
The ad which is called “Upstream” tells the amazing story of 13-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long and how she was adopted from Russia by an American family when she was 13 months old. It shows footage of a young girl swimming in an Olympics-style pool, with a voice-over featuring a woman explaining the baby’s condition to the would-be adoptive parents.
The woman says: “We found a baby girl for your adoption, but there are some things you need to know.” She continues by telling the parents that the baby has a rare condition that will require a double amputation of her legs.
“I know this is difficult to hear, but her life, it won’t be easy,” the woman from the adoption agency says.
“It might not be easy,” the adoptive mother replies, “but it’ll be amazing, I can’t wait to meet her”, she concludes.
The ad then moves to a scene of the young girl swimming in the Olympics and being greeted at the finish line by her mother.
Perhaps unintentionally, Toyota has made and aired a stunningly beautiful and impactful pro-life ad, that reminds everyone watching of the inherent value, dignity and potential of every human life.
It is a marvellous thing that close to 100 million people witnessed this ad during the Super Bowl on Sunday night.
The study published in January by researchers in Brazil found a difference in response between those unborn babies exposed to painful stimuli and those who were not.
The study featured thirteen mothers and their unborn babies. The babies were all between 28 to 34 weeks’ gestation.
The findings of the latest research are in keeping with other recent research showing that unborn babies feel pain, including the 2020 study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, showing that unborn babies may feel pain as early as 12 weeks gestation.
With the growing body of research in this area, it has reached a point where politicians can no longer casually look away and deny the evidence. We need to come together as a society and recognise the reality before our eyes and agree at the very least that no baby should ever have to endure pain when an abortion is taking place.
On Wednesday, South Dakota legislators on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved a pro-life bill that protects newborn babies that survive the abortion procedure. The bill will now move to the full senate for a vote.
It is the latest in an ever-growing number of pro-life victories at State level in the US.
In January, Kentucky passed a similar bill, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, that protects the lives of unborn babies that survive an abortion.
On Tuesday of this week, a South Carolina bill to prohibit abortions when an unborn baby’s heart starts beating moved forward after the House Judiciary Committee voted 15-8 along to advance the bill to the full state House.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also announced plans this week to bring forward a pro-life heartbeat bill, similar to the one in South Carolina.
Across the US, opinion polls are consistently showing that a sizeable majority of Americans back these pro-life changes.
While it’s an extremely challenging time for the pro-life movement in the US at a federal level with the growing list of pro-abortion proposals by President Biden and his new administration, it’s very heartening to see pro-life volunteers at State level continuing to push for changes that will save lives and continue to move public opinion in a pro-life direction regardless of what’s happening in Washington DC.
Moves are a foot in the US right now to introduce legal changes that would limit liability protections for social media providers regarding the content on their platforms. In addition to the already occurring Big Tech censorship of pro-life content, concerns have been expressed by leading pro-life campaigners in the US that pro-life groups would be the among the first victims of any resulting curtailments of free speech from any changes to the law.
In an article published this week in the Daily Californian, a group of researchers at UC Berkeley School of Public Health openly call for the censorship of pro-life content online.
The article argues that “the need to address online disinformation is urgent” and it proceeds to lay all the blame for disinformation at the door of pro-life people.
Not surprisingly, the article singles out Planned Parenthood for praise and describes its online information on abortion as “accurate and accessible”.
Everyone should be against “disinformation intended to mislead” but campaigning groups and individuals who favour abortion are increasingly being allowed act as the sole arbiters of who’s spreading misinformation.
The Daily Californian article states that online misinformation “poses a notable threat to informed reproductive choices and population health”.
One assumes the authors would regard information about human life beginning at conception and the peer reviewed research showing the negative after-effects of abortion for women as being part of the “misinformation” that needs to be suppressed.
It is chilling to observe the subjective whims of ideological campaigners trying to determine who gets to speak and who doesn’t.
Standing up for freedom of speech will have to be an integral part of our work in the months and years ahead.
Join Our PLC Network Webinar with special guest Abigail Forman, Director of Public Affairs for Right to Life UK TOMORROW Saturday 13th February from 11am to 12noon.
As well as working with the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group in Westminister, Right To Life have been working on campaigns on the issue of pain relief, telemedicine abortions and more.
The webinar will also feature a panel discussion on Grassroots Activism, videos and more!
Participation is free but pre-registration is essential.
Community Connect, which Provides practical assistance to mothers in need and their babies seeks to fill the role of:
Coordinator for Dublin North
This role involves all management of the North Dublin hub of Community Connect, and is necessitated to maintain our services to pregnant women and new mothers in North Dublin City and County.
The role includes:
-Organisation and management of the North Dublin hub, including Administration and management of communications.
-Physical presence one day per week at the North Dublin hub, to sort and organise items needed for deliveries to families in need.
-Co-ordinating volunteers and building team for packing and deliveries across North Dublin.
-Responsibility for maintaining our high standard of deliveries to families in need.
For more details and full role description, please email Elaine at [email protected]
Training will be provided.
Closing date for applications is Friday, 19th February.
The Pro Life Campaign needs you! Your skills, knowledge and commitment can help us to work towards a brighter future.
Please take a moment to fill in our survey here and remember - Change Begins With YOU!
The aim of this campaign is to encourage people to get involved with the PLC. We really need your help with this.
We are looking for some motivational videos and pictures. If you could take a few minutes today or tomorrow to do any of the following this would really help make a difference
- TAKE A SHORT VIDEO of yourself (20 Seconds max) telling people why you are pro-life or your favourite pro-life quote and encouraging other people to get involved - finish with the words "Change begins with you"
and/or
- TAKE A SELFIE of yourself holding up a homemade sign with the words "Change begins with You!"
Please text or whatsapp 0868246507, or send by email to [email protected]
Would you like to experience working with a pro-active Human Rights organisation?
If you would like, APPLY HERE to our exciting virtual intern programme for students!
Participants on the programme will have an opportunity to network with other young people and develop skills in advocacy, campaign management and project planning.
Internships run for one-week periods and are suitable for second level (Transition year or older) and third level students.
Each intern will do 4 hours supervised work each day and will be working on areas such as social media, contact with members of the movement nationwide, project planning and contributing to support work for women and their babies.
Internships are not paid, however expenses will be covered.
If you or a family member is interested, please complete the below form and we will be in touch with you presently. Placements are subject to availability.
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]
