Summer Hiatus

Hi everyone! I know my posting has been light-to-nonexistent lately. The truth is it has been pretty slow for abortion-related news in Canada in the last few weeks; I can't even cobble together enough material for the weekly reader.

Because of the lull in news (not always a bad thing!), my burnout with abortion (which happens from time to time since I write here and at Abortion Gang), what I'm sure is going to be a busy and eventful autumn, and the fact that I am planning a wedding (oh yeah, that old thing) - I am taking a hiatus from Anti-Choice is Anti-Awesome.

I will be posting lightly from time to time but it will be sporadic, and I will return in full force once the wedding is over, in October. Until then, look out for my stuff on Abortion Gang, and if you're into books I also post a review every fortnight at Smoke City Stories. You can reach me by email at pedgehog [at] gmail [dot] com.

Stay safe!

Weekly Reader

This week it's all abortion caravan, all the time!

The "new abortion caravan" went to Winnipeg, they went to Sault Ste. Marie, they didn't go to Windsor but Windsor still protested them, and they went to London.

Special thanks to CAW for their strong pro-choice presence and for organizing a lot of these demos!

And for your entertainment, here is a sweet pic a friend of mine took in Milwaukee last week:

Weekly Reader

Here's what I've been reading about this week:

The "new abortion caravan" hit Regina this week, and then Winnipeg, causing a lot of criticism and disgust as per usual - some general thoughts and my take on it.

Disappointingly, the SOGC seems to have lost the plot, calling for a ban on "entertainment" ultrasounds.

Sex-selective abortion is a particular concern in Manitoba.

The Crown ends a bid to keep Linda Gibbons jailed.

What have you been reading about?

Steeling Ourselves for the "New Abortion Caravan"

So, as you may know, there is a group of people currently travelling across the country as part of what they call "the new abortion caravan", which is nothing more than a glorified GAP van trying to co-opt the history of grassroots feminist struggles.

If you are looking to protest/counter-rally against the caravan's presence in your town, the CAW has put together a very helpful list of organized counter-protests and contact information so you can get in touch and lend your support. The list is here and it covers Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Brampton, London, Toronto, and Ottawa (if you have links to the event pages of any of these protests, send 'em my way!).

ARCC has put together some helpful tips (check them out!) on how to respond and what to include in your counter-protests. The grassroots responses to the caravan so far have focused on creativity and engaging/informing passersby about safe access to abortion, Motion 312, and healthy sexuality as a counterpoint to the gory and shaming images coming from the caravan.

Please join in the counter-protest in your city if you are able; let's not let these judgmental assholes roll unquestioned through town. I will be at the counter-protest in Toronto on June 28; I hope to see some of you there!