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September 9th, 2004

Borndiep heads back home

But the battle continues.

  • Borndiep on the Sea

    Borndiep on the Sea

For the last time the Portuguese shuttle boat visits the Borndiep in international waters to brings the last supplies before the ship will sail back to the Netherlands later that afternoon. It is the last opportunity for journalists to see the ship.

At 1PM as a final attempt the Captain of the Borndiep radios Aveiro, a harbor to the north of Figueira da Foz. This is to see if the harbour master will let Borndiep into the Aveiro harbour despite the warships that trail it. Unfortunately the harbour master does not reply to the call, and Borndiep cannot enter. According to the ruling last Monday by the judge Dr Maria Helena Canelas, Women on Waves theoretically can enter a harbour if the harbour master grants permission. However, the situation with the Portuguese Ministry of Defence and the decision made by Paulo Portas, make this impossible.

Since we have been able to reach out to a lot of women by announcing and publishing the Misoprostol protocol, there is not much use for the ship in Portugal anymore.
Being out in international waters for more than two weeks and not being able to sail into Portuguese territorial waters was very disappointing for the crew but they have succeeded to reopen the discussion on legal abortion in Portugal.

After the Portuguese shuttle boat returns, there is a meeting of Portuguese social movements, women’s groups, labour unions. More than 100 people have come to Figuira da Foz from all over Portugal to show their support.

After the meeting is the opening of a project of two of Portuguese well-known painters Mario Silva and Quim Madeira; the mobile exhibition “Barco aberto�? with portraits of 300 anonymous women in a container on a truck.

9 Sept 2004
  • crew borndiep

    crew borndiep

  • art truck

    art truck

  • ngo meeting

    ngo meeting

  • art truck 2

    art truck 2

  • Borndiep / Container

    Borndiep / Container

  • 16 th of September: 

    Riot in EU

    Two days after the ship arrived back in the Netherlands and the treatment stored again till the next campaign, the European Parliament debates the events in Portugal.
    This is what Constant Brand, an associated press writer, reports

  • 12 th of September, 2004: 

    Opinion polls

    As planned the Dutch Women on Waves team flies back home. But since the ship has left, some opinion polls have been published,

  • 10 th of September, 2004: 

    Medics for freedom

    Specialists, general physicians, nurses and midwives come from all over Portugal to attend the workshop for medical professionals.

  • 8 th of September, 2004: 

    Rumours of prosecution

    The Misoprostol webpage and the medicines Cytotec and Arthrotec are shown all over the television and in the newspapers.

  • 7th of September, 2004: 

    Talkshow Teachings: how to induce abortion

    Describing abortion procedures to the housewives of Portugal

    On Tuesday morning, Rebecca Gomperts was featured on the Portuguese talkshow SIC 10 horas, in a show titled: Face to Face Abortion Boat. This Portuguese talkshow does not perhaps contain the most cutting edge reporting, but does reach thousands of Portuguese women.

  • 7 th of September, 2004: 

    Live on television

    Explaning how to do an abortion on television

  • September 6th, 2004: 

    Going to court

    Yes, you have freedom of speech, just not here.

    The fundamental rights to freedom of movement, information, reunion, expression and manifestation of the ship’s crew, Women on Waves and the Portuguese organisations are violated by the decision of Paulo Portas and we have asked the judge to overturn the decision and allow the ship to enter in the harbour.

  • 5 th of September, 2004: 

    Art and Politics

  • 4 th of September, 2004: 

    More dutchies

    Two Dutch MPs come to show support for Women on Waves

    The Dutch members of Parliament Lousewies van der Laan from Democrats 66 (D66) and Khadija Arib from the Labor Party (PvdA) fly to Portugal. This evening they participate in a discussion with the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), the Left Block (BE) and the Communist Party.

  • september 3 rd, 2004: 

    Feed me, Paste me

    The Borndiep is out of fuel and running low on drinking water. Once more the captain requests to enter the port, this time only to refuel. The harbor authorities do not even answer on the emergency channel.

  • September 3rd, 2004: 

    Small, calm, quiet, hidden

    A tiny little pro life movement, at night, in the middle of nowhere

    At 1:00AM a Catholic church group gathered before the Figueira da Foz town hall to hang pro life posters sponsered by Human Life International and Pró Vida e Pró Familia Brasil. The slogan was: Who loves does not kill.

  • September 2nd, 2004: 

    Unexpected visitors and action by Dutch Minister

    Minister of Foreign affairs Bot requests Portuguese colleague Monteiro to admit the Borndiep

  • 1 th of september, 2004: 

    Manifestation in Lisbon

    About 250 people protest against the decision of the Portuguese government to forbid the Women on Waves ship to enter Portugal outside the official residence of the prime minister of Portugal, Santana Lopes in Lisbon.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    Real People Speak

    finally, between the press, public is showing up to voice their opinion

    Politicians have been making statements left and right, the European Commission has started grinding, the press has been all over since the beginning, activism organizations have been mobilizing their volunteers, but now, now finally Portuguese people are starting to voice their opinion on abortion and the coming of the Borndiep.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    Politicians denied permission

    Stopped by their own military

    The Portuguese Parliamentarians, Francisco Louçã from the Portuguese Left Block, Jamila Madeira, member of European Parliament and Odete Santos from the Communist Party attempt to sail the Borndiep into Portuguese waters, but are stopped by the surrounding military boats.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    What's happening on the internet?

    Quoting the internet forum from Correio Manha

  • 30th of August, 2004: 

    Borndiep still in international waters

    politicians will not back down

    In an effort to help realize Women on Waves' goals, Juventude Socialista (JS), the youth section of Portugal's Socialist Party (PS), sails to the Borndiep and holds a press conference there.

  • 30th of August, 2004: 

    F 486 against RU 486

    The Portuguese navy has 4 ships of this type. Why did they send us the 486?

    A closer-up picture of the F486 Baptista de Andrade, the war ship that is blocking Borndiep's way. Would the Portugese navy know that Mifepristone, the abortion pill, is also known as RU 486? Are they making fun of us?

  • 29th of August, 2004: 

    War?!

    Does abortion justify military intervention?

    Two Portuguese war ships monitor the movements of the Borndiep during 24 hours to prevent the ship from entering national waters. The captain continues to ask for permission to enter the harbor of Figueira da Foz. Unfortunately the harbor authorities are not responding to its attempt to communicate.

  • 28 th of august, 2004: 

    Entry ship denied

    Portas, open sesame!

    In the afternoon we have an improvised press conference after we hear that the Portuguese Minister of defense Paulo Portas refused the Women on Waves ship “Borndiep�? permission to enter national waters.

  • 27 th of august, 2004: 

    Requesting permission to enter the harbor of Figueira da Foz

    In the morning Women on Waves visits the harbormaster of Figueira da Foz and officially requests him to authorize their entrance into the harbor.