Artists or abortion doctors?

July 3, 2003
The weather has still not improved and we continue with our educational activities on the streets of Wladyslawowo. The Polish volunteers start gathering signatures in support of Women on Waves. In one day more then 500 local residents of Wladyslawowo sign a petition in support of our campaign.

Polish volunteer, Anka: "I was positively surprised by the reactions of the inhabitants of Wladyslawowo. They do not in any way represent the cliché of small town people. A middle-aged women approached me and asked if she should support us by talking to the TV stations and telling them that she is pro-abortion and supports our campaign."

In the evening Women on Waves are invited to participate in an art event at Modelarnia, a contemporary art space in Gdansk. Aneta Szylak, an internationally known Polish curator has invited several Polish artists whose work has been censured by conservative religious leaders to present and discuss their work. Artists Bogny Burskiej, Grzegorza Klamana and Doroty Nieznalskiej all give presentations of their work. Dorota Nieznalska was recently convicted for one of her installations. Several new-media projects and installations designed for Women on Waves by Willem Velthoven are also presented at the Modelarnia.

Tomorrow is our last day in Poland. The weather forecast is good and Women on Waves decide to set sail one last time.

Hotline team, Yvette: “The phone becomes the hotline once again. The media has announced the ship will leave Poland tomorrow and I think this caused a lot of women to decide to go ahead and “do it�. It is their very last chance to end their pregnancy in a safe way. Most of the women with unwanted pregnancies who embark on the Langenort's last voyage are from a group of “last-minute callers.�

Some hotline messages:
- S., 21 years old from Warsaw, last period on 14.05, makes an appointment to come tomorrow.
- I., 39 years old from Warsaw, last period on 18.05, already has 2 children. She first makes an appointment for tomorrow but calls a couple of hours later to tell us that her boyfriend has convinced her not to go through with an abortion.
- J., 39 years old from Kolobrzeg, last period on 16.05, makes an appointment to come.
- J., 18 years old from Plock, last period on 23.05, she has to work until 20.00h today and is not sure if she can manage to get here on time. She is living with her parents and doesn’t have a home number. She phones later that she has organised a ride and will come.
- M., 29 years old from Poznan, last period on 22.05, she makes an appointment and says she will arrive by car. She calls a couple of hours later to say that she has changed her mind and that she will not be coming.
- A., 26 years old from Gdynia, last period on 16.05. She wants to come, makes an appointment for tomorrow.

Hotline team, Yvette: “In the evening we had our hotline team meeting and later the regular WOW daily meeting. It was a long day and I feel exhausted but I am happy that on the very last day we have women who after all the publicity are brave enough to sail with us.�

The Warsaw Voice, 03-07-2003: "Missing Meds.� During the Langenort's stay on international waters, some of the abortion pills kept in the container sealed by Polish customs officers disappeared. The issue is being investigated by prosecutors.�

The Warsaw Voice, 03-07-2003: "Missing Meds.� During the Langenort's stay on international waters, some of the abortion pills kept in the container sealed by Polish customs officers disappeared. The issue is being investigated by prosecutors.�