Active media

June 29, 2003
Nurse Juul, gives a workshop to a large group of Polish volunteers to train them as sexual health educators. After the workshops they hit the streets to distribute leaflets and educate the public about safe sex and contraception. They receive a lot of positive reactions from local residents and visitors. We do not sail out because it is Sunday and we want to respect the religious feelings of local citizens. During the meeting in the evening Yvette is chosen to co-ordinate security.

Polish volunteer, Claudia: "The energy and activities of the volunteers have made a big impression on me: everyone is motivated to get the message across. When we were handing out leaflets on the street, people’s reactions were really positive. It made no difference what their age or gender was."

Press team Jeannette: "In the evening we go to a bar and some volunteers start a discussion about the right to a safe and legal abortion with the local youngsters there. Typically the only local girl present at the table quite loudly applauds our courage while the guys are more critical although deeply upset by the tactics of the LPR. Despite the different viewpoints we end up turning the bar into a dance hall."

Some hotline messages:
- S. from Hel, calls 3 times, last menstruation on 10.04, is advised to look at the Internet site. Later she phones again and asks if we can send her the pills. She has 3 children, all of them are handicapped. She is pregnant again and doesn't want to continue the pregnancy. She said that her youngest child didn’t develop a healthy heart and lungs. Another of her children has not developed a healthy spine. Due to a genetic disorder she is not able to give birth to a healthy child
- A woman from Warsaw, unfortunately she has passed the 45th day of pregnancy and we aren't able to help her.

GAZETA WYBORCZA: Letter from Wladyslaw Frasyniuk (Chairman of UW, a small, liberal-centre party)
Frasyniuk writes: "In Poland there’s no clear border of where the rights of an individual lie and where the rights of the multitudes end. Within these murky categories, the protection of the unborn is problematic. The Polish law in its current state will not diminish the amount of abortions. Furthermore the abortions take place in inhuman conditions and are harmful for the young women. The goal should be to diminish legal abortions and get rid of illegal ones. Nonetheless, the final decision should lie in the hands of the woman."

Washington Times 29-06-2003, Joe Bob's week in review: "The Langenort, a Dutch tugboat with a mobile abortion clinic aboard, docked at Wladyslawowo, Poland, causing panic and outrage among the Catholic hierarchy as women lined up to be taken to international waters, examined by doctors, and possibly given the RU 486 abortion inducing drug. Abortion is illegal in Poland, as is French-kissing before marriage"

'''GAZETA WYBORCZA: Letter from W?adys?aw Frasyniuk (Chairman of UW, a small, liberal-centre party)
Frasyniuk writes: ''' "In Poland there’s no clear border of where the rights of an individual lie and where the rights of the multitudes end. Within these murky categories, the protection of the unborn is problematic. The Polish law in its current state will not diminish the amount of abortions. Furthermore the abortions take place in inhuman conditions and are harmful for the young women. The goal should be to diminish legal abortions and get rid of illegal ones. Nonetheless, the final decision should lie in the hands of the woman."