31st of August, 2004
Real People Speak
finally, between the press, public is showing up to voice their opinion
Public visits shuttle boat
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.
Last night, when the shuttle boat returned from the Borndiep bearing the politically involved Jamila Madeira and Francisco Louçã, something happened. At first, the politicians were interviewed by hoards of press. But in between the cameras and the microphones were people in shorts and flip flops, teenagers, basically, normal people. And they did speak:
Pires, Portuguese spectator: Portugal is not civilized. It is a shame that other countries have to come here to civilize us, we are now a third world country! But they do do abortions here. They do it, but they don't talk about it, they keep their mouths shut. Here in Portugal, abortion is a taboo, you don't talk about abortion. But they do it! The Catholics too. I am Catholic, and I have no problems with abortion. What problems could I have? It is the choice of the women. It is much worse that thousands of children are walking the street here in Portugal, with no mother or father, just unwanted and abandoned.
Hopefully, even if not one Portuguese women can be helped now, Women on Waves can help the Portuguese people form their opinion on the matter, and help them realize that illegal abortions are a problem, and move abortion issues away from traditional taboos and onto the public agenda.
