Tuesday 21 October 2008

Abortion !

The Victorian state government has finally grasped the nettle - and made abortion legal !

No woman in any Australian state has trouble obtaining an abortion, but the legality under which it is supplied is decidedly dodgy.

Early in the last century abortion was illegal in every part of this country - for any reason. Halfway through that century exceptions started to creep in. It became legal if necessary to save the life of the woman - and later pregnancies caused by rape or incest also got the nod.

Today the interpretation of those permissible conditions are wide enough to drive a truck through - and as a consequence abortion is legal in practice - if not exactly so in law.

Victoria has now cleaned up that foggy area with a clear law.

Most people on either side of the abortion debate would prefer for the procedure to be unnecessary - and with the availability and reliability of contraception there is no excuse for any unwanted pregnancies.

The problem is that sex is not always predictable in it's timing - and we are a lazy lot who rarely plan ahead. There are condom machines in nearly every club and pub and they are sold in supermarkets and corner stores - and yet unprotected sex is rampant.

On the one hand, abortion is a procedure many find repugnant - but necessary. On the other hand, we live on a planet which is rapidly becoming over populated.

We are in danger of over stripping the world's food supply - and that could lead to an unpleasant death for millions of people.

The abortion problem could be peacefully resolved - with a bit of common sense - and forward planning to ensure unwanted pregnancies do not occur !

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