Because I’m that busy and one blog post is better than no blog post, right?
Topic numero uno, I really liked this article by Dan Gardner. First because pieces about declining birth rates written by social liberals are few and far between. And second because he is mostly right, at least about the default positions we assume when defending causes that are dear to our hearts. As a social conservative, I have to admit that I probably cry “Abortion!” more early and more often than I have to. Did abortion and contraception cause declining birthrates or did declining birthrates (or the desire for declining birthrates) cause the push for access to abortion and contraception? It doesn’t make abortion right or the fall-out from widespread use of contraceptives less real. It just means that to address the problem we have to approach it with generosity and compassion rather than shooting from the hip with the first arguments available.
Topic secundo, the Canadian Institute for Health Research is again sponsoring its Café Scientifique and a rep from Planned Parenthood Toronto will be among the panelists. Now, you have to understand that this is not a debate about contraception or abortion. Rather, it is about:
“the value of working together to study health issues that affect communities, such as homelessness, HIV/AIDS and poverty.”
Still, when they say that working together leads researchers to:
“a better understanding of the community, better research and, ultimately, better health outcomes. Working together produces lasting solutions that fit with communities”
my alarms bells go off. So I registered.
by 
Concerning Numero Uno-
I agree that finding a common ground in which to speak about pro-natal policy will be tricky,but much needed. Ultimately, that kind of policy is win win. Many women want to have children, and an education, and a career, but simply cannot maintain all of these things given the current social climate. Speaking for myself, I have two children (ages 3 and 2), am working part-time, am an immigrant to Canada, and am applying to grad school. I know that eventually SOMETHING is going to give as I don’t have the traditional supports women in my situation require (family, etc). While I may like to have another child at some point, I simply can’t envision the potentially right now. Oh and daycares have a 1 to 2 year waiting list in our area.
From a women’s health perspective, this kind of policy making would also allow for better research into abortion and contraception and its effects on a woman’s ability to reproduce when she does eventually decide to do so. Something I think many women have struggled with.