By Suzanne York. Unless you’ve been off the grid, chances are that you are at least somewhat aware of the battle taking place in the U.S. over reproductive rights.  With a potential new conservative Supreme Court justice poised to join the court, it is a dire time indeed for those who support women’s health and
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By Suzanne York. Recent legislation in California is empowering women to make the best choices for themselves and their families, in terms of reproductive health. Though it seems as if our nation should have passed legislation easing access to reproductive health years ago, it’s nevertheless a positive path forward. As the saying goes, “better late
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By Suzanne York. The clock is ticking and global environmental problems are mounting, with droughts, biodiversity loss, and acidic oceans and much more taking a toll on the planet. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s World Congress, currently taking place in Hawai’i, is tackling this growing list of threats to the environment. The
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By Suzanne York, www.transition-earth.org. Lately it seems that most of the news on women’s reproductive rights is focused on the shutting down of access to reproductive health/family planning services. But there are actually some good policies on women’s reproductive health that have been passed this year at the state level. In May, the state of Maryland
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By Suzanne York, www.transition-earth.org. In some ways the following are two very different stories, but ultimately in the end both end up advancing women’s rights when it comes to family planning and reproductive health. Let’s first take a look at India – soon to be the world’s most populous country.  For decades it has been relying
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By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org. Mother’s Day is a good time to reflect on the status of women.  Though we honor mothers, women face many hurdles and much inequality today that make one question how much we as a global society respect women, whether they are moms or not. Empowering women and improving the state of
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By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org. If you’re an American, you might be pleased to hear how your taxpayer dollars are being used at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), especially in support of women.  On this International Women’s Day, here is a brief look at what our international aid agency is doing. Gender and Empowerment
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By Kimberly Absher, guest youth blogger, www.howmany.org. In many parts of South Africa, condoms are free and widely available, and local clinics offer free birth control, HIV tests and treatment. Brochures and signs can be seen throughout the country encouraging safe sex. Despite these public health efforts, survey after survey indicates high numbers of unprotected sex,
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By Kimberly Absher, guest youth blogger, www.howmany.org. Promoting women’s health is my passion. My first exposure occurred in a community college class probably not titled Feminism 101, but it could have been. It blew my mind. I started volunteering at a YWCA day shelter for homeless and low-income women, set in an affluent corporate suburb
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By Suzanne York, www.howmany.org Jesse Helms would undoubtedly turn over in his proverbial grave if he heard the New York Times advocating for changing the Helms Amendment to improve the lives of women in developing countries if it involves abortion. The Helms Amendment, first enacted in 1973, states that, “No foreign assistance funds may be
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