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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
In the heat of a late September day in Mozambique, southern Africa, we started filming a meeting of young charity volunteers. They had poured heart and soul into an ambitious project aimed at combating HIV and spreading a message about contraception in the province of Gaza.
Then, out of the blue, and as our cameras rolled, came an unexpected announcement: the volunteers' work was to end because of a new policy from the United States.
Under US President Donald Trump's "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy, any foreign aid organisation that wants US funds cannot "perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in foreign countries".
Sebastiao Muthisse from AMODEFA, the Mozambican Association for Family Development, outlined the dilemma the aid organisation faced. They were not prepared to sign Trump's so-called 'global gag rule 'forbidding mention of abortion, and, as a result, projects had to close. For the youngsters it appeared to make no sense. Surely lack of advice on family planning would lead to unwanted pregnancies? Why should they be censored when it came to speaking about abortion?
AMODEFA, a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, has worked in Mozambique since 1989. Now, the stance both organisations have taken on the Trump rule means they face losing millions of dollars in US aid, and for AMODEFA in Mozambique two-thirds of their total budget, a sum of $2m.
It's led to hard decisions, particularly when it comes to critical work on HIV prevention.
In a suburb of the capital Maputo, we met Palmira Tembe. Members of Palmira's family have died; five grandchildren are now dependent on her, along with her 13 year-old-son Nelson.
AMODEFA has received funds to help people like Palmira disclose to their families that they have HIV, and to support their care. Palmira told us that prior to the charity's involvement she couldn't tell her son Nelson why he was sick. Now both take HIV medicine together.
We will have generations that are sick without knowing what they have – they will run the risk of transmitting HIV to other people because they do not know their HIV status. In a country where it's estimated that up to 13 percent of people aged between 15 and 49 live with HIV, the support of organisations like AMODEFA can be a lifeline. But the work AMODEFA does with families like Palmira's is under threat, due to their refusal to sign up to the Trump policy.
Project leader Dr Marcelo Kantu is concerned about the future. "We will have generations that are sick without knowing what they have - they will run the risk of transmitting HIV to other people because they do not know their HIV status," he told us.
Visiting those supported by charity work in Mozambique, there was a recurring question: With the heavy price organisations could pay for defying the new US policy, why not forget about the abortion issue, sign up to the Trump rule, and keep American aid money?
Activists and charity workers told us it was not only about upholding a principle of choice, it was about free speech and a law introduced in Mozambique to save lives.
Mozambique liberalised its law on abortion in 2014, not least due to the high numbers of maternal deaths from illegal terminations. Since then, abortion is a legal option up until 12 weeks of pregnancy, and in cases of rape or incest during the first 16 weeks.
But there is Mozambique's new law on the one hand, and the Trump policy on the other.
It has long been understood that aid donations are sometimes an integral part of foreign policy; aid can be given in the hope that the recipient will favour the donor further along the line, perhaps with trade agreements or regional political support.
But is this a case of the donor wanting to influence a law that has been passed by a democratically elected government? Should aid be used as a way of dictating 'democracy' to follow the donor's views rather than allowing each democratic nation to evolve into the nation that its own citizens want?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 10 2017, @01:15PM (1 child)
Quite the iliterate, aren't you, Aristarchus? You address Azuma directly, then write "But I, for one, back her up on this." You back WHO up? Obviously, "her" can't be Azuma, since you have already addressed her directly. The only person you are likely to be talking about, is the subject of Azuma's tirade. Obviously, you agree with Savitri Devi. So, you're really an undercover alt-right agent? You sneaky little bitch! All this time, you've been making us all believe that your loyalties are to the left! Yes, I can see it. You are Savitri's quieter, more subtle younger sister, are you not? Well, carry on, you fascist Nazi. Some of us will now understand your often conflicting posts. You're playing everyone for fools! Wait - you're a vegetarian, and you hate all of us who eat meat? Well, why aren't you nicer to Ethanol Fueled? He lives on alcohol. Eventually, his brain will be as pickled as your own!! Oh, the caste system. Got it. You, an untouchable, can't associate on friendly terms with a human above your station. Understanding, at last!!
Fucking wannabe linquist, learn some English grammar and syntax.
You should be more like me. I had no idea who the "goddess" was, so I looked the name up. I agree with Azuma's tirade, although I disagree with her use of the spam mod. The goddess bitch needs to die a fiery death.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Sunday December 10 2017, @07:54PM
Not bad for a beginner. Mispelling "illiterate" is a nice touch. Following with "linquist"? A step too far. A good troll should be subtle, understated, seductive and alluring.