Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« A Few Words About Looper | Who Will Win the Debates? »

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Ladies The Abortion Boat Sets Sail for Morocco

Posted by Cienna Madrid on Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 10:41 AM

What I envisioned was a smaller boat with less attractive crew trailing discreetly in the Love Boat's wake, ready to clean up its little mistakes. But the reality is much more awesome:

A Dutch “abortion boat” has set sail for Morocco, its first trip to a Muslim country, to provide abortions to women who are exposed to grave health risks if treated domestically, its organiser said on Monday.

“The ship is on its way. We can’t yet disclose the place and time of arrival… We expect it to stay for up to a week.” Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of the Dutch non-profit organisation Women on Waves, told AFP by phone.

The group says that, according to figures published by the Moroccan government, between 600 and 800 abortions take place every day in the north African kingdom, where the procedure is illegal and taboo.

The boat is part of the Dutch-founded nonprofit Women on Waves, and it travels all around the world, dropping anchor (by invitation) to provide women with safe access to abortions. When pressed about setting sail to a devoutly Muslim country while anti-Western sentiments are still running high, founder Rebecca Gomperts smartly replied: “I understand that (the visit) is seen as a provocation by some religious groups. But this is about women’s health. It has nothing to do with religion.”

FacebookShare

Comments (17) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

This will end badly.

Posted by Rotten666 on October 1, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Women On The Waves has been around for years, and it hasn't ended badly yet.

Also Morocco is a peaceful country.

Posted by Merchant Seaman on October 1, 2012 at 11:02 AM

@1 - That's the idea... well, for the baby, at least.

Posted by MacCrocodile

on October 1, 2012 at 11:06 AM

Next year, I'm spending the extra money and going with Norwegian... worst cruise ever!

Posted by Cracker Jack on October 1, 2012 at 11:10 AM

@3 The group mainly focuses on early abortions and medical abortions. If those collections of cells can be considered babies then nature is the biggest abortion provider of them all. Please keep your misinformed rhetoric away from my uterus.

Posted by wxPDX on October 1, 2012 at 11:16 AM

This organization went to Ireland as recently as 2001 when it was still illegal for Irish women to travel to other countries for abortions.

Posted by thatsnotright on October 1, 2012 at 11:17 AM

Why is it that liberals are against factory ships that kill whales, but in favor of factory ships that kill babies?

Posted by Ken Mehlman on October 1, 2012 at 11:28 AM

@5: You do know that MacCrocodile pretty much only makes jokes right? He wants to make people chuckle, not get all up in your uterus.

Quite frankly, "well, for the unliving bundle of cells, at least" is not a very punchy punchline. Lighten up.

Posted by Theodore Gorath on October 1, 2012 at 11:38 AM

See, @5: Ken Mehlman there is who you should be worried about.

Posted by Theodore Gorath on October 1, 2012 at 11:40 AM

@7 Because the world is running short of whales. It is not running short of babies.

Posted by originalcinner on October 1, 2012 at 11:40 AM

The Conception Boat is a lot more fun

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 1, 2012 at 12:17 PM

@8 "Lighten up."

Fuck you.

Posted by femwanderluster on October 1, 2012 at 12:35 PM

I'm trying really hard not to make a joke about whether or not this vessel has any life preservers. That said, I would love to see The Abortion Boat become a TV show. They can even bring back Isaac the bartender.

"But Isaac, I can't drink this mai tai. I'm pregnant."
"Not for long! That baby's out to be (snap, point) out of sight!"

I gotta get to work on the theme song. Wish me luck!

Posted by Jason Josephes

on October 1, 2012 at 12:36 PM

@13 I had a similar thought.

Life, exciting and new
Come Aboard. You're expecting, too?
Medical care, it's not just a choice.
It's your body, it's your voice.

Our Boat soon will be making another run
Abortion Boat promises something for everyone
Take the fun from fundamental,
Your mind on the lesser bad.

Love won't hurt anymore
It's an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes Abortion!
It's LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! (hey-ah!)

Posted by In context, the origanal lyrics are worse on October 1, 2012 at 1:49 PM