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A brief history

1999 - Student LifeNet founded by several pro-life students. We were inspired by Feminists for Life's iniative to find practical solutions to unplanned pregnancy within the student environment.

Our first director was Sarah Macken.

October 99 - First major event: celebrating the birth of the six billionth baby. On the same day Marie Stopes International, International Planned Parenthood Foundation and Population concern decided to mourn the six billionth birth. We confused the public and heckled Rt Hon Clare Short MP

February 2000 - We flooded 10 Downing Street with Valentine Cards to stop the Government from legalising human embryonic cloning. The cards read: 'Little furry foxes all in a row. Loved and protected by everyone you know...But little human beings have a much tougher time. So say no to human cloning...and you're my valentine.'

May 2000 - Oxford University pro-life society addressed by David Amess MP who gave a speech on life as a pro-lifer in parliament.

December 2000 - Infamous protest outside Nice Summit (see below).

January 2001 - Another anti-cloning protest which this time involved a convoction of identical sheep amassing on the 'interviews' lawn opposite Parliament.

March 2001 - National conference held at Oxford University.

Summer 2001 - Fiona Pinto takes over as director.

March 2002 - National Conference held in Manchester. Talks included: 'Inside the merky world of student politics; Prolife and proud of it: speaking out; What's the word on street? Student parenting: the other choice; Guide to taking the student world by storm.'

September 2002 - 'Former Embryo' demonstration. We demonstrated outside the Medical Research Council's stem cell bank launch wearing t-shirts which said 'Former Embryo'.

May 2003 - Patrick Leahy takes over as director.

Student LifeNet's achievements

General - Student LifeNet has contributed to many debates at universities and schools. We regularly give comments to the media. We have featured in the National, European and United States' media.

We have also produced literature for students and politicians (e.g. 101 reasons not to allow human cloning).

Student LifeNet submits, where possible, to public consultations on pro-life issues.

March 2000 - Marie Stopes were forced to remove an illegal advertisement promoting the morning-after-pill after Student LifeNet complained to the authorities. It had offered the abortifacient, which prevents an embryo from implanting into a womb, in a "party pack". There was no age limit on who could receive the pack.

We pointed out this contravened the Medicines Regulations Act 1994 and so Marie Stopes had to end their illegal campaign. The Daily Telegraph closely followed the story.

April 2000 - We protested outside a UN youth summit which included an opening speech by Geri Halliwell on abortion. Two supporters who were originally allowed into the summit, challenged and heckled Geri Halliwell, and were then forcibly removed from the event (so much for freedom of speech!).

We again achieved media attention which highlighted the UN's pro-abortion agenda.

May 2000 - Cambridge University Student Union rejected affiliation with the national abortion campaign (NAC). A team of female medical students led the successful campaign against affiliation, with two all-female colleges (Newnham and New Hall) giving their decisive support to the pro-life iniative. The pro-life vote was led by the Cambridge pro-life society.

December 2000 - 'Veto Cloning' protest outside Nice Summit in France. We dressed up as Tony Blair (with masks and white overalls) and held up the signs 'Veto Cloning'. We obtained international press attention and images of the demonstration are regularly used by the media to describe the average student demo.

1999-2001 - The Universities of East Anglia, Warwick and York voted against affiliation with the National Abortion Campaign.

2001 - Kent University pro-life society stopped their University from affilitating with the National Abortion Campaign.

 
 
 
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