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October 2000
Contents: Oxford petition. Discrimination at freshers' fairs.
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here for our press contact details Dear pro-lifers Thank you to many of you for the supportive responses to the first newsletter and apologies for being a bit late with sending out this second one. The pro-life campaign to block affiliation of Cambridge student union CUSU to the National Abortion Campaign is moving forward at great pace and we are really hoping for a massive victory. Every student will be asked to vote in a referendum on November 1st and we have set up a website at www.geocities.com/nacaffiliation/index.html so do have a look and find out more about the campaign. We are having union debates and large features in the student newspapers, the campaign seems to be a good way to get the arguments against abortion right out in the open and loads of students are talking, speculating, arguing... If other universities know that their student unions are affiliated to organisations like NAC, how about a campaign to disaffiliate? After the referendum, we hope to move on to campaign for disaffiliation by the National Union of Students (NUS) so watch this space. Details for Serrin Forster's trip to the UK are now being finalised. Just to remind you, she is the Director of Feminists for Life and will be presenting the Feminist Case Against Abortion on the week beginning the 13 November. She will be speaking at Oxford (Mon 13), Cambridge (Tues 14), Kent (Wed 15), and a university in London (Thurs 16). Can I emphasize what a great pro-life opportunity this is, the strong link between feminism and a pro-life stance throws so many of the pro-abortion arguers into complete confusion, it can be very amusing. Anyone who wants to come down to Cambridge on the 14th is more than welcome and I am happy to arrange accommodation. Contact me if you are interested in travelling to other venues too and I will put you in touch with the relevant students. The website for feminists for life is www.feministforlife.org. Students at Oxford University will be hitting their campus and local streets with a petition targeted at their local representative in Parliament, Evan Harris MP, who is tabling a 10 minute rule bill in the new session of Parliament endorsing 'therapeutic' human cloning. If you know any students at Oxford Uni, then please encourage them to support the petition and to offer to help collect more signatures. Also, if you know any other people in the local area who would be able to help, please put them in touch with, Fiona Pinto: fiona.pinto@magd.ox.ac.uk Bets are being cast as to the date of the next general election but is considered most likely to be within a year. To ensure that there is a visible pro-life voice at the next general election the ProLife Alliance (a political party) is meeting on Saturday, 11th November 2000, to discuss ideas for the next election campaign. Much dynamic help energy and enthusiasm is needed, so please do all you can to attend: 11am, 114 Mount St, London W1. (Green Park - nearest tube station; bring a packed lunch). Following the discrimination against the pro-life stall at Kent, Kings LIFE a pro-life society at Kings College, Cambridge was also forced to disband during the freshers fair (Kings is meant to be the most open minded and liberal college). There is a feature in the Catholic Times with more details but we are haggling with King's junior common room about this and hopefully the outcome will be alot of publicity for the pro-life group. So do keep on attempting to gain ground in terms of pro-life influence in student unions. Cambridge union is very pro-abortion and fairly intimidating but the NAC campaign is proving how they mostly win their arguments through emotive hysteria and misguided feminist arguments so persist with the pro-life reasoned approach. Warwick University has recently voted for its student union to hold a neutral stance regarding abortion. The pro-life group have also conducted a survey on student's attitudes to abortion which is available on their website (you can go through student groups on the Student LifeNet webiste). And finally, just as you were beginning to panic over student debts.... a chance to win £3,000 - An essay contest, with title of, 'Ethical Dilemmas: Who should decide - scientists, God or lawyers?' is open to students of any discipline and is sponsored by one of the leading set of barristers' chambers (2nd prize is £2000, 3rd £1000, with three runners up of £250. This is a really good opportunity to win some money and air opinions on ethical issues which touch human life issues, it would be wonderful if a pro-life student won. The essay should be no more than 1,000 words answering the title above and sent by 1st December to, The Times Law Awards, c/o One Essex Court, Temple, London, EC4Y 9AR. Contest organisers mention issues such as designer babies, siamese twins, life and death decisions, asking whether or not Judges are properly armed to take such decisions? Essays should be well argued and expressed and examine just how the justice system may be adapted to cope with new ethical dilemmas. For more information check out http://www.oneessexcourt.co.uk/idx_l.htm or e-mail Sarah at: SLifenet@aol.com. I know some of you (but I can't remember who) are new to the Student LifeNet mailing list so if you would like the first newsletter, drop me an email anytime. Good Luck with all the pro-lifing, Anna |
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