youcancallmetiger:
Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, and her organization, Women on Waves, sail a ship around the world to countries where abortion is illegal.  Using a hotline for communication, the activists pick up women at the port and transport them twelve miles offshore, just outside of domestic waters, where doctors on board can administer safe and legal medical abortions at sea.  Their actions shock the church, infuriate the government, exhilarate the media, and provoke mass controversy and debate among the voting population, but they break no law.

They might, they hope, instead serve to save lives.

More information here

THIS IS THE COOLEST ACTIVISM EVER.

I remember when they came to Portugal in the beginning of the decade. It was very important that they came, people began debating this long time problem portugal faced. It was only five or six year later that abortion was made legal. Of course it was not just on account of them coming here, but it was very important, the way they changed the debate into something political and women’s rights related instead of religious.

Man, how could they even safely get women onto their boat in the first place, with all the madness waiting for them when they try to pull into port? I mean, I get that what they are also doing is for publicity, and their help hotline then gets posted in photos in the news. But, Christ, it’s gotta take a really strong woman to brave that crowd, get on board, and then return back to port— I’d be worried she would be assaulted or murdered once stepping back on shore into that melee.

Do I even have to write that it depresses the hell out of me that women everywhere, even in countries where abortion is technically legal (but, of course, politicians do everything in their might to make access to it as restricted and difficult as possible) , have to go through so much heartache, harassment and bullshit, or can I trust that people who follow me will just take it as a given that I feel that way?

:-/

(via fuckyeahwomenprotesting2)