The fight for womens rights - getting fired up!

[Fishchick]

In light of the proposed legislation changing maternity services, we need to get fired up all over the country & make a stand for womens right to choose however she wishes to birth her babies.

The letter at this link sums it all up really well - Clare Bowditch : Clare's Open Letters

Here's a flyer I came across - print it out & post it up everywhere!


Can you choose what happens to your body?

How would you feel if you were denied that right to choose?

Currently, a woman can choose –

• To have an abortion
• To have a caesarean
• To have an epidural

That's her right, right?

But if the government has their way, a woman will no longer be able to choose

• an intervention free natural homebirth

• her own independent midwife to assist her during birth at home or in hospital

As of July 2010, women will be forced to birth in the hospital system or face a massive $30,000 fine

Even if you would never choose homebirth for yourself, wouldn’t you still want to have the choice of what happens to you? If they take this one choice away from women, what will they take next? The government must allow women free choice! Isn’t this a free country? The lucky country?

Our bodies, our births, our choices!

Get fired up on the steps of Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 7th September at 11:30am

Print fliers (links below) & put them up on your local noticeboards, email everyone in your address book, write a letter to Nicola Roxon & your local MP's. There may be rallies held in all other capital cities to coincide with the Canberra rally - why not have a meet & greet on the steps of Parliament House & stand up for womens rights!

http://www.joyousbirth.info/forums/attachm...50&d=1246189685
http://www.joyousbirth.info/forums/attachm...52&d=1246191367

Joyous Birth - The Australian Homebirth Network

http://www.savehomebirth.com.au

Mods - if I can't put up the links to the other forum, please just remove the links, not the whole thread/post pretty please!

[Kizzzah]

Im all fired up with noway to go !! its 12 days before my wedding, so unless i get abit more at tax time i cannot afford the tickets. i can only go for the day so would fly down in the morning and leave that night (im so scared of flying) but i honestly feel i cannot afford NOT to go, but i really cant afford TO go either..!! will keep trying too find ways of comming up with the money. WE NEED as many ppl down there as possible fighting for the right to have a choice when it come to our bodies and our births. Not only for us but for our daughters and neices etc. THEY HAVE to listen and we need to make them hear us.

[~Melissa~]

I'm going to the rally in Canberra

My friend, her homebirthed babe & I are flying in & out on the same day.

Independent midwifery is my chosen career path. From a personal perspective, I'll be devastated if the choice to practice midwifery independently gets taken away from me

[Tracey]

I can probably pick up one, maybe 2 (if they want to squish in between 2 car seats) people from the airport. I will need a reminder closer to date. If I can get a babysitter for Igloo I will have a spare car seat in the car too.

As a note I think there are only about 5 taxis in Canberra with car seats, so book one in advance if you need one.

[Pandamum]

I'm thinking about flying in and out the same day too.

Quite a few of the Toowoomba girls are flying down the afternoon before in case of morning fog..........but if I stay o/n then I have to take L which makes everything so much more difficult.

[Wems]

I can't go
It is the day after my sister's wedding

But there are more things to do than just going to Canberra
Write letters

and they are having rallies around the country on 4th July

CONFIRMED LOCATIONS:

- Toowoomba - 10am, Rosebank Cottage, Newtown Park. A sharing circle will be facilitated to discuss what women’s perception of the MBS and PBS and also lack of indemnity for homebirth midwives. Contact: Jessica Krop jess@withindoula.com.au

- Byron Bay – 11am, meet in car park off Lawson St (behind the Hogs Breath Cafe). We will walk down Jonson Street with The Amazing Mullumboombas to Railway Park for performances by local musicians, face painting, sausage sizzle and stall. Contact: Vicki McAlistair maternityactiongroup@gmail.com

- Brisbane - 10am-midday, Bardon Hall, 247 Simpsons Rd, Bardon. Bring a plate for morning tea. If you have any inspirational images or anything that celebrates your positive experience that you'd like to share, bring along. Contact: Sara Nest saranest@maternitycoalition.org.au

- Wagga Wagga – Details TBC. Contact: Kirsty Matthews kirstytim@people.net.au

- Stanthorpe - Time TBC. Meeting in the main street. Petition for people to sign. Contact: Alison Gaffney mungomagic@dodo.com.au

- Ipswich – 9.45am for a 10am photoshoot at the Rotunda in Queens Park, Ipswich. We will string a line of nappies with our messages and photos on between trees on on the Rotunda. We need lots of local midwives, mums and babies to come along with placards and nappies. Morning tea in the park afterwards.. Contact: Cas McCullough cas@casmccullough.com

- Mackay – Details TBC. Contact: Diane Longworth dlworth1@bigpond.com

- Illawarra - Details TBC.

TBC – Hunter Valley and Scotts Head



They can't be allowed to take away such an important choice from women

[Kitt3n]

I am going! Even though its our first wedding anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are all going down, probably staying the sunday and minday night

I AM SO DAMN ANGRY ABOUT THIS

Laa was born at home - to imagine that the govt will be taking that choice away MAKES ME SICK.

A hombirth is the most precious, wonderful, amazing.... well you get the picture - way to birth. Whether or not its your thing the govt has NO RIGHT to take the option away from you!!!!

[Jodie]

I am going to the rally in Canberra too, this is something very important to me and women must have the choice to birth at home with a midwife.

Jodie,
Mum to 4, one home birthed

[HG01]

Just reading about this makes me want to cry. I would LOVE a homebirth if we had more $$'s on hand but my birth centre births are the next best thing. I think it is ridiculous they are trying to take away our choices and my daughters choices of doing something that is the most NATURAL thing in the world to do - give birth to your baby in your own home. It makes me so freaking angry!

[Kizzzah]

IM prob going on sat too the one in ipswitch