Zika, Like Rubella, a Game-Changer?

I’ve been collecting links on the Zika virus for weeks now.

If you haven’t been keeping up, here are some points to know:
• there isn’t a concrete link yet between reported cases of microcephaly and the Zika virus in Central and South America;
• some researchers in Latin America suggest that it is not Zika but a Monsanto-linked larvicide causing microcephaly;
• microcephaly is a variable diagnosis depending on the size of the head, unlike anencephaly, which literally means “no in-head”;
• microcephaly is also a variable condition affecting some infants not much, others catastrophically;
• microcephaly cannot be reliably diagnosed in utero until quite late in pregnancy and then, see above for variable diagnosis and prognosis.

So, while this is a fascinating epidemiology narrative, it has devastating consequences for the region.

And may well serve as a game-changer in reproductive rights.

Several writers have drawn parallels between the Zika and Rubella viruses.

The Guardian:

It’s early spring in London. Some of Britain’s leading medical researchers have convened to discuss alarming new evidence linking a virus long presumed to be harmless with a spate of defects in newborn babies. It’s not 2016, it’s 1946, and the disease is not Zika, but German Measles, or Rubella.

The writer goes on:

Such women [infected with Rubella and seeking an abortion], historian Leslie Reagan has eloquently argued, were ‘moral pioneers’. The accidental combination of pregnancy and disease put women in the complicated position of having to assess scientific information about the probability of foetal malformation, and confront the anxieties and uncertainties associated with either terminating a pregnancy or carrying it to term. Not all medical practitioners agreed that infection with Rubella in early pregnancy justified abortion. But many did, to the extent that termination had become the ‘recognised treatment’ for maternal Rubella in British hospitals at least a decade before abortion was made legal.

But beyond individuals’ ethical and medical quandaries, there is now in Latin America a helluva public health mess.

Ilana Löwy, historian of science and medicine, writes:

Brazil is facing an epidemic of a severe birth defect: microcephaly (abnormally small head size), a condition linked with important neurological impairments and developmental delays.

Brazil, don’t forget, is also hosting the Olympics this summer.

Brazil and other countries are focussed on trying to control the spread of Zika infection, as Löwy says, “undoubtedly an important goal, but difficult to achieve rapidly.”

But the point here, as with Rubella, is that even if the cause of microcephaly can be nailed to Zika and even if a rapid diagnosis for Zika-infected fetuses is devised, what bloody good will it do?

Abortion — and in many countries in the region, contraception as well — is pretty much totally illegal.

So, there will be not only thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of panicky women demanding some recourse, but there will be entire states gazing with despair at a generation of brain-damaged children.

Löwy again:

Microcephaly is scary. As reported in an article published by BBC Brazil on December 15, 2015, pregnant women in rural zones of Pernambuco say they are terrified by what they know about the zika epidemic and its consequences. Brazilian doctors have no answer to their fears. Public health experts are predicting 15,000 cases of microcephaly—and possibly up to 50,000 zika-induced birth defects—before the end of 2016. When asked about the possibility that women will be allowed to abort fetuses at risk of birth defects induced by zika, the answer is: “Abortion is a crime.”

In response to the Rubella epidemic, many doctors in Western countries acted in the best interests of their patients and risked their careers to offer terminations.

Löwy concludes: “One must wonder whether Brazilian doctors’ unwillingness to consider interventions beyond the strict limits of the law reflects such strong convictions, or is influenced also by the fact that the majority of women at high risk of giving birth to children with microcephaly live in poor, often neglected areas.”

And Brazil is just one of the affected countries (animated map of Zika’s spread).

Will Zika start to change the discussion of women’s own moral agency as Rubella did? Will a massive public health emergency force priest-ridden states to reconsider privileging medieval views over ordinary citizens’ well being?

We live in hope.

At Last! Common Ground (sorta)

Wow. Whodathunk? Both pro- and anti-choicers agree. Mandatory registration of pregnancy is a bad idea.

Over the xmas holiday, Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's first female president, used a sneaky tactic to implement just such a rule, under the 'guise' (critics claim) of improving maternal health.

Let's hear from a feminist.

If you want a peek into the future of women’s health should Republicans succeed in criminalizing abortion, look no further than Brazil. Provisionary Measure 557 (PM 557) signed into law just after Christmas, created a National System of Registration, Vigilance and Monitoring Women’s Care During Pregnancy and Post Childbirth for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality (National Registration System).

It’s a long name that masks the Orwellian reality Brazilian women now face–compulsory registration with the state of all pregnancies.

Now for some background from Slate.

So what is going on? Brazil, the most populous Catholic country in Latin America, finds its politics intrinsically tied to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Dilma, who won a last-minute reprieve from the church’s negative onslaught in the 2010 presidential elections once she disavowed any suggested support for abortion, is to a certain extent beholden to that base. Indeed, Dilma’s cabinet includes an unofficial church representative who was responsible for brokering an agreement between the Vatican and Brazil during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration. For years Catholic and evangelical parliamentarians have been trying unsuccessfully to establish a registry for pregnant women, with Dilma’s support they’ve finally succeeded.

. . .

It’s unlikely that Congress will review the new law until it next meets in March. In the meantime, it’s unclear whether women will be lining up to register their pregnancies and if they do what will be the consequence of a pregnancy that ends in miscarriage or an abortion—the latter of which, under Brazilian law, is criminalized except for cases of rape or risk to the life of the pregnant woman. One thing we can be certain of is that maternal mortality rates will not be dropping any time soon, but the prosecution of women for harming a fetus or for getting an abortion could be on the rise.

SHRIEEEK! The Handmaid's Tale and all that.

But wait. The Fetus Lobby doesn't like it either.

That Provisory Temporary was drafted by a government full of feminists that claim that legalization of abortion strengthens the women’s human rights, who treat abortion as a “right to choose” in the cases of normal pregnancy; in other words, to abort (kill) the baby “simply” because a woman should have the freedom of deciding if she wants to continue or not a pregnancy.

For the sane people, it's a matter of what use this registry will be put to. For the fetus fetishists, it's a matter of wrong focus -- on the woman, NOT on the fetus.

But I think a commenter at LifeShite approaches the crux of it-- except of course for the god/satan crap.

This is the right step, but as the article points out, for all the wrong reasons. First, it is the right step because when abortion is outlawed it will allow the government to protect the unborn by preventing pregnant women from going outside the jurisdiction to kill their children, and punishing those that do. Second, this shows why our nation and every nation needs to make the Church part of the government, to have Her steady guidance. The Brazilian government has been infiltrated by Satan.

I'd go further. For the Fetus Lobby, this is the right thing to do, but by the wrong people. It shouldn't be feminist socialists regulating women's bodies; it should be patriarchal churchy-types.

Politics in Latin America is hugely complicated by the MASSIVE influence of the Vatican Taliban. Remember lefty poster-boy Daniel Ortega? When he became president, he cut a deal with the devil and outlawed abortion altogether. Read this old piece at Birth Pangs for the dirty details. And this for the results of the complete ban -- unsurprisingly -- 'sheer horror'.

And don't forget: Ortega used his political immunity to avoid charges by his stepdaughter of rape and sexual abuse. Charges she has never withdrawn. (Dirty details of this also at BP link.)

I'll be keeping an eye on developments in Brazil. I do believe that Dilma wants to improve the status of women. Perhaps this is some kind of manoeuvre to thwart the church. If so, I hope it doesn't boomerang on her. Because in the wrong hands, it is just what the FFs most ardently desire.

To know him is to . . . laugh at him

If you're not on Twitter you may have missed this bit of fun. Someone posted a machine translation of an incident involving PMShithead and the president of Brazil.

And a bathroom.

Canadian Prime Minister goes to the bathroom and back with only requirement met

The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, has caused constraints in Brazilian diplomacy on Monday, demanding a change in the ceremony and only go to the salon for lunch with the President after Rousseff met.

The speeches and toasts are common in this type of event can be both before and after lunch. Dilma prefers it that later, but Harper made sure they were done before the guests start eating at the meeting yesterday.

He had already angered aides and diplomats at the presidential palace, telling reporters that Canadians speak there, breaking the rule that such interviews always occur in the Foreign Ministry.

As the Brazilian side denied the request, Harper has reached the Foreign Ministry, for lunch, showing bad temper and demanding the reversal of the freebies. Then locked himself in a private Minister Antonio Patriota, while waiting for an answer.

Stunned, Brazilian diplomats did not know what to do if you meet a desire of the Brazilian President or surrendered to the whim of the Canadian visitors.

Only when we have confirmed that he would be met is that Harper went to Brasilia room where the banquet took place, with palm heart salad, guinea hen and "pineapple delight". Toasts are made with wines.

A less amusing but not substantially different translation is provided here.

Yes. Our PM actually had a snit and locked himself in a bathroom. While on a state visit.

So, the officials were obviously pissed, but what did the 73 commenters on the story have to say?

Here at DJ! we live to serve, so we ran some likely looking comments -- for example, with 'infantilidade' in them (which means about what you'd expect) -- through the translator.

Here's a sampling:

But that arrogant foreigner, desinteligente. In the other house elegance recommends that one should submit to the host. Come so far to shame here, the hope is to forget the path that does not return soon. And if you do, it is with a position of ruler of the 1st world. You know that song poor, the Naiara Azevedo; ecomendar it would be for her a song response to this bumbler.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS Greasy satisfy the request, should have given the toilet DISCHARGE AND HAVE LET HIM DOWN TO THE PLACE.

Here in Brazil things are kids do not want to take medicine when they lock themselves in the bathroom.

He left the bathroom after it was taken care of? But what is it? The illustration of the Brazilian populace to know: This is cag ... ing and walking to Brazil, literally ahahhahahahahahah

Should it be with diarrhea and invented this excuse to relieve themselves.

Someone in government had to have taken a more energetic attitude in this case. Should take the pink bunny doll, and put him jolhos in maize.

But just what was missing was this ... Our president has even muitaaaa patience, I would put to wash dishes. Now let the fresh man!

The next one is gonna leave, er, a mark.

Hahaha ... It is not the first time that this guy runs to the bathroom in meeting offices. In April 2009 he appeared in a photo go because G20 was in the bathroom. This news came on the BBC and The Telegraph ...

The next commenter has taken the measure of the man.

Lets get this straight: the visitor arrives at the host and gently before being subjected to the customs of the recipient well, require its rules in the most awkward possible. Therefore, these facts lead me to suppose that the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, besides acting as a spoiled brat, is a tremendous rude, arrogant, rude and their attitude, therefore, should shame the great people of Canada. Would have done a favor if you had not come. Get out of here.

As does this one:

THAT'S WHAT MAKES A PRESIDENT VISITS CHOOSING NOT DILMA. MARKING LUNCH WITH AMATEUR WORLD THAT THINK FIRST. PAPER Kid A LACK OF RESPECT TO THE WOMAN IS A NATION. On the other hand is very weak CEREMONIAL WHY SHOULD HAVE NEVER MET AN APPLICATION whim, HE WANTED TO SHOW POWER. FAILED The ceremonial.

And some good advice for presidential hosts and parents everywhere:

They should have left him there and followed with other affairs of state.

And now, my fave.

Spoiled ... fresh in the Portuguese right. I know not, but the world is in the hands of people at this level. Or is this a nerd or the arrogance of Obama. Now, let's see, what did we come to Canada? Salmon, tuna, train ... my! In fact, he is the face of MAD, remember?

This is how our PMShithead appears to Brazilians.



Gratifying, isn't it?

ADDED: The MSM is on it!

ADDED: More MSM. Everybody loves a bathroom story.

ADDED: Even the Washington Post loves a bathroom story!

UPDATE: At last look (couple of hours ago), there were more than 330 comments at the original Portuguese story. When time allows, I'll run some more through the translating machine.

Heartless, Cruel, and Gone!

The Brazilian Catlick Archbishop who tried to prevent a raped 9-year-old pregnant with twins from having an abortion and then excommunicated her doctors and family has resigned.

Apparently, when archbishops get to the age of 75, they write resignation letters, which the Poop can reject or accept. The Poop accepted this one.

Here's LifeShite whinging:

For his ardent defense of the lives of unborn twins, Archbishop Cardoso has been vilified in the media since February of this year. The media pounced on the archbishop due to his action in the very hard case of a nine-year-old girl who was raped by her step-father and was carrying twins.

The priest involved and Archbishop Cardoso himself did everything in their power to work with the family and the child to assist them with their needs and also to save the lives of the twins she was carrying. An international abortion lobby group was pushing the family to have the girl abort, apparently seeing the case as a golden opportunity to press for legal abortion in the nation. As a last-ditch effort to save the lives of the unborn twins, after the girl was moved by pro-abortion activists to an unknown location, the archbishop announced that those involved in procuring the abortions would suffer an automatic excommunication.

The international anti-life media jumped on the announcement, portraying the archbishop as heartless and cruel. At first the archbishop was defended by his confreres in the episcopate locally and also by the Vatican's Prefect for the Congregation of Bishops Cardinal Battista Re.

However, the relentless media attacks and falsifications, coupled with public denunciations from political leaders including Brazil's health minister as well as its President, began to affect even his brother bishops.

Hee. 'Relentless media attacks'. The bloggy media too. JJ at Unrepentant Old Hippie -- love that name! -- let loose a classic. We here at DJ! joined the relentless attacks.

This may be the first and last time I say this: Good on you, Ratzy.

Excommunication was wrong. Or misinterpreted. Or . . . something

There's been a reversal in the case of the raped nine-year-old in Brazil whose mother and doctors were to be excommunicated.

According to Radio New Zealand (the only source I could find):

Brazilian bishops have cancelled the excommunication of the mother and doctors of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion after being raped.

They said the decision to excommunicate was wrong and would not be applied.
. . .
In an effort to mitigate the archbishop's declarations, CNBB president Geraldo Lyra Rocha said his colleague had been misinterpreted.

"Archbishop Sobrinho did not excommunicate anyone," he said. "I am sure he did not mean to harm anyone but rather wanted to draw attention to a certain permissiveness (over abortions)."

Well, which is it? Was the decision wrong or misinterpreted? How about just plain evil?

And what will the Poop have to say, having already backed this monstrous decision? Was he wrong? Misinterpreted?

And yes, of course, blogging on this story is -- SHRIEEEEEK!!! -- Anti-Catlick Bigotry! Start the countdown.

UPPITY-DATE: Vatican Backtracks:

A senior Vatican official has criticized the excommunication of a Brazilian woman whose nine-year-old daughter had an abortion after being raped, as well as the medical team who performed it.

"Before thinking about an excommunication it was necessary and urgent to save the innocent life" of the girl "to bring her back to a level of humanity of which clerics should be the experts and master," said Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

"This was not the case," Fisichella said in an article to be published by the Vatican's Osservatore Romano newspaper today.

"Unfortunately the credibility of our teaching took a blow as it appeared, in the eyes of many, to be insensitive, incomprehensible and lacking mercy."

Yup.

Vatican Rag

Wow. When the Stun Media Group and the Notional Pest geddit, what next?

First, Mindelle Jacobs:

Another International Women's Day has passed and the Roman Catholic Church has started the year badly, predictably, by condemning an abortion for a nine-year-old Brazilian rape victim.

The Vatican is having a difficult time forcing women to have unwanted children, particularly in developing countries.

In Brazil, for example, there are an estimated 1.4 million illegal abortions a year.(The procedure is only allowed in cases of rape or to save the life of the mother). One in four pregnancy-related deaths in the heavily Catholic country is due to complications from an unsafe abortion.

But that hasn't stopped the Catholic church from continuing to place the fetus above the health and economic needs of women.

. . .

It's almost like the church gets off on female suffering.

And the Notional Pest on the importance of the washing machine to women's rights:

The article provoked an angry response from some commentators and politicians.

"Instead of entering into an abstract debate on gender, it would be better if L'Osservatore Romano discussed reality, such as the fear in which many women still live when they are in the streets and between the walls of their own homes," Paola Concia, an MP from the opposition Democratic party, told La Stampa newspaper.

The Roman Catholic Church has come under attack in recent days for what has been perceived as a callous approach to women's issues.

Last week, Brazil's health minister accused the Church of an "extreme" and "inadequate" position for opposing an abortion for a nine-year-old girl who became pregnant with twins after she was allegedly raped by her stepfather.

Seems like even the NP and Sun Media are getting on the anti-Catlick bigot bus.

This passes for rationality among Catlicks?!?!

Further to deBeauxOs's post on girls and rape and age, LifeShite has this breathtaking quote from the über-cruel Archbishop who excommunicated the girl's mother and doctor, but NOT the girl herself:

José Cardoso Sobrinho, Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, confirmed that while the child would not be held accountable for the act, the doctor who carried out the abortion and anyone who assisted or gave their approval were excommunicated by the Church.

"To be subject to this penalty is it is necessary to be of age. The Church is very benevolent, especially with minors," the Archbishop told the media. "Now the adults, those who approved, who carried out this abortion, are excommunicated."

So. A nine-year-old girl is NOT too young to rape, NOT too young to be forced to give birth, NOT too young to risk her life and health in being forced to give birth.

But the motherfucking Catlick Church is so 'very benevolent' that it considers her too young to be excommunicated.

Seriously. I got nuthin'.

Where are the 'pro-lifers'?

Back here we examined the fact that feminists are nowhere to be found on all manner of important issues.

Let's start a new one: Where are the fetus fetishists/'pro-lifers'?

Like, where are the fetish fetishists on
the Catlick Church's opposition to an abortion for a 80-pound 9-year-old girl raped by her step-father and carrying twins that would certainly endanger her life and maybe kill her?

Hmmmmm?

Some 'culture of life' you got going there.

Let's get on it, shall we? Where are the so-called pro-lifers on this one?

ADDED: Go read A Midwife in Training on this.

Old enough to rape, too young to have rights?

What do Brazil and Yemen have in common?

They both support the patriarchal control of girls for the benefit of men and male-centered institutions.

JJ blogged about the odious attempt by the Catholic Church in Brazil to stop a 9 year-old girl - who was raped and impregnated by her step-father (he denies being a pedophile) - from having an abortion.

DAMMIT JANET! brings you news about Nojoud Muhammad Nasser who successfully divorced the man she was forced to marry when she was 8 years old.

Yemen has barred a former child bride from being honored in Austria, saying she is too young to travel alone.

When she was less than 10 years old, the girl was forced to marry a man at least three times her age. After being raped and abused by him, she successfully filed for divorce and traveled abroad to talk about her ordeal.

Thursday evening, the girl will be commended for her courage at an awards gala in the Austrian capital. But she cannot attend because Yemeni authorities have confiscated her passport, saying she is too young to travel by herself.

The organizers of the event held a press conference to denounce the Yemen authorities who stopped Nojoud from receiving her award.

"They want to prevent this courageous girl from participating tonight," said Georg Kindel, who founded the awards in 2004.

Northern Irish Nobel peace laureate Betty Williams, who came to Vienna to receive the World Achievement Award presented by Jordanian Queen Noor, said a demonstration should be organised in front of Yemen's embassy in Vienna.

There should be demonstrations in front of all Yemen embassies to protest this.

The photograph of Nojoud was found at Sweetness and Light.

Fetus Fetishists' Wet Dream

Go read Dr. Prole at ACR.

Here's a taste:

Nobody expects the Brazilian Inquisition! In a frightening invasion of privacy, up to 1,000 women and their partners are expected to be prosecuted and publicly denounced for having illegal abortions at a Brazilian clinic. The penalty is one to three years in jail.