Thursday, March 31, 2022
Baas in Eigen Buik
A postcard from the Netherlands. She writes, "In the Netherlands we have a "Movement" that promotes "baas in eigen buik." In English: "Masters of our own belly." This is the first card I've received from a male writer.
From Wikipedia: "Abortion in the Netherlands was fully legalized on November 1, 1984, allowing abortions to be done on-demand up to the 24th week of the pregnancy. Abortion for "serious medical reasons" can be performed after 24 weeks. There is a mandatory five-day waiting period for abortions done after your menstrual period is 17 days overdue."
IT IS HEALTHCARE
The postcard writer says, "Honestly, what I wrote on the card is the complete opposite of what I felt 20 years ago."
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
To Never Know Love
This is card is from Switzerland.
From Wikipedia: "Abortion in Switzerland is legal during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, upon condition of counseling, for women who state that they are in distress. It is also legal with medical indications – threat of severe physical or psychological damage to the woman – at any later time. Switzerland is among the developed nations with the lowest rates of abortions and unwanted pregnancies.
ILLEGAL ABORTIONS KILL WOMEN
This card is from Finland.
According to Wikipedia:
"Abortion in Finland is legal and free of charge under a broad range of circumstances. By international standards, political controversy is mild, and incidence is low."
HOPE
This card is from the Czech Republic.
From Wikipedia:
"In 1957 abortions were legalized in Czechoslovakia, although with restrictions that depended on the current policy of the government. In 1986 the restrictions were lifted, resulting in growth of the number of abortions.
Since 1993, abortions for non-medical reasons have not been paid for by the public health system. The absolute peak of the number of abortions was reached in 1990 at over 100,000 per year, but has declined steadily down since then, reaching less than 1/3 of the peak level in 2004. Reasons for this decrease have included the wider availability of contraception and better sex education."
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Right to Choose
The above card arrived from Finland.
"Abortion in Finland is legal and free of charge under a broad range of circumstances. By international standards, political controversy is mild, and incidence is low." Wikipedia
No Life Robbed or Lost
I received the above card from a Postcrosser in Japan.
According to Wikipedia, "Abortion in Japan is available to women in limited circumstances, including endangerment of their health or economic hardship. Chapter XXIX of the Penal Code of Japan makes abortion de jure illegal in the country, but exceptions to the law are broad enough that it is widely accepted and practiced."
Thursday, March 17, 2022
CALL FOR ART: I DO BELIEVE POSTCARD SHOW
I am organizing a postcard exhibit with the theme, I Do Believe, on opinions about abortion. The woman’s right to abortion in the United States became Federal law on January 22, 1973 through the Supreme Court Case, Roe v. Wade. Individual states could no longer have their own laws that would contradict the provisions of this Supreme Court decision. But the passage of Roe v. Wade did not put the issue of abortion rights to rest. Recent cases under review in the Supreme Court may change or overturn abortion rights in many States. There are widespread disagreements among United States politicians, media, and citizens about abortion. I would like to receive your personal point of view about this complex and difficult topic.
To participate, please write on the front of your card (the side with the picture) your belief on either right to life (against legalized abortion) or right to choose (legalized abortion). It can be a few words, one sentence, or a paragraph. You do not have to be an artist to participate. It can be in English or any country's language.
The card should be the standard postcard size of 6 x 4 inches (148 x 105 mm in Europe). You can use any commercial postcard or you can create your own. You can mail your postcard with or without an envelope. For all postcards received, I will black out the name of the sender to safeguard anonymity.
The purpose of this exhibition is to share beliefs, opinions and experiences on all sides of this issue. Postcard comments will be documented in this mail art blog. From August 29 - September 26, 2022, the postcards will be exhibited together, without prejudice or judgement, at the Vargas Gallery, Mission College in Santa Clara. Postcards will not be returned.
The deadline is June 30, 2022. Mail your postcard to : I Do Believe, c/o P. Otani, PO Box 31083, San Francisco, CA 94131.
I hope that you will share your thoughtful, heart-felt beliefs, whatever they may be, on this complex and important subject. Please share this call for postcards with your friends and organizations.
Saturday, March 12, 2022
BOSS IN OWN BELLY
This card came from the Netherlands.
From the Government of the Netherlands website:
Women in the Netherlands may terminate their pregnancy, for example, if they have an unwanted pregnancy or for medical reasons. Under the law, an abortion may be performed up to the time when the foetus is viable outside the mother’s body. This is generally taken to mean the 24th week of the pregnancy.
No Abortion (Under Normal Circumstances) For Myself
I received this postcard from Germany.
Technically, abortion is illegal ... in Germany. However, it is allowed under certain circumstances and the procedure must be performed within 12 weeks of conception. On January 17, 2022, Germany's justice ministry presented a draft law on Monday that would do away with a Nazi-era law forbidding doctors to provide information about abortions. --Reuters
No Child Should Be Born Unloved
An accompanying letter said:
"This little postcard features a child's drawing and a saying I heard at a Planned Parenthood meeting. Rather than banning abortion, we need to fight unwanted pregnancies through education, birth control and holding men responsible as women for their actions."
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