(SUBMITTED) Defense of Life Act

[The Associated Peoples]

This has been going on for some time now and I believe it should be given up.Ambassador Harper's solution to the matter is much much better and less constrictive.Your own personal ideology has no place on the GA floor and no amount of rhetoric can convince me that this is any more than that.Just so you know I read the first post.

[Meekinos]

Refering to your proposal, is requiring nations to allow abortions in cases of maternal life, maternal health, rape, and fetal defects not dictating abortion law?

Virtually every WA resolution does that kind of thing, honoured ambassador. However, what is wrong now is you have gone into desperate measures in a vain attempt to keep this draft alive. The problem is that this draft is still tightly linked to your attempt to ban abortion after 24 weeks, to which many ambassadors have disagreed with, form my observation. You have even used RL examples as evidence rather than focusing on the actual implications of banning abortion.

Honoured ambassador, I regret to inform you that there is very little hope of saving this draft unless you really pay attention to the reality of banning abortion. For example: member states that believe that the concept for forced maternity is inappropriate, member states who promote family planning to improve welfare, and member states who face overpopulation issues and want to make abortion available to all for such reasons.

- Ms. S. Harper.

Once again, Ms. Harper hits the nail on the head with resonating success. She clearly understands the vast, unique needs of every member nation.

We do not need a bandaid solution or a one-size fits all. We need a solution that provides the most wiggling room. The proposal put forth by the delegate of Christian Democrats is repulsive and ill-thought out. It makes drastic assumptions and attempts to force its own brand of morality on the majority. They obviously aren't familiar with the radical idea that a spoon full of sugar helps the bitterest of medicine go down. Ms. Harper's delegation clearly is and her proposal (which isn't being debate directly here, though it has been mentioned in passing) does.

[Xanthal]

I must give credit to the authors of this resolution, as it is perhaps the most thoughtfully-worded, intelligently-aimed legislation ever to come to the floor of the WA on this matter. However, it is the position of the Xanthalian government that the required extension of sentient rights to any being should be based on its present level of sentience, not past sentience or expectations of future sentience. While the Federation certainly does not begrudge other nations the right to extend these protections further, and abortion laws indeed vary by state within the Federation itself, sentience- not viability- is the sole minimum standard by which my delegation is prepared to support internationally binding law on the subject of willful termination of life in the absence of extenuating factors.

I believe this resolution is on the right track, and for that I offer my affirmation of its sentiment. However, we should not judge our right to kill a being by its ability to survive, but its ability to think and feel on levels consistent with internationally accepted standards of sentience.

[Teshuva]

Teshuva fully approves this resolution and it's spirit. We hope to be able to vote for it as soon as possible.

Regards,

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Teshuva fully approves this resolution and it's spirit. We hope to be able to vote for it as soon as possible.

Regards,

Honoured ambassador, deep down the resolution is trying to enforce a much more constrictive view on member states whereas in reality the policy on abortion varies greatly from member state to member state. Sadly apart from abortion in cases of rape et. al. We feel that there can never be a satisfactory one-size-fits all solution to abortion outside such reasons.

[Christian Democrats]

I must give credit to the authors of this resolution, as it is perhaps the most thoughtfully-worded, intelligently-aimed legislation ever to come to the floor of the WA on this matter.

Thank you Delegate Xanthal.

However, it is the position of the Xanthalian government that the required extension of sentient rights to any being should be based on its present level of sentience, not past sentience or expectations of future sentience. While the Federation certainly does not begrudge other nations the right to extend these protections further, and abortion laws indeed vary by state within the Federation itself, sentience- not viability- is the sole minimum standard by which my delegation is prepared to support internationally binding law on the subject of willful termination of life in the absence of extenuating factors.

I believe this resolution is on the right track, and for that I offer my affirmation of its sentiment. However, we should not judge our right to kill a being by its ability to survive, but its ability to think and feel on levels consistent with internationally accepted standards of sentience.

I strongly will consider your recommendation, and this ( ^ ) probably will be the standard that I'll use in my next draft rather than viability. In humans, viability occurs around 24 weeks. I need to do more research about fetuses' ability to think, but, in a cursory search, it appears that thought, as we know it, begins around week 30.
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Thank you TCT for telegramming me about a typo that I made. Correction: in real life Spain, elective abortion is allowed during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, not the first 12 weeks.
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Does anyone have any reliable facts about when fetal thought begins?

[Philimbesi]

You can't honestly be thinking of re-re-re submitting this should it fail to reach quorum?

[Christian Democrats]

You can't honestly be thinking of re-re-re submitting this should it fail to reach quorum?

This would be the first time that the proposal would fail to reach quorum.

The first two submissions had legality issues which now have been resolved.

[The Cat-Tribe]

I must give credit to the authors of this resolution, as it is perhaps the most thoughtfully-worded, intelligently-aimed legislation ever to come to the floor of the WA on this matter.

Thank you Delegate Xanthal.

However, it is the position of the Xanthalian government that the required extension of sentient rights to any being should be based on its present level of sentience, not past sentience or expectations of future sentience. While the Federation certainly does not begrudge other nations the right to extend these protections further, and abortion laws indeed vary by state within the Federation itself, sentience- not viability- is the sole minimum standard by which my delegation is prepared to support internationally binding law on the subject of willful termination of life in the absence of extenuating factors.

I believe this resolution is on the right track, and for that I offer my affirmation of its sentiment. However, we should not judge our right to kill a being by its ability to survive, but its ability to think and feel on levels consistent with internationally accepted standards of sentience.

I strongly will consider your recommendation, and this ( ^ ) probably will be the standard that I'll use in my next draft rather than viability. In humans, viability occurs around 24 weeks. I need to do more research about fetuses' ability to think, but, in a cursory search, it appears that thought, as we know it, begins around week 30.
--------------------------------------

Thank you TCT for telegramming me about a typo that I made. Correction: in real life Spain, elective abortion is allowed during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, not the first 12 weeks.

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Does anyone have any reliable facts about when fetal thought begins?

I break my silence in post because I wish to make clear I told CD by TG that CD's entire post was filed with selective facts, twisted use of terms like "elective abortion," and plain falsehoods.

One example I gave of an error was Spain now allows abortion without any restrictions for the first 14 weeks of gestation. Spain also permits abortion at up to 22 weeks if two doctors certify that the pregnancy poses a serious threat to the woman’s life or health, as well as in cases of fetal impairment, and beyond 22 weeks in cases of severe fetal impairment. There are other loopholes in practice that make abortion widely available in Spain. Spain's newlaw is part of a wide and deep trend of liberalization of abortion law around the world.

Any implication that I agreed with or failed to strongly dispute any part of CD's prior post is incorrect. CD's entire campaign has been based on unsupported dogmatic beliefs, twisting of facts, and outright lies. This is unfortunate, as I believe such behavior beneath CD.

[Christian Democrats]

Thank you Delegate Xanthal.

I strongly will consider your recommendation, and this ( ^ ) probably will be the standard that I'll use in my next draft rather than viability. In humans, viability occurs around 24 weeks. I need to do more research about fetuses' ability to think, but, in a cursory search, it appears that thought, as we know it, begins around week 30.
--------------------------------------

Thank you TCT for telegramming me about a typo that I made. Correction: in real life Spain, elective abortion is allowed during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, not the first 12 weeks.

--------------------------------------
Does anyone have any reliable facts about when fetal thought begins?

I break my silence in post because I wish to make clear I told CD by TG that CD's entire post was filed with selective facts, twisted use of terms like "elective abortion," and plain falsehoods.

One example I gave of an error was Spain now allows abortion without any restrictions for the first 14 weeks of gestation. Spain also permits abortion at up to 22 weeks if two doctors certify that the pregnancy poses a serious threat to the woman’s life or health, as well as in cases of fetal impairment, and beyond 22 weeks in cases of severe fetal impairment. There are other loopholes in practice that make abortion widely available in Spain. Spain's newlaw is part of a wide and deep trend of liberalization of abortion law around the world.

Any implication that I agreed with or failed to strongly dispute any part of CD's prior post is incorrect. CD's entire campaign has been based on unsupported dogmatic beliefs, twisting of facts, and outright lies. This is unfortunate, as I believe such behavior beneath CD.

Hence, I used the phrase "elective abortion."

The life, health, etc. exceptions would be considered therapeutic abortions.

Because this proposal would limit only elective abortions, I found it necessary to cite real life limits related only to elective abortions.

For example, because I know you'll do the research, abortion on-demand is illegal in Israel, but there are a variety of circumstances under which abortion is allowed:

• Life
• Health
• Younger than 17 years
• Older than 40 years
• Fetal defects
• Rape, incest, etc.
• Extramarital sex

I'm sorry if you feel my facts are misleading, but I was precise in using the term "elective."

[Grays Harbor]

As this is still an active issue, and the fact remains that CD is trying to press his own version of "morals" upon the rest of the WA, we believe it is pertinent that we state that if CD feels it necessary to submit this again and again and again we shall continue to not approve it again and again and again, and will most likely participate in any campaign to inform those delegates who do not participate here what an utter sham this whole thing is..

[Christian Democrats]

CD is trying to press his own version of "morals" upon the rest of the WA

No I'm not.

If I were trying to press morality on the rest of the World Assembly . . .

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

[Intellect and the Arts]

Does anyone have any reliable facts about when fetal thought begins?

Conscious brain waves are detectable sometime in the sixth month of pregnancy. I'll do some research on the exact week and send it to you via telegram if you would welcome the information.

[Xanthal]

While the Federation is certainly wary of using the World Assembly to impose moral and ethical positions on the international community, it is unrealistic to expect international law to rest exclusively on objective reasoning. For better or worse, our sense of morality and ethics is embedded in and inextricable from our various policies. Indeed, a cursory browsing of past WA resolutions will quickly establish a deep moral/ethical vein in the acts of this body. It is common wisdom in the Federation and the policy of the Xanthalian delegation- as well as my own personal conviction- that we must thoroughly audit the rational basis of our reflexive emotional responses and remain receptive to outside viewpoints to avoid becoming dogmatic and dictatorial in our own moral certitude, but I do not believe the key to effective international administration is pure technocracy. The humanism of a compassionate and thoughtful ethical perspective is an essential part of a holistic approach to the World Assembly mission.

[Linux and the X]

This has forty-five minutes before it expires. It needs twenty approvals to reach quorum. I ask that when this fails, you give up on it.

[Christian Democrats]

Does anyone have any reliable facts about when fetal thought begins?

Conscious brain waves are detectable sometime in the sixth month of pregnancy. I'll do some research on the exact week and send it to you via telegram if you would welcome the information.

I would welcome the information. Thank you for offering. I also need to do some of my own research.

[Linux and the X]

This failed to reach quorum. Will you not simply accept that the WA does not want this?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Conscious brain waves are detectable sometime in the sixth month of pregnancy. I'll do some research on the exact week and send it to you via telegram if you would welcome the information.

I would welcome the information. Thank you for offering. I also need to do some of my own research.

Foetal thought doesn't matter honoured ambassador. Any attempt to ban abortion of the slightest kind is still intrusive to member states who may be overpopulated. Honoured ambassador from Christian Democrats, it's all over now. Any attempt at a revision will make the resentment worse, I'm afraid.

- Ms. S. Harper.

[Intellect and the Arts]

Conscious brain waves are detectable sometime in the sixth month of pregnancy. I'll do some research on the exact week and send it to you via telegram if you would welcome the information.

I would welcome the information. Thank you for offering. I also need to do some of my own research.

The information has been sent to your inbox, and you may feel free to disclose here anything stated in said telegram if you so desire.

Foetal thought doesn't matter honoured ambassador. Any attempt to ban abortion of the slightest kind is still intrusive to member states who may be overpopulated. Honoured ambassador from Christian Democrats, it's all over now. Any attempt at a revision will make the resentment worse, I'm afraid.

- Ms. S. Harper.

It may indeed be fairly moot at this point, milady, but at the very least I find myself intrigued to find out exactly what he plans to do with the information once he has it at his disposal.

[Philimbesi]

It may indeed be fairly moot at this point, milady, but at the very least I find myself intrigued to find out exactly what he plans to do with the information once he has it at his disposal.

Nigel raised an eyebrow. " We did a similar experiment not too long ago by giving a primate a football... it was entertaining to say the least. "

[Just Guy]

CD, you'd be surprised how easy it is to get an abortion is Israel... Most of the laws you cited only apply de jure.

[Christian Democrats]

CD, you'd be surprised how easy it is to get an abortion is Israel... Most of the laws you cited only apply de jure.

I know, which is why I posted this:

For example, because I know you'll do the research, abortion on-demand is illegal in Israel, but there are a variety of circumstances under which abortion is allowed:

• Life
• Health
• Younger than 17 years
• Older than 40 years
• Fetal defects
• Rape, incest, etc.
• Extramarital sex (i.e., sex that occurred outside of marriage, including adultery and fornication)

I'm sorry if you feel my facts are misleading, but I was precise in using the term "elective."

Basically, anyone who is not a married woman impregnated by her husband can procure an abortion in Israel yet abortion on-demand still is technically illegal as you pointed out.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Honoured ambassador, I don't understand how the Israeli example has to do with the draft but this draft still goes against the idea of making the world a better place to live. It is still allowing member states to throw women in jail for obtaining abortion because of rape or life threatening situations.

[Grays Harbor]

CD. This idea is dead. Let it go.

[The Rich Port]

Honoured ambassador, I don't understand how the Israeli example has to do with the draft but this draft still goes against the idea of making the world a better place to live. It is still allowing member states to throw women in jail for obtaining abortion because of rape or life threatening situations.

Not to mention CD has a weird vendetta against abortion. You're NS's equivalent of those crazy people in the crisis pregnancy center on 12th and Delaware in Fort Pierce... GAWD