Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009  --  Adult stem cell treatments still the source of results

As we near the end of 2009 we find the Federal government funding embryonic stem cell research under a directive from the President.  Reality still confirms that no such research has yet achieved any treatments for human patients.  Len Zon, a stem cell researcher at Children's Hospital in Boston, admits that any hope of treating patients with embryonic stem cells is not forthcoming. "I think that's still a ways off," Zon said.

Meanwhile LifeNews.com reports another success using adult stem cells.  A man who was partially blinded when ammonia was squirted in his eye during an attack 15 years ago has regained his sight after receiving a pioneering stem cell treatment, according to a London Guardian report.

Russell Turnbull, 38, suffered massive damage to his right eye when he was caught in a scuffle after a night out in Newcastle in 1994. On the bus home, Turnbull had tried to intervene in a fight between two men but was injured when one of them began squirting passengers with ammonia. The chemical severely scarred Turnbull's cornea, the clear membrane that covers the front of the eye, and destroyed stem cells that usually help keep the cornea healthy.

Turnbull was left with "limbal stem cell deficiency" (LSCD), a condition that seriously impairs sight, and was in pain every time he blinked or saw bright lights.  In an experimental treatment devised by doctors at the North East England Stem Cell Institute in Newcastle, stem cells were taken from Turnbull's healthy eye and grown on a layer of amniotic tissue, which is routinely used as a burn dressing.  

When the cells had covered the membrane, a piece the size of a postage stamp was transplanted onto Turnbull's damaged eye.  Two months later the membrane had broken down, leaving his damaged eye with a fresh supply of healthy stem cells, which repaired the cornea.  Eye tests six months after surgery showed that Turnbull's vision was nearly as good as it had been before the attack. 

Tuesday, Dec 29, 2009 -- Is the health care bill becoming law inevitable now?

Now that the U.S. Senate has passed a version of health care "reform" that includes government funding of abortion, some commentators are giving the impression that final passage of the bill is inevitable.  However, such a conclusion ignores many challenges that must be faced to resolve the major differences between the bills passed by the House and the Senate.

Because the Senate bill provides for government funding of abortion, it is in direct conflict with the Stupak Amendment.  The House bill would not have passed without approval of the Stupak Amendment to prevent government funding of abortion.   The Stupak Amendment received 240 votes while the House health care bill received 220 votes, just two more than the 218 needed for passage when all 435 members voted.

In contrast to the Senate, where the focus turned out to be one holdout (Senator Ben Nelson from Nebraska) claiming to demand exclusion of abortion funding (before caving for other benefits obtained for his home state), the House has a good number of Pro-Life Democrats who can hold together for morale support.  Could enough of them be "bought off" to allow passage of a bill that would provide government funding of abortion?  Would the Senate accept a bill that contained the Stupak Amendment after rejecting an equivalent amendment earlier?

Criticism of the deals made to get the votes of those last few Senate Democrats needed to achieve passage of the Senate bill is already leading to fallout that could mean removing those deals from the final bill.  With that visibility, could new deals be made to get House member votes?

Even the presence (House bill) or absence (Senate bill) of the so-called public option that would allow the Federal govenment to offer health insurance in competition with insurance companies appears to be an issue that could lose critical votes in either the House or Senate for a final bill, depending on how that difference was resolved.  

Monday, Dec 28, 2009  --  Senate passed health care bill on 12/24 with abortion funding

Following the pattern of voting when few people are paying any attention, the Senate voted early on the morning of Christmas Eve to pass a health care bill that includes abortion funding.  The vote was 60-39 with all Democrats voting YES and all Rrepublicans voting NO, except one who did not vote. 

Pro-Life leaders unanimously criticized this result, even though some news reports inaccurately claimed that abortion funding was excluded from the bill.  Passing this pro-abortion monstrosity at the same time as we celebrate the birth of Jesus makes it that much more outrageous.  This vote merits the same condemnation given to the actions of King Herod when he ordered young boys killed in an attempt to kill Jesus, whom he viewed as a threat to his throne.  These first martyrs are recognized on December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009  --  Stupak reveals pressure from the White House

Already the anti-life leadership in Washington, D.C. is going after Pro-Life members of the House of Representatives to attempt to sell them the "compromise" that led to Senator Ben Nelson caving on the abortion issue.  Yesterday, Representative Bart Stupak told CNSNews, “They think I shouldn't be expressing my views on this bill until they get a chance to try to sell me the language.”

“Well, I don't need anyone to sell me the language.  I can read it.  I've seen it.  I've worked with it.  I know what it says.  I don't need to have a conference with the White House.  I have the legislation in front of me here," Stupak said defiantly.

Will this resolve hold in the face of increased pressure from the White House and Congressional leadership?  Will enough members of the House stand with Representative Stupak to defeat any health care bill that does not include his amendment?   Make your voice heard to kill any health care bill that funds abortion. 

Tuesday, Dec 22, 2009  --  Poll shows nation opposes abortion funding in health care bill

As the U.S. Senate moves toward passage of a health care bill that would provide significant government funding of abortion, a new poll shows 72% of Americans oppose paying for abortions with their tax dollars.  This result is up from 61% in another poll only one month ago.

It would appear that public opinion is of no consequence to the Congressional leadership that is intent on funding abortion under any health care "reform" bill that would ultimately be adopted.  We must pray that members of the U.S. House led by Rep. Bart Stupak will continue to insist that government funding of abortion is not acceptable. 

Call your member of Congress to encourage a vote against any final bill that does not include the Stupak amendment.  If you need contact information, go here: Find your US Representative  (select "By Zip+4" and enter your 9-digit zip code).

Monday, Dec 21, 2009  --  No historic holdout after all:  Senator Ben Nelson caves

Another late night weekend deal has ended Senator Ben Nelson's resolve to prevent government funding of abortion in the Senate health care bill.  Senator Nelson thus became the 60th vote at 1:00am today to end debate on the health care bill and move forward to ultimate passage of the bill by the Senate.

Senator Nelson claims he achieved his goal to prevent government funding of abortion, but outside analysis of the "compromise" that he accepted shows thata goal was definitely not achieved.  This betrayal has Nelson's Pro-Life supporters baffled.  Jill Stanek attempts to sort out the intrigue.

Friday, Dec 18, 2009  --  Hiding the Senate health care bill even from the Senators

Yesterday, news appeared about the secretive approach being taken by Sen. Harry Reid to construct the "compromises" he needs as he tries to round up 60 votes to end debate on the bill so it can be passed in the Senate.  This news was not "newsworthy" for the mainstream media.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued a release expressing outrage about the approach being used by Democratic leadership to construct Sen. Harry Reid's massive manager's amendment to the health care bill behind closed doors.  The leader of Senate Republicans slammed the Democrats for planning to hold a vote on a bill no one has seen yet.

"Here's the most outrageous part: at the end of this rush, they want us to vote on a bill that no one outside the Majority Leader's conference room has even seen," stated Senator McConnell.  "That's right. The final bill we'll vote on isn't even the one we've had on the floor.  It's the deal Democrat leaders have been trying to work out in private."

Where is the transparency in government that was promised?  Even Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was recently quoted as saying he had not seen the bill, and he is the second highest ranking Senator!  Here is another case where the vote will likely be taken without any time to even read the bill before voting.

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009  --  Drama in Washington, D.C. over health care "reform"

The Senate leadership is getting desperate to find 60 votes to end debate so they can pass health care "reform" before Christmas.  Why the rush?   They know the longer they wait the less likely they will be able to get the votes, as more citizens learn how many serious issues are created by this attempted govenment control of heath care.  Last night a WGN TV (Channel 9) poll during the newscast found 78% agreeing with "abandon the current bill and start over."

We may be witnessing an historic holdout of one brave Senator, Ben Nelson of Nebraska.  He made it clear he could not support the bill without an amendment to prevent government funding of abortion.  His amendment was tabled.  Another so-called compromise was developed, but Nelson has rejected it as insufficient.

While it seems that everything now rests on Nelson as the 60th vote to end debate so a vote can be taken on the bill, Illinois Senator Roland Burris was quoted as opposing the bill because the "public option" was dropped to obtain support of Senator Joe Lieberman.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expressing support for government funding of abortion in the Senate bill.  She wants that provsion to override the Stupak Amendment, preventing government funding of abortion, that was added to the House bill so Pelosi could find the votes to get it passed.  She now claims she has the votes to pass a pro-abortion bill, but Senator Stupak says she does not have the votes.   The drama continues for now.  Pray that this current misguided attempt at health care reform is rejected.

Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009  --  Where does "comprehensive" sex education lead to?

The advocates of "comprehensive" sex education are the same people who claim to support "reproductive rights" and "choice."   What happens when they get established within the school system, beyond the tragic consequences of increases in casual sex, untimely pregnancies, and abortions?

Well, in Germany parents who try to prevent their children from attending immoral comprehensive sex education programs receive heavy fines and ultimately go to jail.  As usual, choice is a one-way street where those who oppose such practices as immoral are persecuted when they try to exercise their choice not to participate.

The Senate health care "reform" bill provides for $75 million to fund operation of a national teen pregnancy prevention resource center.  Based on the qualifications described, the only  organization likely to qualify will be Planned Parenthood.  The result of this provision of the bill would allow Planned Parenthood to assume the position of a quasi-government agency with quasi-governmental powers to engage the nation’s youth on matters of sex, birth control and abortion. 

Since the stated purpose of this provision is initiating "Personal Responsibility Education for Adulthood Training" programs "in order to prevent unintended teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections," how long do you think it would take before such programs were deemed mandatory?

Tuesday, Dec 15, 2009  --  Hyde Amendment "abortion neutral" and "settled law"?

The debate about whether government funding of abortion is included in the health care bills in Congress has raged for months.  While Congressional leaders and President Obama have continually claimed abortion was not funded, passage of the Stupak Amendment in the House proved them to be misrepresenting the facts. 

Prior to this point where the truth finally caught up with them, one strategy members of Congress, and Obama's press secretary, had been using was to claim that the health care bill did not fund abortion because the Hyde Amendment prevented such funding. They claimed that efforts to amend the bill would go beyond Hyde and introduce new restrictions on abortion.

For example, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, said "we're not doing anything in this [bill] to change the Hyde law.  The law, as it stands right now, says no federal money for abortions.  I think most of the Senators are comfortable with that.  The Stupak amendment goes farther and the Nelson amendment goes farther."

Jill Stanek, a pro-life blogger and nurse, recently noted a commentary by abortion advocate Frederick Clarkson about the implications of this strategy.  He stated,

But a creeping Washington consensus emerged during the current debate on health care reform that took many by surprise: The Hyde Amendment is now seen as a moderate, "abortion-neutral" position that neither advances nor restricts abortion.

The gradual adoption of the principles of the most significant anti-abortion legislation in history as a moderate compromise constitutes a stunning shift in American political and religious life....

Stanek observed, "I think Clarkson is absolutely right.  In the thick of the battle, we didn't see this concession.  Although I've read recent calls from the abortion industry to rescind Hyde, which is imperilized every year, it will be that much more difficult here on out, since so many pro-aborts, most importantly Obama, have labeled it abortion-neutral."  Are abortion advocates getting tripped up in their own lies?  LifeNews.com reports: 

The pro-abortion National Organization for Women may still be opposing the Senate health care bill, even though senators defeated the Nelson amendment to prohibit taxpayer funds of abortions in it.  Terry O’Neill, president of the so-called women's group bases its potential opposition on an incorrect assumption that the bill certifies the Hyde amendment, which prohibits abortion funding under Medicaid -- even though Hyde does not apply to the bill.  "There are still anti-abortion provisions in this bill that are damaging to women," she told Raw Story.   "The base legislation in the Senate essentially codifies the Hyde Amendment and that is a huge, huge problem for women." "With all due respect to our pro-choice friends in elected office who say the Hyde Amendment is settled law, a codification of Hyde is a basic health care statute -- it's not federal law," O'Neill added. "And even if it were, it's very wrong settled law."

Monday, Dec 14, 2009  --  Has the push for a vaccine against pregnancy ended?

Based on a report of Human Life International from its observers at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, I became aware of an agenda to develop a vaccine against pregnancy that was supported by Planned Parenthood and other international anti-life organizations.  I had never seen any more information on what might be happening, until this month.

One medical researcher recently abandoned thirty years of contraceptive vaccine research.  What Dr. Bonnie Dunbar had hoped to develop was a vaccine that would trick the female immune system into fighting reproductive cells as if they were a virus, thus triggering the body to treat pregnancy as a disease. 

Dunbar tested her vaccine on several animal models, including primates, and found in all cases that the vaccine caused permanent autoimmune failure of the ovaries.  After viewing slides of these blasted ovaries, Dr. Dunbar decided to oppose any further development of this vaccine for humans.  Now this former contraceptive vaccine is being developed as a possible non-surgical sterilizing agent for dogs and cats.

Might someone else be able to continue Dunbar's work anyway, still trying to create this dangerous vaccine?  Is there someone else out there right now trying to create such a vaccine using some other approach?  What if some government decided to use this new non-surgical sterilizing agent, not for dogs and cats, but instead for people they thought should be sterilized?

I just discovered that such concerns were expressed in 1996.  That analysis was a comprehensive attempt to make the case for ending such research permanently.  I suspect this 1996 report did not receive nearly enough distribution or publicity, but the threats documented there are serious.

Friday, Dec 11, 2009  --  Real doctors take Planned Parenthood "health care" to task

Based on the videotape mentioned yesterday, two physicians have come forward in response to the video to (as they say) correct the "absurd and scientifically erroneous" information Planned Parenthood presented to the women at their Appleton, Wisconsin facility.  

The physicians are embryologist Dianne Irving, Ph.D, a former bench research biochemist with the National Institutes of Health and a Professor of Medical Ethics at Georgetown University, and Ward Kischer, Ph.D., Professor emeritus of Cell Biology and Anatomy specializing in embryology at the University Arizona.

Irving and Kischer conclude that the Appleton Planned Parenthood counseling practices "would violate legally valid 'informed consent' on both the 'information' level and on the 'consent without duress or pressure' level," and call for the parties involved to "be held accountable for their inherently unethical and destructive lies and procedures."

It appears that Planned Parenthood's version of what constitutes health care is seriously deficient.  The evidence keeps mounting on how outrageous it is for Planned Parenthood to receive over $350 million in government funding and still be looking for more.  When it comes to Planned Parenthood, count on government to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.  It is time to replace Congress with members who will do something different (e.g. abstinence program funding) to begin undoing the serious damage done by Planned Parenthood.

Thursday, Dec 10, 2009  --  Planned Parenthood has been caught lying again

Planned Parenthood will never let the truth get in the way of selling an abortion.  That makes it inconvenient in states like Wisconsin that have informed consent laws requiring that women receive medically accurate information before undergoing an abortion.  Of course, Planned Parenthood will just ignore those laws in the same way they place themselves above parental involvement and mandatory reporting laws.

Under the direction of UCLA student Lila Rose, Live Action films has taken the role of David against this Planned Parenthood Goliath.  Live Action efforts have already implicated a significant number of Planned Parenthood locations around the nation with serious violations of mandatory reporting laws.  Live Action videos reveal that when underage girls seek abortions, they are usually told to lie about their boyfriend's age.

Now Live Action films has released a new video featuring Planned Parenthood employees lying about pre-natal development and encouraging a young woman to obtain an abortion because "women die having babies."  In an undercover video, filmed in an Appleton, WI, Planned Parenthood abortion facility, a counselor says that a 10-week old unborn child has no heart beat, only "heart tones," which she says begin at 7 weeks. In fact, heartbeats begin at roughly 3 weeks.

As the former director of the Bryan Texas Planned Parenthood reveals, their goal is to sell abortions because of the high profit margin.  Abby Johnson, who has resigned and converted to defending life, has revealed the pressure placed on employees to increase abortion sales. 

This evidence confirms that Planned Parenthood is never serious about reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions, as they claim in their efforts to gain the public's trust.  Deception is standard operating procedure for Planned Parenthood.

Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009  --  Just say NO to current health care reform bills

After the rejection yesterday of the Nelson/Hatch Amendment to prevent government funding of abortion under the U.S. Senate version of health care "reform", most Pro-Life and other traditional values organizations declared that it is time to reject these bills as beyond repair. 

Without the Nelson/Hatch Amendment the Senate bill represents the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.  Beyond that major issue, the bill provides additional funding for Planned Parenthood to provide "comprehensive" sex education, open health clinics at schools, and distribute more birth control to teenagers.  

Additional serious concerns include drastic Medicare funding cuts that will create rationed health care for seniors and the disabled, subtle provisions to push assisted suicide and even euthanasia, and threats to the conscience rights of health care professionals.

Maintaining vocal opposition to health care "reform" legislation is critical to encourage enough Senators to filibuster the bill, and enough House members to be consistent with their previous votes to block abortion funding, thus killing any fiinal bill that is missing such a provision.

Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009  --  Some churches demand government funding of abortion

Even as we approach Christmas, some churches have denied salvation to the unborn at government expense by signing onto a letter sent to the U.S. Senate opposing the Nelson/Hatch amendment the would prevent government funding of abortion under the health care "reform" bill. 

The Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church are the four mainline protestant denominations to sign the letter.  The letter takes the position that there is a "social and moral obligation to ensure access to" abortions "at every stage in an individual’s life." 

Going even further, these religious groups wrote, "Reforming the health care system in a way that guarantees affordable and accessible [abortion] for all is not simply a good idea—it is necessary for the well-being of all people in our nation."

How can churches that claim to be Christian take a position that easy access to abortion is a moral obligation necessary for the well-being of all people in our nation?  For anyone who is truly Pro-Life who is still remaining in the pews of such a church, it must be time to hit the eject button!

While abortion is destroying the well-being of mothers and their families, these churches have the audacity to declare government-funded access to abortion as vital for everyone!  They must have replaced the Bible with a Planned Parenthood "comprehensive" sex education manual, reflecting the philosophy that sex under any circumstance is always good as long both parties consent, and even young children are able to consent.

Of course, Planned Parenthood is ready and willing to provide the abortions that follow, and collect payment from the govenment for murdering the "unwanted" children from all these casual sexual encounters.  The churches that have endorsed this outrageous philosophy are leading their members down the road to disaster!

Monday, Dec 7, 2009  --  Abortions jump in Illinois, especially in Chicago area

While no one was watching, the Illinois Department of Public Health posted the latest abortion statistics for the year of 2008.   Sadly, the numbers establish an upward trend for Illinois abortions since the low point of 2003, thus discounting the slight drop in 2007.

A total of 47,717 abortions were committed in Illinois in 2008, up 5.3% from 45,298 in 2007.  Abortions for Chicago area residents jumped at a much higher rate, accounting for more than the statewide increase.  Cook County abortions jumped by 3233 (14.5%) to a total of 25,529.   Abortions in some of the counties surrounding Cook, though much lower totals, jumped by even higher percentages as follows:

Kane County  --  up 38% -- from 832 to 1145
Will County   --   up 22% -- from 953 to 1161
Kendall County -- up 73% -- from 112 to 194

In contrast, abortions held steady in three other Chicago area counties: DuPage (-22), Lake (+8), and McHenry (-2).  For the four counties with substantial increases in abortions, the total increase reaches 3836 more abortions.  For the entire state, abortions increased by 2419.  Thus, abortions throughout all of Illinois outside of those four counties actually fell by 2.9%.

What might account for this rather localized increase in abortions.   Could this primarily be the impact of Planned Parenthood's huge abortion fortress in Aurora?  What actions spared DuPage, Lake, and McHenry counties from participating in these large abortion increases?  

About the only good news from the 2008 statistics was the drop from 4042 to 3903 for abortions committed on out-of-state residents.  Interestingly, the number of abortions on women of unknown residency dropped from 1965 to 1111.  Since some of these cases could also have been out-of-state residents, the drop might be even larger.   Even so, these numbers still represent many underage girls who enter Illinois to avoid parental involvement laws in other states.

The unknown residency statistic jumped from only 114 in 2004 to 1683 in 2005, and peaked at 2115 in 2006, possibly reflecting concern about potential enforcement of parental notification.  Is the 2008 drop an indication abortion providers have become convinced it will never be enforced?

Friday, Dec 4, 2009  --  Abortion providers have decided to "claim" religious concepts

Did you know that "abortion is a God-given right"?  During a poorly attended rally of a few hundred people at the U.S. Capitol to oppose the Stupak Amendment (which would prevent govenment funding of abortion), Rev. Carlton Veazy told the small gathering of hardcore activists that abortion is a "God-given right." Veazy is the head of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, so it is unclear from which god he gets his marching orders.

Not to be outdone in abusing religious concepts in an attempt to cover up the outrage of abortion, an abortion provider is Michigan has used a religious message in their advertising.  Northland "Family Planning Centers" of Michigan are now advertising their services with a video calling abortion "sacred work."  The narrator speaks of a sign hanging at the Northland abortion facility that reads: "We do sacred work that honors women and the circle of life and death. When you come here, bring only love."

Set to soft, upbeat piano music and themed with pink pastel shades, the recently uploaded video entitled "Every Day, Good Woman Choose Abortion," assures prospective customers that deciding "to have an abortion is a normal experience," and that the decision is a good decision. The video's spokeswoman continues: "Goodness is courage, honesty, wisdom, risking for what you believe is right for you, making choices that are good for yourself."

Now you know that being selfish by killing your inconvenient child in the womb is your god-given right to make choices that are good for yourself.  Apparently, the abortionists overlook the part about "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Thursday, Dec 3, 2009  --  Will defeat of Chicago bubble zone get aid from Mass. case?

If the U.S. Supreme Court would agree to hear the case, that case against a Massachusetts law that limits the free speech rights of pro-life advocates could affect the Chicago bubble zone ordinance.  The Life Legal Defense Foundation filed an amicus brief on 12/1/09 urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case of a Massachusetts law severely restricting pro-life speech activity.  In McCullen v. Coakley, the Pro-Life law firm is challenging the constitutionality of a 2007 law making it a crime to "enter or remain" on public sidewalks within 35 feet of abortion facilities.

As reported by Pro-Life Action League, Chicago police are currently enforcing the Chicago bubble zone ordinance as a requirement to remain at least 50 feet from the entrance of an abortion facility.  Pray that the Supreme Court accepts the Massachusetts case and decides that Pro-Life citizens have the same First Amendment rights as other citizens.

Wednesday, Dec 2, 2009  --  Planned Parenthood closing Schaumburg location 1/14/2010

STOPP, Intl has reported their discovery that Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) will be closing their 'express" office located in Schaumburg, IL.   Today I found no information about this imminent closure yet appears on the PPIL web site, but a recorded message can be heard when calling the Schaumburg office phone number (847-839-1600).

The recorded message indicates the Schaumburg office will be closing January 14, 2010, after six years in business.  The message continues, “Closing this facility was a difficult decision, but one we had to make to ensure we are able to serve the needs of all patients in the Chicagoland area.”

Steve Trombley, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, is quoted saying the organization posted annual revenues of $24 million and a net loss of $2.5 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009.   That fact must have contributed to the difficult decision to close an office.

Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009  --  Political action taken against abortion in Mexico and Korea

LifeNews.com has reported encouraging news about political action last week against abortion in both Mexico and Korea.  In Mexico the state of Veracruz became the 17th of the nation's 32 states to enact a law defining human life beginning at conception.  Each of those state actions came in response after the Mexico City legislature legalized abortion in the nation's capital city for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Veracruz lawmakers also adopted a proposal requiring the Mexican Congress to consider a constitutional amendment to prohibit abortion that could trump the Mexico City law.  Mexico allows any of its state legislatures to propose a constitutional amendment.  If the bicameral Congress and a majority of states support the measure, the amendment is added to the national constitution.  Even abortion supporters think the amendment stands a good chance of passing.

South Korean officials may begin to enforce the nation's ban on abortions thanks to a significant population decline taking place there.  Korea posted the second-lowest fertility rate in the world, according to the 2009 report by the United Nations Population Fund.  The rate was 1.22, far below replacement level of 2.1.

The Korean Presidential Council for Future and Vision announced new efforts to increase births.  "We have been a society that promoted abortion," Kwak Seung-jun of the Presidential Council said. "There are few people who realize abortion is illegal.  We must work to create a mood where abortion is discouraged."