Ivan Camilleri
'Abortion cannot be imposed on Malta'
The Swedish Liberal MP who is campaigning to harmonise EU legislation on abortion has admitted that the practice "cannot be imposed on Malta".
Brigitta Ohlsson said her Make Noise for Free Choice Campaign, which seeks to collect a million signatures for the cause, was only aimed at sparking a debate and supporting pro-abortion campaigners in Malta and the two EU member states - Ireland and Poland - where abortion was limited and almost impossible to perform.
"From a liberal perspective, the right to abortion is not just a Swedish or European issue, it's a global issue," Ms Ohlsson said in an interview with a Swedish newspaper.
"We are not pushing for a European law. We're not seeking to change Maltese or Irish law. If the target of one million signatures is reached, the Commission would need to raise the issue but they cannot force countries to do anything," she admitted.
The petition was also a great opportunity to support activists in Malta, Ireland or Poland, Ms Ohlsson added.
Described as a "cheap publicity stunt" by pro-life campaigners, the internet campaign kicked off last month aiming to pressure the EU and the European Parliament to introduce legislation that forces Malta to introduce the "right of abortion".
So far the petition has attracted some 4,000 signatures but the campaigners' intention is to step up their efforts and keep them up until October 2010.
The initiative is being taken according to new rules which will enter into force once the Lisbon Treaty, which has yet to be ratified by Ireland, enters into force, possibly by January.
The treaty provides for a "citizen's initiative" clause through which one million citizens can call on the Commission to legislate on a particular law.
According to this clause, the Commission is obliged to consider any proposal signed by at least one million citizens from a number - not yet specified in the treaty - of member states. However, the EU would still have no right to introduce legislation on abortion or divorce in member states as this falls outside its competence.
Before EU accession in 2004, Malta had also taken the necessary precautions to counter any future EU initiative to impose abortion on Malta. A specific protocol was added to its accession treaty stating that nothing in the EU Treaties "shall affect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion".
Ms Ohlsson's pro-abortion campaign has prompted Gozo Bishop Mario Grech to warn the EU not to be ethically indifferent and sceptical towards fundamental values.
He said the Maltese should be proactive and send Europe a message of hope. He appealed to families to educate their children in human and Christian values to prepare for a new political generation for the future.
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Kenneth Cassar
Aug 7th 2009, 12:28
@ Anne-Marie Ray:
"Women have the right to bodily integrity, the have the right to decide if, when and with which partner they consent to become a mother".
I'm assuming you are referring to victims of rape. Correct me if I'm wrong.
"No embryo has the right to take possession of a woman's body without her consent".
Again, I assume you are referring to rape. If not, the embryo would not only have the woman's consent, but would in actuall fact have been unwillingly forced inside the woman's body.
Embryos have no choice in the matter, irrespective of whether one is pro or anti abortion. Embryos do not invade women's bodies...it is male sexual organs that do, whether it is with or without the woman's consent.
I hope you take this correction in the right spirit. It is only fair of me to correct a "pro-choice" person where one is mistaken, after I have already corrected "anti-abortionists" where I noticed errors of judgement.
Anne-Marie Rey
Aug 7th 2009, 11:09
I wonder, why people here discuss about fetuses and animals, but not about women. Please do not contribute to the continued cheapening of women's life by putting early embryos and fetuses on the same level as born human persons (women included).
Women have the right to bodily integrity, the have the right to decide if, when and with which partner they consent to become a mother. No embryo has the right to take possession of a woman's body without her consent.
Edward Camilleri
Aug 6th 2009, 17:32
@Mr. cowie Did it never occur to you why animals do not help in the kitchen or clean after others, maybe because they have not succumbed to the slavery or commercialism that humans have! Please do not make the common mistake of attributing our ignorance of other animal species capabilities as a fault of theirs. In other words if humans do not know that a particular animal is capable of something, it doesn’t mean that this animal is not capable to do it. If humans are not animals, then why do scientists test new medicine on rats? I'm not mentioning apes on purpose, because humans are apes, same species or sub species – call it what you want. But to test on an animal such as a rat, when humans consider this as a pest, this is beyond imagination. Either scientists are mad by testing on an animal that has nothing in common to the ‘super’ human species or humans are so close to rats that makes the experiments perfect. Not that I agree with these experiments – on the contrary it disgusts me!
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 6th 2009, 16:55
@ Galea L:
Obviously the pictures on that website are of very late-term abortions, which are illegal in most countries and opposed even by many "pro-choicers".
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 6th 2009, 16:48
@ Gerry Cowie:
Before you point it out, yes, it is Edward Camilleri who mentioned non-human animals in a very appropriate and well-thought remark you chose to simply brush aside. However, the rest of my comments still apply.
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 6th 2009, 09:26
@ Gerry Cowie:
"it is simplistic in the extreme to equate animals with humans if indeed you are not prepared to put animals first. For by doing so you are putting your entire species down!"
This statement does not make sense. Replace animals with "blacks" and humans with "whites", and you'll get the following:
"It is simplistic in the extreme to equate blacks with whites if indeed you are not prepared to put blacks first. For by doing so you are putting your entire race down!"
I'm sure you don't agree with the above, but you'll also see that it trashes your whole argument for "elevating" non-humans to their rightful place as rights-bearers. You will find that that your argument is circular, since it rests on the assumption it sets out to prove: that non-humans matter less.
If you want to argue that non-humans do not have rights, go ahead, but recognising (or giving) rights to some does not necessarily mean diminishing the value of others.
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 6th 2009, 09:11
@ Gerry Cowie:
Since you are obsessed with dragging non-human animals into the abortion debate (as if they have any fault or say in the matter), I feel compelled once again to reply.
Your opposition to the imaginary claim that "man is not just another animal" is just a straw man argument. There is a difference between saying that humans are animals, and saying that humans are JUST another animal. Each individual, human or non-human, is unique with unique feelings and experiences.
Moreover, the fact that much more outcry has been made about animal cruelty than abortion in Malta stems from the simple fact that while animal cruelty happens relatively often, as far as I know no single abortion happens in Malta.
I would also like to correct a blatant logical fallacy of yours. You say that to equate "animals with humans" is to put (non-human) animals first. If the word "equate" is to make any sense at all, it must imply equal consideration, not more or less.
Also, nobody is saying that all other species are the same as humans. Equally, all species apart from dogs are not the same as dogs...and so on.
claire farrugia
Aug 6th 2009, 07:23
so the maltese will continue to have to go abroad to do abortions
the Bishop should check the numbers who go abroad to have an abortion abroad, with the risks and expenses it involved. But the Church should not play "holy" and give the Europeans the impression tha Maltese women do not need and do not commit abortion. it should also state the facts. just as in ireland, irish women go to england and in poland to their neighbours....
Edward Zammit
Aug 6th 2009, 00:35
Abortion is not a simple solution to a "problem", however what is stupid and arrogant here in Malta is that even when an embryo is endangering the mother's life, she has no right right to save herself and remove the baby. Isn't that murder as well ?!
A. Borg
Aug 6th 2009, 00:10
I support you Edward Camilleri, but we are still not ready to hold a healthy debate on abortion in Malta because the moment one tries to argue even extreme cases such as rape, incest or severe disability, one is automatically labelled a murderer. In fact it is my opinion that there are many more people who are in favour of abortion in such cases, but will not admit it publicly for fear of being pillaged. The alleged 100 or so cases of abortions that take place every year by Maltese women in UK and Italian hospitals certainly proves that there is a silent but growing minority.
Galea. L
Aug 5th 2009, 22:33
I strongly suggest this link found on another posting on The Times.
ABORTION PICTURES
http://www.100abortionpictures.com/Aborted_Baby_Pictures_Abortion_Photos/
Anthony Roberts
Aug 5th 2009, 20:28
I agree with you Gerry.
Gerry Cowie
Aug 5th 2009, 20:12
It is good to see so many posiitive comments in favour of human life. We all know that man is not "just another animal" and, from the various letters and articles and attached blogs in recent weeks, I would disagree with Edward Camilleri's point and suggest that far more outcry has indeed been made in terms of animal cruelty. it is simplistic in the extreme to equate animals with humans if indeed you are not prepared to put animals first. For by doing so you are putting your entire species down! If however you are saying that you do indeed believe that abortion is bad for humans also then that is a most welcome statement. But please do not contribute to the continued cheapening of human life by putting humans on the same level as animals. I'd like to see an animal apply for a job or help out in the kitchen or clean its own mess up. But it is not possible since animals are not the same as humans.
Edward Camilleri
Aug 5th 2009, 19:53
as the few comments below show many find it astonishing to even discuss abortion, yet many do not have any problem with killing or maiming other animals (just read the newspapers and you would just touch the problem of animal abuse- besides the animals killed everyday for human consumption and those killed for “mercy’s sake”)! I would ask, what is the difference between an embryo of a human being and that of another animal? All are animals, and if you want to protect one you must protect the other.
ms g hoare
Aug 5th 2009, 18:13
ABORTION IS MURDER IF MS OHLSSEN WISH TO HAVE ONE ITS HER PROBLEM ABORTION IS ITS UNHUMAN , LIFE STARTS WHEN THAT EMBRIO WAS CONCIEVED . MURDER IS AGAINST ANY HUMAN BEING , IF YOU ARE RELIGIOUS OR NOT IF ANY OUT THERE DONT BELEIVE IN WHAT THE CHURCH TELLS US ABOUT CONTRACEPTION THEN GO AHEAD AND USE IT , IT MIGHT BE YOUR RIGHT BUT TO KILL , MURDER A HUMAN BEING INSIDE YOU , YOU AND I HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO SO .
Vincent Galea
Aug 5th 2009, 16:00
What is happening to the immeasurable value in human life ?
T.gauci
Aug 5th 2009, 14:25
liberals cry when an immigrant dies....why in earth are they shouting humans rights for if they are in favor of abortion ?....abortion is justified in case of rape or incest not when one have sex willingly
D Vella
Aug 5th 2009, 13:08
So here's my contribution to the debate you wanted to spark off Ms Ohlssen . . . Stop trying to convince decent people who still have a moral concience to sanction wholesale murder of unborn children as they do in disgusting and amoral countries !!!
Galea. L
Aug 5th 2009, 11:59
Malta does not need this murder supporter to tell us what we should do.
We do not need your advice so stop interfering in our internal affairs Brigitta Ohlsson.
Tonna J.
Aug 5th 2009, 11:29
SINCE WHEN 'MURDER' IS CALLED A HUMAN RIGHT???
J Farrugia
Aug 5th 2009, 10:06
Malta does not need pros to tell us what to do and what not to do. We have our own way of telling such people off. ...