Abortion Ship Heads to Ecuador But Literally Runs Aground, Endangers Women

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 19, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Abortion Ship Heads to Ecuador But Literally Runs Aground, Endangers Women

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 19
, 2008

Quito, Ecuador (LifeNews.com) — In 1999, abortion advocates devised a new strategy to bring abortion to nations that protect women and unborn children. After upsetting residents of Ireland, Poland and Portugal, the Dutch-based abortion boat recently arrived in the South American nation of Ecuador, where abortions are illegal.

The pro-abortion group Women on Waves is behind the abortion boat and the group said it received an invitation from local abortion advocates to head across the Atlantic.

The organization recently traded in its converted tugboat, or trawler, for a high-end sailing vessel, but the group may be regretting its decision.

On its way to Ecuador, the Women on Waves ship, Harmony, ran aground in a tropical storm.

The incident occurred two week ago and WOW said it is "almost sure it will not be able to arrive in Ecuador for the planned campaign."

The group tried to put a good face on the predicament in a press release and said its officials would spend their time in Ecuador promoting the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug.

"To do a safe abortion with pills, there is no need for a Dutch ship, as this is the age of worldwide communication, Internet and mobile phones," WOW said. "Women from Ecuador can be free to decide themselves and take their lives in their own hands with the support of local organizations."

Women may literally be taking their lives in their hands as the mifepristone abortion drug recently claimed its fourteenth victim, with a British teenager dying after using the abortion drug and suffering an incomplete abortion and severe bleeding.

Jill Stanek, a pro-life blogger, brought the ironic situation to the attention of LifeNews.com and noted how the pro-abortion group is putting women’s lives at risk.

"WoW is now promoting self-administered RU-486 abortions in countries where abortion is illegal. WoW always was about medical, not surgical abortions, which explained the small size of its ‘ship,’" Stanek explained.

Stanek pointed out a comment in a WOW press release saying "in order to be able to sail to international waters to allow women to swallow the abortion pill, one does not need a huge ship with a hospital on board. There is no risk at all that a medical problem associated with the medication can happen at high sees [sic]."

"’No risk at all?’ Does that sound like a real medical professional speaking? Does that not defy simple common sense?" Stanek asked.

Stanek pointed out the hypocrisy of WOW complaining that women are supposedly dying from illegal abortions and then promoting illegal abortions in nations that protect human life.

"This is all incredible," she says.

"WoW admits on its web site RU-486 abortions work only 90% of the time, with an increased risk of deformity should the pre-born baby survive," Stanek wrote on her blog. "Making lemonade from lemons, WoW says fetal deformities may open the door to a legal abortion."

"It shouldn’t, but the abortion industry continues to shock me," she concludes.

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