Transforming Our Fear Into Wisdom

Hello, everyone. I’ve got something important I’d like to share with you today. You know me as a social purpose entrepreneur with a sustainability business. What you might not know is that I also have a background in nursing and community care, which includes sexual health education for the public, and a deep commitment to public health and wellbeing.?

What has just happened with the Supreme Court draft leak that would strike down Roe v. Wade is completely unacceptable. The decision to have an abortion is made between 2 people-- a woman and her doctor, period. But there is much more to consider on the subject of abortion.

I believe companies need to be speaking out about this issue, not just because it is a societal imperative, but because it directly affects their workforce. When performed safely, abortion is effective medical care that allows women to control their own fertility, and their personal destiny. The way that freedom translates to women’s lives is immeasurable. It affords us the ability to work and earn a living for ourselves, and parent only if/when we decide we want to.?

Also, forcing women to give birth is not a viable survival strategy for women, or for the planet. On the macro level, global overpopulation has already had a dramatic effect on climate change. Precious resources like fertile soil, clean water, and breathable air continue to diminish, and our dependency on non-renewables like fossil fuels continues to increase. The combination of these two forces has already led to catastrophic, human-made climate events that are ongoing. Climate scientists have proven that we only have a small window of time in which to alter the path that we’re currently on. Increasing the planet’s overpopulation will further drain our vital resources and cause even more untold suffering.?

On the micro level, lack of safe, effective abortion care overwhelmingly affects low-income women of color, whose lives are already narrowed by lack of access to good education and good jobs that pay a living wage. My three siblings and I were raised by a single woman of color in that kind of situation, and my own experience is that day-to-day survival, not long term sustainability and societal impact, is on the minds of people in lower socioeconomic levels. For the survival of our species on this planet, we must be nearly singularly focused on shifting to sustainable lifestyles. Yet so many low-income mothers are unable to afford sustainable lifestyle options, like organic produce and electric cars, because the cost of those options is completely out of reach. What is available to them fills a vital short-term survival need, but is not sustainable for the planet.?

Lastly, when women are able to control our fertility we can contribute to business in every sector, and to society at every level. The late RBG said that, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Women also belong in all places where work is being done, including tech, law, finance, science, construction, politics and the sustainability sector. Forcing women to give birth would remove a significant percentage of us from these places, and eliminate the invaluable contributions that we make to them, and to our larger world.?

We have an opportunity to transform the way we think about this issue, and the way we act on it. History shows that banning safe, effective abortions will only force women to pursue dangerous options that will cause undue harm. Use your voice to speak out NOW!?

Here are some organizations that you can donate, join, and support as they lead the fight:

SisterSong

Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice?

Indigenous Women Rising

NARAL

Here are some upcoming local and national events:

Rise Up for Abortion Rights events May 8-14th?

Sign the petition and find a local rally at Bans Off Our Bodies

Finally, call your representatives and let them know we won’t accept having our rights taken away: Congresspeople HERE and Senators HERE