At least there's sanity somewhere in the world.
Today the Netherlands, in response to Trump's reinstatement of the Global Gag Rules, which effectively restricts funding for any type of international non-profit that does abortion-related work (even if they only educate people), announced an epic fund in direct response to Trump's actions.
Lilianne Ploumen, the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and my new hero, plans to establish "an international fund which would finance projects relating to access
Ploumen's goal is to have the fund supported by governments, businesses, and organizations who are "concerned by the US President’s actions." Ideally, this support will compensate for the financial setback caused by the loss of aid from the U.S.
New quickly spread on January 23 when Trump decided to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, which started in 1984 by Mr. Ronald Reagan. The Global Gag Rule (or Mexico City Policy) restricts funding for any type of international non-profit that does abortion-related work — even if all they do is educate people.
Trump isn't just preventing women in the United States from having abortions as an option — he's trying to ban it in other countries, too.
He's even cutting funding from 27 million women who needed assistance with contraceptive services and supplies, and none of that funding was being spent on abortions.
But internationally assisting women and couples shouldn't be about policy, and it certainly isn't about one man's beliefs. It's about giving those people the choice to choose for themselves and educating them so that they can make the best possible personal decision.
Ploumen, unlike Trump and his right-sided administration, understands that banning abortion doesn't lead to fewer abortions — only to an increase in unsafe practices and death.
The work Ploumen is trying to do recognizes the idea that the international aid does more than provide abortions and related information — and I'm willing to bet that not everyone in the Netherlands feels that abortions are the right choice. Yet here they are, trying their hardest to see that women in other countries aren't sheltered or cut off from the health care they need.
What Trump and many Republicans in office fail to see is that you don't have to be pro-abortion to be pro-choice. You can pro-life and, if you're open-minded enough, still believe that other women deserve the right to choose. Meanwhile, Trump seems to think that, because he believes one thing, that's what everyone should do now that he's in control.
But he can't control the world. Other powers — other countries like the Netherlands — will hopefully keep countering his attempts as much as they can. And we should take note. The U.S. isn't an all-knowing power, and we could stand to learn a thing or two.
Thank you, Netherlands, for standing up with us.
