start a movement for reproductive rights and proper sex education in chile

This is definitely worth reading.
http://www.cooperativa.cl/p4_noticias/site/artic/20041018/pags/20041018204738.html
I really do adopt the attitude of, “if you’re against abortion (and gay marriage, for that matter) then don’t get one”. To be perfectly honest, I personally wouldn’t have an abortion, but I also would never tell anyone else what to do.
But if that’s not good enough for you, try this one. Remember what happened when the US attempted Prohibition? People still drank, but liquor was more expensive, more dangerous to acquire, and of poorer quality. This article claims that Chile, where abortion is illegal under ANY circumstances, has the highest rate of abortions in Latin America. I don’t have that many friends here in Chile, but I do know people who have undergone it, and I’ve heard enough talk to know the real deal. Anyone can obtain an abortion, but how safe and medical it is depends on how much money you have, which makes me pretty sick to my stomach. People of all races, education levels, socioeconomic statuses, and ages have abortions. IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD. More women die from it where it’s illegal. Women in Chile can be incarcerated for it. If it were illegalized in the US, it would only become more dangerous and more expensive. IT NEEDS TO BE LEGALIZED TO PROTECT WOMENS’ LIVES. Please read the article, and do anything else you can to help this cause.

but it’s definitely worth reading.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/opinion/09kristof.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

here are some links to articles and information concerning the (microscopic) pro-choice movement in chile:
http://www.forosalud.cl/forosalud/index.asp
http://www.modemmujer.org/280903/antecedentes.htm
http://www.sernam.cl/opencms/opencms/sernam/mujereschile/

and for other issues in latin america (english):
http://www.lawg.org/

this one is my favorite non-profit and works all over the world for human rights (english):
http://www.madre.org

if there is any way you can help or you have any ideas for what i can do from here, pleeeeeeease speak up and act up!!

if this actually happens (and i’m trying with all my might) i think i can also move goal #22 – start a revolution – to the completed list.

seriously.

well, i already knew this was going to be an uphill battle, but i wasn’t ready for this kind of rejection.
what happened was, the vice-principal at my school agreed to bring up the proposal of me starting a health class for the kids (not just sex ed). the administration agreed that it was a good idea, but they want to start it next year (when i am most likely not going to be here) and they made it pretty clear that they want a chilean to teach it. the chilean they have in mind is a great teacher and is very open-minded, but… what’s the big problem with me?
i also still haven’t heard back from madre.org and am beginning to think i won’t. i feel stilted in this mission. any words of encouragement?

I met today with the general coordinator of my school. He had worked for three years at a school in Costa Rica and eventually was able to fight the Catholic backlash enough to establish a sex ed program there. He fully supports me and is going to bring it up with the administration today. I can’t wait.
I actually brought up the idea of not just sex ed, but a sort of health class. No one ever talks to these kids about managing stress, drugs and alcohol, or wearing a seatbelt. And they get a little in the way of nutrition, hygiene, and physical fitness, but they still could use more.
I’m super excited to have at least the support of the highest ranking gringo in our school system. Now to convince the Chileans…

i’ve done a fuckton of research for this, and i’ve written to some international organizations asking for help. unfortunately there really aren’t any such organizations here in chile and there are not many in latin america, and i somehow doubt u.s. organizations would help – they do, after all, have their hands full with sex ed and reproductive rights in the states.
i also talked to a male teacher at my school who is equally fired up about this (and has agreed to teach the boys if need be), and we have scheduled a meeting to talk with the general coordinator (another north american) about implementing a sex ed program in our school. i fear resistance from the chileans, but i already knew this would be an uphill battle in a country that is so saturated in catholicism. i figure the least we can battle for is to teach about peer pressure, puberty, and emotional health in relationships. naturally i hope to take it a hell of a lot farther, but we’ll see.
any other ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.