This diary is a plea for action. Many people are going to be participating in counter-inaugural events, anti-Bush protests, and the like tomorrow. Here's what I think you should do: get on the phone RIGHT NOW and call the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). Tell them you support the approval of Plan B for over-the-counter sales. It has been proven safe and effective, and in fact 23 out of 27 FDA officials on 2 different advisory committees voted to approve its sale OTC. Further, a study from UCSF researchers found that having Plan B
did not increase risky sexual behavior .
Maybe it's because in this administration, time after time, we've seen how ideology wins out over science . How facts are distorted, or hidden, or questioned, until they are no longer treated as truthful. Maybe I'm just sick of their shit. But whatever the reason, I'm making a plea: Please, take 5 minutes RIGHT NOW to make a call to the FDA, and tell them you support the sale of Plan B over-the-counter to sexually active women of all ages: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).
More on Plan B:
Maybe I'm also pissed after hearing about the
recent remarks by the President of Harvard, Lawrence Summers (warning- off on a tangent). I'm tired of being put in my societally decided place, and being told what to do, and how to think. One positive way to decide my own direction in life is to have control over my reproductive capabilities.
I think that most people, pro-choice or not, would like to reduce the number of abortions each year in the U.S. Well, how about preventing 800,000 abortions a year? . It's been estimated that there are up to 3 million unwanted pregnancies in the United States each year, and having open access to Plan B could greatly reduce that number, by preventing the pregnancy from ever occurring.
The Republicans currently in power don't want to allow women to be able to take these decisions in their own hands. Restrictions on the sale of Plan B OTC would especially hurt young women, including victims of violent sexual assaults or incest, and women with no access to health care. The approval of Plan B would allow these women to makes choices for themselves, about their own bodies, and I think that scares more than one Republican.
Barbara Boxer has spoken out on this issue (she just can't do enough good things lately), and urges the FDA to "follow sound science and research." Not so sure who these YubaNet people are, but there is it.
Kind of wandering here and there, but hpoefully you get my main point: Plan B should be approved for OTC sale. Call the FDA. Now!
1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)