| | ue |] § wednesday news § May 9, 1984 A PERSONAL DECISION The right to SER CESS SS SN: aS SSS SS NEWS photo tan Smith IN AN EFFORT to educate people and get them involved, Dianne Mylrea asks for pro-choicers to come forward and defend their right to choose on abortion. She says making abortion illegal won't stop it, it will only make it dangerous: self-induced or performed by ‘backroom butchers’. Posing with her son Kalan, 142, Mylrea, happily married, has never had to opt for abortion herself, but would hate to see the choice restricted to others. FR EE DO-IT-YOURSELF DEMONSTRATION SAT. MAY 12 10:00 - 2:00 INDOORS DEERWOOD GARDEN " AND / LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES 987-1221 FREE rental of stone cutter on any purchase A LETE ' INSTALLATION SERVICE -\ i YWestcon CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS 610 Valid April 29 - June 2 Excluding Mother's Day 2-6:30pm 7 days a week ROBERGE TRUCKING - CENTURY BARK 980-5413 SANE) © CARAVE t BARK MULCH (Fan on Hemntog hy TOP SOU (Se reened on anise reenech MUSHROOM MANURE BAGGE D BARKMULC > BLACK PLASTIC. POL Y > 2. ¢© @ 8 @ 1000 SQET ROLLS Newsroom 985-2131 hat's b ‘*ABORTION is not a decision I’ve had to make, _but no one can make that decision for someone FASHION: FOOD TRAVEL else,’? says Dianne Mylrea, a North. Vancouver wife and mother, and member of the North Shore Association for Choice on Abortion. ‘*We’re not promoting abortion,’’ Mylrea says, speaking on behalf of the association for choice, ‘‘but we see it as a woman’s right. You can’t stop abortion. Women will only be trapped into giving themselves abortions or going to ‘backroom butchers’, or having unwanted children, that might be abused. Whereas (therapeutic) abortion is an option technology has made possible.”’ As a childcare and employment counselor, Mylrea says she counselled families who could not af- ford to have another child, and talked to children who had been abused. Through personal experiences, she saw abortion as a necessity for those who needed it, to avoid unhealthy situations. But Mylrea stresses that abortion is not her first choice. She believes educa- tion is the key to avoiding unwanted pregnancies, by learning more about responsible sexuality and using contraceptives. ‘“‘We encourage _ respon- sible sexuality. A person should not partake in sex if they cannot handle it emotionally, as well as physically. If they're going to do it anyways, we ad- vocate birth control and education in the schools.”* But unfortunately, she says, people are misinformed, birth control methods can fail and un- By BARRETT FISHER wanted pregnancies do occur. Therefore, therapeu- tic abortion offers a safe alternative. Mylrea says pre- and post-abortion counselling is important, explaining the medical and emotional ramifications. By promoting education, and advising a woman of her choices be- forehand -- adoption, raising a child or abortion -- the moral decision is left up to the individual, it is her choice. **We live in a pleuralistic society with varying, religions and moral beliefs. We are entitled to individual rights. Because a faction of people have one belief, that doesn’t mean it should become law. I don’t think anyone can make that decision for so- meone else. ‘*If people believe in the living fetus, then 1 respect their opinion. But it boils down to priorities. Ant- abortionists believe all life is sacred, regardless of rape or incest. They want to do away with amniocentesis, so if a child is severely handi- capped or a mother’s life is endangered, there would be no way of knowing, or of correcting the situation. Mylrea emphasizes that pro-choice is just that, choice. Pro-choicers are not From page C3 mamas NORTH SHORE CONTINUING EDUCATION eam ~ NIGHT SCHOOL IN THE DAY NORTH & WEST VANCOUVER SCHOOL OISTRICTS EY cy) ONE DAY WORKSHOPS FEF INCLUDES LUNCH PLACE Carson Graham Secondary Schoot 2145 Jones Avenue North Vane ouver OATE Saturday May t? 9 00 am to 4 00 pm Barbecuing Bookkeeping (rash W/Shop Break Dancing Calligraphy Capsule Wardrobe Heartsaver (C.F Cartoon Drawing Choices Drawing on Right Side of the Brain branch Impressionist Painting The Stock Market Self Hypnosis Windsurfing For turther information call 985 8741