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“save the storks”: a pro-life organization to support

“save the storks”: a pro-life organization to support

Last updated on: January 24, 2017 at 4:21 pm by Rebecca Bratten Weiss

“save the storks”: a pro-life organization to support 2017-01-24T16:21:28-04:00 Rebecca Bratten Weiss

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One of the more controversial tenets of our New Pro Life approach is that we emphasize eliminating abortion through reducing demand, instead of reducing supply. Our argument is this: even if every abortion facility in the nation were shut down, unless the reasons why women seek abortions are eliminated, abortion will still carry on, as an underground industry, just as it did prior to Roe vs. Wade. And unless the laws are written with care, women in vulnerable situations will find themselves made the scapegoats.

Moreover, when we are not throwing our energy into legal battles against the opposing side, we can instead put our resources into fighting the injustices that drive women to abortion.

Save the Storks is an organization that shares this approach. The term “Stork” is a clever and creative way of thinking of the woman and child together, instead of separating one from the other, and focusing on the needs of one to the exclusion of the other.

According to an interview with creative director Marcie Little in Crux:

Save the Storks has launched 24 “Stork Buses” that are operated by local pregnancy centers. These buses, equipped with ultrasound machines, surround sound systems, and large TV displays are helping save lives outside abortion clinics and on college campuses.

As part of our mission to equip pregnancy centers, we actively engage with the next generation by encouraging them to re-imagine the pro-life movement. Their innovative spirits, thoughtfulness, and care for people afflicted by injustice is invaluable as our culture shifts towards embracing life.

Little went on to say:

Abortion is horrific and tragic, but it’s also an escape — not just for the individual(s) facing a pregnancy decision, but for society. It’s far easier to champion a woman’s right to an abortion than it is to get involved and become the support she needs to choose life. It is much quicker to tell a woman she should get an abortion than it is to become a resource for her as she parents.

Individuals and groups who want to help reduce the demand for abortion have to begin by becoming part of the solution. And this is uncomfortable. But it is only when we are truly uncomfortable that the greatest social changes happen.

Until our culture truly understands the issues, concerns, and needs (mentioned above) of those who feel abortion is their only option, we will only ever incrementally reduce the demand for abortion. At Save the Storks our goal is to not just fractionally change the demand, but make the demand irrelevant all together because those facing a pregnancy decision are surrounded by women and men who support them — enabling them to choose life.

This statement confirms a growing awareness, among both pro-life and pro-choice advocates, that the abortion issue is not as black-and-white as some would have it. Even if we look at it aside from the right to life of the child: abortion as a solution carries problems, just looking at it in terms of the well-being of the woman. And making abortions unavailable doesn’t solve the problems that drive women to seek abortions.

Marcie Little — in the middle of her rush to prepare for the March for Life — told us a little about her vision for the future of her group in particular, and the pro-life movement in general:

Our vision for the future is that people continue to realize that abortion hurts women. Science, psychology, and stories of women who’ve had abortions all confirm this, and we want women to know they’re valued and that support is available to them. We believe abortion does not empower women, and we think the lies surrounding the issue need to stop.

We want to capture that narrative and continue to share it so more people can catch this vision of truly empowering and helping women. We think abortion will end when women don’t feel they have to end their pregnancies to pursue their dreams. We want to help build a culture that supports women, valuing and caring for them in vulnerable moments when they have nowhere else to turn.

Save the Storks is hoping to provide more resources for pregnancy centers, and to further education on life issues, and how to provide real, practical support to women in need. Please consider supporting this organization that is dedicated to eliminating abortion demand. You can read more here about Save the Storks, and donate to support their work.

(reprinted from the New Pro Life page)

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