| Hello from a burning planet!
It seems like no matter where you turn—and for some this is quite literal—there are wildfires everywhere. And yet the anti-abortion movement has chosen to focus its environmental concerns this summer on… you guessed it: mifepristone. Activists are once again trying to convince the public that the abortion pill is contaminating our water systems, this time with a new “study” claiming that its alleged presence in “environmental water… could affect the physiology of aquatic animals; and human health, including fertility, pregnancy and fetal development.” It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
The devastation of climate change is real and should be the focus of research studies and community activism and congressional committees—not baseless papers that suggest medication abortion in water systems causes autism and infertility. Yet anti-abortion activists are flooding the zone with their junk science because they will do anything and say anything to get medication abortion out of people’s hands. It won’t work, but we have to keep swatting away these lies and anti-abortion stigma to ensure they don’t turn into policies that criminalize those who are already over-policed. It’s draining work, but it’s the work. So, let’s say it one more time with feeling: “No, abortion pills are NOT in our drinking water.”
In Solidarity,
Regina Mahone
Deputy Editor, Print, The Nation
Co-author, Liberating Abortion |
