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Romney says he’s pro-life despite GOP doubts

sanam86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:22:33 +0000

(CBS News) Most recently in the GOP race for the presidency, issues of birth control, prenatal testing and abortion have come up in the campaign. CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford explores what candidate Mitt Romney's views are on those issues. Republicans who say they're afraid Romney isn't a true conservative always point to social issues. They say they distrust him because he's changed his views -- especially on abortion -- and they worry he's going to change them again. At a town hall in Michigan on Tuesday, Romney talked about the economy, but a voter turned the conversation to social issues. "I just want to hear you say that you are 100 percent pro-life, meaning embryonic stem cell research, 100 percent pro-life, no abortions," asked the voter. Romney's response was swift: "I'm pro-life. I'm in favor of protecting the sanctity of life. I will cut off funding to Planned Parenthood." Romney says he opposes abortions except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger. But questions remain for some voters, because when Romney ran in 2002 for Massachusetts governor, he supported a woman's right to an abortion. Romney faces challenges in "home state" of Michigan In Michigan, Romney plays the underdog How Romney can beat Santorum in Michigan He said he changed his mind two years later, after a debate over embryonic stem cell research that convinced him abortion rights diminished the value of life. "During my time in office, I stood up to those who wanted to call into question the very definition of life," Romney said on Feb. 10. Romney also has taken a hard line against a rule by the Obama administration that would require Catholic hospitals and other religious-affiliated institutions to provide employees with contraception as part of their insurance. "Think of what that does to people in faiths that do not share those views," Romney had told a crowd. "This is a violation of conscience." On the issue of prenatal testing like amniocentesis, Romney has a different view than Santorum. Romney believes women should have the right to that testing so they can know and get that health information about the child they're carrying.

Continued here: Romney says he's pro-life despite GOP doubts

Santorum stands firm on pro-life position

sanam86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:22:22 +0000

(CBS News) In the Republican race for the presidential nomination, a new poll shows that Mitt Romney is inching ahead of Rick Santorum in Michigan: 37 percent to 35. That's Romney's home state and he's been behind there. The primary is next Tuesday. In recent days, issues of birth control, prenatal testing and abortion have dominated much of the campaign. CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds caught up with Santorum to find out where he stood on the social issues. In front of a conservative Tea Party crowd in Tucson Wednesday, Rick Santorum outlined the things he believes are worth fighting for, and they are the foundation of his views on social issues. "Life, family, country, churches and religious liberties," he said at the rally. Santorum is a staunch opponent of abortion under any circumstances. He advocates abstinence over birth control and opposes a government mandate that religious-run institutions like Catholic hospitals provide employees with contraception. Santorum opposes civil unions for gay couples Santorum attacks Obama on prenatal screening "This is an issue of religious liberty," said Santorum. "This is an issue of the federal government trying to impose its values on the Catholic Church and other religions." As for secular organizations, Reynolds asked Santorum: "Do you have a problem with them covering contraception?" "No," he replied. This week, he raised concerns about the prenatal test amniocentesis. He's suggested that it often leads to abortions, which in turn are designed to cull the population of the unwanted or the disabled. "Are you opposed to amniocentesis? What is your position on that?" Reynolds asked the candidate. "The point I was trying to make," said Santorum, "is that should government be in the business of funding and encouraging this type of test that leads to high rates of abortion?" He likened amniocentesis to a science that improves genetics by manipulation. "It is about eugenics? Let's just lay it on the line. That's what it's about." "Just that kind of test? There are other kinds of pre-natal tests," asked Reynolds. "Absolutely essential prenatal tests," Santorum said. "Sonograms are standard fare, not invasive, not threatening." The former Pennsylvania senator is also opposed to gay marriage. He told us Wednesday he's against civil unions for gay couples.

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Santorum stands firm on pro-life position

Video: Santorum takes conservative hard line on social issues

sanam86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:22:09 +0000

February 22, 2012 4:30 PM In front of a conservative Tea Party crowd in Tucson, Ariz., GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum outlined his views on social issues. Dean Reynolds speaks with Santorum to clarify some of the Senator's hard line conservative principles.

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Video: Romney still struggling to prove conservative values

sanam86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:21:56 +0000

February 22, 2012 4:31 PM Many Republicans who fear Mitt Romney is not a true conservative point to his flip-flopping on social issues. Jan Crawford reports on Romney's uphill battle to prove his conservatism to GOP voters.

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Video: Romney still struggling to prove conservative values

Lesbian federal worker wins health benefits case

sanam86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:21:48 +0000

(AP) A federal judge in San Francisco says the U.S. government cannot deny health benefits to the wife of a lesbian court employee by relying on the 1996 law that bars government recognition of same-sex unions. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled Wednesday that because the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex married couples, the government's refusal to furnish health insurance to Karen Golinski's wife is unjustified. The Department of Justice originally opposed Golinski in her lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management, but changed course last year after President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder said they would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act. When White heard the case in December, a lawyer hired by the U.S. House of Representatives argued that the act does not violate the civil rights of federal workers with same-sex spouses.

Oasys School’s first World Youth Festival 2012

amjad — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:21:35 +0000

KARACHI - The Oasys School held its first World Youth Festival 2012 at the Royale Rodale Sports Club in which 18 schools participated in various events including table tennis, chess, counter strike, debate, singing, caricature, earth quiz, photography, poster painting and young geniuses. The chief guest at the opening ceremony was provincial Additional Education Secretary Riaz Ahmed Memon along with USAID Deputy Director Dr Randy Hatfield. The opening day commenced with singing, poster painting, earth quiz and caricature competitions.

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Samples collected from 13 sugar mills, sent to lab for analysis

amjad — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:21:21 +0000

KARACHI - On the directives of Sindh Environment Minister Shaikh Muhammad Afzal, the provincial Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected samples from 13 sugar mills and sent them to the laboratory for analysis so that any violation of environmental laws can be ascertained. According to a press release, the Home Department has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC against dumping and burning of solid waste at any site other than the designated ones. The monitoring teams of EPA inspected different locations of Karachi and issued 18 notices under the Section 16(1) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 against the violators.

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Samples collected from 13 sugar mills, sent to lab for analysis

Sindh’s jails… hmmm sound more like 2-star hotels

amjad — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:21:07 +0000

KARACHI - The Sindh government has paid special emphasis on converting jails into “reform houses”, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said on Wednesday. He was presiding over a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House to review the progress made in the prisons of the province. “Under the reform programme, many initiatives and schemes including the improvement of the environment, teaching, learning, games, computer use, craftsmanship and health facilities have been launched to turn prisoners into good citizens,” he said. Sindh Prisons and Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro informed the participants of the meeting that the chief minister has provided Rs 1 billion that are being spent on the repair and maintenance of barracks, rest houses, lavatory blocks; provision of drinking water facility, electric fans, charpoys, beds, computer laboratories, PCOs, art galleries, music rooms and mosques and preparation of CNICs and teaching and reciting of the Holy Quran in all prisons of the province. “Various factories of handicrafts, carpets, pottery and woodwork, which were closed in many jails, have now been reactivated,” he added The minister said prisoners engaged in craftsmanship will be paid remuneration from sale of their creations. “The income achieved will be spent on the welfare of the prisoners and the betterment of jails.” Soomro further said computers have been provided in jails, where prisoners are being imparted training in various trades. He said preparations of making CNICs for prisoners are almost complete. He said health facilities are also being improved in the jails and arrangements have been made for organising health camps for hepatitis, eye infections and tuberculosis. Polio camps will be held in juvenile jails. The participants of the meeting were informed that the chief minister will distribute arms and machines worth Rs 350 million that include LMGs, SMGs, bullets and teargas shells to the prison staff on March 5.

Beware! Multi-drug-resistant strains on the loose ■ WHO identifies AMR as a major public health problem

amjad — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:20:49 +0000

KARACHI - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major global public health problem. In its recent publication, the international body has asked countries to implement hospital infection control measures so as to limit the spread of multi-drug-resistant strains, a significant contributor to AMR. AMR - the ability of micro-organisms to find ways to evade the action of the drugs used to cure the infections they cause - is increasingly recognised as a global public health issue which could hamper the control of many infectious diseases. Some bacteria have developed mechanisms that render them resistant to many of the antibiotics normally used for their treatment (multi-drug resistant bacteria), and so pose particular difficulties, as there may be few or no alternative options for therapy. The issue has gained extreme severity as researchers have also identified a new gene that enables certain types of bacteria to be highly resistant to almost all antibiotics. While multi-drug resistant bacteria are not new and will continue to appear, this development requires monitoring and further study to understand the extent and modes of transmission, and to define the most effective measures for control. The WHO called upon governments, consumers, doctors, dispensers, veterinarians, managers of hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, patients and visitors, healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical firms, professional societies and international agencies to be alert to the problem of AMR and take appropriate steps. The healthy body strongly recommended that governments focus control and prevention efforts in surveillance for antimicrobial resistance; rational antibiotic use, including education of healthcare workers and the public in the appropriate use of antibiotics. It also expected governments to introduce and enforce legislation related to stopping the selling of antibiotics without prescription and strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including the use of hand-washing measures, particularly in healthcare facilities. Successful control of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms has been documented in many countries, and the existing and well-known infection prevention and control measures can effectively reduce transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms if rigorously and systematically implemented.

WSPC organises fundraiser

amjad — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:20:32 +0000

KARACHI - The friends of the Welfare Society for Patient Care (WSPC) organised a fundraiser featuring some comedy on stage written up by Imran Aslam and performed by his team of artists. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, 100 percent of the proceeds raised will go towards benefiting the WSPC, which is dedicated to the treatment of less privileged people with kidney ailments. The event, held at the Mohatta Palace Museum, started with prayers and an auction of original artwork by renowned artists and fashion designers. The WSPC, based at the Clifton Kidney and Dialysis Centre, Park Lane Hospital, Karachi, houses state-of-the-art dialysis units, with indoor medical and surgical services and an emergency department that provides 24/7 cover. The WSPC is a charitable organisation founded in October 2010 in Karachi. It has a government-registered governing board, whose members are bureaucrats and doctors. The governing board and consultants work in honorary capacity for the WSPC. Since the establishment of the dialysis unit in February 2009, more than 400 patients suffering with kidney failure from all over the country and other charities have benefitted from its free dialysis services. “Currently 80 patients are being treated free-of-charge by the WSPC,” it was ointed out in the statement. In order to make the treatment readily available for the poor and needy patients, the WSPC nephrology unit provides free dialysis facilities. The WSPC aspires to enhance the quality of life of kidney failure patients. It aims to do so, primarily, by providing free dialysis treatment to the underprivileged members of the society. In addition to dialysis, it provides other treatment and facilities totally free of cost such as medicines, blood forming injection (Erythropoietin), physiotherapy, music therapy, OPD follow ups, nutritious food during dialysis, transport services as well as a 24 hour emergency cover and specialised care of critically sick patients, the WSPC said in the statement.

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