<
https://www.jezebel.com/trump-admin-to-torch-10-million-in-birth-control-meant-for-women-in-crisis-zones>
"Apparently, restricting women’s bodily autonomy in the U.S. is not enough for
GOP lawmakers; they have to do it abroad as well. Hooray for America as a
global police state.
In June, the
Washington Post reported that the U.S. had $12 million worth of
contraceptives and HIV-prevention medications sitting in warehouses in Belgium
and the United Arab Emirates—and they were likely to be destroyed unless the
U.S. found someone to buy them. On Friday, the
Guardian reported that “the
decision had been made,” and our country ’tis of thee is going to destroy $9.7
million worth of IUDs and birth control implants. On Wednesday,
Reuters
further reported that the contraceptives will be burned at a facility in
France.
The Belgian foreign ministry, which said it had tried to find a solution with
the U.S., told
Reuters: “Despite these efforts, and with full respect for our
partners, no viable alternative could be secured. Nevertheless, Belgium
continues to actively seek solutions to avoid this regrettable outcome. Sexual
and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints.”
Destroying the contraceptives, which will cost taxpayers $167,000, is part of
DOGE’s plan to slash government “waste,” which includes slashing 83% of the
Agency for International Development, or USAID. This is also why 500 tons of
food aid meant for starving children in conflict zones is also set to be
incinerated.
According to two congressional aides who visited the Belgium warehouse and
spoke to the
Guardian, the contraceptives were likely intended for Africa,
and meant for women in established crisis areas, like refugee camps and war
zones. A State Department spokesperson told the outlet that most of the
contraceptives had less than 70% of their shelf life before expiration—but
Reuters confirmed the expiration dates are between April 2027 and September
2031."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
