We at Birth Pangs aren’t too keen on religion in general. But the Dalai Lama is pretty cool. He’s OK with homosexuality and even abortion in some circumstances.
But we really like this, from wiki:
He has also stated his belief that modern scientific findings take precedence over ancient religions.
He is in Canada now and strayed a bit into matters somewhat, sorta, scientific:
He said that, at age 72, he is healthy, and that main reason is his “peaceful mind. Almost no feeling of tension or stress. But I cannot prove that, scientifically, with instruments.”
He said hatred and fear are “actually eating our immune system,” but that with a compassionate mind, we can “sustain our immune system, even sometimes increasing it.”
Compare that to this week’s foray by Benny the Rat, who addressed a bunch of Italian pharmacists. He told them to be conscientious objectors and not to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception. Pharmacists should not:
“collaborate directly or indirectly in supplying products that have clearly immoral purposes such as, for example, abortion or euthanasia.”
*sigh* The lying liars keep pumping this load of hooey. Reality-based scientists say that emergency contraception is not an abortifacient; it prevents implantation of any fertilized ovum that might be present. But Benny doesn’t think that modern science should trump ancient bullshit.
Meanwhile, in Chile, where abortion is still illegal, but emergency contraception has recently been made available, a bunch of fetus fetishizing pharmacists have not been filling prescriptions for it.
The government on Monday warned it could close drug stores that refuse to sell the emergency contraceptive known as morning-after pill.
Sale of the pill was authorized in Chile last year only after the government overcame a legal challenge by conservative groups. It can be sold to girls as young as 14.
The country’s three largest drug store chains in recent weeks have not been selling the pill, saying they could not buy stocks of it locally.
The government replied by fining the stores 34 million pesos (US$68,000;€47,000) and it imported thousands of doses, making them available to the stores through the Health Ministry.
The pharmacies have no excuse now for not selling the pill, said Health Minister Soledad Barria, and her deputy, Lidia Amarales, warned that “the health code allows us to even close a pharmacy” refusing to sell the pill.
thats great i’m glad somebody is moving forward while it seems so many are pushing backward. good for chille!
Fern Hill,
It sounds as if there may be sort of gathering momentum to a culture of iconoclasm in some parts of South America.
The story of the fines is hopeful – thanks for the boost.