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The contraception gap Dear Durango, Do you believe American women have the right – and the responsibility – to choose when and how many children to have? Most people do. But the insurance industry makes it difficult. Most private insurance companies either exclude coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices or single out these services for limited coverage. We know that spacing births and avoiding unintended pregnancies can be crucial to the health of women and children. And we know that the vast majority of American women use contraception for more than 3/4 of their reproductive lives. Finally, we know our growing numbers, combined with our consumption patterns here in the United States place an enormous strain on the entire planet’s resources. Currently, women spend 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care costs just to cover contraceptives than men. Many women who would like to make responsible reproductive choices simply lack the financial means to do so. Seventeen states have already approved legislation to mandate that insurance companies provide fair and equitable coverage. Why hasn’t ours? – Eleanor Wright, via e-mail The scoop on telemarketers Dear Editors, In response to your info in theTelegraph that we must re-up at www.donotcall.gov, this is what I found on their site: the National Do Not Call Registry. “Did you get an e-mail claiming that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls because of a new cell phone number database? Those claims are not true. In fact, federal law prohibits telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phones. You may place your personal cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, but there is generally no reason to do so. For more information, see the FTC’s press release, ‘The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry.’” The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at the Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years. – Katherine A. Reynolds, via e-mail Marching toward apocalypse Folks, The handwriting on the wall is red with blood and the sense of deja vu is overwhelming. Clearly the threat of war with Iran and an expanded, perhaps worldwide, conflict is before us. The signs are unmistakeable. So, what can we do, what should we do, as this administration marches us inexorably towards apocalypse? I think former weapons inspector Scott Ritter has the best strategy – “From the colleges and universities to the churches and on to the public square of small- town America, public information talks, presentations and panels must be held. Communities should flood local media outlets with requests for coverage and appeal to regional media to run stories. Mainstream media will follow. Demonstrations, if useful at all, must be focused on events linked to an overall campaign designed to facilitate a strategic objective.” The time has come for us to act. We cannot let this administration continue on this apocalyptic course unchallenged. the issue is not that our small actions will or will not be effective, but that we have a moral and ethical responsibility as American citizens to stand up and let our current leadership, Dem and Repub alike, know that the rush to war with Iran is not the way to secure peace in the world. Like Ritter, I think the Iraq War’s failure is a disaster, but that it will end with the end of this administration (not before). The real apocalypse is staring humanity in the face – and we must prevent this planned war with Iran, now! I’m thinking we need to convene a local discussion, an all-day session of talks, videos and panels, as step one. Out of that day should come a citizen recommendation on what local governments might do in the way of actions. – Seeking peace, Art Goodtimes, via e-mail
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