In recent feminist blogs, we find resources that respond to the needs of women in Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake:

Change.org: Women’s Rights

http://womensrights.change.org/blog/view/meeting_haitian_womens_specific_needs

Our Bodies, Our Blog

http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2010/01/responding-to-the-needs-of-women-and-girls-in-haiti

First Place: “Plastic Surgery Below the Belt,” Laura Fitzpatrick, Time Magazine
Judges said: “Balanced, fair, well reported and well-written - I actually wanted to read the whole thing even though I find the topic - vaginal plastic surgery - depressing. Love the conclusion! This story reflected a strong feminist perspective, which is sometimes lacking even from the most admirably sex-positive journalism.”

Three-Way Tie for Second Place:
“A Little Too Anatomically Correct,” Tom Wharton, Salt Lake Tribune
Judges said: “When politicians decide that art objects that have stood in plain view for years (in this case 20) are obscene-well, aren't we on a slippery slope to the Taliban, and isn't that very much worth writing about?”

“What's Normal Sex?” Brian Alexander, MSNBC.com
Judges said: “The author does a fine job distinguishing, in terms accessible to a mainstream audience, between the illegal and the kinky. At the same time, he writes at a high intellectual level, truly bringing us inside the professionals' debates.”

“Trials of an Oregon Lawyer,” Susan Goldsmith, Oregonian
Judges said: “This is true investigative, impact journalism. The man did not get a fair trial, and Goldsmith's reporting not only draws attention to that important fact, but advances his defense. Goldsmith avoids sensationalism, covers a controversial story boldly, and isn't afraid to take a side. It's brave to take on the problem of false accusations by children, because the public is hysterical on the subject of child sex abuse, a panic that's led to intense and usually unnecessary repression of kids and everyone around them.”

For more winners, see: http://www.sexies.org/news/winners09.html

The Check It Out: Queer Women Need Paps Too! campaign, a project of the Queer Women's Health Initiative, is trying to get the word out: if you've ever been sexually active and have a cervix, you need a Pap test.

The purpose of the campaign's website is to give women who have sex with women more information about what a Pap test is, why queer women need them and how to take care of themselves and each other.

A campaign for trans men, called Check It Out Guys: The Trans Men’s Pap Campaign, is a project of Sherbourne Health Centre.

Visit www.check-it-out.ca for more information.

For the 6th consecutive year, Girls Action Foundation is calling on girls and young women from across Canada to commit the most loving act of all, by making a difference in their world. For them, February 14th is the National Day of Action.

On this day, their vision is girls and young women veering from the usual Valentine’s Day activities, and uniting to create action-oriented projects that raise awareness about the issues affecting them and their communities.

Girls Action offers subsidies to network members to make their projects come to life. This year they encourage the creation of action projects that directly involve girls and young immigrant women or those whose aim is to benefit them.

Find out more at www.girlsactionfoundation.ca

A New York Times magazine story is one of many pieces covering the new mammogram guidelines recommended in the United States. The article covers why evidence-based medicine can seem to go against instinct, and the difficulties in translating scientists' recommendations to the general public, by "delving into the murky area between mathematics and psychology."

Read the article.

Men-tal’-i-ty is a full-color, quarterly publication showcasing the artistic works of individuals living with mental illness. The magazine is produced by the Missing Lint Co-op (http://missinglint.ca/index.html) located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. In the past year, they have published their first 5 issues abnd are now, they are in the process of going national.

Subscriptions for men-tal’-i-ty, are currently being sold, and there is a call for submissions.

To find out more click: http://mentalitymagazine.ca

The POWER Study (Project for an Ontario Women's Health Evidence-based Report) is producing a comprehensive Women's Health Report to serve as an evidence-based tool for policy makers, providers and consumers in their efforts to improve health and reduce health inequities among the women and men of Ontario.

The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) was released on December 9^th, 2009. The chapter examined: quality and outcomes of CVD care for heart failure, ischemic heart disease and stroke and how these vary by sex, income and geography; health and functional status of Ontarians with CVD and their risk factors for disease; and indicators that assess acute care, secondary prevention, diagnostic testing and clinical interventions and patient outcomes.

Visit the POWER Study website (www.powerstudy.ca) to download all chapters and highlights documents. Introduction to the POWER Study, POWER Study Framework Burden of Illness, Cancer, Depression and Cardiovascular Disease.

To view the POWER Study CVD chapter launch please go to http://webcast.otn.ca/archives.html . To download the launch slides please go to http://www.powerstudy.ca/the-power-report/supplementary-materials

November 25 is the UN International Day on the Elimination of Violence against Women.  What did your union do to commemorate it?  The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) issued a statement
noting that one third of all women are subject to violent attack at some point in their lifetimes -- and declaring that the issue of violence against women is a trade union issue.

Six months after the murder of abortion provider Dr. Tiller, anti-abortion extremists are seeking to intimidate abortion doctors with death threats in the form of “Wanted” posters.

In “Terror in Charlotte” ttp://www.msmagazine.com/Fall2009/terrorincharlotte.asp, Ms. covers the latest tactics by anti-abortion group Operation Save America in North Carolina. They are posting Old West-style “Wanted” posters featuring the face, name and addresses of abortion providers.

This is Ms.’s fourth in a series of investigations into the intimidation and violence at abortion clinics in some 10 states that has been intensifying since the beginning of 2009.

André Picard reported in the Globe and Mail on Oct. 12, 2009 that “more than two-thirds of those who have fallen critically ill and died of H1N1 influenza in Canada are younger women, according to a startling new study that underscores that while the pandemic flu is mild overall, in selective cases it is brutal and lethal. The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, highlights that there are two distinct forms of the disease: In 99 per cent of cases, people get sick, stay home for a few days, and get better. But in about one in every 1,000 cases, patients become gravely ill and require staggering amounts of care.”

Health Canada has launched fightflu.ca, a website with H1N1 prevention information, downloadable resources and province-specific updates.

The authors review much of the data demonstrating declining ages for both breast development and menarche among girls. They conclude that there has been a substantial decline in the age at which puberty begins in girls from Denmark. 

Source: PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 5 May 2009, pp. e932-e939 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2491)

Aug 18, 2009

By Marie Litalien - Sudbury Northern Life

Sudbury psychologist Dr. Michel Lariviere and a team of local researchers and mental health workers will travel the country to study the prevalence of mental illness among women in federal penitentiaries.

The Correctional Service of Canada will use the data collected to create an up-to-date profile of the mental health diagnoses of female offenders. The information will be used to better meet the mental health needs of women prisoners.

“What really needs to happen for the federal government is to get a sense of how prevalent certain mental disorders are in their population of offenders,” said Lariviere. “One group of offenders that seems to have been studied less are women who are incarcerated.”

...full story

Quebec passed a Bill this spring, effective September 30, 2009, that says abortion clinics must adhere to the same guidelines as specialized medical clinics that provide such procedures as cataract and knee surgery.

Bill 34 may mean that Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s first abortion clinic,opened in 1969, could shut down as early as next month.

Read the story in the Montreal Gazette.

A New York judge has revealed internal Merck discussions about a possible link between its widely prescribed drug and dead jaw syndrome, finds Ray Moynihan, visiting editor, in the August 6 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Read the article here.

17 June 2009, Geneva.

The Human Rights Council at its eleventh regular session adopted a landmark resolution on 'Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights'. In this resolution, governments express grave concern for the unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, acknowledge that this is a human rights issue and commit to enhance their efforts at the national and international level to protect the lives of women and girls worldwide. Over 70 UN member states co-sponsored this resolution, led by Colombia and New Zealand. LINK to the resolution Will be provided when document will be posted. General information is available on UNHRC Web site.

A press release on May 12 from the Office of The Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, regarding her Spring 2009 report to the House of Commons, notes: “Although the government made a commitment in 1995 to take gender differences into account when designing public policies, most government departments do not identify the different impacts on women and men...”

Read the press release.

Read Don Macpherson’s article on May 22 for The Canadian Press, writing on how the New Brunswick government has lost the latest battle in its legal war with Dr. Henry Morgentaler over the issue of public funding for abortions. MacPherson writes: “The New Brunswick Court of Appeal has dismissed the province’s appeal of a recent Court of Queen’s Bench ruling that gave Morgentaler standing to bring a lawsuit on behalf of women. Morgentaler is suing the province, arguing on behalf of women that it should have to pay for abortions performed at his clinic in Fredericton.”

Read the article here.

March 5, 2009

"A huge system failure needs a huge system change that includes input from breast cancer survivors” is the unanimous response of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) to Justice Margaret Cameron’s report released Tuesday in St. John’s.

CBCN President Diana Ermel says: ‘This is not a regional problem, it is a national one. The CBCN strongly supports the Cameron Report recommendation for not only provincial but national standards and would like to see actions and steps taken to implement systemic changes with uniform standards in Canada as a necessary step to begin to restore confidence in the medical system by women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.”

To read the whole statement, visit the site.

March 2, 2009
Bill Graveland, THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY - Government HPV vaccine programs for girls have been rolling out
across the country for more than a year now, but they're still a tough sell
for some Canadians.

All 10 provinces as well as the Yukon have implemented programs to provide
the Gardasil vaccine which protects against four strains of human
papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of genital warts and the agent
behind about 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases.

Governments have embraced the vaccine, but some parents, social commentators
and religious leaders have weighed in with concerns about its long-term
safety and efficacy. This has left a number of parents with reservations
about whether to have their daughters vaccinated.

Read the complete story here.

February 27 2009
CTV.ca News Staff

Janssen-Ortho Inc. has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit started by Canadian women who claimed they were injured by the Evra contraceptive skin patch.

The women alleged that Janssen-Ortho failed to adequately warn them and their doctors about Evra's association with an increased risk of developing blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, strokes, heart attacks and deep vein thrombosis.

On Friday, Janssen-Ortho agreed to settle the claims on an individual basis, without admitting liability. They are also prepared to settle any other valid claims that are brought forward.

Read the complete story here.

February 5, 2009

ANDRE PICARD

Globe and Mail

A woman taking hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of symptoms of menopause will see her risk of breast cancer drop sharply as soon as drug use is discontinued, according to a new study.

The research, published in today's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, confirms that the longer a woman takes HRT, the greater her risk of breast cancer, and that after five years' use the risk doubles annually.

See the complete story.

January 29, 2009

In 2006–2007, more than 54,000 babies across Canada were born preterm or small for their gestational age (SGA), according to new analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This represents one in seven Canadian births.

During the year studied, the Canadian preterm birth rate (born before 37 weeks gestation) was 8.1%, or almost 29,000 births, up from around 6.6%i in the early 1990s. The rate of small for gestational age births (babies born with a weight below the 10th percentile for their gestational age and sex) was 8.3%, down from approximately 11%i in the early 1990s. 

Read the full media release.

January 28, 2009

On January 28, 2009, Canada celebrated the 21st Anniversary of the Morgentaler decision, the Supreme Court’s ruling that decriminalize abortion, by striking downCanada's abortion law as unconstitutional.

Since 1989, Canada has become one of a small number of countries without a federal law restricting abortion. Additionally, abortion is a safe, legal, and insured service.

For more information about abortion in Canada, visit our website.

Read the press release.

January 24, 2009

By BARBARA MINTZES

If a model of airplane crashed more often than expected, what would happen if the manufacturer funded new guidelines saying the data on crashes had been reanalyzed, and short trips are perfectly safe (HRT Safe To Treat Menopause, MDs Say - Life, Jan. 23)? Would The Globe report "Airplane Safe For Short Trips, New Guidelines Say" without going into detail on the source of the funding for the guidelines?

The six authors of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada guidelines declare 59 conflicts of interest involving drug companies, mainly as speakers, consultants and advisory board members. Would the guidelines have been so critical of evidence of harm of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had they been independent?

Read the full story in the Globe and Mail.

Read a related story by Sharon Kirkey.

January 21, 2009

The Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN) and Women and Health Protection (WHP) applaud the recent announcement by Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq that Canada’s Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network established in July 2008 will receive major additional funding from the federal government.

Read the press release.