The world might be on fire (literally too) and disaster movies like 2012 are looking more like documentaries, but all hope’s not lost yet. Norway has been added to the steadily growing list of countries that have stood up to the anti-abortion order by US President Trump.
You’ll recall that Trump signed an executive order a short while ago reinstating a ban that pulled US funding from any organization that supported or provided information on abortion. A recent reiteration also stated that HIV/AIDS, maternal and early-childhood funding will be rescinded too. This had caused global outrage as many such organisations rely heavily on US funding, especially in developing countries. A ban on funding is likely to result in an increase in risky abortions.
Luckily, Europe has banded together to stand up to Trump the bully. Norway has joined the effort kicked off by the Netherlands in January, which quickly attracted support from Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg and Finland, along with Canada and Cape Verde, in filling the $600 million cumulative budget shortage expected during Trump’s four-year of administration.
“The government is increasing its support for family planning and safe abortion by 85 million Norwegian crowns ($10 million) compared with 2016,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in a statement. She added that it’s time like these that a joint effort is particularly important.
It’s small, but effective, steps like these that can counter the chaos and message of hate that seems to be Trump’s modus operandi.
