THE CHRISTMAS SHIP IS COMING, THE CHRISTMAS SHIP IS COMING!
Join Us for Upcoming Holiday Events! Hard to believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and on the tails of it, the 2008 Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, a 59 year tradition! We've outlined some of the upcoming events below and would love to have you join us. We also want to encourage any boat owners to follow in the Holiday Parade, or join us on shore where friends and neighbors gather around bonfires for the 20 minute performances performed by local choirs.
THANKSGIVING DINNER CRUISE Join Argosy Cruises for a fantastic Thanksgiving Dinner and leave the dirty dishes to us! You'll have your choice of a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, or be bold and order a non traditional entree. All this and a stunning cruise through the waters of Elliott Bay. Thursday, November 27, 2:00pm-5:00pmMORE INFO
SANTA BRUNCHES AND FAMILY NIGHT Each Sunday, from November 30th through December 21st, we invite you to join us for a special Santa Brunch from 12:00pm-2:00pm. Santa will be on hand as will the Dickens Carolers and an area is set aside for arts and crafts.MORE INFO
Or, start a new family tradition on December 23rd, finale night of the Christmas Ship Program. Families come out earlier in the evening and follow the parade while enjoying a wonderful buffet dinner. The time is early enough to get little ones home to bed. MORE INFO
JAZZ MONDAY NIGHTS WITH KWJZ Join us on Monday's, with KWJZ for our annual Jazz ship following the Christmas Ship. The Jazz ship artists include Darren Motamedy, Deems Tsutakawa, Michael Powers, and the 4th Degree. MORE INFO
JOIN US ON THE CHRISTMAS SHIP! Each night, from Saturday, November 29 through Tuesday, December 23rd, the Argosy Christmas Ship sails to different Puget Sound waterfront communities, over 45 in total. Choirs onboard sing 20 minute performances to these communities, all broadcast via state-of-the-art speaker system. MORE INFO
Royal Argosy Dining Cruise Web Specials Click here for details.
PRESS RELEASE U.S. Forces Afghanistan December 2, 2008 Release Number 20080112-02
US Rep. Murtha visits Camp Eggers, Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan — Service members at Camp Eggers shared breakfast with Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa, House of Appropriations Committee-Defense Subcommittee delegation during a visit on Nov. 30, to Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan headquarters.
Service members from the state of Pennsylvania had the opportunity to ask questions of their representative. Murtha talked to the military members on various subjects such as Stop-Loss and Tri-Care.
CSTC-A provides advisors, mentors and trainers to help the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior to organize, train, equip, employ and support the Afghan National Security Forces in order to defeat the insurgency, provide internal security, extend and enforce the rule of law, set conditions for economic development, and gain the trust and confidence of the citizens of Afghanistan.
-30-
Cutlines: 081130-N-6708W-005 Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., House of Appropriations Committee-Defense Subcommittee, greets Army Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur L. Coleman Jr. during a visit to Camp Eggers on Nov. 30. Murtha’s delegation talked with Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan leadership during a fact-finding tour in Afghanistan and also visited service members from Pennsylvania. (MC1 Cliff Williams, Released)
081130-N-6708W-012 Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., House of Appropriations Committee-Defense Subcommittee, talks with Army Pfc. Stacy Keim, from Bethlehem, Pa., at breakfast during a visit to Camp Eggers on Nov. 30. Murtha’s delegation talked with Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan leadership during a fact-finding tour in Afghanistan and also visited service members from Pennsylvania. (MC1 Cliff Williams, Released)
Welcome to Des Moines, Washington, a friendly community on the shore of Puget Sound.
Des Moines offers an excellent blend of quality homes, natural beauty, and business opportunity - all within minutes of the Seattle and Tacoma metropolitan areas. Our six miles of shoreline include public beaches, natural areas, waterfront parks, a 900-slip marina, fine dining, and a popular boardwalk. Des Moines neighborhoods offer housing of every type and price range-from waterfront mansions to affordable apartments. There are numerous commercial properties ready for redevelopment.
Highline School District is currently undertaking an ambitious plan to renovate most of the school buildings in and around Des Moines. The City is also home to Highline Community College, and a satellite campus for Central Washington University. Des Moines is easily accessible from Interstate 5, Pacific Highway South, and Sea-Tac International Airport. "The Waterland City" welcomes you to our community.
Food Banks Need Your Contributions: Here's a list and how you can help
Friday, November 28, 2008
The Burien-Highline Food bank, located at 18300 4th S. near Manhattan/Normandy Park is suffering along with the slacking economy said Mike Werle, Food Bank director.
In a good economy the Food Bank gets by with up to 65 families a day getting some type of relief. Currently the food bank is getting requests from more than 85 families per day and simply cannot meet the demand.
In short, food banks are short of food. If you are inclined to help there are several Food Banks in our area. Here is a helpful contact list:
Do I Qualify? Yes. Everyone in need will be served. There are income requirements to receive government food but all other food is served without restriction. You may come in for food once a month.
What to Bring: You will need to bring proof of current address (such as a telephone bill, utility bill or rent agreement). Also, you will need to bring identification for all those residing in the household--picture ID for all the adults and ID (social security card,medical coupon, birth certificate, etc.) for all the children. You need to bring these items with you every time you come to the food bank.
What Food Bank do I go to? See list of Food Banks. Choose the closest location for convenience.
Highline Times & The Des Moines News Main Office: 14006 1st Ave. South Burien, WA 98168 Phone: 206-444-4873
Local News
Third runway officially open On the kind of cloudy, rainy late afternoon the third runway was designed for, an Alaska Airline jet became on Jan. 20 the first commercial aircraft to take off from the new runway. Click here to read full story
Black Friday at Fred Meyer was busy Black Friday was busy at Fred Meyer in Burien where doorbuster prices attracted a good size crowd. Over one hundred people stood in line to enter the store very early at 5 AM. The store was decked out in holiday decor as the people began their bargain hunting. The crowd of holiday shoppers quickly grew making for a bustling shopping day. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood for the event. Click here to read full story
Parking sparks Des Moines dispute An already heated discussion on downtown parking requirements escalated when Des Moines council members Carmen Scott and Dave Kaplan defended themselves against what they felt were personal attacks by Mayor Pro-Tem Dan Sherman. Click here to read full story
Tin Room celebrates four years in business The Tin Room, a bar and grill located in Burien's Old Town, is celebrating it's fourth anniversary Saturday, Nov.22. The name of the bar comes from a former tenant in the space, once occupied by Hiline Tin Shop. The Tin Room has become a very popular local watering hole and eatery in its young life, leading a resurgence of small specialty shops in the area. Click here to read full story
People's Alliance for Democracy protesters shout slogans and dances during a rally at the besieged Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok on Dec. 1, 2008. Thousands of travelers continued to be stranded in Thailand as its international terminals continued to be held by anti-government protestors.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama hugs double-amputee Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth after they placed a wreath at a veterans memorial in Chicago November 11, 2008. Duckworth is director of the department of veteran affairs for Illinois.
Airplanes from Thai Airlines park on the tarmac at the besieged Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok on Dec. 1, 2008. Some 30 planes had been flown out starting Sunday and an additional 50 were to be moved later Monday, some of them to protest-free airports elsewhere in Thailand so that stranded travelers can fly out of the country, said Serirat Prasutanont, director of the Airports Authority of Thailand.
Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) embraces his wife Michelle after giving his acceptance speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008.
Lebron James of the U.S. goes for a slam dunk against China during their Group B men's basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 10, 2008.
US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) rides a tricycle as a child in an undated family snapshot taken in the 1960's in Hawaii and released by his presidential campaign, February 4, 2008. Obama, now a 46-year-old first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, heads into Super Tuesday's slate of 22 Democratic state primaries and caucuses in a tight race with Hillary Clinton to become the party's presidential nominee.
An actress performs at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest.
Michael Phelps swims in the Men's 400m Individual Medley setting a new world record at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, June 29, 2008.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visits an air force base in an unknown location in this frame grab of an undated picture. The North's state TV on December 1, 2008 showed undated pictures of Kim touring an air force base, which may reassure the masses at home but leaves unanswered questions about his health in the outside world because there is no clear indication as to when the pictures were taken.
U.S. President George W. Bush (C) and other leaders get into position for the family photo of NATO heads of state and government and invitees at the NATO Summit in Bucharest April 3, 2008.
LifeNews.com Pro-Life News Report Monday, December 1, 2008
For news updated throughout the day, visit LifeNews.com.
Today's Headlines • John McCain Urges Georgia Voters to Back Pro-Life Saxby Chambliss • Time to Stop Demonizing Pro-Lifers as Against All Stem Cell Research • Assisted Suicide Opponents Lost Washington Battle, Must Press On • Poll: Majority of Canadians Want Abortion Limits, Protections for Unborn • It's Time California's Stem Cell Research Firm be Denied Tax Funding • Intl Planned Parenthood Promotes Abortion in African Nations, Indonesia • Planned Parenthood CEO Criticized for Saying Obama Won on Abortion • Don't Listen to the Counterfeit Pro-Lifers Like Matthew 25 Net and Kmiec • UN Committee Against Torture Cites China and Forced Abortion Opponent • Manhattan Storage Company to Donate $200,000 to Planned Parenthood
With over 12.3 million pageviews this year, LifeNews.com is the leading pro-life web site on the Internet. If you're not advertising with us, you're missing out on 70,000 people seeing your ad on a weekly basis. Email us to find out how your ad can appear on LifeNews.com for as little as $100.
Real Pro-Life Christmas Cards
First Cards to Feature a Beautiful Image Celebrating Christ's Birth, A Family Photo, and Personalized Message. New lower pricing for 2008, easy online ordering, choice of LINEN, MATTE, or GLOSS paper, quick delivery, and includes envelope! VIEW SAMPLES at: TrueChristmasCards.com
John McCain Urges Georgia Voters to Back Pro-Life Saxby Chambliss Tuesday Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- Former presidential candidate John McCain has weighed in on the runoff race for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia that takes place on Tuesday. McCain is backing pro-life Sen. Saxby Chambliss over his pro-abortion rival Jim Martin, who enjoys Barack Obama's support. "Next week, voters in Georgia will go back to the polls in a special runoff election to choose their next U.S. Senator and we must do everything possible to ensure voters re-elect Saxby over his liberal opponent," McCain said over the weekend in a letter LifeNews.com obtained. McCain talked about the ramifications of the election -- which have prompted pro-life groups to strongly support Chambliss to have a better chance of stopping Obama's pro-abortion agenda. "I'll get right to my point; there's a lot at stake in this election," McCain said. "Obama campaign staff have moved into Georgia and the Obama campaign is keeping campaign offices in the state open to support Senator Chambliss' opponent." "If we lose, the Senate Democrats could reach 60 seats in the U.S. Senate. This would give them the power to enact an agenda out of touch with our values and beliefs and the ability to confirm activist judges and liberal Administration appointees with little to no open debate," he said. Full story at LifeNews.com
Time to Stop Demonizing Pro-Life Advocates as Against All Stem Cell Research by Robert Meyer One of the most common complaints registered during the recent election season, is that certain policy positions of political candidates are wrongly characterized, or worse, just outright falsely presented by the opposition. Nowhere has this trend been more prominent than in regards to the stem-cell research positions of politically conservative candidates at virtually every level of government. For some reason, probably strategic and, in order to play on emotion, the argument is usually presented as a false dilemma: Some are for stem-cell research, while some others are against it. I have seen no instances where such a dichotomy of the issue is actually the case. For example, during the November elections, I saw special interest groups playing the "against stem-cell research" card, against candidates both at the local and presidential levels. In neither case were such assertions true. The resulting innuendo is that these candidates are somehow lacking compassion, because they want to deprive suffering people of the certain cures to their ailments, based on an unrealistic or archaic ethical concern. The real argument is between the use of either embryonic or the adult varieties in stem-cell research, not whether or not stem-cell research should be done. Full story at LifeNews.com
Assisted Suicide Opponents Lost Washington State Battle, But Must Press On by Carrie Herring The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide is continuing the battle to protect the vulnerable. Together we will work to minimize the lethal effects of I-1000. The following note includes our heartfelt thanks, a review of what happened in the final weeks of the election, and some next steps. Many people have written to the campaign in the weeks since our defeat to ask, "what happened?" Differing opinions have been aired by individuals and organizations as to why I-1000 passed, but one answer deserves particular attention - and that answer is money. The message itself is very important, and we'll be taking a close look at whether we can improve the message. However, the truth in political campaigns is that the results are often determined by the amount of money each side has to get the message out. We were outspent by out-of-state donors to the YES campaign. They raised and spent $5.4 Million; we raised and spent $1.5 Million. When you add it all up, nearly $3 million poured into Washington from OUTSIDE special interest groups and wealthy individuals. Full story at LifeNews.com
Poll Finds Majority of Canadians Want Abortion Limits, Protections for Unborn Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll of Canadians conducted by Environics and sponsored by the educational group LifeCanada finds a majority of Canadians want limits on abortion even though Canada is normally seen as an abortion-friendly nation. The results of the new survey are consistent with similar polls conducted in prior years. Canada allows abortions through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason and has very little in the way of limits -- but that's something Canadians appear to want to change. The survey found 6 in 10 respondents support legal protection for unborn children at some point before birth and only 33% support the current situation of protection only after birth. Once again, women polled showed far more support for protecting unborn children. A majority of Canadians support informed consent requirements before an abortion that would be consistent with the informed consent expected and provided before any legitimate surgical procedure. Almost two-thirds, 65%, of respondents agree that women considering abortion should be informed of the risks and possible consequences of the abortion. Full story at LifeNews.com
Confraternity of Penitents Holy Angels Gift Shop
Religious gifts on line from the Confraternity of Penitents, a Catholic Lay Association whose members live a Rule of Life in their own homes and who have a prolife apostolate. See http://www.penitents.org/giftshop.html
It's Time for California's Stem Cell Research Firm to be Denied Taxpayer Funding by Wesley J. Smith During the campaign over Proposition 71, I warned that even if the Golden Gate Bridge fell into the ocean and an earthquake devastated Los Angeles, "the scientists" would be constitutionally entitled to $300 million of borrowed taxpayers' money each year. The media was so caught up in "thwarting Bush," it never reported these kinds of problems until after the election. But what else is new? Well, that kind of a crisis has hit California, metaphorically speaking. Meanwhile, the mutual back scratching at the CIRM continues--fancy building being paid for, conflicts of interest rife--and the agency doesn't even blush. Finally, we are seeing a reaction. Yesterday, the Merced Sun-Star editorialized that the time has come to substantially restructure the agency. Full story at LifeNews.com
International Planned Parenthood Promotes Abortion in African Nations, Indonesia New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has just released its annual performance report for 2007-2008 and boasts of pushing its abortion agenda among its member associations in traditionally pro-life countries throughout Africa, Latin America and the Islamic world. IPPF asserts that “access to safe legal abortion is a public health and human rights imperative” and that the organization’s goal is to achieve “a universal recognition of a woman’s right to choose and have access to safe abortion, and a reduction in the incidence of unsafe abortion.” Advocacy trumps accuracy in a number of places in the report. For example, IPPF Director General Gill Greer claims that a new target under the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health for “universal access to sexual and reproductive health by 2015” was agreed to by the UN General Assembly in 2006. This is false, as the United States and other delegations have pointed out. Full story at LifeNews.com
The second book in a series of moving dialogues with his grandchildren, Letters from Grandpa Mike: Who Loves Ya Baby Hailley? by John Michael Finkner is an entertaining conversation between the author and his second grandchild. While engaging in dialogue with his unborn grandbaby, Finkner opens up about life, love, and family. Order at www.lettersfromgrandpamike.com.
Planned Parenthood CEO Criticized for Saying Obama Won on Abortion Issue Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- American Spectator writer Daniel Allott is taking Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards to task for recently writing an op-ed claiming Barack Obama's election victory came because of his pro-abortion stance and that Catholics are now somehow pro-abortion. Richards interpreted Obama's 9-point win over John McCain (54-45%) among the 27% of the electorate who call themselves Catholic to be a consequence of Obama's "commonsense agenda" on abortion. But Allott says Richards misinterprets the results. "Richards confuses correlation with causation" by assuming Catholics are pro-abortion because they supported Obama, ignoring how many pro-life Catholics backed him because of other issues. "Polling shows a majority of Catholics are pro-life. In fact, a Marist College poll found only 6 percent of Catholics agree with Obama that abortions should be legal at any time during pregnancy." Allot continues: "It is easy to see why abortion advocates are excited about Obama's Catholic win: He improved upon 2004 Democratic nominee John F. Kerry's share of the Catholic vote by 8 percentage points. But context matters. 2008 was a Democratic year in which race alone helped Obama win landslides with minority voters, who make up about one-third of the Catholic vote. (In fact, Obama lost white Catholics by five points.) Plus, values issues took a back seat to the economy in 2008, while 2004 offered a more pro-life Republican nominee who made Catholic outreach a cornerstone of his campaign. Given all this, Obama's eight-point Catholic win seems lackluster."
Don't Listen to the Counterfeit Pro-Lifers Like Matthew 25 Network and Kmiec Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Last week, nationally-recognized pro-life nurse and blogger Jill Stanek wrote a column about fake pro-lifers. She responded to groups like the Matthew 25 Network and Obama backers like Doug Kmiec who tried to fool pro-life voters into thinking pro-abortion candidate Barack Obama wasn't so bad. Stanek says so-called pro-life advocates like them never show up with the millions of Americans who are genuinely pro-life. "If you've missed spotting any of these pro-life 'activists,' the clueless Washington Post deemed them, at pro-life events like the annual March for Life, or speaking or writing on the pro-life issue, it's because they've been MIA." Stanek says she's always ready to welcome a pro-life convert to the cause. "Just not Obama supporters who argued that despite his support of abortion on demand even after delivery, Obama's 'abortion reduction' plan allowed pro-lifers to vote for him, and besides, there were other equally important issues." Stanek says these so-called pro-lifers like to cite how the economy affects abortion but fail to note how abortion businesses prey on poorer women, blacks and Hispanics. "In defending welfare, both newspapers cited a 2000 Guttmacher (research arm of Planned Parenthood) study finding abortion among women in poverty was four times higher than woman of means. They didn't site another Guttmacher Institute study that found 97 percent of all abortion mills are located in urban areas, where those poor women live."
UN Committee Against Torture Cites China and Forced Abortion Opponent Chen Beijing, China (LifeNews.com) -- A United Nations panel has released a new report on torture and violence in China and cites the oppression of a leading activist against forced abortions. Last week, in a sweeping report, the United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture issued its review findings on China’s compliance with its international treaty obligations to end torture. The Committee said that it “remains deeply concerned about the continued allegations, corroborated by numerous Chinese legal sources, of routine and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, especially to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings.” The report describes a criminal justice system that allows “prolonged police detention without charge,” uses “black jails” – secret detention facilities – to hold suspects, routinely deprives detainees of the right to counsel, and in which justice is severely hampered by conflicting laws and laws providing inadequate safeguards against police abuses. All of those abuses were seen in the case of Chen Guangcheng, a blind attorney who was preparing to launch a case against Chinese family planning officials when he was jailed on bogus charges. Chen was sent to prison after he talked with American media outlets about a massive campaign of forced abortions and sterilizations in his hometown. Since his imprisonment, he has been beaten.
Over Coffee(We Shared Our Secrets), a novel by Julie Surface Johnson tells the story of six women who come together as strangers in a Bible-based post abortion support group where they find healing. The pro-life message is compelling! Endorsed by Linda Cochrane, author of Forgiven and Set Free. To order, visit www.johnsonsforlife.com.
Manhattan Storage Company to Donate $200,000 to Planned Parenthood New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Manhattan Mini Storage, owned by Edison Properties, is no stranger to controversy when it comes to abortion. Last year, the company ran a billboard on Manhattan’s West Side Highway, at 44th Street and 12th Avenue, that got the public's attention with a strange message. The billboard showed a large wire hanger with the inscription, “Your closet space is shrinking as fast as her right to choose.” Now the storage company is moving further. On the heels of the billboards MMS has officially made Planned Parenthood of New York City a beneficiary of its profits. As part of their new "Save more than your stuff..." campaign, Manhattan Mini Storage has committed to donating a total of $200,000 to 5 Manhattan based charities - including Planned Parenthood of New York City -- over the next 6 months. Joan Malin, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City, of course, applauded the campaign. Hopefully, New Yorkers will look elsewhere to direct their money as MMS is giving customers an option of five charities, including Planned Parenthood, to designate as a recipient. Express your outrage to Manhattan Mini Storage at 1-800-STORAGE (786-7243) or advisor@manhattanministorage.com. You can fax a letter to 212-631-5999.
This Report was first published on a flash drive distributed at the XVII International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City August 2008. This online edition—which incorporates all corrections to the first electronic edition and is also the first print edition—should be regarded as definitive.
Outils 
Aide
During the campaign over Proposition 71, I warned that even if the Golden Gate Bridge fell into the ocean and an earthquake devastated Los Angeles, "the scientists" would be constitutionally entitled to $300 million of borrowed taxpayers' money each year. The media was so caught up in "thwarting Bush," it never reported these kinds of problems until after the election. But what else is new? Well, that kind of a crisis has hit California, metaphorically speaking. Meanwhile, the mutual back scratching at the CIRM continues--fancy building being paid for, conflicts of interest rife--and the agency doesn't even blush. Finally, we are seeing a reaction. Yesterday, the Merced Sun-Star editorialized that the time has come to substantially restructure the agency. Full story at LifeNews.com
This Report was first published on a flash drive distributed at the XVII International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City August 2008. This online edition—which incorporates all corrections to the first electronic edition and is also the first print edition—should be regarded as definitive.
Des Moines offers an excellent blend of quality homes, natural beauty, and business opportunity - all within minutes of the Seattle and Tacoma metropolitan areas. Our six miles of shoreline include public beaches, natural areas, waterfront parks, a 900-slip marina, fine dining, and a popular boardwalk. Des Moines neighborhoods offer housing of every type and price range-from waterfront mansions to affordable apartments. There are numerous commercial properties ready for redevelopment.
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- Former presidential candidate John McCain has weighed in on the runoff race for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia that takes place on Tuesday. McCain is backing pro-life Sen. Saxby Chambliss over his pro-abortion rival Jim Martin, who enjoys Barack Obama's support. "Next week, voters in Georgia will go back to the polls in a special runoff election to choose their next U.S. Senator and we must do everything possible to ensure voters re-elect Saxby over his liberal opponent," McCain said over the weekend in a letter LifeNews.com obtained. McCain talked about the ramifications of the election -- which have prompted pro-life groups to strongly support Chambliss to have a better chance of stopping Obama's pro-abortion agenda. "I'll get right to my point; there's a lot at stake in this election," McCain said. "Obama campaign staff have moved into Georgia and the Obama campaign is keeping campaign offices in the state open to support Senator Chambliss' opponent." "If we lose, the Senate Democrats could reach 60 seats in the U.S. Senate. This would give them the power to enact an agenda out of touch with our values and beliefs and the ability to confirm activist judges and liberal Administration appointees with little to no open debate," he said. 
One of the most common complaints registered during the recent election season, is that certain policy positions of political candidates are wrongly characterized, or worse, just outright falsely presented by the opposition. Nowhere has this trend been more prominent than in regards to the stem-cell research positions of politically conservative candidates at virtually every level of government. For some reason, probably strategic and, in order to play on emotion, the argument is usually presented as a false dilemma: Some are for stem-cell research, while some others are against it. I have seen no instances where such a dichotomy of the issue is actually the case. For example, during the November elections, I saw special interest groups playing the "against stem-cell research" card, against candidates both at the local and presidential levels. In neither case were such assertions true. The resulting innuendo is that these candidates are somehow lacking compassion, because they want to deprive suffering people of the certain cures to their ailments, based on an unrealistic or archaic ethical concern. The real argument is between the use of either embryonic or the adult varieties in stem-cell research, not whether or not stem-cell research should be done. 
The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide is continuing the battle to protect the vulnerable. Together we will work to minimize the lethal effects of I-1000. The following note includes our heartfelt thanks, a review of what happened in the final weeks of the election, and some next steps. Many people have written to the campaign in the weeks since our defeat to ask, "what happened?" Differing opinions have been aired by individuals and organizations as to why I-1000 passed, but one answer deserves particular attention - and that answer is money. The message itself is very important, and we'll be taking a close look at whether we can improve the message. However, the truth in political campaigns is that the results are often determined by the amount of money each side has to get the message out. We were outspent by out-of-state donors to the YES campaign. They raised and spent $5.4 Million; we raised and spent $1.5 Million. When you add it all up, nearly $3 million poured into Washington from OUTSIDE special interest groups and wealthy individuals. 
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll of Canadians conducted by Environics and sponsored by the educational group LifeCanada finds a majority of Canadians want limits on abortion even though Canada is normally seen as an abortion-friendly nation. The results of the new survey are consistent with similar polls conducted in prior years. Canada allows abortions through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason and has very little in the way of limits -- but that's something Canadians appear to want to change. The survey found 6 in 10 respondents support legal protection for unborn children at some point before birth and only 33% support the current situation of protection only after birth. Once again, women polled showed far more support for protecting unborn children. A majority of Canadians support informed consent requirements before an abortion that would be consistent with the informed consent expected and provided before any legitimate surgical procedure. Almost two-thirds, 65%, of respondents agree that women considering abortion should be informed of the risks and possible consequences of the abortion. 
New York, NY (LifeNews.com/CFAM) -- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has just released its annual performance report for 2007-2008 and boasts of pushing its abortion agenda among its member associations in traditionally pro-life countries throughout Africa, Latin America and the Islamic world. 
