The `twins case' in Britain
I was interested in reading your article in the September 23 issue "Britain : abortion foes make little headway in `twins case'." In my opinion this is an incorrect reading of the class struggle on the abortion question.

The 1967 Abortion (amendment) Act specifies the conditions under which a doctor can perform a legal abortion if a second doctor gives written agreement. There are four grounds for legal abortion. Two of these are that continuing the pregnancy involves a greater risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the woman or the existing children in the family. This is the "social clause.

The law was defended by mass mobilizations in the streets of Britain in the 1970s, including a demonstration called by the Trade Union Congress. Since then doctors, health authorities, and the state have adopted the most liberal interpretation of this law. It would be a mistake though for class-struggle fighters to believe that women in Britain have a legal right to abortion on demand, that there is the right to choose or that no third party is involved. In every legal abortion that is currently performed in Britain, a second doctor acts for the state by certifying that the abortion is legal under the Act.

When Dr. Bennett, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Queen Charlotte's hospital and a leading figure in his field, revealed that he intended to use state of the art medical technology to selectively abort for the first time one of two fetuses legally under the social clause of the Abortion Act, on the grounds that the woman was in "straightened circumstance," he effectively offered himself for prosecution.

The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child obtained an injunction against Dr. Bennett performing the abortion. When it was made known that the abortion had already been performed, Stephen Dorrell (Secretary of State for Health) made it clear that Dr. Bennett had not breached the 1967 act in aborting one twin, nor was there to be a review of the act with the aim of denying women access to the most advanced medical techniques. The penalties for illegal abortion can be life in prison for the doctor and the woman. Dorrell also confirmed his personal view that abortion should be restricted but made it clear he was speaking as Secretary of State in the Bennett case. (Radio 4 interview August 7.)

This was a clear warning to the rightists that the state would not support an attempt to prosecute Bennett for conducting an illegal abortion. In my opinion the official statements from Dorrell are a gain for woman's rights and the working class in Britain. Doctors can now be confident to conduct selective abortions under the "social clause" of the act without fear of prosecution. It will not stop the rightist probes which should always be answered but it extends the liberal interpretation of the present law.

As the Militant correctly points out this underlines the weakness of the British state and the continuing resistance of the working class on the issue of abortion. In my opinion, though, the rightists did not "make little headway." The anti abortionists are politically weak in Britain to the extent they have been unable to mobilize pickets of abortion clinics or win weighty forces for an attack on the law. In my view we should recognize the working class made a gain in this instant, further exposing the weakness of the capitalist class.

Ann Fiander

Manchester, England Cuban unionist in Toronto
The article, "Ontario Unions Protest Austerity" in the Militant dated September 30, reported that the Power Workers Union carried signs in the Toronto Labor Day parade calling for "Free trade with Cuba; free aid to Cuba; and down with the Helms-Burton Act." The union local which did this was my local, Local 1 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees at Toronto Hydro. The Power Workers Union organizes hydro workers at the provincial level.

I want to add that the decision to carry these signs was part of a process of introducing Cuba at our workplace. Work on solidarity with Cuba has continued and reached a high point September 24 when Martha Carbrisas Alfonso, the general secretary of the Cuban Science Workers Union, and member of Cuba's National Assembly toured our workplace. Martha spoke with over 100 union members and effectively answered a range of questions on religious freedom in Cuba, free speech, the right to travel, the impact of world trade competition on Cuban workers, why Cuban engineers are members of her union and see themselves as workers, and what will happen to Cuba after Fidel Castro dies.

Martha reported that it was an excellent opportunity for her to meet ordinary workers and answer their questions. After Martha explained the important role unions play in running Cuba, one of our members said: "You may need our help, but I think we need your help more." Some workers were surprised there are even unions in Cuba, or assumed if they existed they were weak.

Martha later addressed the union meeting and stayed for the entire two and a half hours, including for a discussion on our participation in the upcoming October 22-27 Metro Days of Protest against the Ontario government's attacks on workers' rights and social services.

My local is now going to explore the possibility of twinning itself with a Cuban electrical workers' union. As the continuing discussions on Cuba and other questions on the job indicates, Martha's tour has helped to raise interest in Cuba and will help make these and other solidarity projects a success.

David Johnson

Toronto, Ontario Athens forum on Cyprus
"The Crisis in Cyprus and The Greek Elections, The Capitalist Drive Towards Austerity and War" was the title of a forum, held in Athens, Greece, September 14 and organized by the Committee of the Friends of the Militant. "The September 22 elections are aimed at reinforcing the Panhellenic Socialist Party Movement [PASOK] mandate," said airline worker Natasha Terlexis, "to deepen attacks on working people and beef up the Greek military to the tune of $12 billion in arms procurements to be used against the toilers of the region."

The forum was built by a series of teams tabling at plant gates and in the neighborhood around the newly opened International Forum book shop, which features Pathfinder titles. The forum was held at the book shop.

At a table near the International Forum offices, the team was confronted by four young supporters of the fascist group Golden Dawn, whose main campaign slogan is "foreigners out of Greece!" There was no trouble, although there have been recent instances where they beat up people tabling around "leftist" causes. Shortly after a woman stopped by and bought a book by Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

Two Albanian immigrant youth attended the forum and participated in the discussion until late into the night. "What if there is war?" asked one of them "What do we do then, what are our tasks then?" Terlexis explained, "We follow the example of the Greek communists who were sent to Asia Minor in the 1920s. We educate and organize against the war wherever our class may be, including in the front. However, before that stage is reached there are battles our class has to fight here at home against the bosses' offensive. If we are defeated then the prospect for war increases." One of the youth left with a copy of the Communist Manifesto and the other with Imperialism's March Towards Fascism and War.

In attendance was also a young Zairian worker and two South African immigrant workers. One school teacher showed up with his brother who said, "We live in the neighborhood and walk by here every day. We saw the announcement for the discussion today and decided to come and welcome you into the area," stated one of them. "I must say we are happy to see people like you moving in and the fascists moving out. This is a working class area and they do not belong here." One of the extreme right-wing organizations has its headquarters a few blocks away.

Another neighbor, an older woman, came two hours early and stayed there checking the books out. "While I was here two 15- year-old youth came in and asked about Che Guevara. I was surprised that there is interest in communist ideas among youth," she explained. She too bought a copy of Imperialism's March Towards Fascism and War and donated 10,000 drachmas (US$40) towards the store's expenses.

At the end of the forum the two Albanian youth and the Zairian agreed to participate in weekly discussions on the Communist Manifesto.

In all, 12 people attended the forum and purchased 5 books.

Georges Mehrabian

Athens, Greece

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of general interest to our readers. Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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