By Susan Yoshihara, Ph.D.

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28 (C-Fam) The humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders launched online medical abortion guidelines that its partner group acknowledges will be used for do-it-yourself abortions.

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), says it “has teamed up with” HowToUseAbortionPill.org to create an online video guide on how to use pills to abort an unborn child up to 22 weeks. In a cartoon-based guide, MSF shows how to “push out the pregnancy,” in “a process that is similar to miscarriage.” MSF says its “goal is to ensure that everyone” can get the information “no matter who you are, where you are.”

“The fact that Doctors Without Borders is a recognizable, reputable group also might make people more comfortable with the procedure,” an unidentified representative of HowToUseAbortionPill.org said in an interview with Vice. “We do not see this piece as an instructional guide for self-managed abortion,” she said of the video. “However, we know that much of our online content…is used for self-managed abortion.”

HowToUseAbortionPill.org alerts users to the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made it illegal to sell the abortion drug mifepristone online or in pharmacies, that five U.S. states have made self-induced abortions illegal, and 18 states prohibit telemedicine abortions. The website calls itself “an online community run by dedicated individuals who believe that all women, regardless of where they live, should have access to a safe abortion option.” There is no information giving the names of its staff, an address, or who funds the website.

The HowToUseAbortionPill.org program manager said that, “because the how-to videos are available to the general public in multiple languages,” the MSF guide, ostensibly meant for health professionals in humanitarian settings, “can double as a complete guide to doing your own abortion, outside of medical supervision.”

Doctors Without Borders/MSF is a critic of the U.S. Mexico City Policy that bans taxpayer funds for promoting or performing overseas abortion. The group says it does not take U.S. funds, and that it is not affected by the policy.

“You don’t need any advanced technology or specialized medical interventions in order to provide medication abortion safely,” the MSF website says. “All you need” are information, medications, and  “mutual respect and trust,” and for that reason, abortions have increased “for millions of women and girls around the world—and especially in low-resource and humanitarian settings.”

Children born prematurely at 22 weeks have survived outside the womb. Doctors Without Borders/MSF warns humanitarians in the video guide that if the child makes noise or moves after the abortion, it could be upsetting for the woman who has aborted the child. It says that the woman may want to hold the aborted “pregnancy,” take it home, and even give it a burial.

MSF does not list abortion among its humanitarian services on its website, but says it is part of its maternal health program, arguing that “unsafe abortion” is the fifth leading case of maternal mortality after postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, complications from delivery, and hypertensive disorders. “Of all these, unsafe abortion is the only one that is completely avoidable,” the MSF website says. It does not say list avoiding abortion as a way to avoid maternal deaths.

SOURCE:  c-fam.org/friday_fax/doctors-without-borders-teams-up-with-do-it-yourself-abortion-group/

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The abortion pill is frequently marketed to women as a simple, more private method of abortion, similar to a miscarriage. Planned Parenthood says the abortion pill is “a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy” which is “kind of like having a really heavy, crampy period.” While Live Action News has discussed the fact that it isn’t as safe as some make it out to be, and that numerous women have had horrifying experiences with the abortion pill, what’s not often discussed is the fact that it is often far less than “effective.” Thousands of women could potentially be in need of emergency care or a second abortion when the abortion pill fails.

Abortion advocates are pushing “self-managed” abortion as safe and simple, yet their own statistics reveal that the abortion pill regimen fails between 7,000 to 24,000 times annually — or even as high as 31,000 times a year. This means women could potentially need a second (surgical) abortion. Currently, an FDA safety system known as REMS requires prescribers of the abortion pill to accurately determine the correct gestational age of the preborn baby, detect an ectopic pregnancy if one exists, and have a means to provide emergency care to patients. In many cases, the abortion facility will require the woman to return to verify that the abortion was complete. If abortion advocates succeed in getting the FDA to do away with REMS, abortion advocates will shift that responsibility to the woman or teen girl, many of whom may be unaware that their abortions were incomplete. This is potentially life threatening.

The abortion pill regimen consists of two pills: Mifeprex (regulated under the REMS system) and Misoprostol. The regimen is approved for use through 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy. The FDA’s 2019 label for Mifeprex makes it clear that the failure rate increases as the gestational age advances. 

How many abortions are done via the abortion pill annually?
Planned Parenthood’s former research arm and “special affiliate,” the Guttmacher Institute, reports that the abortion pill currently accounts for nearly 40 percent (39%) of reported abortions in the United states. According to their data, in 2017 there were 339,640 medication abortions committed nationally out of 862,320 total reported.

What is the failure rate of the abortion pill?

Live Action News reviewed several abortion facility websites and found a variety of answers:
​
Claim of 95% effective/5% failure rate:

• In 2019, the Guttmacher Institute claimed, “Medication abortion is highly effective, with a success rate of more than 95% [5% failure rate] using the standard protocol.” 
• Women’s Health Specialists of California
• All Women’s Health Centers

Claim of 98% effective/2% failure rate:

• Southwestern Women’s abortion.
• My Choice Medical Center.
• Carefem, which is taking part in the TelAbortion clinical trial.

Claim of 95-98% effective/2 to 5% failure rate:
Camelback Family Planning: “Mifeprex… is 95-98% effective…. If the pregnancy tissue has not passed, you might need a D&C or to repeat the Misoprostol.”

Claim of 96-98% effective/2-4% failure rate:
West Alabama Women’s Center: “There is a 96-98% chance the medications will be successful in bringing on an abortion.”Asked how the patient will know the abortion is complete, the clinic advises, “The only way to be certain that the abortion is over is to come back to the clinic for your follow-up visit.” They add, “The embryo is usually a small amount of white tissue, and sometimes it is inside a blood clot. Even if you see it close up, it doesn’t look like a baby…. However, the further along in the pregnancy the greater the chances are of seeing fetal parts.”

What about gestational age?

According to a Planned Parenthood document as well as current online information for patients, failure rates for the abortion pill vary by gestational age:

• 8 weeks or less- 94% to 98% effective/2 to 6% failure rate.
• 8 to 9 weeks  –  94 to 96% effective/4 to 6% failure rate.
• 9 to 10 weeks – 91-93% effective/7 to 9% failure rate.

What does the manufacturer claim?

DANCO Laboratories’ website reads, “Mifeprex*(mifepristone) is 93-98% effective for safely ending pregnancy (2-7% of women will need a surgical procedure to end the pregnancy or stop heavy bleeding).” DANCO cites this same statistic in an online pamphlet.0

​GenBioPro is the company that makes the generic version of Mifeprex, (approved in 2019). Their online pamphlet states, “Every year in the United States, more than 200,000 women manage their unwanted pregnancy through medical abortion…. 2-7%—will need a follow-up surgical procedure to end their pregnancy or to stop too much bleeding.” 

Based on this, how many chemical abortions fail annually?

• Using the 200,000 number from GenBioPro as a base total, this translates into 4,000 to 14,000 abortion pill patients who run the risk of needing a second, more invasive surgical abortion.  
• Using Guttmacher’s 2017 total of 339,640 chemical abortions as a base along with failure rates of 2% to 7% noted by the manufacturer, we calculate a range between 7,000 and 24,000.
• Using Planned Parenthood’s percentage range (2% to 9%) against 339,640, we calculate that abortion pill failures could affect 7,000 to 31,000 women annually.

Warnings: 

Little Rock Family Planning abortion facility warns patients that they should not obtain a medication abortion if, “You cannot easily get emergency medical help should a problem occur.”
Northland Family Planning abortion facility warns that, “A medical abortion has a slightly higher failure rate than surgical abortion….” The facility calls the purchase of abortion pills online “dangerous,” writing:
We know that more women are attempting to buy pills online to end their pregnancies; however, when you buy pills from the Internet you do not know what you are really getting. While rare, if you experience an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus) and it is not properly diagnosed and treated by a physician, it could be life threatening….The abortion pill, prescribed by a physician, is a safe way to have a self-managed abortion at home. It is in your best interest to be seen by a physician who is an expert in abortion care.

Shockingly, this late-term abortion facility in Florida advises women, “It is possible up to 4, 5, 6 or 7 months or further to undergo a medical chemical abortion procedure.”

Pro-abortion ER Doctor Dara Kass pointed out, “Recently published results of the Gynuity pilot project showed that 8 percent of their patients who received abortion medication sought follow-up care at a local urgent care clinic or emergency department.” Using the 339,640 (and growing) annual number and we estimate that 27,000 women could report to an emergency department after a “self-managed” abortion every single year. 

In 2018, the FDA updated its adverse effects reports on legally dispensed abortion pills, revealing 24 deaths of women associated with the abortion pill since its approval. The report documents that abortion pills have caused nearly 4,200 reported adverse effects, including 1,042 hospitalizations, nearly 600 instances of blood loss requiring transfusions, and other serious complications. But under 2016 changes, abortion pill manufacturer DANCO no longer has to report non-fatal adverse effects, so we have no way of knowing what the number really is.

SOURCE:  https://www.liveaction.org/news/incomplete-abortion-pill-thousands-emergency-care/

Did you know residential energy use per person in California is lower than that of any other state except Hawaii? 1 The chart below gives a general idea what typical household energy costs are per year in the U.S. 

​You can see your own home’s energy use breakdown by category and get a personalized savings action plan at sdge.opower.com. To log in you’ll need your SDG&E My Account User ID and password. If you’re not a My Account user, you can enroll at sdge.com/myaccount. Once logged in, select “Ways to Save” in the top right-hand corner. If it’s your first visit, you’ll be prompted to take a quick survey about your home. Your “Home Energy Analysis” will automatically populate. Here’s an example:

​You’ll receive energy-saving tips based on the areas you use the most energy, like this:

#sdge ​#energytips4u

There are many lifestyle changes we can make without breaking the bank. Here are some no-cost and low-cost ideas to help you save energy and money while staying comfortable during the colder winter months.

1. Take advantage of heat from the sun

• Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home.
• Close the curtains at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

1. Cover drafty windows

• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty.
• Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.

1. Adjust the temperature

• When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A smart or programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature. 
• If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for use with heat pumps.

1. Find and seal leaks

• Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
  • Find out how to detect air leaks.
  • Learn more about air sealing new and existing homes.
• Add caulk or weather-stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
  • Find out how to select and apply the appropriate caulk and weather-stripping. 

1. Maintain your heating systems

• Schedule service for your heating system.
• Furnaces and heat pumps: Replace your filter once a month or as needed. Find out more about maintaining furnaces or boilers and heat pumps.
• Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently. Find other maintenance recommendations for wood-and pellet-burning appliances.

1. Reduce heat loss from the fireplace

• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
• When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly – around 1 inch – and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
• Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth. Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency. Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.

For more tips on how to save energy this winter, visit sdge.com/winter.
Source: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/fall-and-winter-energy-saving-tips
​

At first, “A Christmas Love Story” has all the hallmarks — if you’ll excuse the pun — of a typical Christmas TV movie.
A single lady choir director, Katherine, gets her youth choir geared up for the holidays. A young man, Danny, shows up as a volunteer for the props—but as soon as the choir director exits the room, he’s on the piano, crooning out a tune with the skill of a pop star.
Naturally, there’s an “obstacle:” The dad of the young man, Greg, doesn’t want his son to spend time in choir because the goal is for him to work at a financial firm, not live in a garret while chasing singing stardom.
And of course, of course, because this is a Christmas movie not made by a Grinch, Greg is a widowed, attractive guy who as soon as he meets Katherine starts to realize that maybe a life singing is better than a life on Wall Street.
So far, so normal.
Then, “A Christmas Love Story” has a unique twist.
Look, I’ve grown fond of Hallmark movies over the past couple of years. But I look to them much as I look to sugar cookies: insubstantial, cheerful fluff. In short, I don’t anticipate being genuinely moved one iota when watching them.
But “A Christmas Love Story” somehow manages the impossible.
We find out that Katherine gave up a child for adoption when she was younger, and shortly after, that Danny is her son — and the whole reason he volunteered to help with the choir is that he wanted to meet her. The two have a short, beautiful conversation in which Katherine expresses her joy that Danny’s adopted mom was the right woman to raise him and her happiness at seeing her son grown up.
It’s a wonderful moment—and as I found out later, all the more poignant because the actress depicting Katherine, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, was adopted herself.
In an article published on People in 2015, Chenoweth says:
I knew that my birth mother loved me so much that she wanted to give me a better life. And my parents, Jerry and Junie Chenoweth, were looking to adopt a baby and found me—literally less than one week after I was born.
Growing up, my parents explained my adoption by telling me, “We chose you.” It was a wonderful way to put it to an adopted child. And I think it’s true. An adoption is a full-circle blessing.
Chenoweth added, “I would thank my birth mother for loving me enough to make such a huge sacrifice. It’s a great gift for me to be able to say: ‘I know that I came from love, and I know that I have love.’”
No wonder the scene was so powerful.
When my dear friend, fellow Hallmark movie aficionado and Susan B. Anthony List vice president of communications Mallory Quigley, tweeted about the movie’s pro-life message, Chenoweth responded that it was “told from my gut.”
“That scene happened to me,” Chenoweth said on Facebook Live, per The Daily Wire. “I am adopted and I had this virtually same conversation with my birth mom.”
“I remember [my birth mom] saying to me, ‘Can you ever forgive me?’” she added. “And I was like, ‘There’s nothing to forgive. You gave me such a great life.’ I got the right parents.’”
If you’re looking for a family-friendly movie this Christmas season that affirms the value of all human life, check out “A Christmas Love Story.” It’s a powerful reminder, in this season of counting our blessings and cherishing our loved ones, that people matter the most—and every one of us deserves a chance to live.
LifeNews.com Note:  Katrina Trinko writes for The Daily Signal. Reprinted with permission from the Daily Signal.

Keep holiday light decorating safe, ENERGY-efficient, festive and fun
People love lighting up their homes for the holidays – whether it’s inside your home along the fireplace, or on your front lawn decorating your trees and bushes. What most people don’t love is the increase in their electricity bill after all the holiday cheer and lights are gone.

Here are some ways to be energy-efficient this holiday season:

1. Make smart lighting choices. 

• LED holiday lights are the way to go! They use up to 80% less energy, are brighter and safer, as they are much cooler than incandescent lights. They’re easier to install—up to 24 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket. They last ten times longer and have no filaments or glass to break.

1. Limit usage of energy.

• Set timers for lights to turn on and off automatically. Keep light displays on during the evening and turn them off overnight. Set timers for lights to automatically turn on when it gets dark and off in the middle of the night. You can save more by keeping light displays on only 8 hours of the evening (when you can see them).  

1. Get reflective.

• Shiny ornaments, tinsel and mirrors can multiply the effects of your lighting without using more energy. Be sure to keep tinsel away from pets, though. Reflective ornaments and tinsel are just as bright at night, so getting creative with your lighting display can multiply your resources for shine. Don't forget the ribbons, wreaths, garland, and reflective menorahs, for electricity- free age-old traditions still bring holiday cheer.  

Be sure to stay safe over the holidays. Here are some great tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.

1. Plan ahead. Avoid overloading extension cords and wall sockets by following the manufacturer’s limits for the number of light strings that can be safely connected together. 
2. Hang lighting safely. Make sure that no cords will be pinched by furniture or placed under rugs, furniture or other appliances. If covered, cords can overheat or become frayed, increasing the risk of fire. Replace faulty lights instead of trying to repair them.
3. Avoid electric hazards outdoors. Before climbing ladders to string outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines on your roof or attached to your home. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines at all times. Never place yourself or any object such as a string of lights in a position that risks contact with a power line—the result can be fatal. 
4. Use GFCI outlets. Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). How do you know if it’s a GFCI? Look for the “test” and “reset” buttons. If circuits are not GFCI-protected, portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased. 
5. Check your environment outdoors. Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven’t grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees and even the ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power lines. 
6. Put your tree in a safe location. Do not place your holiday tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks. 
7. Check condition of lights. Inspect light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires, so discard damaged sets of lights. 
8. Read the labels. Be sure to check each product label to see whether the lights are intended for indoor or outdoor use. Make sure lights have a tag indicating they have been evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory. 

Much like summertime, when you see your energy bills spike from using the A/C too often, wintertime is no different – but for opposite reasons. Rather than keep cool, you’ll be trying to stay warm! It’s no surprise that heating costs can take a toll on your budget and even cause unnecessary stress. But did you know that electric heating systems can total as much as 40% of your electric bill every month? While natural gas furnace heating can total more than half of your natural gas bill, there are several ways you can combat home heating costs and lower your electric bill. 

If you’d like to cut your energy expenses and contribute to reducing environmental emissions, check out these six no-cost and low-cost tips and prepare to save:

1. Consider using programmable thermostats or time clocks that regulate temperature, setting them at comfortable temperatures while awake and only lowering them when you sleep or are out of the house.

2. Use the sun to your advantage and naturally heat your home throughout the day by keeping curtains that face the sun open. 

3. Cover the inside of your window frames with clear plastic sheets to keep the heat from escaping your home or install insulated shades/drapes.

4. Use a portable space heater to warm up the rooms you spend the most time in, if possible.

5. If you have a fireplace, ensure the damper is closed to prevent the cold from coming in and the heat from escaping. And if you don’t use your fireplace, consider sealing/plugging the chimney flue.

6. Keep your heating systems in top shape by scheduling maintenance and changing the filter once a month (or when necessary).

For more tips to reduce your energy usage, visit sdge.com/energy-tips.

Think smart. Don’t leave your safety to chance. Take steps to prepare for any emergency now. Here are some ways to get ready for an emergency.

Update your contact information: Go to sdge.com/MyAccount. Click on “Manage My Account” to update your contact information, including email address.

Sign up for power outage notifications: Click on the “Alerts and Subscriptions” tab. Select “Outage Notifications” from the drop-down menu. Select how you want to stay informed, e.g. email, text and/or phone.

Develop an emergency plan: Identify a place to meet with family including safe routes and shelters, as well as what actions you will take. Discuss and practice the plan with your family, including your kids.

Prepare an emergency kit: Keep the essentials on hand. Make sure your kit is stocked with items you and your family need, including for your pets, seniors and those with a disability. Store items in easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks or plastic crates. 

Help your neighbors: Being a good neighbor takes more than sharing the occasional cup of sugar or hosting a potluck. It’s important to help our neighbors during emergencies, especially the elderly and disabled. 

​​#staysafe #sdge

During an emergency, every second counts. Thoughtful planning can help keep you safe and reduce the stress of having to scramble for what you need most. Prepare an emergency kit to help safeguard yourself and your loved ones from unexpected emergencies like earthquakes, floods or fires. Don’t forget to outline a family plan and practice safety drills before the need arises.
Being prepared means having food, water and supplies to last for at least 3 days. An emergency kit is a collection of basic items your family may need. Since you don’t know when a disaster will occur, prepare an emergency kit for your home, work and your vehicle.

Here are some items to consider adding to your emergency kit -

1. Non-perishable food; nutrition bars, tuna (don’t forget the can opener,) peanut butter, crackers
2. Water – one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation
3. First aid supplies
4. Change of clothes including a jacket, durable gloves and sturdy shoes to provide protection from broken glass and other debris
5. Rope for towing or rescue
6. Plastic sheeting and tape
7. Moist towelettes, trash bags
8. Cell phone and charger
9. Important family documents such as passports
10. Knife, screwdriver and other basic tools
11. Candles and waterproof matches
12. Food for pets, bowls, pet carriers
13. Recreational supplies like games or books for children and adults
14. Blankets or sleeping bags
15. Portable radio, flashlight and extra batteries
16. Essential medications and eyeglasses
17. Cash
    ​
    

Know how to manually open your garage door for easier access out of your home. Be sure to update your contact information with SDG&E. Visit sdge.com/myaccount and choose “manage my account.” You can also sign up for alerts like outage notifications at sdge.com/alerts. Find a host of emergency checklists for home and work on sdge.com/checklist.