Huyu ndo Obama mnayemfagilia; Anaruhusu ABORTION!!

[Mganga wa Jadi]

President Barack Obama lifted the ban on US funding for international organisations that offer advice or perform abortions yesterday, as he expanded his project of rolling back George Bush's ideological agenda.

Obama quietly signed an executive order late yesterday afternoon repealing the ban, called the "global gag rule" by family planning organisations because it prohibited groups from even discussing abortion.

There was no media coverage of the signing, in contrast to the high-profile ceremonies this week when Obama issued his orders on ethics reform and Guantánamo Bay.

Instead, he adopted a non-confrontational approach to his repeal of the ban, waiting until after Thursday's anniversary of the Roe v Wade supreme court decision on abortion to avoid antagonising pro-life groups.

The ban was introduced by Ronald Reagan at a conference in Mexico City in 1984. In the 25 years since, funding for such organisations has become a political tennis match between Democrats and Republicans.

Bill Clinton reinstated funding on the anniversary of Roe v Wade when he was inaugurated as president in 1993. Bush chose the same occasion to reverse the measure when he became president in 2001.

Obama, who campaigned to end America's divisive cultural wars, broke that pattern with yesterday's low key order. But the reaction was still starkly polarised.

Family planning organisations praised the decision to lift the ban. Diana Hovig, the chief executive of Marie Stopes International, said that the Bush era policies had been a disaster; under them, her organisation, as a provider of sexual healthcare services, had been denied funding. "This marks the beginning of a new era of realism over dogma in serving the public health needs of women. President Obama is off to a flying start."

Christian and anti-abortion organisations were scathing.

"Yesterday, President Obama issued executive orders banning the torture of terrorists, but today signed an order that exports the torture of unborn children around the world," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

Women's health advocates hoped yesterday's decision would be the first in a series by Obama to roll back Bush administration policies on abortion.

They are hoping to see cuts in funding for abstinence education, a pet project of Bush, and a restoration of funds for sex education and mothers' health.

The new president is expected to move at some point to lift restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research.

Obama is also expected to restore funding to the United Nations Population Fund. Bush had banned its funding on the grounds that the fund's work in China helped support coercive sterilisation.

The global gag rule was also devastating for non-governmental organisations working on women's health and HIV-Aids. International Planned Parenthood lost more than $100m (£72.7m) funding during the Bush years.

Women's rights advocates say it robbed women of access to information about contraception, and forced those seeking to end unwanted pregnancies into dangerous illegal abortions.

The impact was especially severe in sub-Saharan Africa and other poor parts of the world with high rates of HIV and Aids as well as high levels of infant and maternal mortality.

Otherwise, the focus remained on the economy yesterday. Obama met Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders for the first time at the White House to try to arm-twist them into pushing through his proposed $825bn economic stimulus package.

In spite of resistance from Republicans and some Democrats, Obama expressed confidence that the legislation would be on his desk by the middle of next month.

Republican and Democratic members of Congress have expressed scepticism about whether the huge injection of cash will be enough to combat the recession.

Republicans are pushing for more tax cuts while Democrats want more spending on infrastructure projects.

Obama said: "I recognise that there are still some differences around the table and between the administration and members of Congress about particular details on the plan. But I think what unifies this group is a recognition that we are experiencing an unprecedented, perhaps, economic crisis that has to be dealt with, and dealt with rapidly."

 

[Nyambala]

Mkuu wakati wa kampeni ulikuwa wapi?

 

[Pascal Mayalla]

Yes he is right. I'm pro life. Life is like love, you choose your love and you love your choice. Uamuzi huu had nothing to do with religios beliefs but the reality. Dini zote zinakataza pre-marital sex. Lengo la Mungu katika dini ni kuwa wanawake wote, waolewe na bikra. Na wanaume wafanye mapenzi na wake zao tuu. Huo ndio mpango wa Mungu. Je hali halisi ikoje, wanaume wangapi wanaanza uhusiano wa mapenzi kabla ya ndoa?. Wanawake wangapi wanaolewa na bikra zao?. Alichofanya Obama ni kurespond kwenye reality na kuacha kujidanganya. Huko kuruhusu abortion haina maana kila mimba itatolewa, bali kutoa nafasi kwa watoto wa bahati mbaya, wasizaliwe. Hilo ni bora kuliko kuzuia abortion kama kama hapa kwetu halafu mamia ya viumbe hai, wanaishia kwenye vyoo vya shimo na maeneo ambayo hakuna vyoo vya shimo, viumbe hai, wasio na hatia, wanaishia kwenye mifuko ya rambo. Wenye bahati huachwa njiani waokotwe ama kutelekezwa kwenye milango ya watu, makanisani ama mahospitalini.
Mimi ni Mkatoliki die hard, kanisa haliruhusu aina yoyote ya birth controll zaidi ya njia za asili. Hapa nilipo, sina kazi, mke wangu hana kazi na tayari tuna watoto 5!. Kama nitaendekeza msimamo wa kanisa tutafika wapi. Niliwahi kuzungumza na Oskofu Kilaini kuhusu condoms, nikauliza je hata kama mmoja wetu ameahirika na virusi vya ukimwi na mwingine yu salama, tutaendeshaje ndoa yetu?. Alijibu, mshiriki tena tendo la ndoa na mgeuke matawoshi laakini condoms no!. Is it a reality!. Askofu alisisitiza kuliko wakatoliki kutumia kondom, bora wafe kwa huo ukimwi.
Lengo sio kuanzisha malumbano na ma pro life, ndio maana Tanzania bado tuna barbaric death sentence, huku tukikataza abortion hata za wabakaji. Just imagine unazaa mtoto wa mbakaji wako.
Change has come to America, change has come to the world.

 

[Nyambala]

Yes he is right. I'm pro life. Life is like love, you choose your love and you love your choice. Uamuzi huu had nothing to do with religios beliefs but the reality. Dini zote zinakataza pre-marital sex. Lengo la Mungu katika dini ni kuwa wanawake wote, waolewe na bikra. Na wanaume wafanye mapenzi na wake zao tuu. Huo ndio mpango wa Mungu. Je hali halisi ikoje, wanaume wangapi wanaanza uhusiano wa mapenzi kabla ya ndoa?. Wanawake wangapi wanaolewa na bikra zao?. Alichofanya Obama ni kurespond kwenye reality na kuacha kujidanganya. Huko kuruhusu abortion haina maana kila mimba itatolewa, bali kutoa nafasi kwa watoto wa bahati mbaya, wasizaliwe. Hilo ni bora kuliko kuzuia abortion kama kama hapa kwetu halafu mamia ya viumbe hai, wanaishia kwenye vyoo vya shimo na maeneo ambayo hakuna vyoo vya shimo, viumbe hai, wasio na hatia, wanaishia kwenye mifuko ya rambo. Wenye bahati huachwa njiani waokotwe ama kutelekezwa kwenye milango ya watu, makanisani ama mahospitalini.
Mimi ni Mkatoliki die hard, kanisa haliruhusu aina yoyote ya birth controll zaidi ya njia za asili. Hapa nilipo, sina kazi, mke wangu hana kazi na tayari tuna watoto 5!. Kama nitaendekeza msimamo wa kanisa tutafika wapi. Niliwahi kuzungumza na Oskofu Kilaini kuhusu condoms, nikauliza je hata kama mmoja wetu ameahirika na virusi vya ukimwi na mwingine yu salama, tutaendeshaje ndoa yetu?. Alijibu, mshiriki tena tendo la ndoa na mgeuke matawoshi laakini condoms no!. Is it a reality!. Askofu alisisitiza kuliko wakatoliki kutumia kondom, bora wafe kwa huo ukimwi.
Lengo sio kuanzisha malumbano na ma pro life, ndio maana Tanzania bado tuna barbaric death sentence, huku tukikataza abortion hata za wabakaji. Just imagine unazaa mtoto wa mbakaji wako.
Change has come to America, change has come to the world.

Kumbuka huyu si "rahisi" wa bongo, wakati wa kampeni alikuwepo Kibabu Mccain na yue mrembo palin (Conservatives and pro-life) on the other side of the coin na walikuwa wakijaribu kuyaelezea haya kinagaubaga but people did choose otherwise.

Na abortion inayoongelewa sio zile za kunywa apirini 100, au kuchokonolewa kwenye vijizahanati visivyo hata sajiliwa.

 

[Mganga wa Jadi]

Kumbuka huyu si "rahisi" wa bongo, wakati wa kampeni alikuwepo Kibabu Mccain na yue mrembo palin (Conservatives and pro-life) on the other side of the coin na walikuwa wakijaribu kuyaelezea haya kinagaubaga but people did choose otherwise.

Na abortion inayoongelewa sio zile za kunywa apirini 100, au kuchokonolewa kwenye vijizahanati visivyo hata sajiliwa.

Jamani kuua ni kuua tu, ukiua kwa asprin 100 au ukiua hospitalini zote bado ni kuua tu!! Kama wewe unajisikiaje watu wanapopanga njama za kukuua? Hivyo ndivyo yule binadamu aliye ndani ya tumbo la yule mama anavyojisikia pia! Huu ni uuaji. Kuna njia nyingi ambazo ni natural ambazo mungu ameziweka za kuzuia mimba,sio huu ukatili ambao Obama ameamua kuu'fund' angekuwepo leo kama mama yake mzungu angemuua? Mbona watu wanawalilia maalbino? Hawa vichanga waliliwe na nani?

 

[Exaud J. Makyao]

Alichofanya Obama si kuruhusu Abortion.
Mbona unachanganya mambo mawili?
Kuruhusu utoaji mimba na Kuruhusu mashirika ya uzazi wa mpango kupewa misaada?
Obama alichosema "SI VEMA KUCHANGANYA SIASA NA KUPANGA UZAZI"

 

[Mganga wa Jadi]

Alichofanya Obama si kuruhusu Abortion.
Mbona unachanganya mambo mawili?
Kuruhusu utoaji mimba na Kuruhusu mashirika ya uzazi wa mpango kupewa misaada?
Obama alichosema "SI VEMA KUCHANGANYA SIASA NA KUPANGA UZAZI"

Kuruhusu misaada kwa mashirika ya uzazi wa mpango ni sawa na kurusu abortion! Ndo maana Tony Perkin anasema hivi :
"Yesterday, President Obama issued executive orders banning the torture of terrorists, but today signed an order that exports the torture of unborn children around the world," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

 

[Mwana wa Mungu]

In fact, Obama is among the most liberal presidents on planet earth. yeye ni mrahisi tu, na anajali zaidi kuishi kuliko kujali mambo ya kimungu. you will see, kwa kuwa liberal na mlaini hivyo, the US itapigwa muda si mrefu, na atachanganyikiwa. al quaeda wameshaanza kumbip, wamejiandaa kumpiga ili waangalie mlengo/direction yake iko wapi kama atareact kama Bush au atakuwa bogus ili wamuweke mkononi kama wanavyofanya wasomali makidnapers.

katika makosa makubwa sana ambayo wamarekani huwa wanayafanya, na ambayo hata sisi wabongo tunaweza kuyafanya, ni kumchagua rais ambaye ni mwanasheria. Obama ni mwanasheria, mimi pia ni mwanasheria. kisheria, uhuru anaoutangaza obama wa kutoa mimba na kuchagua kuwa homosexual au la ni kitu ambacho wanasheria wanajikuta mdomo ganzi kukipinga, kwasababu ni haki ya binadamu kuchagua vitu kama hivyo, na obama siku zote anasema hivyohivyo kwasababu amekuwa mpigania haki kwa muda. he's not a corporate lawyer, ni mtu wa haki haki za binadamu hao.

sasa, cha kujiuliza ni kwamba, HAKI ZA BINADAMU ni tofauti na HAKI YA MUNGU. kuna vitu vingine ni haki za binadamu eg. kutoa mimba na kuwa mtu wa sodoma na gomora, lakini si haki ya Mungu hiyo. people now have to choose, kupigania haki ya Mungu au kupigania haki ya mwanadamu. ole wao wanaopigania kweli ya mwanadamu kuliko kweli ya Mungu. kuna siku watakuja kubanwa kwenye mlango kama mjusi watoe macho bweeeeeeee. Obama kwa kusapoti tu ushoga(ambacho kila rais wa democratic huwa anafanya) ameshajichagulia fungu la adhabu mbele za Mungu. anaona aibu kulipinga. atakayemuonea haya Yesu, yeye naye atakuja amuonee haya mbele za Mungu. hatutakiwi kuona aibu au kuogopa watu tunapopigania kitu cha kweli. watucheke au watudharau sisi tunatakiwa kusema No, Mungu anakataa vitu hivyo. tukiogopa watu badala ya kumwogopa Mungu tunakosea. that's the obama you have. Mungu amsaidie abadilike.

 

[Kang]

Abortion inaruhusiwa marekani tangu zamani sasa ameruhusu kivipi?
And anyway I'm pro-choice!!!! YES WE DID!!!!

 

[Madela Wa- Madilu]

Jambo la maana ni kupiga vita ngono.
Kama hakuna ngono za ovyoovyo mimba kamwe hazitaongelewa.
Kupinga kutoa mimba bila kuwa mstari wa mbele kupinga ngono kwa wasio na leseni au mkataba unajumuisha ngono(ndoa) ni ujuha tu.

Mimba inapatikana baada ya watu wawili kuingiliana kimwili. Kwa hiyo kama kutoa mimba ni uuaji kuto pinga ngono waziwazi ni uuaji pia.
Walio mstari wa mbele kutetea uhai katika kila hatua wana mpango gani kabambe wa kuhakikisha mimba hazitungwi?
Kupinga kutoa mimba ni kupinga matokeo ya kitendo kilichofanyika cha kutunga mimba. Kitendo cha kukutana kimwili kinyume na maadili taratibu na kanuni za jamii ni kitendo kisicho kubalika. Kusubiri mpaka watu wawe na mimba ndipo mashairi ngonjela na maandamano yaanze kufanyika kuingilia na kupinga maamuzi binafsi juu ya mimba za watu, ni sawa kabisa na kusubiri mtu aumwe na mbu na kupata malaria ndipo uamuzi wa kumpa dawa uanze kutolewa. Kwa nini nguvu isiwekwe katika kuongeza juhudi za kuzui mazalia ya mbu au kukinga watu wasiumwe na mbu?
Kwa nini juhudi zisielekezwe katika kupinga ngono?
Kwa nini nguvu zinaelekezwa kupinga matokeo badala ya kupinga chanzo?

Watu wanaodai wako pro life wana uchungu na vimbe walioko matumboni mwa wanawake tu. Watu hawa hawana huruma wala simanzi juu ya watoto wazaliwao na kukosa malezi bora kwa sababu wamezaliwa kwa matamanio ya kimwli zaidi, kuliko nia ya kuwa na watoto.

Hakuna mipango wala taratibu zilizo wekwa wazi na wapingao kutoa mimba kuhakikisha kila azaliwaye atalelewa na watetezi hawa wa uhai.

Hapa Marekani, mijitu inayo jita pro life inapinga kwa nguvu zao zote hoja ya kila mtoto kuwa na health Insurance. Watu waovu hawatambuliwi kwa maneno wanayoongea wanatambuliwa kwa vitendo vyao. Huwezi kupinga kwa nguvu zako zote akina mama wasitoe mimba kwa sababu kitendo hicho ni uuaji, halafu wewe pia ukasimama kidete ukapinga kwa nguvu zote kuwapa Health insurance watoto waliozaliwa kutokana na kupinga kwako mimba zisitolewe. Unaweza fanya hivyo tu kama una ubia na Ibilisi wa kuzimu au ni balozi wake wa kudumu hapa duniani.

Mtoto akifa kwa sababu hana Bima ya afya wewe unayejiita Pro life mbona mikelele yako haisikiki kulaani mauaji ya kukusudia?
Akiwa tumboni ulimtetea aiuawe, sasa amezaliwa wewe bado unatetea mimba na kujifanya matatizo ya huyu aliye zaliwa hayakuhusu wala si kazi yako kupinga taratibu mbovu za jamii zitumike kuutoa uhai wake.
Mtoto akizaliwa ni kazi ya mama aliyemzaa kwa sababu ni wake na sheria zote zinamfanya mzazi kuwa msemaji wa mtoto huyo. Lakini akiwa tumboni mwa huyo mama kuna watu wanadai wana haki ya kusema juu ya mtoto huyo, hii inaleta kizunguzungu cha mawazo.

Msukumo wa kutetea uhai unaishia kwenye mimba tu?
Kundi la watu wanaotetea mimba liko mstari wa mbele kutetea mimba zisitolewe tu na kamwe haliko mstari wa mbele kutetea kwa nguvu zao zote watoto wanaolelewa na mzazi mmoja wahakikishiwe malezi bora. Ni kundi jingine kabisa la watu linalojitokeza kuwasaidia watoto wa mitaani na watoto walio na malezi haba kutoka kwa wazazi wasio kuwa tayari kuwa na watoto.

Watoto kwa mamilioni wanakufa kila pembe ya dunia kwa kukosa huduma, huku mijitu inayojiita ni pro life ikilalama kutetea mimba na si kuuunda mipango na utekelezaji wa kuhakikisha mimba walizozitetea miaka iliyopita zinapata huduma zote ili ziendelee kuishi bila shida.
Watu wanaotetea uhai ni lazima waje na plan nzima ya kuhakikisha kwamba kila mimba wanayoitetea mtoto anayezaliwa anawekewa mipango inayotekelezeka ya kuhakikisha anaishi kama mtu na si kivuli katikati ya jamii.
Vinginevyo, Pro life wote ni wasemaji/ wanasiasa wazushi wanao ukataa ukweli kwamba matamshi yao ya kutetea uhai ni propaganda za kuwafanya wajinufaishe kiuchumi na kijamii kwa kisingizio cha kutetea uhai.
Pro life hao hao ni wepesi kuanzisha Vita na kusindilia watu jela kwa sababu zisizokubalika hata kwao wenyewe. Pengine utetezi wao wa kupinga utoaji wa mimba una nia ya kuwa na kundi kubwa la watu ili Jela zisikose watu na vita wanazozianzisha zisikose watu wa kuwapeleka wakafe kwa jambo wasilolijua.
Wanamwingiza Mungu katika jambo hili wakati Mungu wanaye mtaja wanamkana katika matendo yao yote.

Pro life inaishia kwenye mimba tu, kwangu huo ni upuuzi wenye ushenzi ndani.

 

[Mbu]

Mfano;
mwanamke akibakwa,halafu ikagundulika kiumbe kilichopo tumboni kitamdhuru iwapo kitaendelea kukua/atapozaa, Abortion hapo utasema ni kuua au umeokoa maisha?

The most common reasons women consider abortion are:

Birth control (contraceptive) failure. Over half of all women who have an abortion used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant.

Inability to support or care for a child.

To end an unwanted pregnancy.

To prevent the birth of a child with birth defects or severe medical problems. Such defects are often unknown until routine second-trimester tests are done.

Pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.

Physical or mental conditions that endanger the woman's health if the pregnancy is continued.

 

[Mganga wa Jadi]

Kabla ya kuchangia naomba ufumbe macho sekunde 15 alafu ufikirie kama ungekuwa aborted ungekuwa wapi muda huu!!!! Au mama yako akwambie " nilikiria kutoa mimba yako kipindi nipopata ujauzito wako au nili attempt kuitoa ikashindikana", JE UNGEJISIKIAJE? Usishabikie tu wenzio kuuwawa......

 

[Madela Wa- Madilu]

Kabla ya kuchangia naomba ufumbe macho sekunde 15 alafu ufikirie kama ungekuwa aborted ungekuwa wapi muda huu!!!! Au mama yako akwambie " nilikiria kutoa mimba yako kipindi nipopata ujauzito wako au nili attempt kuitoa ikashindikana", JE UNGEJISIKIAJE? Usishabikie tu wenzio kuuwawa......

Du!

Kuna kufa na kuna kuishi. Hakuna kuishi nusu wala kufa nusu.

Kabla mimba yangu haijatungwa nilikuwa wapi?
Nilikuwa katika umbo gani?
Nilisikia maumivu?

Miguu yangu ilikuwa wapi?
Moyo wangu ulikuwa wapi?
ubongo wangu ulikuwa wapi?

Kama nilikuwa nusu kwa mama na nusu kwa baba, je nusu inasikia maumivu?
Nusu mimba ni mtu? Ni uhai?

Kama wapo wanaotetea mimba,wakizuka wanaotetea mbegu za uzazi kwa hoja za uhai tutawapinga?
Uhai unaanzia wapi, baada ya mimba kutungwa, kabla ya mimba kutungwa, kabla watungaji mimba hawajatungwa mimba?

Kama leo nipo nikiwa na akili zangu timamu mwaka 600BC nilikuwa wapi?
Kama mwaka 600BC sikuwepo nilianza kuwepo lini?
Kama nilikuwepo 600BC nilisikia maumivu katika umbo au hali nilokuwa nayo?
Uhai wa mtu unaanzia wapi na mwisho wake ni wapi?

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Jesus Christ would not have voted for Obama!

 

[BAK]

Mtoto wa kike kabakwa na kutiwa mimba na mzazi wake, ndugu wa karibu au hata mtu asiyemjua basi kusiwe na namna ya kumsaidia mtoto huyu na hayo yaliyomkuta! Mama mjamzito ambao unatishia maisha yake, basi kusiwe na namna ya kumsaidia huyu mama ili asipoteze maisha yake.

Elimu ya ngono kuwafundisha watoto jinsi ya kujikinga na magonjwa na upataji wa mimba nayo inafadhiliwa na pesa hizo. Ni kujidangaya katika dunia ya leo kuwaambia watoto wasifanye ngono na kutegemea kwamba hawatafanya, ni bora kuwapa elimu ni namna gani wanaweza kujikinga ili kutowapa mimba hao wanaofanya ngono au kupata mimba.

Masheikh na Mapadri nchni kwetu wanapinga sana matumizi ya condomu pamoja na kuwa zinasaidia sana katika kuzuia upatikanaji wa mimba hovyo hovyo na magonjwa mbali mbali ya zinaa ikiwemo ukimwi. Wao wanataka watu wazaane tu kwa kisingizio kwamba kila mtoto 'anakuja na riziki yake'. Mungu anawasamehe watenda dhambi kutokana na mazingira mbali mbali kuhusiana na dhambi hizo. Msiniambie mtoto wa miaka 12 aliyepewa mimba baada ya kubakwa hatasemehewa na Mungu kwa kuwa wazazi wake au ndugu wameamua kuitoa mimba hiyo ili kumnusuru mtoto huyo na hayo yaliyomsibu na kumuachia kumbukumbu ambazo zinaweza kabisa kumuharibia maisha yake yote siku za usoni.

 

[BAK]

Jesus Christ would not have voted for Obama!

Yeye angejishughulisha zaidi na wanakondoo wake wote badala ya kushiriki katika uchaguzi ambao unawagawa wanakondoo hao

 

[SMU]

Abortion will continue around the world whether or not Obama supports it.

Most people feel morally uncomfortable with abortion, even as they disapprove of forced motherhood. For many, abortion is an unfortunate bad choice at best, but they also fear that eliminating this choice by law would fail to solve the problem and would actually make it worse. Illegal abortions and unfit, resentful mothers would endanger many lives and cause much more human misery than any ban on abortion could possibly prevent.

For example: World-wide, nearly 80,000 women die every year and millions more suffer serious complications and disabilities from unsafe abortions. Such tragedies could be prevented by offering medically competent help.

However, this "Pro Choice" argument is opposed by a "Pro Life" argument which wants to uphold the "sanctity of human life" at all cost. Clearly, there is no worthier cause. Indeed it is this very same motive of placing the highest possible value on human life that is inspiring both sides, in spite of their fundamental differences. A reconciliation between their opposing views seems unlikely. It is also obvious that the dilemma cannot be solved by science. There is no scientific way of deciding when a human life begins and under what conditions it may be taken. These are basically moral questions which have to be answered by the individual conscience.

 

[ndedya]

be breif please,

 

[Tikerra]

I once said, if you hated Bush there is no reason why you should love Obama,and people shouted at me.This is just the tip of the iceberg,the worst is still to come.

President Barack Obama lifted the ban on US funding for international organisations that offer advice or perform abortions yesterday, as he expanded his project of rolling back George Bush's ideological agenda.

Obama quietly signed an executive order late yesterday afternoon repealing the ban, called the "global gag rule" by family planning organisations because it prohibited groups from even discussing abortion.

There was no media coverage of the signing, in contrast to the high-profile ceremonies this week when Obama issued his orders on ethics reform and Guantánamo Bay.

Instead, he adopted a non-confrontational approach to his repeal of the ban, waiting until after Thursday's anniversary of the Roe v Wade supreme court decision on abortion to avoid antagonising pro-life groups.

The ban was introduced by Ronald Reagan at a conference in Mexico City in 1984. In the 25 years since, funding for such organisations has become a political tennis match between Democrats and Republicans.

Bill Clinton reinstated funding on the anniversary of Roe v Wade when he was inaugurated as president in 1993. Bush chose the same occasion to reverse the measure when he became president in 2001.

Obama, who campaigned to end America's divisive cultural wars, broke that pattern with yesterday's low key order. But the reaction was still starkly polarised.

Family planning organisations praised the decision to lift the ban. Diana Hovig, the chief executive of Marie Stopes International, said that the Bush era policies had been a disaster; under them, her organisation, as a provider of sexual healthcare services, had been denied funding. "This marks the beginning of a new era of realism over dogma in serving the public health needs of women. President Obama is off to a flying start."

Christian and anti-abortion organisations were scathing.

"Yesterday, President Obama issued executive orders banning the torture of terrorists, but today signed an order that exports the torture of unborn children around the world," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

Women's health advocates hoped yesterday's decision would be the first in a series by Obama to roll back Bush administration policies on abortion.

They are hoping to see cuts in funding for abstinence education, a pet project of Bush, and a restoration of funds for sex education and mothers' health.

The new president is expected to move at some point to lift restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research.

Obama is also expected to restore funding to the United Nations Population Fund. Bush had banned its funding on the grounds that the fund's work in China helped support coercive sterilisation.

The global gag rule was also devastating for non-governmental organisations working on women's health and HIV-Aids. International Planned Parenthood lost more than $100m (£72.7m) funding during the Bush years.

Women's rights advocates say it robbed women of access to information about contraception, and forced those seeking to end unwanted pregnancies into dangerous illegal abortions.

The impact was especially severe in sub-Saharan Africa and other poor parts of the world with high rates of HIV and Aids as well as high levels of infant and maternal mortality.

Otherwise, the focus remained on the economy yesterday. Obama met Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders for the first time at the White House to try to arm-twist them into pushing through his proposed $825bn economic stimulus package.

In spite of resistance from Republicans and some Democrats, Obama expressed confidence that the legislation would be on his desk by the middle of next month.

Republican and Democratic members of Congress have expressed scepticism about whether the huge injection of cash will be enough to combat the recession.

Republicans are pushing for more tax cuts while Democrats want more spending on infrastructure projects.

Obama said: "I recognise that there are still some differences around the table and between the administration and members of Congress about particular details on the plan. But I think what unifies this group is a recognition that we are experiencing an unprecedented, perhaps, economic crisis that has to be dealt with, and dealt with rapidly."

 

[BAK]

I once said, if you hated Bush there is no reason why you should love Obama,and people shouted at me.This is just the tip of the iceberg,the worst is still to come.

Kuna tofauti kubwa sana ya watu hao wawili. Kama binadamu Obama hatakuwa perfect na siyo maamuzi yake mengi yataungwa mkono na kila mtu anayempenda Obama, lakini kamwe hawezi kufananishwa na Kichaka.