Abortion Law Vote Polarizes Ireland 爱尔兰将立法允许有限合法堕胎

 

Abortion¹ Law Vote Polarizes Ireland 爱尔兰将立法允许有限合法堕胎

After marathon debates this week in parliament, lawmakers voted 127 to 31 to allow abortions² when a woman's life is in danger.  The decision follows months of debate.  Campaigners on both sides had staged 24-hour vigils outside parliament.

"The only procedures allowed in this bill are procedures which will result in the death of an unborn baby and with no indication that this is going to have any role to play in saving a woman's life," explained Caroline Simons, legal adviser³ to the 'pro-life' campaign that opposes the change.

Declan Meena supported the measure titled the 'Protection of Life During Pregnancy⁴ Bill.'

"I think it's just important that our side of the argument is here," Meena said.  "I also just feel like, like a lot of our society... I just need to be here in solidarity⁵ with the women who deserve this."

Despite the passionate⁶ debate, most Irish people think the issue is not black and white, said Mark Hennessy, London editor of the Irish Times.

"The majority of Irish people have come to the conclusion, at least on this narrow issue, that we're dealing⁷ with grey and that it will never be anything other than grey and we're going to have to deal with it accordingly," Hennessy said.

The bill will allow an abortion only when a woman's life is in danger or if she is suicidal. Supporters of the law change say previously⁸ doctors were unclear if and when they could terminate a pregnancy.

Last October Savita Halappananvar, an Indian dentist living in Ireland, died of septicaemia a week after miscarrying 17 weeks into her pregnancy.  Her husband says repeated requests for an abortion were rejected by hospital authorities.

There was a global backlash - especially in India.  Among the most prominent critics was Ranjana Kumari, President of the organization Women Power Connect in India.

"This is totally unacceptable," Kumari said. "I think Ireland, just like in any other European country, has to change its law, to give human rights over a body to women.  This will not work." 

1 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

2 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

3 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

4 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

6 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。