Taking A Stand For Women Of The World

After hearing the news in 2002 that the Bush Administration was withdrawing its support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Jane Roberts was angry. She literally could not sleep until she had charted a plan of action to help make up for the $34 million that had been cut for political reasons.

Roberts' brainchild, "34 Million Friends," was born was born as she lay awake at 3 a.m. pondering what could be done. Her vision became a mission to counter the government's decision with a widespread grassroots movement asking 34 million Americans to contribute at least one dollar because $34 million was the amount withheld by the Bush Administration. The book that tells the story as Jane Roberts experienced it is 34 Million Friends of the Women of the World by Jane Roberts. It will be available in bookstores next month.

Since 2002, Robert's energies have been focused intensely on the "34 Million Friends" campaign. Partnering with her in this work is Lois Abraham, a woman from New Mexico who envisioned a similar grassroots effort to support UNFPA. The paths of these two women crossed for the first time in 2002 as they worked at turning their mutual vision into reality.

The U.N. Population Fund, or UNFPA, is supported by 167 countries and is a vital health and family planning resource for underprivileged women around the world .

As political justification for withdrawing support, the U.S. claimed that because UNFPA has a reproductive health program in China, that it must be indirectly supporting China's coercive abortion and sterilization policies. No other country finds this to be true and UNFPA does no abortions anywhere in the world . UNFPA counters that $34 million spent for family planning could prevent 800,000 abortions and save women's and children's lives.

A tenacious retired French teacher, wife, and mother of two from Redlands, Calif., Roberts is personally aware of the value of family planning and of good medical care for women. She experienced infertility problems before the adoption of her first child, a son, in 1974. She later gave birth to a daughter.

Deeply grateful for the medical care she received throughout her infertility, childbirth and mothering experiences, Roberts grew to become a champion of women and family planning in countries around the world , where giving birth is often a matter of life or death. In 2001, Roberts joined PLANET, an initiative to encourage Americans to support international family planning.

The campaign can be best summed up in Roberts' own words: "The American people can take a stand for UNFPA and the women and girls of the world with just one dollar. We can show the world we care. We want 34 million Americans to do it."

To date, 34 Million Friends has raised $2.7 million for UNFPA. People from not only the U.S. but a total of 30 countries have contributed.

For their ongoing work, Roberts and Abrahams have been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize as part of the larger 1,000 Peace Women Project. The winner will be announced this fall.

Roberts' book "34 Million Friends of the Women of the World" is to be published in November.

For a review copy of the book or to set up an interview for a story, please contact Jay Wilke at 727-443-7115, ext. 223

Taking A Stand For Women Of The World

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Taking A Stand For Women Of The World

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