Years ago, I became pregnant and did not want to be. First I called my doctor, who I trusted and who had known me since I was a kid. I knew that she would refer me to the hospital for an abortion. The voice on the phone, a nurse receptionist, told me that unfortunately my doctor was too booked up and didn’t have an appointment for me for another few months, which would put me into a far more complicated trimester for ending the pregnancy.

I'm fresh from visiting "Rubbers: The Life, History, and Struggle of the Condom" at the Museum of Sex in New York City today (which I highly recommend to check out!).

But besides having "safes" (that's what my aunties used to call them) on the brain from that exhibit (and of course the fact that I work in sexual and reproductive health day in and day out), I came across a great article on AlterNet by Kate McKay Bryson entitled "Use a Condom, Save a Polar Bear? Not That Simple" about the many factors besides human overpopulation that contribute to our environmental crises.

If you live, work or play in downtown Ottawa, you have doubtless seen the corner of Bank and Queen Streets crowded with anti-abortion protesters. I ride my bike past this corner every day and, virtually without fail, there is a small handful of people stationed across the street from -- and at times directly in front of the door to -- the Morgentaler clinic. They are holding signs and rocking an empty cradle, clutching rosaries, their heads bowed solemnly in prayer. Although I disagree vehemently with their message and worry about its impact on reproductive rights in this country, I support the right to free expression and peaceful protest and so, as my blood pressure soars, I cycle by at top speed and go on with my day.