Northeastern Illinois University NEIU Digital Commons Que Ondee Sola NEIU Archives 3-1-1980 Que Ondee Sola- Double Issue 1980 Irma Romero Follow this and additional works at: https://neiudc.neiu.edu/qos Recommended Citation Romero, Irma, "Que Ondee Sola- Double Issue 1980" (1980). Que Ondee Sola. 57. https://neiudc.neiu.edu/qos/57 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the NEIU Archives at NEIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Que Ondee Sola by an authorized administrator of NEIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact h-owen3@neiu.edu,l-wallis@neiu.edu. UI ONDII SOLA DOUBLE ISSUE 1?80 , LA MUJER PUERTORRIQUENA . . QIJII Ondeef.io1a Estarilizacion A traves de todos los E:;tsdos Unidos de Norte America, yen muchos ostros. lugares del mundo,· · estamos luchando por mejorar las condiciones en que vivimos. A veces luchamos solos y a veces colectivamente, por trabajos que nos merecemos, a salarios de subsistencia plena, en condiciones seguras, por alimentos de calidad y a bajo costo, por educacion razonable, por centros de cuidado de ninos, por servicios medicos y vivienda adecuada, por cuidado materno, por ropa adecuada etc., y para afirmar nuestras identidades culturales y etnicas. Estamos luchando por nuestros derechos -~ eliminar el discrimen de acuerdo a riqueza personal, color, sexo, religion y nacionalidad. Luchamos por el control para determinar ei caracter de nuestra sociedad. El Comite Contra el Abuso de la Esterilizacion (CESA) se creo hace dos anos cuando realizamos que uno de los metodos que el gobierno y las empresas privadas combaten nuestras luchas es el negarnos la oportunidad a planear cuando y cuantos nines vamos a tener. En un sin numero de formas la clase dominante _de los E.U. nos niega el derecho a escoger el mejor y mas accesible metodo contraceptive. El abuse de la esterilizacion ocurre cuando una persona: • es esterilizada sin el debido conocim1ento sabre los riesgos, beneficios o alternatives a la operacion; • es esterili:Zada sin conocimiento de que la operacion es permanente; • es esterilizada sin su debido consentimiento; • es esteriHzada sin habersele dado .la oportunidad a tomar la decision cuidadosamente, con la oportunidad de cohocer las hechos sociales y entender las implicaciones; · • es esterilizada' despues de haber sido amenazada con la negacion de otros services _medicos o la . terminacion de pages de bienestar publico (welfare)· • es esterilizada porque no tiene facilidades de al;>ortos disponibles, o porque ostros metodos co ntraceptivos son muv costosos: • escoge el ser esterilizada pero es desalentada o se le ~rohibe-de alguna.manera el someterse a la operacion. El abuse de la esterilizacion surge-co mo parte de una campana par reducir la poblacion mundial. Muches grupos poderosos -- el gobierno de :u.E., grandes corporaciones,. el establecimiento medico,· entre ostors - han emprendido una · campana de convencer · al pueblo de que las recursos naturales estan limitadds y no son lo suficiente para proveer por las necesidades basicas de todo el mundo; ahora· que la taza de natalidad es tan alta. page2 Nos dicen que exTsle una "explosion poblacional." Son estos grupos las que tambien han creado un miedo tremendo sabre la abilidad y capicadad de la raza humana a sobrevivir; insisten en que ellos tienen el derecho a limitar, por fuerza si fuera necessario; su capacidad de reproduccion. De actterdo a estadisticas de el Departamento de Salud, Educacion y Bienestar Publico (HEW) alredeoor de 100,000 a 150.000 personas de bajo ingreso fueron esterilizadas bajo programas federales durante los ultimas anos. En Puerto Rico, 35% ee las mujeres de edad reproductiva han side esterilizadas bajo programas auspiciados y en colaboracion con el gobierno colonial y mayormente financiados por (HEW). En E.U. 20% de las mujeres negras, indias y chicanas estan siendo esterilizadas. Cerca de 1.3 millones de mujeres son esterilizadas cada ano -tres veces masque Ires anos atras. Pero la llamada "explosion poblacional" es un mite -- un mite sumanente peligroso. Los hechos historicos nos demuestran que a !raves de todos los tiempos las sociedades existen organizadas de tal manera que• la genie produce y tiene acceso a lo que necesitan, ye entonces la taza de natalidad baja. El_ problema no es "demasiada genie", el problema es que s nos niega el derecho a determin_ar lo que vamos a producir con los recursos disponibles, y coma. hacerlo para que cada persona ter\ga una participacion, equitativa. De hecho, si miramos a quienes han side Continued on page 3 7 ,; i l Que Ondee Sola . Hyster-ectomy, removal of the uterus (womb), is also being used to sterilize. There are many people who are not aware of what is being done to the women of minority groups in this country and in other capitalists countries. We have decided to add information based on fact in this l'\P-.Y issue of Que Ondee Sola concerning sterilization of women witht>ut their full knowledge and awareness of the methods used. This information was received from the Committee to End Sterilization abuse (CESA). For those who are interested in receiving more information can write to: CESA: Committee to End Sterilization Abuse P.O. Box A 244 Cooper Station New York, N.Y. 10003 pages WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS? Sterilization is not a problem-free method of birth control-it is the terminatior, of the ability to reproduce. It is not any safer ,than the continued use of oral contraceptives, and i.t is considerably more dangerous than the IUD or diaphragm. Sterilization is conside,red to be a major operation which requires the us.-. of an anesthetic. The mortality rate for tubal sterilization is 25 per 100,000 women. Side effects after this operation includ.e: bleeding, uterine perforation, accidental burn-ing or bowel.trauma (between 1 to 2'l(, of1:ases); abdom-inal pain or pain during menstruation (20 to 30%); an increase in menstrual bleeding ( 10 to 40%). The complication rate fqr a hysterectomy is 10 to 20 times higher than for tubal sterilization, with between 300 to 500 deaths per 100,000 operations. Recovery from a hysterectomy usually requires at least 6 weeks. Psychological. complications after sterilization opera-tions are common. Atcording to a 1973 study, one fourth- of the women who have been sterilized regret their decision, and in certain instances, a regret rate of 32% has been documented. IS STERILIZATION 100% EFFECTIVE? As can be seen from the chart below, hysterectomy is 100% effective. However, more women become pregnant after tubal sterilizations than those who use the pil I. Pregnancies can result after tubal sterilization opera-tiOns because of surgical failure and recanalization ,the tubes grow back together). IS STERILIZATION REVERSIBLE? Sterilization is NOT reversible. Misconceptions about the reversibility of tubal steril-izations stem from the fact that there is an operation which attempts to reconnect the tubes. However, this operation fails approximately 75% of the time. In those 25% of the cases where the tubes are successfully reconnected, there is very little chance that pregnancy can be achi~ed. Tubal Hyster- Steril-ectomy ization Pill IUD Pregnancy Rate 0 10,000 5,000 30,000 per million women [!oaths 3,000-5,000 250 31 9 per million women Serious Complications 150,000 15:000 600 400 per million women These figures were taken from the Health Research Group Study on Surgical Sterilization, Oct, 1973. Continued on- s· Ster.ilizatiom Ab.use of Women \,\;',-' ,,,,.,,, ,,,•,, ;, ,y:,' ,,,, ,, '•• ', ' ', The.Facts ... Contlnuedfrompage. 5 WHAT IS STERILIZATION ABUSE? Population control is official U.S. government policy, not only for inside the U.S. but for countdes under its Control all over the worfd. The health services are instri.J-ments of social policy, and it is in· the health services where the evidence of sterilization abuse is rampant'. Teaching hospitals are pushing sterilizations, especi-ally hysterectomies, to train residents. Almost every major teaching hospital in· the U.S .. has doubled the number of elective· t~.'bal sterilizations since 1971. In 1973 a resi,,,,> ',,,_,,< __ ,,, As an individual, Mr. Betances doesn't speak for the progressive sectors of the independence move-ment there are better qualified groups on this cam-pus. Mr. Betances, we put this quote to you, made by ~ true patriot Don Pedro Albizu Campos "La Patna es valor y sacrificio", Translate that to your non-Spanish speaking students, What sacrificies have you made for the fatherland, Mr. Betances? Sweating in front of a camera and stating that you don't support the armed struggle, but yet state you know why they do it, is an example of your hypocracy. When you state on a radio program that statehood is the popular opinion in Puerto Rico, we must say that you may either shut your mouth or pay the consequences of a growing trend toward independence. There are eleven Puerto Ricans willing to give their lives for the independence of Puerto Rico. United Nations resolution affirms the inherent right of Colonial Peoples to struggle by all means at their disposal aganist colonial powers which supress their aspirations for freedom and independence. While yo_u, Mr .. Betanc;,s, continue to reap grist through l_1p service from the movement, just like an opportumst ! Jibaro Si! Yanki No! Q.O.S. QUE ONDEE SOLA Longest and most consistant Puerto Rican student newspaper in the country. Northeastern Illinois University Bryn Mawr at St. Louis Chicago, Illinois 6062 5 QUE ONDEE SOLA is published at Northeastern Illinois University. The opinions expressed in Q.O.S. do not necessarily refl~ct those of the administration. Responsibility of its contents lies solely with its staff. We appreciate and encourage any and all suggestions or contributions. Editor •........ , ................ Irma Romero Co-Editor ..................... .Marvin Garcia Stafi•;· ;;:',-~ ·;:.- .. : J. J~sc Hernandez, Wilfredo Santana, - ·. · , Enrique Romero, Nelson Santana Gontri!:111.ttrrs • .. , .Maribel Sanchez, Evelyn Cruz, Carlos Lopez, LNS page 8 Que Ondee Sola THE CHRONOLOGY OF PUERTO RICAN HISTORY A CHRONOLOGY OF STRUGGLE. From Imperial Spain to Imperial United States, the struggle for Puerto Rico's independence has been led by armed struggle. Even before the revolutionary uprising of 1868, known as the Grito de Lares, various conspiracies against Spain had taken place. The Grito de Lares, however, not only sprang from the liberation move-ment of Puerto Rico but was linked to Cubas' strug-gle for independence. In 1897, the national liberation movement forced Spain to grant the Charter of Autonomy making Puerto Rico a sovereign nation. Besides other arti-cles guaranteeing Puerto Ricans control over their territory, both politically and economically, the charter of Autonomy stated that Spain could neither cede nor sell Puerto Rico, without the consent of the Puerto Rican people. (Article 2, Supplementary Articles). A year later, under the cover of the Cuban-Spain-ish war, United States troops invaded and occupied Puerto Rico. After smashing Spain, who were on the verge of defeat by the Cubans, the United states dic-tated the Treaty of Paris. The Puerto Rican nation which did not partici-pate in the signing of the Treaty of Paris, were sub-jected to a humiliating military occupation which lasted until 1900. There after, a series of organic laws were imposed by the U.S. Congress to mold Puerto Rico and its nationals, for the purposes of reaping profits. They manipulated Puerto Rican popular opinion by controlling their politics, econ-omics, media, educational system, and all other insti~ tutions within their infrastruture and their super-str1, -:ture. It was evident to all patriots who struggled to attain freedom from Spain that a new power, the United States, had set its goal on staying in Puerto Rico. The independent patriotic sentiment which the United States set out to destroy by controlling Puerto Rico's basic intitutions, continues to this day, a war against the outside invader. Since the Guanica landing by the U.S. army in 1898, latent and open genocide has been practiced on the Puerto Rican nation and its culture, The effect of the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico has been the sterili-zation of 40% of the female and 20% of the male population. This incidence of sterilization is the highest in the world. The U.S. armed forces control 13% of Puerto Rico's fertile land to train repressive forces for the CIA, FBI and political police from other countries. A high unemployment rate under which Puerto Ricans have suffered under U.S. hegemony has forced 40% of the Puerto Rican people to emigrate from their native land. page 9 Most of that migration to the U.S. occurred during the decade of 1950's, during this period of industrialization (Operation Bootstrap later Fomento) forced 45,00 people a year to leave Puerto Rico. Today. close to 40% of the population are unemployed, many workers fall under minumum wage, bringing the use of food stamps in Puerto Rico to 70%. Destruction of agriculture as the result of the U.S. food monopolies and the U.S. policy to export all goods into Puerto Rico, has made Borinquen depen-dent on U.S. food stuffs. Puerto Rico's economy never did develop to meet the needs of the Puerto Rican people. As a colony its economy was de-formed and controlled by an outside invader, such as in a master-slave relationship. Eighty percent of Puerto Rico's industrial assets are U.S. owned. The value of U.S. owned industrial assets in Puerto Rico is $32 billion while 1 billion flows into Puerto Rico each year. The U.S. federal aid of 4 billion a year is a microcosim of what Puerto Rico means to the U.S. economy, military and strate-gically as a world power. The Puerto Rican nation has not stood still in light of the U.S. penetrati11n of their island. Since the U.S. prides itself as one of the more progressive nations of the world, in the cause of liberty and justice, the Puerto Rican nation took a diplomatic road toward retaining its independence, was met with ethnocentrism and racism. When U.S. policies were made to incorporate Puerto Rico into an eco-nomic and strategic Pontoon which is evident in both the Foraker 1900, and Jones Act 1917, Puerto Ricans rose and fought with vengence to liberate their country. Again to destroy independentist sentiments, the U.S. colonial regime adopted Public Law 600 1952 giving Puerto Rico commonwealth status. (In reality Puerto Ricos colonial status remained unchan-ged.) Today Puerto Rico is split into two camps, the statehood camp, which is not recongized as a legitimate alternative to rnlonialism by the United Nations Decolonization committee, and the indepen-dentist camp, some of which of are reformist, while others progressive. But it is wihtout a doubt that the struggle for Puerto Rico's independence will be led by armed struggle. Like the uprising in Lares, the struggle against the invasion, the Ponce Massacre, the Grito de J ayuya, the attack on congress and the Freedom Fighters today, Puerto Rico will continue the war aginst U.S. Imperialism to attain its indepen-dence. 1914 Puerto Rican House of Delegates vote unanimously to oppose U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans. 191 7 Jose de Diego leads fight against Jones Act, Champion for independence during first two decades of U.S. rule. Que On dee Sola 1922 Puerto Rican Nationalist Party is formed to lead the fight for Puerto Rico's independence. 1924 Dona Ana Foque de Duprey- founder of association of womens voters in Puerto Rico unites organization behind Nationlist Party. 1930 Pedro Albizu Campos becomes president of Nationlist Party. · . 1932 Manuel Suarez Diaz becomes first of many Nationalists murdered by U.S. colonialism, for pro-testing the use of the Puerto Rican flag as the symbol of the colony. 1934 Albizu Campos leads a sugar workers strike as part of a strike wave against colonial government and U.S. enterprises. 1936 Two Nationalists, Elias Beauchamp and Hiram Rosado kill U.S. coQ>nterinsuregency Specialist Col. Riggs and are executed the same day. U.S. laun-ches wave of terror against Nationalist. 1937 Ponce Massacre- 21 Puerto Ricans killed 200 injured in independence rally. 1947 Albizu Campos returns to Puerto Rico after 10 yrs. in U.S. penitentiary in Atlanta Georgia. 1948 In response to University of Puerto Rico strike of 1948, Puerto Rican legistlature, with strong pressure from U.S. congress approve L.aw 5 3 "The law of muzzle" making it a crime punishable by 10 years imprisonment, to print, publish, circulate,. sell or distribute publicly any literature that advocates the overthrow of the colonial government by force and violence. .. 1950 Oct. 30, Puerto Rico Explodes, Jayuya rebellion, declaration of third republic, 6 days of insurrection raged until U.S. attacks with National Gaurd and airplane strafing of independence strong holds. 1950 Nov. 1, Aspartoftherebellion,nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attack com-mander in chief Harry Truman, to bring the armed struggle for independence to enemy headquarters. Griselio and a guard are killed, and Oscar is sentenced to death, later commuted to life. 1952 On the anniversary of the U.S. invasion, the U.S. creates the so-called Commonwealth system, know in spanish as the Estado Libre Asociado (Free Associated State). 1954 Lolita Lebron, Irvin Flores Rodriquez, Andres Figueroa Cordero and Rafael Cancel Miranda attack U.S. Congress. 19 5 6 Foundation of the F ederacion Universi-tario Pro-lndenpendentista (FUPI). 1964 Sixto Alvelo, a young Puerto Rican worker, refused to fight in Viet Nam (Compulsory military service in Puerto Rico is illegal, because the colonial status of Puerto Rico is illegal). 1965 Albizu Campos dies. During last years in prison Albizu was tortured by his jailers, he suffered 3 strokes, was paralyzed and deprived of his capacity to speak. (exposed to radio activity). · 1969 (YLO) Young Lords Party was formed on July 26, 1969. In October they issued a 13 point program, fighting for the Liberation of all oppressed people. 1970 Antonia Martinez killed during anti-draft, anti-R.O.T.C. struggle in Puerto Rico. Police chief and an R.O.'l'.C. cadet are later killed in figthing. . 1974 Emergence of FALN in the United States. 1979-May 21, William Morales, accused of membership in FALN after being wounded in a bomb explosion escapes from custody into clandestinit)'. 1979- Sept 10, Four Puerto Rican Nationlist win unconditional release after a quarter-century m prision. 1979- Sept 23, First Joint communique of the Puerto Rican Clandestine Organizations speaks to theme of revolutionary unity and the struggle to liberate Vieques and to stop annexation and the U.S. pnmanes. 1979- Nov. 11, Angel Rodriquez Cristobal, leader of the Liga Socialista Puertorriguena, (Puerto Rican Socialist League), found hanged in U.S. Federal prision cell in Florida. Thousands of Puerto Ricans gather at funeral to denounce this assassi-nation by U.S. 1979- Dec. 3, Two Nlvy radar personnel killed, 11 wounded by arm clandestine forces at Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, in response to killing of Angel Rodriquez Cristobal and to further the struggle to outs U.S. Navy from Vieques. Dec. 1979- Two people enter the grounds of Roosevelt Roads Naval Base and fire shots. They escape without -consequence. No organization takes responsibility for the attack. Feb. 1980 - Republican party primaries are held in Puerto Rico. Demonstrations and protests over Vieques continune throughout January and February, interrupting U.S. Navy manevers. One Coast Guards-man is injured by rocks thrown with slingshots by Vieques fishermen. March, 1980 - Joint communique, FALN with the clandestine Dominican group M-14, supports the take over of Dominican Embassy in Colombia. March 12 - FARP (EPB- Los Macheteros) attack three instructors for the U.S. army at the university of Puerto Rico. The comandos attack the army car at a freeway ramp on Avenida Domence. March 15 - On the eve of the Democratic Party Primaries in Puerto Rico, the FALN conducts armed takeovers of Carter campaign headquarters in down-town Chicago, and of Bush Republican headquarters in Manhattan, New York. They spray painted slogans denouncing statehood. March 29, 1980 - Two more Vieques resisters are sentenced to prison terms. The same day the latest in a series of bomb threats against the Roosevelt Roads Naval Base are made by the Macheteros. Continued on page 13 page 10 Que Ondee Sola · ·• · · y :2: u::tsb~:0>dxt.A&:::::0 ... ~ 7 Sterilization Abuse A hitherto "secret" report from an economic policy group empowered by the Governor of Puerto Rico has recently surfaced in the United States. One can see immediately why the report. dated November, 1973, has been kept from the public: it talks openly and directly about alternatives available for reducing the ranks of the Puerto Rican working class. As 1he report, entitled "Opportunities for Employment, Education and Training" would have it, Puerto Rico ·s key problem is, and has always been, unemployment. The latest official figure given in the report is an unemployment rate of 12.3% in 1972 (although unofficial sources, such as the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, hold it as high as 30% ); what concerns this particular subcommittee of colonial administrators is that, at the rate things are going, unemployment could reach 18.5% by 1985. "The Governor of Puerto Rico recently selected the figure of 5% unemployment by 1985 ", the report underlines. There is clearly a major discrepancy between the two figures. which presents a tough problem to the subcommittee. How to solve it? The members of the subcommittee -- Teodoro Moscoso, Administrator of Fomento, Secretary of Labor Silva Recio. Secretary of Education Ramon Cruz. and the then President of the University of Puerto Rico Amador Cobas, have come up with two solutions. One way is to foster new jobs -- the same solution which has been advocated throughout Puerto Rico's twenty-five years of industrial development, and which has yet to reduce the high unemployment rate. The other, which they go on to discuss immediately, is to "reduce the growth of the working sector" of the population. Their line of attack is two-pronged, involving the massive sterilization of Puerto Rican working-class women, and a forced migration of Puerto Rican workers to the United States. It is the former aspect of this plan which concerns us here. page 11 The Sterilization Plan Under the heading of "organization and focusses of family planning", the November report estimates the female population of child-bearing age outside of San Juan to be 485,948. Agreeing with other studies on the astounding figure of 33% for the number of Puerto Rican women of child-bearing age that have already been sterilized. the report goes on to say "in other words, of the 485,948 women of reproductive age living in Puerto Rico, excepting the area of San Juan, 160,363 are sterilized. This leaves a potential clientele of 325.585 women . " The women of San Juan are to be handled through a "model project" controlled by the School of Public Health of the University of Puerto Rico. The plan then, involves the entire population of Puerto Rican women of child-bearing age in its scope, and the primary method of birth control? What it has alway[ been in Puerto Rico steri I ization. One-Third of Puerto Rican Women Sterilized Figures from different studies give a general picture of the rate of sterilization of Puerto Rican women over the past four decades. In 1947-48. Paul K. Hatt, in a study of 5,257 ever-married women 15 years old or over, found that 6.6 per cent had been sterilized. A figure more or less equal (6.9 per cent) was put forward in 1948 by Emilio Cofresi from studies of women who were clients of various programs of the Department of Health in Puerto Rico. In an island-wide survey carried out by Hill, Stycos and Back in 1953-54, the prevalence of female sterilization of ever-married women 20 years old or over was estimated at 16.5 per cent. In 1965 the Puerto Rican Department of Health carried out an island-wide study on the relationship between cancer of the uterus and female sterilization. Although the Department of Health says no link between cancer and sterilization was substantiated, it did discover that 34% of Puerto Rican women between the ages of 20-49 years were sterilized. The number of women sterilized in the same age group rose to 35.3% in 1968 according to a study by the Puerto Rican demographer Dr. Jose Vasquez Calzada. The incidence of sterilization in Puerto Rico is the highest in the world. India and Pakistan, for example, which have public sterilization programs, have an estimated sterilization of 5% and 3% respectively. Continued on~ 12 i Que Ondee Sola Sterilization Abuse ... Continued from page 11 The Colonial Context What is the context in which this massive sterilization was taking place? Since its invasion of Puerto Rico in 1898, the United States has maintained virtually complete control over the island's development. Until 1952, the Governor of Puerto Rico was appointed by the President of the United States, and had veto power over a local House of Representatives. Civil services, armed forces, police, mail, citizenship, trade agreements, schools, media, and economic programs were under U.S. supervision. The establishment of the Commonwealth Government in 1952 in no way changed the fact of U.S. control, since Congress still maintained ultimate veto power over any law passed by the Puerto Rican Government, and any law passed by Congress automatically applied to Puerto Rico. What the Commonwealth Government did do was supervise the influx of U.S. corporations in a rapid industrialization program during the fifties, which transofmred Puerto Rico from a sugar economy to one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world. Population Control --A U.S. Theory In 1901 Governor of Puerto Rico William Hunt wrote in his report to the President of the United States: "Not only could it (the island)Comfortably keep the one million inhabitants we have now, but five times that number." By the thirties, however, J.M. Stycos reports in "Female Sterilization in Puerto Rico" that a good many doctors were already aware of the "problems of population." He cites the efforts of Dr. Jose Belavel, head of the Pre-Maternal Health program to interest many physicains in the "pressing need for sterilization and birth control". During the thirties in the United States population control research was being carried on by the Rockefeller Foundation. Theories were circulating expressing the general idea that economic problems in underdeveloped countries were really problems of too many people; if only the population growth could be controlled, the standard of living would rise. The population theories, as the newsletter of the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLAJ entitled "Population Control in the Third World" indicates, had, and still have, strongly racist roots, based on the concept of the safeguarding the superior white civilization from the crude and inferior "underdeveloped" world which threatens to overwhelm the globe with its "population explosions." For the United States, there was the particu;ar problem of keeping the colonial population of Puerto Rico under control. By 1933 U.S sugar companies had monopolized 314,000 acres. Thousands of impoverished farmers, forced from their lands, migrated to the cities or became agricultural laborers on sugar plantations where wages averaged 37' per day. This had its political consequence: canewoekers began to organize militant unions, and nationalism was growing. What better way to obscure the real problem of U.S. control of the island than by blaming it on por,ulation gorwth? A quote from a Puerto Rican legislator during the time. (taken from Back. Hill and Stycos: "Population Control in Puerto Rico"). expresses this confusion: those of us who have discussed maldistribution of Puerto Rican lands and its growing absentee ownership must realize that these problems are, growing more and more serious through our existing surplus population and its constant growth, particularly in recent years. The inevitable consequence is increasing unemployment, growing poverty and mounting misery." The Sterilization Campaign According to Harriet Presser ,n "The Role of Sterilization in Controlling Puerto Rican Fertility", sterilization was introduced into Puerto Rico in the 1930's, along with contraception methods. In 1934, 67 birth control clinics were opened with federal funds channeled through the Puerto Rican Emergency Relife Fund. The funds lasted only two years; then in 1936 the private Maternal and Childcare Health Association opened 23 clinics. The Family Planning Association of Puerto Rico, another private organization. was established in 1954, two years after the Population Council was formed in the United States by John D. Rockefeller. During the next ten years, kccording to Presser, it subsidized sterilization in private facilities for 8,000 women. Between 1956 and 1966 it also subsidizea sterilization of 3000 men. This organization still functions today, and has an important role to play in the future, according to the November. 1973 report. Presently it receives $750,000 of its $900,000.00 budget from the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Thousands of sterilizations also took place in public hospitals. In 1949 the Commissioner of Health in Puerto Rico was quoted in El Mundo as saying he would favor the use of district hospitals .Cor:tlnu<> --rt+E. WA'/J p:ige 13 Que Ondee Sola Sterilization Abuse of Women The Factseont1nued Continued from page 6 Recently, HEW announced which "family planning services" would qualify for increased federal. aid. The decision was that HEW would fund 90 percent of the cost of sterilization for the poor, but would only match ·state funds for abortion. This gives federal incentive to clinics and hospitals to promote sterilizations~the most irreversible method of birth control and the one most susceptible to abuse_. The Rockefell.er and Ford Foundations, among others have poured millions into priv.at~ agencies and research organizc,tfons in an effort to "curb population growth" around the world. STERILIZATION ABUSE-WORLDWIDE United States corporations are multinational and so is U.S. population policy. Through the Agency for Interna-tional Development (AID), the Peace Corp~. and various private ;toundations and religious organizations, popula-tion control is carried out in countries all over the world. For example:. 40,000 ·women. were sterilized in Colombia between 1963-65 by Rockefeller funded pro-grams. These women were coaxed by gifts -of lipstick or artificial pearls, by small payments of money, and by promises of free medical care. A million wome:n were sterilized in Brazil between 1965-1971. In India, men are being given transistor radios if they agree to a vas--ectomy. In· Bolivia, a U.S.•imposed population control program administered by the Peace Corps sterilized Quechua Indian women without their knowledge or consent. The U.S. funds population control in foreign countries through the Agency for International Develop-ment. AID spends more money on population control-$125 million in 1973-than it spends on programs like agricultural and rural development. . . When the U.S. gives a country aid it doesn't really "give" anything away. "Strings" are attached so that the countries are Torced to become more dependent on. the U.S. and its corporations, and they are forced to imple-ment the population policies dictated by the U.S. An important factor in determining how much foreign aid a country qualifies for is how much consideration that country gives to population control. AID also contributes to a wide range of private clinics, foundations .and organizations, such -as Planned Parenthood, which· research and carry out population control in both foreign countries and in the U.S. Many of the directors of these private agencies have close ties with U.S. corporations and with the U.S. government. page 14 WOMEN'S RIGHTS Sterilization operations. are being "sold" by the health services which function as businesses sell in] com· modities and which have no concern for the wome,1 they serve. Dehumanizing h'ealth care encourages sterili.1'.ation abuse and is a violation of women's democratic rights. In order for women to have free choice, demaritJS for birth control, abortion, and sterili-zation must be ,nade within the context of total health care and along with demands for other basic necessities of life-enough food available, quality health care, day care, education, and full employment. . Because of its irreversibilit_y, sterilization effectively terminates a woman's control over her repro.ductive ability, an important body function. Her right to in-formed consent must be guarded as well as her right to be steri_lized. Incomplete and false information, overt and covert coercion, preferential funding and hysterical propaganda about "overpopulation" are being used to obtain "consent" and even "demand" for sterilization. This is a flaQrant violation of women's rights to control over their own bodies and their own lives. THE LEGAL RIGHT TO INFORMED CONSENT In February of 1914 the Federal Government pro-duced guidelines to be followed by all hospitals and other health care instit_utions which receive federal funds for sterilization operations. These guidelines require that a woman must give voluntary informed consent to steril-ization operations. This requirement provides several patient rights. . The first is the freedom from pressure, coercion or intimidatio·n by doctors or other health workers. There is an absolute and unconditional right to refuse to have the operation .. This means that a threat that you may lose or be denied ariy other social services, housing or hea1th care benefits because of your refusai to have a sterilization operation is illegal. A second right is the right to change your mind after signing the consent form or to delay the operation for as long as you wish. As 3 procedure to protect these rights the federal guidelines require a 3 day waiting period between the giving of informed consent and the actual operation. In addition, .sterilization of any woman under 18 is illegal. Another important part of informed consent is the right to be fully informed and to know about such things as: 1) The dangers and risks of the operation, which is major surgery, compared to other means of birth con-trol; 2) That the operation is permanent, you can never again become pregnant; and, 3) That alternate means of birth control are available, what they are, and what their dangers and effectiveness are compared to sterilization. Before s;gning a consent forni a health worker is r~quired to provide and exp!airi all of this information. tt"is also very important to take home and read carefully the consent form before signing it. Que Ondee Sola DEVELOPMENT OF STERILIZATION IN PUERTO RICO A low-key birth control movement began in Puerto Rico in the 1930s. Between 1940-1950 many private clinics were operated solely to sterilize. In 1949 the government began recommending steril-ization and created a program of specialized clinics which sterilized 50 wor:,•,n each clay. By 1950, 7,000 women had· been sterilized. In 1965 the Puerto Rican Department of Health carried out an island-wide study on the relationship between cancer of the uterus and female sterilization and discovered that 34% of Puerto Rican women between the ages of 20-49 years were sterilized. The New York Times, on Nov. 4, 1974, reported that 19 free sterilization clinics opened up that year "operat-ing a top capacity program of about 1,000 sterilizations per month." 35% OF PUERTO RICAN WOMEN STERILIZED Puerto Rico has the highest incidence of sterilizations in the world. A study done _ bv Puerto Rican demog-rapher Dr. Jose Vasquez Calzada in 1968 demonstrated that 35.3% of Puerto Rican women of childbearing age have been sterilized. 92% UNDER 35 YEARS Studies by CoJumbia University demographer Harriet Presser show that Puerto Rican women are the youngest in the world to be sterilized. Almost two-thirds of t'he women are between the age of 20-49 years, with 92% under 35 OVER 80% FUNDED BY HEW The key agency carryin~ out sterilizations in Puerto Rico is the Family Planning Association of Puerto Rico. It was established in 1954 and presently receives $750,000 of its $900,000 budget from the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. STERILIZATION ABUSE-ATTACK ON WORKERS Unemployment in Puerto Rico is officially 22%, unofficially 30% (May, 1975). A 1973 Commonwealth Government document entitled, Opportunities for Employment, Education and Training, concludes that in order to reduce unemployment it is necessary to "reduce the growth of the working sector." A study by the Population Studies Department of the University of Puerto Rico found that the highest rate of sterilization (43.8%) occurred among the $4,000-$5,000 per year income bracket. The official emphasis on reducing unemployment does not stem from any real concern for the needs of th~ Puerto Rican people-jf it did there would be an empha-sis on providing jobs, AO! reducing the population. Unemployment and poverty oppress and oppression breeds discontent. The stru~le of the ?1.14r'to· Akan people for national liberation and self~determinatioti has a long •history. Today it has grown into a widespread movement which is threatening U.S. hegemony. The right of Puerto Rico to independence from the U.S. has been recognized by the United Nations and by countries all over the world. For the U.S., controlling the population of Puerto A ico is an attempt to divide tt)e Puerto A ican nation and limit political unrest so that superprofits for U.S. corpor-ations will not be threatened. Opportunities for Employment, Education and Train-ing maps out the strategy: one million more Puerto Ricans are to be forced to migrate to the U.S.; today's sterilization campaign.is being aimed ata// Puerto Rican women of child bearing age not yet sterilized. STERILIZATION ABUSE IS IMPERIALISM IN PRACTICE Puerto Rico is a key example of how population policy is used by U.S. imperiali$m to maintain control over another country. Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United St~es since It WAC iruiaded in 1898. The U.S. !Jl)OlammeAt has absolu~ control over all aspects of Puerto Rican life, lncl~dint th4l eeonomy. Suite 1952, there has been a conscious effort to t_um Puerto Rico into a haven for U.S. corporations seeking cheap labor, natural resources and 100% TAX FREE PROFITS! ' In the last 10 years U.S.-owned oil refining" and petro-chemical industries have taken over one third of the island'$ economy. These industries are highly polluting and require a relatively small work force. Proposed future industrial development for Puerto Rico includes , the construction of a 'superport' _to accommodate huge oil tanker$, and the strip-mining of copper, Ecologists predict that these developments would bring with them the virtual destruction of the island. The intensive industrial development of Puerto Rico has been accompanied by U.S. population control policy. Forced migration resulted in the displacement of two miUion Puerto R ii:ans to the United Stale$. And Puerto A ican women have been subjected to the most intensive sterilization campaign of any country in the world. U.S. IMPERIALISM-OUR COMMON ENEMY As a colony, Puerto Rico experiences the same social and economic problems we face in the U.S., only magnified. It is often used as the testing ground for social and economic Policy destined to be instituted within the United States and elsewhere in the world. In 1974 the editors of the official publication qf HEW's National Center for Family Planning Services, Family Planning Digest, wrote: "As U.S. professional attitudes change, it is possible that we may see steril-ization become as important in family planning in the fifty states as it already is in Puerto Rico." In giving our concrete supp6rt to the Puerto Rican people in their demand for independence, YJe are joining forces with them against U.S. imperialism-our·commc,1 . enemy. page 15 POETRY LA VERDA D AND A FOR AH,·-1-1 E{21DA, AMOR[)'\zADA CON NuctioS cARG-OS , S I N DE FENSA. R ECOGl: ARNAS Y LA'&R\MAs. AsA Ll'A D E VEZ. ENCUA.NDo. "50RPQ£NDE PO[< SUS D I SFf2.~~($ , E STUDIAALEN,EM l &O~ PJ\ . E L LA s E_ Mu EVE s I N s ER.. V l.s;r Jt. P~o\-\\B IDA EN ESTA JUN6LA, ,_ l

Que Ondee Sola- November 1995

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