I think that it is a good thing that these women have been given a choice. Many of u people are giving them a hard time about having an abortion because god will "punish" them....well you no what?
Many women have no other option, like ones who have been raped for example, you should really consider the possibilities to why these women are pregnant in the first place, rather then telling the to "Keep their legs closed" as some of you are saying. So I think the abortion Boat is good idea.

Victoria, Willits, California

In philosophy, when you mischaracterize the opposition in some way in order to make them appear weaker than they really are, it's called a straw man. I see that coming from many here who misrepresent the pro-life position as being based purely on faith, with no reasoned basis whatsoever. Straw man, folks. For example:

1. It's not an independent life - It's just part of a woman's body. Then why is it possible for a person who murders a pregnant woman to be charged with a DOUBLE homicide?.

2. Pro-life people don't adopt. True many don't, but many do, and it's dishonest to misportray all as such and use that as an excuse. Mother Theresa alone took in thousands.

3. Women will be forced into illegal abortions. This is laughable - the fact that people will resort to illegal means of obtaining something is supposed to be an argument that it should not be illegal in the first place? That argument could be used against ANY illegality whatsoever. Just throw away all the law books, then.

AC, Houston, TX, USA

sorry you are all moaning about about God not caring and why should women have to carry the burden of an unwanted kid. Here's a thought, keep your legs closed ladies. It is a cowardly practice to have reckless sex, especially when u know the possible results of it and then try to rectify the "problem" by killing your own child, u are sickening as is Rebecca Gomperts and her death ship. My only consolation is God will reward you according to your works. (May he have mercy on all your souls,) because if not..everyone of you will answer for why u supported the slaughter of the most vulnerable and innocent human beings on this planet. This world is getting worse, it is coming to something when children are being murdered by, instead of protected by their own parents. Shame on you all. it's only due to your own parent's morals that you are on this earth right now giving your opinions to subjects u obviously know nothing about. women pay a high emotional and physical price for convenience.

dee`, london, england

"Don't think about it - just do it. You'll have plenty of time to think about it later."

Since the people who apply for an abortion on the boat get extensive counselling before the abortion to ensure that they are making the right decision, that's a load of codswallop.

Yes, I did read the website.

Ross, Stockport,

Millions of babies are miscarried. God doesn't care about them, why should he care about the aborted? Why would a loving God make a woman who is incapable or unwilling to care for a child pregnant? Why do you people lay all this blame on the woman? What about the men? Support better sexual education, make BC affordable and easy to aquire, and maybe the number of abortions will go down. Most abortions are performed on women who already have children, BTW. And many of those women are married. Put down your faery book and live in the Real World for a while.

Alice, New York, New York

When there's so much of talk about "choice", (which I believe people should have, in the most literal and purest sense of the word) why is it that "choice" comes into effect only AFTER the woman becomes pregnant???
Did she not have the capacity or willingness to exercise "choice" in not having sex when she was fertile????
At that stage it would have just been the two people and no one would have got killed.
Choice is a two way street. If there's choice for the woman (again after choosing to commit the act of pro-creation - its 'pro-creation' people, the clue's in the name!!) what about choice for the child???!!
And why does no one talk about consequences?!

Leo, London, UK

Have a look on the Women on Waves website. They tell you what can happen to women when they try DIY/illegal abortions. There are pictures too. It's gruesome.

They give councelling on the boat. Going there does not automatically mean you have an abortion. You can make up your own mind. After the abortion they can insert an IUD if you want, and they will give you loads of information about contraception.

Most of these abortions do not involve an operation: the women are given medication such as Mifepristone, followed by Misoprostol. They work for about 97% of the women.

Anyway, read their site, it's very informative.

starling, Lancaster,

Starling wrote: “It's pointless saying ‘weeeeeheeeel, you shouldn't have sex if you don't want a baby.’ Fact is, people do. The end.” I assume you’re for legalizing drugs, then? After all, it’s pointless saying they shouldn’t – fact is, people do. The end?

Rowena wrote: “Oh, and how many of you have adopted?” and K wrote: "So all you pro-lifers, go adopt a starving baby/child if you're so concerned, then I'll listen to your side of the story." Mother Theresa took in thousands - will you listen to her: "There is no such thing as an unwanted child. If you don't want them, give them to me, I want them." So you two have no excuse now.

Winter wrote: “The potential for life is considered different than an actual person who is able to breathe on their own and have a beating heart that can pump its own blood without depending on another being in order to survive.” Then why can someone who murders a pregnant woman be charged with a DOUBLE homicide?

AC, Houston, TX, USA

CJ from Houston wrote:
"What if the Blessed Virgin Mary had had an abortion? "

We'd have been spared a large number of religous wars - on that basis, pity she didn't. Besides, insemination by 'unknown being calling itself an archangel' seems more than a bit dodgy to me.

"Lives are being snuffed out and we all go about our business?"

Tell the people of Darfur, and the people or Iraq and the people of Zimbabwe. They're a lot more than potential lives and I'm sure they have an opinion about lives being snuffed out while we go about our business. I'd rather fight for them any day than any number of potential babies.

"How can the civilized world kill and call it a right?"

See above. How can they?

RS, London, UK

People are no longer allowed to have their own laws, they must fall under the EU or NAU, or ideally the UN. Those who resist will be visited by subversives for the greater government and progressive morality who will ensure that the people of these countries know how wrong their country majority opinion is, and help them to do what is right: shut you eyes, open your mouth and see what the birdie brings you. Lose your baby! Set yourself free! You have the right to choose! Don't think about it - just do it. You'll have plenty of time to think about it later.

Anthony Rose, Kingston-upon-Thames, London, UK

R.G. Frano, these are just people who work for a hospital, they're normal doctors and nurses, affiliated to the Slotervaart hospital in Amsterdam.

"Are these floating abortions free?"

An abortion costs 70 Euros (about £45) if you go to the boat. They can also send you the medication by post, and then it's cheaper. Most of the abortions (more than 97%) are done via medication.

"Why don't they perform hysterectomies at the same time and stop killings all together"

They will fit you with an IUD if you want, and they give lots of information about birth prevention.

Please visit the Woman on Waves website to get a clue.

Could a mod post this, please? People get the weirdest ideas.

starling, Lancaster,

These abortions can only be done UP TO 7 WEEKS. In addition to this, they are done by professionals, no illegal butchery, which is what would happen if this ship didn't exist.

It's pointless saying "weeeeeheeeel, you shouldn't have sex if you don't want a baby." Fact is, people do. The end.

starling, Lancaster,

If birth control and sterilisations were easier to get, all you god-botherers would have a lot less abortions to wail about.
I am horrified by the fact that so many of you are criticising women. We don't get pregnant spontaneously - it takes a man to get us that way. I haven't heard a single one of you criticise men for having sex. Particularly the misogynist who stated that unmarried women shouldn't be having sex no mention of unmarried men, I see.

Take off your rose coloured spectacles for goodness sake. Plenty of children are unwanted, beaten, abused. Millions of children are deprived of food, shelter and affection. If your God is so determined that children should be born to be neglected and abused, then he (of course, it has to be a 'he', doesn't it?) is a sadist and I want nothing to do with him.

The fact is that women are valid human beings. None of you know the details of any one individual's circumstances. How dare you judge?

Oh, and how many of you have adopted?

Rowena, St Helens, England

Mother Theresa said: "The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between."

She was right.

schezee, Toronto, Canada

You cannot build your future on the body of your child, however small she might be.

Maria, Detroit, USA

“Every woman has, within the limits of nature, the right to choose what will or will not happen to her body. Every woman has, at the same time, the responsibility for the way she uses her body. If by her choice she behaves in such a way that a human fetus is conceived, she has not only the right to but also the responsibility for that fetus. If it is an unwanted pregnancy, she is not justified in ending it with the claim that it interferes with her right to choose. She herself chose what would happen to her body by risking pregnancy. She had her choice. If she has no better reason, her conscience should tell her that abortion would be a highly irresponsible choice.

“What constitutes a good reason? Since a human fetus has intrinsic and infinite human value, the only good reason for an abortion would be the violation or deprivation of or the threat to the woman’s right to choose what will or will not happen to her body. Social, educational, financial, and personal considerations alone do not outweigh the value of the life that is in the fetus. These considerations by themselves may properly lead to the decision to place the baby for adoption after its birth, but not to end its existence in utero.

“The woman’s right to choose what will or will not happen to her body is obviously violated by rape or incest. When conception results in such a case, the woman has the moral as well as the legal right to an abortion because the condition of pregnancy is the result of someone else’s irresponsibility, not hers. She does not have to take responsibility for it. To force her by law to carry the fetus to term would be a further violation of her right. She also has the right to refuse an abortion. This would give her the right to the fetus and also the responsibility for it. She could later relinquish this right and this responsibility through the process of placing the baby for adoption after it is born. Whichever way is a responsible choice.”

D Ross, Phoenix, USA/Arizona

"Am I the only one who thinks women who are unmarried and having sex are being very irresponsible?"

Would you think the same about unmarried men? (As to your question: no.)

"Sex makes babies, why do people think they should be able to have all the sex they want without having to take the responsibility for a resulting pregnancy?"

(Who are you to try and dictate my sex life?) Sex does not always result in reproduction and a fertilized egg does not always result in a pregnancy (half the time it's flushed out during menstruation.) Humans have sex for the purposes of pair bonding as well, which is a very important aspect in a healthy relationship.

Having an abortion is taking responsibility for a pregnancy.

Not everyone in this world wants children. Were birth control, sterilization, and Plan B reasonably priced and easily accessed we would have fewer abortions in this world because we would have fewer unwanted pregnancies.

Abortion is not the problem, unwanted pregnancies are.

Lindsey, Nashville, Tennessee,

"Man what a wave!....oops, was that your uterus I just punctured? sorry about that".....great idea.

Liz, Detroit, USA

> "Abortion present hazards to the mother"

Stastically speaking carrying a child full term is riskier than abortion

> Greenpeace should make a ship that will go out and heckle

Why would an environmental lobbying organisation have views on abortion?

I think what a ship like this does is highlight the absurdity of abortion laws in countries that forbid them.

Mike K, London, UK

The fact that the potential of life is considered more valuable than an actual living breathing woman is still astonishing to me despite having heard all the inaccurate uneducated arguments against abortions. The potential for life is considered different than an actual person who is able to breathe on their own and have a beating heart that can pump its own blood without depending on another being in order to survive. How can 'the next generation' supposedly be killed in a 'cruel non-answer' when the potential is not there? Go back to school and learn all about a woman's body and stop getting your garbage from religious fanaticals who have such a narrow-minded view of life they don't grasp the concept of a person owning and controlling her own body.

Winter, Winter town,

You obviously haven't been to Liverpool. Abortion should be mandatory here. We are being overrun by highly irresponsible, destructive and obnoxious strains of human genotypes, they're fecundity and inherent affinity for destruction and tracksuits will destroy everything that is nice.

Simon, Liverpool,

What if the Blessed Virgin Mary had had an abortion?
Lives are being snuffed out and we all go about our business?
How can the civilized world kill and call it a right?
God have mercy on us all.

CJ, Houston,

What is next? send cocaine and alcohol on board of ships to countries that brohibit them and maybe also some prostitues? Is not that interfering with these countries policies, which is against the United Nations regulations.
I am not an attorney, but I guess groups from these countries can sue the Netherlands for this.

MS, Panora, IA

If God wants this to stop then he will stop it. If you honor and abide by his gift of free will, you will not judge those who's choices are different than your own. Justifying your viceral hatred and bigotry toward these women by cloaking it under the veil of your own interpetation of faith does a great disservice to both God and the rest of humanity. It is noone's place or right to cast judgement on anyone. God will judge when that time comes, not you, me or anyone else. Stop this nonsense and try to have a little more understanding and compassion for those who find themselves in a situation that no woman would willingly put herself in rather than casting them all into Hell as if you actually could just by will power alone.

pm246f, Aromas, California

@ Tom Lavin, Panama City

Darn you. You made me laugh out loud in the library, you evil person!

It's surprising how many americans read the Times. My opinion is that if the woman wishes to do it, and there's a decent reason for it, then it's up to her. No sense in spitting fundamentalist rhetoric at them. It is a serious subject to consider, but religious ranting will not accomplish anything.

Jack, Gosport, England

My only concern for this situation would be similar to the concerns about the late 'Rainbow Warrior': so-called pro-life' anti-abortionsists have demonstrated that they will resort to violence, (M. Atta & Joe Copp, for example), & then 'cloak' themselves in false piety.

R.G. Frano, A.C.L.S., Jersey City, NJ, USA

Anything that doesn't perpetuate us all towards inevitable starvation based on not enough food-supply for several-billion world-population is ok in my book. I'd rather birth-control be more wide-spread, but this isn't that bad of an option. Consider also the cases of rape, forced incest, or perhaps the circumstance of carrying a severely deformed fetus to term only to have it die at birth.

This would needs to be more concerned about quality of life, not quantity of life.

The choice is often abort the fetus, or a child with a miserable existence. So all you pro-lifers, go adopt a starving baby/child if you're so concerned, then I'll listen to your side of the story.

K, philadelphia, pa

Why is a baby a "choice" to be killed?

It's a baby when you want it and it's still a baby when you don't.


+

Karen, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

Who pays for all this? Are these floating abortions free? Will they be available for poor black women off the coast of Africa?
A floating abortion clinic is a large operation...first the boat, then refurbishing part of it for abortions. A sea crew is required as well as the abortion crew. Meals must be provided, as well as transportation on and off the boat. Do these people work for nothing? Sounds like an expensive proposition...

duh_swami, Nevada City , California USA

"Abortion present hazards to the mother, and many have died or remained permanently infertile following an abortion."

Maybe, but so do pregnancy and childbirth in many of the countries this ship will be going to.

HR, UK,

You call the murder of children via abortion "reasonable".
I marvel at the evil that the modern human does and I marvel that she has no fear of having one day to meet her Maker and to answer for her evil by an eternity in hell. Look at the VT students killed in the prime of their lives. We never know when death will come for us. We should always be very much aware of the 4 Last Things: Death, Judgement, Hell or Heaven, and we should always be ready to go when it is our time. No wonder Our Lord says that the majority of people go to hell. With a mindset like this, indeed, few will ever get to Heaven. May you and all who believe like you rethink your culture of death mentality and realize that it is an attitude like yours that is responsible for the collapse of the West in this life and eternal damnation in the next. Who in her right mind would wish to tempt her eternity like this? Go Figure!?!?!?!?

Steven Dean, Phoenix, AZ

Whilst I have no idea what Kimberly from Springfield is talking about regarding termination of the elderly without their consent (regardless of whether she knows what she is talking about) I would just ask what it has to do with the price of fish?

These seem entirely different issues and the answer to one doesn't really impact on the other.

As for TL Banfield from Redmond, again, what does it matter whether semantically we define something as a human being, an embryo or a bundle of cells? That may make us feel better or worse about aborting but it should have no impact on the debate.

Chris Jackson, London,

I liked Matt's idea: "Why don't they perform hysterectomies at the same time and stop killings all together." Am I the only one who thinks women who are unmarried and having sex are being very irresponsible? Sex makes babies, why do people think they should be able to have all the sex they want without having to take the responsibility for a resulting pregnancy? Sex is treated like it's an itch we have to scratch rather than a beautiful and sacred act between a man and wife. Amanda in Reno said, "This is not about killing someone's child, it's about ending a pregnancy that is not wanted." It IS about killing a child, extinguishing life, stopping a heartbeat. If pregnancy is not wanted, stop doing what makes you pregnant or get your tubes tied. Now, if a woman is raped or molested, I can understand wanting to abort, but most abortions are from sex between consenting adults. Life begins at conception. Like another commenter said, it's a "baby" when it's wanted...

Connie, Boise, ID,

Thank heavens women will have another choice available to them.

Lisa, Baltimore, MD

Oliver asked: "Why do people feel like you need to bring your religion into this? Not everyone believes in what you do, and why would you think you have the right to enforce your beliefs on others?" The answer is, Oliver, that one day YOU may very well be the one who is being "terminated" when you have outlived your usefulness to society. It is already happening in Holland. The elderly are being forced into early termination whether they wish it or not. And don't tell me that I don' t what I'm talking about because my father in law is from Holland and we have already experienced this with one of our family members. It may be easy for you to sit back and allow the destruction of the unborn, but when it comes time for you to roll over and die, let's see how you feel about it.

Kimberly , Springfield, Virginia, USA

Why do these - "ADULT & JUVENILE PEOPLE" - who want to eliminate the - "HUMAN - PRE BORN / HUMAN -FETUS / HUMAN- EMBRYO / HUMAN- ZYGOTE " - of which "THEY " all were , once, at the beginning stages of "THEIR " existances - continue to seek PRACTICES of denying FULL - TERM BIRTH to these " early -stage PERSONS " in the name of "THEIR'" rights ??? Could it be because they have the "POWER" to make these ABORTION and ABORTIOFACIENT PILL TAKING decisions while the PRE-BORNS do not have this POWER over their own existances. Their very lives are not only in GOD'S hands but also in THEIR MOTHERS' !!! These very same people seeking abortions have mothers who decided to allow "them" to be born !! Are the abortion practices how they show their appreciation ?? Pregnancy is not a terminal condition !

Mary Lou, Marfa , Texas

We humans sure do love our "choice"!
Unless someone can define the moment at which an embryo becomes human, it's brutal murder, plain and simple.

TL Banfield, Redmond, WA / USA

I think the fact that capital punishment is still in practise in various states in America - vigorously so in Texas - is more shocking than an abortion boat.

Daisy, London,

Abortion stops a beating heart. Can you live with that?

S. Szkot, Phila, USA

There is no greater sign of despair than a woman killing her offspring.

Why is this celebrated?

Destitution, lack of hope, lack of meaning in life must be addressed.

Killing the next generation is a cruel non-answer.

Ellen, Indiana, USA

How do you know an unwanted baby won't be loved later? There are countless people in the Country who would gladly take an unwanted child. I was adopted, and thank God, my birth mother loved me enough to give me up. Overpoplulation is a bunch of propoganda, that the globalists like to spread. God is the only one who decides if any of us live or die.

Matt, Manson, IA

I think that it is a shame that women feel they have the right to slap God in the face and tell him that they don't want the most precious gift that he bestows on us. There are no accidential children, just accidential parent (s). There are so many wonderful women all over the world who can't bear children of their own, but who would still love to have a child. It is a shame that we can't find doctors who would put these women together then there would be no need for abortion.

P. Patterson, Palestine, USA

elissaF wrote:

"Abortion is the termination of an embryo, not the killing of a baby.
No one supports killing babies, guys. In order to be a baby, it kinda needs more than a primitive brainstem."

Then why can someone who murders a pregnant woman be charged with a DOUBLE homicide?

AC, Houston, TX

Anthony Crifasi, Houston, Texas, USA

The human pregnancy will not result in the birth of a dog, cat, canary, etc...etc...
It is obvious that a human existance is being disposed of - even if it is just a "fetal mass" or "primative brain stem". Those of you who bemoan mental or monetary shortness as the adequate reason for termination - there are people crawling to adopt and will even pay for the child.
I think the ultimate solution would be to "terminate" the person desiring the "termination". There!!!!!!!!!!!!! How does that sit?????????? When it's YOUR life being thrown out as so much trash.

Larry, Jackson, MS/USA

Its a shame to see women bowing to some idiotic man-invented religion and say that their own kind (only they know the suffering) is doing wrong.

(Dont these same women turn a blind eye at faiths that deprive women of all rights ?)

indiaRubber, nc, us

A ship of death, how disgusting.
It's killing the most innocent, vunerable, and voiceless among us. It's like saying that holocaust is jusified because of a Nazi's right to choose. The Nazi's didn't consider them humans either.

Jennifer, Yuma,

Here's a thought; a criminal to a crime punishable by death or other extreem measures has to be PROVEN guilty by concrete evidence before sentence is carried out. I ask you then can you prove beyond a shadow of doubt that a child at any stage of development is NOT a vible human being with ALL of the rights of personhood contained therin? No one has proven that ;therefore said child"s should not receive the death penalty nor have their rights stripped away by being declared a "stuff" rather then persons. Think about it carefully, millions of lives hang in the balence.

jonah, keni, usa/alaska

Hi - I'm a sane person from the US. Just wanted people to know we're not all bible thumpers!

BTW, Josephine, you might be crazy. If God can make a storm for these women that purposefully get abortions, why can't he save the babies lost to miscarriage by loving want-to-be mothers?

Also, If I cut my finger off and it doesn't survive while detached from my body, does that count as a partial abortion? Essentially abortion is detaching part of a person where the detached part then dies out. Sure, an embryo could become a person, but with more research into cloning, perhaps my finger could be regenerated into a person too. Then what?

How can religious types be anti-abortion AND anti-cloning? And why aren't they speaking out against amputation?

Sadly, all these inconsistencies are never considered by these people and they just say, I hope you find Jesus, so you too can understand.

Sane American, Eastham, MA

May this ship, have the same fate, as the Greenpeace ship, The Rainbow Warrior!

Dave, Orangevale, California, USA

Ok, Elissa from Buffalo, NY said:
"Abortion is the termination of an embryo, not the killing of a baby. No one supports killing babies, guys. In order to be a baby, it kinda needs more than a primitive brainstem."

Well Elissa, it is scientifically proven that the embryo is life. It is just another stage in the developement of us as humans, just like our toddler years are, or teenage years...if it weren't for these stages in our life, we would never be the person we in the end are.

Lisa from London said this:
"Imagine yourself pregnant, maybe not psychologically ready for it, maybe no family support, maybe no money for yourself let alone a baby, and your government doesn't give you any other option then have the baby. What would you do if you had a choice?"

That is a tough situation, but if one chooses to abort their child...how selfish is that? I have much higher respect for one who chooses that child's life over their own selfish interests.

Jess, Williamstown, NJ

JL - Reasonable?? Killing an unborn is reasonable? Funny how when a woman wants the baby, it's called a baby. When they do not want the baby it's called a fetus. It's a sick practice and those who participate in abortions will be held accountable to god.

KL, Marinette, WI

I am fed up with people who say they follow god and thus abortion should not be practised and also have the ordasity to preach 'the quality of life' and 'free will' How on earth can this be possible if the do not allow a women to choose...obviously there are many scenarios which warrant looking at, but on the whole women wouldn't have an abortion unless it was absolutely nessessary.

Maybe contraception should be more widespread and taught better in schools and the like, and perhaps some abortions (but not all) could be avoided.

melissa, london, united kingdom

An excellent idea for all those women still being denied their human rights by dogmatic governments. I'm sure someone will say 'what about the human rights of the foetus', but I believe those of the mother are far more important at least until the baby is actually born. However, I do think the British time limit of 24 weeks should be dramatically reduced to somewhere around 12 weeks.

Eleanor, London,

Why do people feel like you need to bring your religion into this? Not everyone believes in what you do, and why would you think you have the right to enforce your beliefs on others?

oliver, NY, New York

"Termination" is a euphemism for "killing". "Killing" is a euphemism for "murder". This is sickening.

Michael, Cambridge,

Fellow God-fearing friends, pray for our misguided brothers and sisters. Whenever you pray, remember all pro-abortionists so they may one day experience profound conversion. Hell is not a fairy-tale, and as I write many fall into it like snowflakes. God alone. Forever.

Alberto, Baltimore, USA

Why don't they perform hysterectomies at the same time and stop killings all together.

Matt, Salt Lake City, USA

Glaring example of the "high sacrament" of the left at work. Where is Al Qaeda when they are needed?

Raymond Henrie, Beech Bluff, TN

"Abortion present hazards to the mother, and many have died or remained permanently infertile following an abortion."

This is simply not true. Many women have gone on to deliver healthy wanted babies after having one two or even more abortions. Clinical studies have made this a safe procedure. This is not about killing someone's child, it's about ending a pregnancy that is not wanted. A child that is not wanted will not be loved or cherished by their parents and will not be taken care of like a child that is wanted. With over population a threat on our planet, abortions should be legal to all.

Amanda, Reno, Nevada, USA

That is utterly disgusting. If they really want to help women; they should petition against female circumscision in the near East, forced abortions in China and petition for women's right to vote in Saudi Arabia. Call it what you want, but abortion is murder to me.

Marie, Midway Park, NC, USA

We must pray for these people as they are willing giving up their eternal life. They have been sold and bill of goods and believe the falsehoods. If they were really concerned about woman they would not want to ever do anything that would harm a woman physically, mentally, and spiritually. But that is what they are doing. I say they are woman haters for wanting to subject woman to this.

Maryanne, Pittsburgh, PA

Imagine yourself pregnant, maybe not psychologically ready for it, maybe no family support, maybe fathers gone AWOL, maybe no money for yourself let alone a baby, and your government doesn't give you any other option then have the baby. What would you do if you had a choice? Men, count yourself lucky that you can never be in this position.

Lisa, London,

What will these women do as they sail across the waters to kill God's creation from sea to shining sea -- and a storm hits??? WIll they call upon their gods??? Or, will they meet the one true God??? What will He say to them, will He say ""Be not afraid, I am with you, now stop causing the killing of my precious children and go and sin no more."" Or, will they continue on their journey through the storm, and one day meet God and will He then say to them "You have continually destroyed my precious creation, you have not repented, now away from me to everlasting hell!!!

Have mercy on us, O Lord!!

Josephine, Freehold, New Jersey,

I*m asking my guardian angle to protect the lives of innocent BABIES
from WOWS. Hopfully these women are only ignorant and their hearts
are clouded by the fall we all are under. Surely, there are some who
would operate a ship to nurture life instead of destroying it. Jesus mer-
cy!

Donald , West St Paul, USA, Mn

It's sad that there are still countries (my own included, unfortunately) where abortion is not legally and safely available and it forces women to use services such as this, or to travel abroad. But until *ALL* women have the right to choose, groups such as this will be necessary.

Jo, Dublin, Ireland

How can we mourn the victims of 9/11 and other traumatic events in history, but praise the determination to murder out of our same mouths ? We need God back - quickly.

Mary, Tyngsboro, MA, USA

There are so many health needs in the world – in third world countries in particular. People die from diseases and conditions that are easily curable and rectifiable in more developed countries. It’s a shame that Rebecca Gomperts and the other so-called advocates of the rights of women don’t spend their time and energy trying to address these problems and try to save lives instead of ending them.

Catherine, Milot, Haiti

Abortion is the termination of an embryo, not the killing of a baby.
No one supports killing babies, guys. In order to be a baby, it kinda needs more than a primitive brainstem.

elissaF, buffalo, NY/US

It is absolutely disgusting that in this day and age, where so many medical advances are made to preserve life, unborn babies are being killed like flies. Governments should do their utmost to help all pregnant mothers to have a safe pregnancy and a safe delivery, and provide support in bringing up their child well. Abortion present hazards to the mother, and many have died or remained permanently infertile following an abortion.

Joe Cole, manchester,

I'm an American, & I've been reading the Times for years, and this is not the 1st I've heard of this. I must say, it didn't startle me. The usual euphemistic use of "termination" for "killing" is also unsuprising. But even dumb Americans with a little high school biology know that there is a killing taking place.

David, Philadelphia,

agree..

lanqiu, China, wuhan

This gives a whole new meaning to "Don't rock the boat, baby" or "Baby on Board".

Tom Lavin, Panama City,

Am I the only person around here who thinks the idea of an Abortion Boat is a little creepy? Greenpeace should make a ship that will go out and heckle them while they try to find abortions to give.

moose, manchester,

I'm an American, & I've only recently taken to reading the London Times, and this is the 1st I've heard of this. I must say, it startled me. I hadn't thought of a roving abortion clinic considering the controversy. But I find the idea reasonable - if the women are receiving qualified medical followup care.

JL, Spartanburg, SC, USA

The way i see it, this is one country (the Netherlands) forcing themselves, like bullies, on another country. I personally am in favor of women's right to choose abortion, but it is exactly this kind of rubbish that made me vote "No" during the referendum on the European Constitution. The fact that the decision has nothing to do with Brussels is secondary to the fact that many people will perceive this as a violation of the sovereignty of their country. Why should the Dutch government be able to decide that one of their ships can engage in activities that other countries consider illegal, justifying this decision by the fact their Ship is in International waters. Sounds like a bit of a Pontius Pilate job to me.
And why not ecstasy pills while we're at it? (Although, in that case, i might actually swim out to the ship myself...)

Samuel Young, Paris, France

Question is why ? Why do we have this need for moral degradation ? I am no religious zealot, I am not religious at all. But abortion is just a horrendously cruel procedure. I believe, it should be sanctioned only in case of rape or other sexual misconduct, i.e. incest, abuse, etc.

Aditya Iyer, Toronto, Canada