Expand access, not exemptions

By Jessica Arons, director of the Women’s Health and Rights Program at American Progress.
This blog was originally posted at Think Progress.

As the Obama Administration debates whether to expand an exemption to a new health insurance requirement to cover all FDA-approved methods of contraception, there are some important facts to keep in mind:

• The average woman spends five years pregnant, postpartum, or trying to get pregnant, and at least 30 years trying to avoid pregnancy.  
• More than 99 percent of women of reproductive age who have had sexual intercourse have used at least one method of family planning.  
• Contraception is the most commonly prescribed medication for women ages 18 to 44
• Eighty-eight percent of voters support access to birth control
• Approximately three-quarters of Americans agree that insurance should cover contraception
• Fifty-eight percent of pill users rely on oral contraception at least in part for non-contraceptive reasons
• Eighteen percent of women on the pill reported inconsistent use, such as skipping doses, as a cost-cutting measure

What are you thankful for?

Ernest Mark

This season can often be filled with chaos and a hurried energy that leaves us feeling like we've missed the opportunity to really enjoy the presence of those we care about. Our trasformative mind-body practice here at ACRJ, reminds us to stay in a Forward Stance with 180 degree awareness as we appreciate the company of our friends and families this season. We encourage you to hold steadfast to your Forward Stance and relish the opportunities for caring, love and laughter as the year comes to close.

This post was originally posted on The International Coaches Federation site.


I love Thanksgiving Weekend. I love the spaciousness and the time to share and enjoy good food, to be with loved ones, to relax with leftovers, to unwind and be thankful. In the regular bustle of life, I often feel I’m just rushing through my days, i.e. getting the kids to school, rushing to work, bouncing between meetings and then rushing to pick up the kids and getting through the night routine. Phew, it’s exhausting thinking about it… and there is so little time to smell the roses.

This week I get to experience both the bustle of the preparation and the space to smell the roses, or in this case, the food, wine and good company. I love cooking and typically throw myself into Thanksgiving preparations, it’s my vehicle for expressing love for my family and friends. Our dinner is a potluck, so it’s a collective sharing of food, love and mutual appreciation for each other. When the meal begins, there’s usually a quiet moment as everyone settles into exploring the landscape of their plates. Then the conversation comes back and time seems to slow down to match our need to take it down a notch and enjoy each other. And in the spaciousness of this holiday, there is gratitude.

In the spirit of the holiday, I’ve been thinking about gratitude and spaciousness this week and noticing the possibilities of experiencing it. When I pause, I notice the bustle slows down, my breath gets a little deeper and my heart softens. I feel the possibility opens up for me to be more present, patient and loving with my family and others around me. And in the pause, I am taking a moment to be kind to myself which creates the possibility to be truly open and gracious with others.

As we wind up 2011 and head into the holiday season, what are you thankful for? What do you notice when you take a moment to pause and feel gratitude? Who would you like to share that with?

Ernest Mark is a coach and consultant working in the non-profit social justice sector. He works with a broad cross section of leaders and organizations across the sector and brings an approach that is fiercely culturally relevant and community led. Ernest lives in Oakland, California with his wife, Mimi, and daughters, Olive and Juniper. Ernest can be reached via email at ernest@ernestmark.com.