Open Ship

July 1, 2003
Today we hold an open day on the ship. About 200 people come to visit the Langenort, some brave an almost two hour wait in line! The crew and volunteers are energised by the positive reactions of the visitors. Some of our opponents from the LPR prove that they have a sense of humour and release some mice on the deck. Instead of creating a scene of screaming women running around on deck, probably the intended reaction, the volunteers all have a good laugh, catch the mice and release them again outside the ship.

Polish volunteer, Aleksandra: "I will always remember the Open Day, especially the young boy who wore a T-shirt saying: “ Give me proper sex education.�

Polish volunteer, Monika: "During the open day a middle-aged man, a little shy, came up to me. First I think he just wants to have some gadgets and I give him a pen. But then he points out that he really wants to have more leaflets and brochures with information about contraceptives and the abortion issue. People do not visit the boat because it is a holiday attraction but because they really want to have information!"

Security co-ordinator, Yvette: "During the open day I stand at the entrance of the shipyard and I talk a little bit with some of the visitors. Most of them are in Wladyslawowo on holiday, and are very curious to see the ship. After the visit many people tell me they are surprised. They had expected a dirty, old, rusty, non-professional place instead of what they described as a “normal, sterile gynaecological treatment room.
When the guys from LPR come to the entrance of the shipyard, it becomes a bit hectic and some people decide to leave. The guards of the shipyard are in a panic because they heard rumours that the LPR is planning some actions and that the Church is also organising a protest for this Friday calling it the 'Light for Life' evening. The guards seem not to be trained to deal with large protests and demonstrations and are afraid that they will not manage to protect us. They inform us that their first priority is to protect the harbour and that we should probably call in extra security. "Thanks for the tip, but I’m in charge of security, and we will not panic", I answer.

Suddenly a woman runs towards me and informs me that a young girl and boy from the LPR boarded and left some mice on the ship. After visiting the ship with her daughter, she went to lunch at a place nearby, and she overheard some people from the LPR sitting next to them talking about it. I call the ship immediately but they are already busy catching the mice."

July 1, 2003 Warsaw
The forum of the Women’s Parliamentary Group have invited a representative from Women on Waves and the Federation for Women and Family Planning to speak to them in the Polish Parliament. A discussion about the current abortion law was added at the last minute and it is the first time in years that the subject of abortion is on the agenda. Both Wanda and Rebecca receive a heart-warming welcome and all participants express their support and gratitude for the ship’s visit to Poland. The meeting is ended by the formation of a body consisting of Members of Parliament and members of women’s groups who will collaborate on a draft to liberalise the anti-abortion law.

July 1, 2003 The Netherlands
The Christian Democratic Deputy Minister of Health of the Netherlands, Ms. Ross van Dorp says that Women on Waves are behaving as if Poland is a "Banana Republic". Ms. Ross has been a vocal opponent of the project from the moment she was elected to Parliament. Luckily her statements are expressions of her personal opinions and do not represent the official view of the government, neither do they express those of the Christian Democratic Party.

Other Dutch MP’s, Lousewies van der Laan, Evelien Tonkens, and Khadija Arib collect signatures in support of the project. The Dutch political parties VVD, D’66, PvdA, Groenlinks and SP sign this petition. Of these parties the VVD and D’66 are part of the government coalition.

Hotline team, Maria: “It is so strange to end a conversation with a desperate woman seeking information about ending her pregnancy and the next second to receive a phone call from a religious fanatic, who'd call you a thoughtless, evil person. The contrast!�

Some hotline messages:
- M., 50 years old from Warsaw, 5 weeks pregnant, she has adult children, no passport, we advise her to look at the website or find medical support in Warsaw.
- A woman asks us for advice. She is 10 weeks pregnant and underwent an operation 8 weeks ago at which time she was anaesthetised. She asks us if anaesthesia can be harmful to her unborn baby and what the possible consequences are.
- A man calls. His wife received some drug from a private doctor to bring on menstruation, 5 weeks after last menstruation. We advised his wife to call us directly and give more information about the drug that she received.

TVN 24, 01-07-2003: “Langenort is seen mainly as a tourist attraction.�

BBC News: 01-07-2003: "Abortion ship makes waves in Poland"

Polish volunteer, Aleksandra: "I will always remember the Open Day, especially the young boy who wore a T-shirt saying: “ Give me proper sex education.�

Polish volunteer, Monika: "During the open day a middle-aged man, a little shy, came up to me. First I think he just wants to have some gadgets and I give him a pen. But then he points out that he really wants to have more leaflets and brochures with information about contraceptives and the abortion issue. People do not visit the boat because it is a holiday attraction but because they really want to have information!"