To what extent do you agree with PRO-LIFE and PRO-CHOICE supporters? Prove your mind.

Abortion was banned in the Soviet Union until 1955, but women still found illegal ways to terminate their pregnancies. Today, specialists believe that restrictions might be a viable option, but a complete ban is unrealistic.

For even 100 women of childbearing age there are 60 abortions in Russia, as against 10 to 15 in Britain and 5 or 6 in the Netherlands. When a Russian woman decides to terminate a pregnancy, she usually chooses surgery, while medication is the preferred option in the West.

This type of situation with regard to abortion usually means that the public are poorly informed about sexual matters. Russia experienced its sexual revolution more than a decade ago, but many people, particularly teenagers, do not know enough about contraceptives, partially because they are exorbitantly expensive.

Many people are against any prospective abortion ban. Firstly, they believe, women are entitled to make a free choice. Secondly, 23.3% of the population live below the poverty level. Other arguments include medical difficulties experienced by the mother and rape victims who do not want to give birth to their attacker's child.

Russian anti-abortionists are far less radical than their counterparts in the West. The American public is leaning towards a total ban and some activists have gone so far as to commit arson attacks against abortion clinics. Russian campaigners prefer to run adverts in the press and to distribute leaflets.

 

Smoking is a health hazard. In some countries, for example in England, smoking in the public places is banned. In the USA smoking cigarettes in the offices is also prohibited. Should the same law be applied to in our country? Give your arguments

British doctors are demanding that smoking be banned in public places in Britain. following the example set by Ireland and many US cities. They argue that most public places are "somebody's workplace' and that employers have the duty to protect employees from harm.

The British Medical Association strongly believes mat a public ban on smoking will dramatically reduce levels of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma which are ail related to passive smoking. Passive smoking kills an estimated 1000 adults in Britain every year and also causes various illnesses in children, including asthma, lung infections and ear diseases. The presidents of Britain's Royal Colleges of medicine believe that it is time to make public places smoke free and claim that roost members of the public find cigarette smoke unpleasant and annoying. They believe that most smokers and non-smokers would rather sec smoking banned from public places.

British Public Health Minister, Melanie Johnson, rejects the idea of a public ban by arguing that since progress is being made on a voluntary basis, a universal ban could not be justified. Especially not before receiving the universal approval of the public. She also states that many problems will surface if we have to implement a ban with enforcement She believes that a lot more could be done to reduce smoking via education and public persuasion.

Professor Carol Black, president of the Royal College of Physicians, predicts that a public ban will encourage 300,000 people to quit smoking and will save 150,000 lives in the long term. Professor Black also stressed mat the current self-regulation system is not producing results, and that progress is moving slowly in the hospitality industry, especially in clubs, pubs, and restaurants.

The government, however, still has no intention of setting specific deadlines by which the hospitality industry must comply.

The government prefers using less severe techniques to decrease the number of smokers. The latest being an additional 138 million pound grant to help smokers quit over the next three years, the introduction of warning labels on cigarette packs, and the banning of tobacco advertising.

The British government's main concern is not to alienate the public, half of whom still want pubs to allow smoking, according to a poll conducted for the Department of Health.

Singapore, Thailand, and parts of Australia have already installed the bans and Norway and the Irish Republic will soon follow suit in 2004.