From:   IN%"RichANGELL@aol.com"
Subj:   Action alert, Montreal Gazette

Dear Activist, here is an action alert.  (These action alerts should only be
going out to other activists within our movement.)

This is from the 27 September 1994 issue The Montreal Gazette.  On PA7 there
was a series of articles on the Women's Health Congress (I wonder when there
might be a MEN'S Health Congress).  Among the articles is one entitled "5,500
girls a day have genitals mutilated:  Medical profession has moral duty to
protect children, doctor says,"  by Andy Riga.  It reads in part as follows:

"Every day, 5,500 girls around the world suffer genital mutilation in the
name of tradition and then must contend with physical and psychological
consequences that often last a lifetime, according to an international report
on women's health released yesterday.

"'The unnecessary removal of a functioning body organ in the name of
tradition, custom or any other non-disease related cause should never be
acceptable to the health profession,' said the report's chapter on FGM,
written by Nahid Toubia, a Sudan-born physician and surgeon.

"Describing the practice as 'a human rights violation and a breach of medical
ethics,' Toubia said the medical profession has a moral duty to "protect the
health and rights of those with little or no social power to protect
themselves.'"

And it goes downhill from there.

Write your response to The Montreal Gazette, 250 St. Antoine W., Montreal,
Quebec, 2HY 3R7, Canada, or call 514-987-2222.

Better late than never.