Saving precious lives. (Reflections On Tolerance).

GOD IS OUR CREATOR. GOD is the source of all life. God is love and human life is a very precious gift of God. Life is also vulnerable. No one can live without the protection of our human rights or without caring love. Everyone on earth has a right to be protected against hunger, dangerous illnesses, and brutal violence.

Because of the fact that we do not live in paradise yet--but in this dangerous world--these rights must strongly be defended by all of us, at all times and in all places. Therefore I strongly regret the decision by the Bush administration to withhold the United States' contribution to UNFPA. As I heard about it, my first thought was, "It is not true. This cannot be! This decision is really a bad one."

I am afraid this decision will cost a lot of precious human lives. It is well known that UNFPA supports maternal health programs and family planning all over the world and has saved many of our precious women's and children's lives. It is very important that the women of the world who need access to prenatal care and family planning are helped. They cannot just be left alone. Today, millions of people are living with HIV/AIDS--most of them in the African continent--and every day more become infected. This is a shame for the world. We have to do everything that is possible to stop it. Why is there not more action to help the helpless mothers and children, and to prevent them from further suffering and dying? If we could act together it would be possible to save so many precious lives.

As far as I know only four countries--I am glad the Netherlands is one of them--are donating their "fair share" to international aid. But this is not enough and does not satisfy me. I hope and pray the United States government will change its mind and change its policy.

DR. MARGRIET GOSKER is president of the Ecumenical Council of the Dutch Reformed Churches.