Advocate to speak about the dangers of euthanasia

Press Release
A press release from Family Life International NZ
Monday 21 September, 2009

UK disability advocate to speak in NZ about the dangers of legalized euthanasia

Head of UK disability advocacy group to speak in NZ about the dangers of legalized euthanasia

Alison Davis, National Co-Ordinator of the UK disability advocacy group No Less Human, arrives in New Zealand next week to speak at several public meetings around the country about the dangers of legalized euthanasia.

Alison Davis suffers from spina bifida, hydrocephalus, emphysema, arthritis, lordosis and kyphoscoliosis, and osteoporosis, and she relies on the full time use of a wheelchair, yet despite these difficulties, which cause her much suffering, she is firmly opposed to any attempts to legalize euthanasia.

Twenty years ago things were much different for Alison, and she held an outlook on life that was decidedly pro-euthanasia. During this period her desire to die became so overwhelming that she attempted to take her own life on many occasions over a number of years.

It was only the love and support from friends, who were insistent that every life has great value and purpose, which changed Alison’s bleak outlook and led her to realize that her own life was worth living.

"Had euthanasia been legal I would have missed the best years of my life, and no one would ever have known that the future held such good times, and that the doctors were wrong in thinking I didn't have long to live” says Alison Davis.

While in New Zealand, Alison will be sharing her own personal story, as well as speaking about harm caused to disabled people, and their rights, by pro-euthanasia laws.

Alison Davis is being brought to New Zealand by Family Life International NZ, where she will be a keynote speaker at their International Pro-Life conference at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland from October 2nd to 4th.

After this she will speak at two public meetings; one in Wellington on Wednesday 7th October, at the Johnsonville Community Centre Hall, and another in Christchurch on Monday 12th October, at the Shirley Community Centre.

Members of No Less Human, the advocacy group which Alison Davis heads in the UK, do whatever they can to promote a positive view of disability. They speak at public meetings in many venues around the UK, and they also regularly speak on behalf of disabled people in the UK media.

The aim of No Less Human is to promote greater understanding of the needs of disabled people and to educate people about the threats to disabled lives. These threats often come in the form of the attitudes of others, rather than the disability itself, which can cause many problems for disabled people.

Alison Davis also runs ENABLE, a charity which supports disabled children in India.

ENDS

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