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HEALTH

Spain in grips of new viral challenge that puts the POO into pool

Health chiefs have slammed what appears to be a new viral challenge that dares young people to defecate in public swimming pools.

Published: 5 August 2019 10:34 CEST
Spain in grips of new viral challenge that puts the POO into pool
Photo: Inflatabile poo emoji at alibaba.com

Several public swimming pools across the Valencia region, including a water park, have had to close for a thorough cleaning after excrement was detected in the water.

Local newspaper El Periódico Mediterráneo reported that the recent spate of pool closures was due to a craze among young people to “hacer caca” – do a poo – in the water without being caught.

Public pools in Catarroja, Massanassa and Tavernes Blanques in the Valencia region have been closed in recent weeks and last week it was the turn of the water park at Segóbriga after one lifeguard fished out two floaters within an hour.

“Nothing like this has happened in 19 years,” said a spokesman from Segóbriga Park. “It’s disgusting”.

Although traces of fecal matter are to be found in every public pool, deliberate defecation heightens the rish of potentially dangerous bacteria spreading.

Health authorities warned of the public health risk posed by such actions with the council at Tavernes Blanques branding it “acts of vandalism”.

 

READ ALSO: Valencia opens first ocean pool (where you can watch Jaws while floating on a lilo)

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HEALTH

Danish parties agree to raise abortion limit to 18 weeks

Denmark's government has struck a deal with four other parties to raise the point in a pregnancy from which a foetus can be aborted from 12 weeks to 18 weeks, in the first big change to Danish abortion law in 50 years.

Published: 3 May 2024 08:06 CEST
Danish parties agree to raise abortion limit to 18 weeks

The government struck the deal with the Socialist Left Party, the Red Green Alliance, the Social Liberal Party and the Alternative party, last week with the formal announcement made on Monday  

“In terms of health, there is no evidence for the current week limit, nor is there anything to suggest that there will be significantly more or later abortions by moving the week limit,” Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister of the Interior and Health, said in a press release announcing the deal.

The move follows the recommendations of Denmark’s Ethics Council, which in September 2023 proposed raising the term limit, pointing out that Denmark had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Western Europe. 

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Under the deal, the seven parties, together with the Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives, have also entered into an agreement to replace the five regional abortion bodies with a new national abortion board, which will be based in Aarhus. 

From July 1st, 2025, this new board will be able to grant permission for abortions after the 18th week of pregnancy if there are special considerations to take into account. 

The parties have also agreed to grant 15-17-year-olds the right to have an abortion without parental consent or permission from the abortion board.

Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s minister for Digitalization and Equality, said in the press release that this followed logically from the age of sexual consent, which is 15 years old in Denmark. 

“Choosing whether to have an abortion is a difficult situation, and I hope that young women would get the support of their parents. But if there is disagreement, it must ultimately be the young woman’s own decision whether she wants to be a mother,” she said. 

The bill will be tabled in parliament over the coming year with the changes then coming into force on June 1st, 2025.

The right to free abortion was introduced in Denmark in 1973. 

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