Russia Today thinks Malthus' predictions may be a little off

In her article, "Abortions - New Russian Threat," Madina Kochenov reports about a potential demographic crisis due to increasing numbers of Russian women terminating their pregnancies. The explanation - economic turmoil.  Kochenov writes,

Women blame the government. Complaints are flooding dozens of internet sites. Last year the government ran a special campaign to increase the number of young families in Russia, promising bonuses to young families who had a child. But as the economic crisis bites many women now feel they have been left behind in their condition. Salaries are decreasing unlike the rate of unemployment. Women say all that is making pregnancy a loss rather than a profit.

This story is a stellar example of how RT's is both succeeding and failing in achieving its goal of presenting a more complex portrayal of Russia that challenges western stereotypes.  Looking at this story from a half full glass, this article offers a glimpse into the complicated lives of Russian women.  It raises questions regarding women's reproductive health and rights.  It would be easy for RT to ignore women's issues during a recession, but RT chooses to expand the conversation. By discussing abortion in terms of the economics of family planning, RT demonstrates a willingness to talk about abortion without playing to either side of a heavily polarized audience (something that many in the West have failed to do).  After reading this article a few times, I get the impression that RT is not trying to hide any facts or information.

Yet, my pessimism renews when I re-read the title.  To who or what is abortion a threat to? Mother Russia?  By framing this article in terms of a threat to the state and the longevity of Russian health, RT is still reminiscent of Soviet-era Pravda.  Maybe I am reading too much into this as the title was a way to attract western attention since abortion is a hot-button issue. Maybe my pessimism is tied to the article's lack of analysis concerning the implications of these demographic changes.  Regardless, if RT wants to strive towards doing a better job, it needs to eschew sensationalist headlines for a more subdued tone.  It needs to frame it's stories in light of economic and/or political data instead of quoting a message board.  The quality must improve in order to advance the cause.