November 25, 2025

Dear Friends:

I cannot fully express my happiness about the victory in Slovenia. The referendum to prevent the implementation of the Slovenian euthanasia law passed by a 53% to 47% margin on November 23. Lives will be saved, people will be protected. The Slovenian referendum was significant for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC). The Slovenian leaders stated that they could not have won without our contribution. This victory is an early Christmas gift.

In January 2024, I was brought to Slovenia to meet with politicians and organizers, for media interviews, and to speak at events. We then continued working with the Slovenian organizers who first attempted to defeat the euthanasia bill. After the euthanasia bill passed, they collected signatures for a referendum and finally won. We shared information, data, and footage from our video project. We also shared contacts for interviews with the Slovenian media. The video project not only provided footage for the Slovenian referendum, but also to combat the euthanasia expansion bill in Victoria, Australia, to support Bill C-218, and to create a powerful new film. We will need at least $50,000 in donations to complete this project.

We mourn the death of the great John Kelly. John was a long time leader of Not Dead Yet, he was the founder of the disability rights group Second Thoughts and he was one of the key reasons for the Massachusetts assisted suicide referendum victory in 2012. John spoke at several EPC conferences. We will miss his wit and humour.

EPC continues to promote Bill C-218, the bill that would prevent the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness in Canada, and we continue to ask you to contact your Member of Parliament (MP) to support C-218. We have organized meetings with MPs and have scheduled another press conference for December 5, the current date for the first hour of debate on the bill. Your donation enables us to continue.

As Christmas approaches, we look to the hope of new life. What happened in Slovenia helps us to understand that hope is alive. In the beginning of the campaign, the polls indicated that 30% of the people planned to vote YES but on the day of the referendum, more than 53% voted YES. We must always have hope.

Christmas is also the time to share with those in need. When donating, ask yourself, how much can I give to protect human life?

We are grateful for your generosity during this season of hope. 

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director