Welcome to
GENETIC CROSSROADS #24
September
18, 2002
Supporting responsible uses of human genetic
technologies
Opposing the new techno-eugenics
I.
UN Treaty to Ban Human Reproductive Cloning
1.
UN Meeting and Briefing
2.
In-depth Analysis
3.
Tiempos del Mundo Report
II. World Congress of Bioethics
III.
Other News and Media Coverage
1.
New York Times Reviews Gregory Stock's Redesigning
Humans
2.
Australia Bans All Human Cloning
3.
Opera Addresses New Human Genetic Technologies
IV.
Other Events and Developments
1.
Fred Friendly Seminar - "Our Genes / Our Choices"
2.
Association for Women's Rights in Development
V.
CGS Web Site
1.
More Spanish Material
2.
Policies Adopted by International Bodies
I. UN Treaty to Ban Human Reproductive Cloning
The United Nations committee negotiating an international ban on human reproductive cloning will hold its second meeting September 23-27 in New York City. The proposed treaty was initiated by France and Germany and has received widespread support. Its success would be of vital importance in itself, and could also set a precedent for future policy concerning other human genetic technologies.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24 the Center for Genetics and Society, Global Lawyers and Physicians, and the Center for International Environmental Law are hosting a briefing on the proposed cloning treaty for NGO leaders and UN delegates. For information contact Jonathan Polansky at jpolansky@genetics-and-society.org.
The first detailed analysis of the need for an international treaty banning reproductive cloning -- and inheritable genetic modification as well -- has been prepared by George J. Annas, Lori B. Andrews and Rosario M. Isasi. Their paper, "Protecting the Endangered Human: Toward an International Treaty Prohibiting Cloning and Inheritable Alterations," American Journal Of Law & Medicine (Vol. 28, no. 2,3, pp. 151-178) is available online at http://www.bumc.bu.edu/www/sph/lw/pdfs/protecting.pdf.
A special report on human cloning and the proposed UN treaty has been published by one of the most widely read Spanish-language publications in the world, Tiempos del Mundo. The article features CGS associate Rosario Isasi of the University of Toronto. Isasi states, "Notwithstanding the immense problems that Latin American countries are currently facing, … the issue of human cloning should be one of our priorities. The time to act is now, because if we put these issues on the 'stand-by list'; soon after will be too late. We have to include it in the agenda of both the government and the civil society." See: Pedro F. Frisneda, "Clonación Humana: Una Lucha Contra el Tiempo," ("Human Cloning: A Struggle Against Time") Tiempos del Mundo, September 5-11, 2002. Available online at http://www.genetics-and-society.org/espanol/20020905_tiempos_frisneda.html
For additional background on the proposed United Nations cloning treaty, see http://www.genetics-and-society.org/policies/international/un.html.
II. World Congress of
Bioethics
Over 1500 participants are expected at the Sixth World Congress of Bioethics being held from October 30 to November 3 in Brasilia, Brazil. Hosted by the International Association of Bioethics, the Congress will focus on "Power and Injustice."
A special session entitled "Towards an International Ethical, Social and Political Accord on Human Cloning and Human Species-Alteration," featuring presentations by CGS staff and associates Richard Hayes, Evelyne Shuster and Rosario Isasi, will be held on Friday, Nov. 1. Joining them will be Joachim Schemel, First Secretary, Task Force on Environmental and Biopolitical Issues, German Foreign Ministry and an initiator of the proposed UN treaty banning human cloning.
Side meetings for participants interested in building an international network of professionals in support of socially inclusive human genetics policies are planned.
For more information see http://www.bioethicscongress.org.br/ or contact CGS at info@genetics-and-society.org.
III. Other News and Media
Coverage
1. New York Times Reviews Gregory Stock's Redesigning Humans
In a recent review of Gregory Stock's Redesigning Humans: Our Inevitable Genetic Future, author Gina Maranto identifies shortcomings in the arguments presented by Stock and other proponents of the new techno-eugenics. Maranto characterizes the book as an apology for personally ambitious scientists, entrepreneurs and eugenics enthusiasts who capitalize on the vulnerability of infertile couples. She highlights the inherent eugenic implications of these technologies and the need for their regulation and control.
According to Maranto, "[U]nfettered science has not historically shown itself to be in the best interest of society, any more than unfettered government, religion or business have. The fact that biomedical tinkerings have brought benefits for some does not constitute a sufficient reason for concluding that the practitioners of the embryonic arts should have the right to pursue any and all lines of experiment.
"Nor is it an adequate argument to say that if banned, germ-line manipulations would simply move offshore or go to the black market. That may be true. But if the fact that people will seek to avoid the law were a reason not to have a law, we would have no laws at all."
See Gina Maranto, "Deoxyribonucleic Acid Trip," New York Times (August 25, 2002), and online at http://www.genetics-and-society.org/resources/items/20020825_nytimes_maranto.html
2. Australia Bans All Human Cloning
The Australian House of Representatives passed a bill banning all
human cloning, whether for research or reproductive purposes. It is
expected to move through the Senate and be enacted into law. The
bill allows, but regulates, embryonic stem cell research. The
legislation is consistent with many laws in continental Europe, but
sets Australia apart from the United Kingdom, which allows research
cloning under the eye of its Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority (HFEA). See Patrick Goodenough, "Australian Lawmakers Ban
Cloning," CNSNews.com, August 30, 2002, http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=
/ForeignBureaus/archive/200208/FOR20020830a.html.
3. Opera Addresses New Human Genetic Technologies
On August 19, the San Francisco Opera hosted a read-through of a newly commissioned opera, Earthrise, which explores the unknown consequences of human cloning and genetic manipulation by depicting a conversation between a retiring lab scientist and her "replicants." CGS Program Director Tania Simoncelli and Advisor Dr. Paul Billings were invited to participate in a facilitated public dialogue following the reading. Audience members raised many critical concerns associated with the use and implications of the new human genetic technologies. See Steven Winn, "Reading and Discussion of New Chamber Opera: It Ain't Over Till the Third Clone Sings," San Francisco Chronicle, August 24, 2002, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/08/24/DD190293.DTL
IV. Other Events and
Developments
1. Fred Friendly Seminar - "Our Genes / Our Choices"
On October 1, CGS Executive Director Richard Hayes will moderate a community forum following a live videoconference being held as part of an upcoming Fred Friendly PBS seminar, titled "Our Genes/Our Choices." The videoconference will be broadcast to 14 local PBS affiliate television stations. CGS is working in cooperation with the Global Academy Genome Institute on this event. See http://www.fredfriendly.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/in_prod.htm. If you would like to participate in one of the 14 community forums around the U.S., contact us at CGS at info@genetics-and-society.org.
2. Association for Women's Rights in Development
CGS Program Director Tania Simoncelli will speak on the implications of the new human genetic technologies at the Ninth International Forum of The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), to be held on October 3-6 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Advocates of women's rights will be holding side-meetings to discuss the creation of international networks to support inclusive genetics policies. For more information see http://www.awid.org/forum/ or email tsimoncelli@genetics-and-society.org.
CGS has expanded its Spanish-language section to include
translations of five overview pieces. Please forward this link to
your Spanish-speaking colleagues and friends:
http://www.genetics-and-society.org/espanol
2. Policies Adopted by International Bodies
The United Nations debate over a global treaty banning reproductive cloning will focus attention on the status of domestic and international policies addressing the new human genetic technologies. For a comprehensive survey see http://www.genetics-and-society.org/policies/international
More Information
Analysis:
Examine the social, cultural, and economic landscape
Perspectives:
Explore various communities' concerns regarding human genetic
technologies
Policies:
Read about existing and potential regulations
Technologies:
Learn the basic science and consider arguments for and against