January 30, 2001
NO HUMAN CLONING
The recent announcement that a private consortium of scientists
intends
to begin cloning human beings is a very serious
development.
(See URLs below.)
These scientists have the skills and resources to create human
clones.
They are operating outside any structures of public or
scientific
accountability. In a growing number of countries,
their efforts to
clone human children would be felonies
punishable by imprisonment.
Human cloning is a crime against human dignity and humanity. It
is a
step toward the commodification and brutalization of human
life. We
must not allow ourselves to be pushed any further down
this road. If
we can't stop human beings from being cloned, try
to imagine what we
won't be able to stop next.
The Exploratory Initiative on the New Human Genetic Technologies
is
in discussion with other organizations about what needs to be
done,
and will report on this soon.
In the meantime, here is what people can do:
1. On Saturday and Sunday February 24-25 a major conference
on
"Globalization and Technology" will be held in New York City.
(See
the URL below.) The Saturday night plenary, and sessions on
Sunday,
will focus on genetic engineering, including human
genetic engineering.
There will be a special session on Sunday on
the situation regarding
human cloning and what needs to be done.
We encourage everyone who
can do so to attend these sessions. IF
YOU WISH TO ATTEND
PLEASE LET US KNOW by reply to this email, so
that we can facilitate
arrangements.
2. On Monday Feb. 26, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, there will be a
special
strategy meeting on human cloning and the challenge of
the new human
genetic technologies, also in New York City. IF
YOUR ORGANIZATION
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE
PLEASE LET
US KNOW by reply to this email.
We will be holding similar meetings concerning human cloning in
Northern
California and elsewhere in the near future. Information
about these
meetings will be shared in subsequent Bulletins.
The Exploratory Initiative is producing materials for people who
want
to work to stop human cloning. Copies will be available at
the meetings
noted above, and information on how to obtain copies
will be given in
future Bulletins. We are setting up a web page
and other support
activity as well.
We believe that humanity's technological abilities are a great
gift
and a great responsibility. We must take action now to
prevent their
dangerous misuse and ensure their wise use in the
decades and centuries
to come. Our common humanity is at
stake.
INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO BEGIN HUMAN CLONING:
Washington Post:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53307-2001Jan26.html
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/print/20010128/t000008216.html
BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1144000/1144694.stm
Daily Telegraph:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac3D001432256857616&rtmo=3DpsQSUeQe&atm=o3%20D99999999&pg=3D/et/01/1/28/wgen28.html>
INFORMATION ON THE "GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY"
CONFERENCE
IN NEW YORK CITY: http://www.ifg.org/.
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