GENETIC CROSSROADS #16
March 31, 2001
Supporting responsible uses of human genetic
technologies
Opposing the new techno-eugenics
CONTENTS
I.
US CONGRESS TO CONSIDER BAN ON HUMAN CLONING
1.
Hearing held March 28
2.
What You Can Do: Briefing Packets Available
II.
INTERNATIONAL COALITION FORMING TO OPPOSE HUMAN CLONING
AND
INHERITABLE GENETIC MODIFICATION
III. REPORT FROM THE ANTINORI / ZAVOS CLONING WORKSHOP IN ROME
IV.
POINTERS AND QUOTES
1.
Papers on Women and Human Genetic Manipulation Available
2.
US Congressional Representatives on Cloning
3.
Condemnations of Human Cloning from Around the Globe
I. US CONGRESS TO CONSIDER BAN ON HUMAN CLONING
Following a Congressional hearing last week, Rep. James Greenwood
(R-PA) announced his intention to introduce federal legislation
banning the creation of human clones. Greenwood said he hoped to
have a bill introduced within three weeks and passed and signed
within six months.
The announcement is significant because Greenwood is a moderate,
pro-choice Republican, and thus might be able to broker
legislation
that would have support of both conservatives and
liberals in the
Congress, and President Bush.
In the past Congressional conservatives have tended to support
legislation that bans both cloning fully formed humans
(reproductive
cloning) and the creation of clonal embryos to be
used in medical
research (embryo cloning). Liberals have tended
to oppose reproductive
cloning, but not embryo cloning.
Greenwood's proposed legislation would ban reproductive cloning
only,
and remain silent on embryo cloning. Greenwood indicated
that he had
the support of his committee chair, conservative
Billy Tauzin (R-LA),
as well as of the ranking minority committee
member, liberal Democrat
Peter Deutsch (D-FL).
In the wake of Greenwood's announcement, Rep. Brian Kerns
(R-IN)
introduced a bill banning both reproductive and embryo
cloning, and
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she would
introduce legislation
banning reproductive cloning only. Other
bills are also likely. A
spokesperson for President Bush said the
President was strongly
opposed to "human cloning and cloning
research."
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) says it will oppose
any effort to ban embryo cloning. BIO has also stated its
opposition
to reproductive cloning, but has favored voluntarily
restraints by
scientists and corporations rather than legislative
bans.
Greenwood's announcement came at the end of the hearing held by
the
oversight subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
The impetus for the hearing was the announcement by two
fertility
doctors that they plan to begin cloning human beings.
Most of the
committee members, Democrats and Republicans alike,
voiced strong
opposition to that effort. Some quotes appear in
Part IV below.
Legislation to ban human cloning failed in the US Senate in 1998,
when
lobbying by the biotech industry and differences over embryo
cloning
produced a stalemate. Another failure now, at a time when
rogue
scientists are openly declaring their intentions to begin
creating
human clones, would foster the belief that civil society
is incapable
of preventing a techno-eugenic epoch.
2. What You Can Do: Briefing Packets Available
At this moment, the shape of the coming US legislative struggle
over
cloning is fluid and unclear. We'll keep you apprised of
developments
both in Washington and in the growing opposition to
human genetic
manipulation as they occur, in future issues or
special bulletins.
Available now is a briefing packet prepared by the
Exploratory
Initiative on the New Human Genetic Technologies,
"THE CASE AGAINST
HUMAN CLONING AND GENETIC MANIPULATION."
The packet contains short overviews of the science, history,
social
and ethical debate, policy options, and politics
associated with
cloning and "germline" genetic modification, as
well as reprints
of important articles and a resource guide.
This material can serve as the basis for informed participation
in the
coming campaigns. Literature in the packet can be copied
for public
distribution; and used for briefings or discussions in
organizational
or house meetings, reading groups, classrooms, and
other venues.
For a free copy, send your name and postal mail information
to:
<humanfuture@publicmediacenter.org>.
II. INTERNATIONAL COALITION FORMING TO
OPPOSE HUMAN CLONING AND
INHERITABLE GENETIC MODIFICATION
Activist pressure for global bans on human cloning and
inheritable
genetic modification will increase this spring, when
an emerging
coalition of organizations will raise these issues
at two international
fora:
From April 14 to May 2 in New York City, meetings of the Rio+10
PrepComm and of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development
are
being held in preparation for the tenth anniversary of the
Earth
Summit, which will take place in Johannesberg next
summer.
Between May 14 and May 22, the World Health Assembly, which sets
policy for the World Health Organization (WHO), will meet in
Geneva.
Hundreds of delegates from countries around the world are
expected.
WHO has issued statements opposing human cloning, and
commissioned
staff reports that have called for a ban on
inheritable genetic
modification, but has not yet taken steps
beyond that. The coalition
of activist groups will be working to
encourage and support the WHO
in carrying out its
responsibilities regarding the new human genetic
technologies.
IF YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
EFFORT
AND ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, please contact Doug
Hunt,
Exploratory Initiative on the New Human Genetic
Technologies, at
<dhunt@hgtinitiative.org> or
202-488-5635.
III. REPORT FROM THE ANTINORI / ZAVOS CLONING WORKSHOP IN ROME
On March 9 fertility doctors Severino Antinori and Panos Zavos
held a
one-day event in Rome about their plan to begin cloning
human beings.
The Exploratory Initiative on the New Human Genetic Technologies
sent
a colleague, researcher/author Peter Shanks, to the
conference. A
summary of his observations follows. His full
report, "Cloning Group
Shows Their True Colors," is available
from <genetic-crossroads@genetics-and-society.org>.
"The small group of fertility specialists who hope to clone
humans
tried to boost their legitimacy with a `scientific
workshop' at a
prestigious clinic in Rome on March 9, but only
emphasized their
isolation from mainstream researchers and
medical practitioners.
"Few scientists attended. Only two made themselves known in
the
audience, which otherwise consisted of some 100 journalists
and
cloning advocate Dr. Richard Seed. No serious scientific
discussions
occurred.
"Contradictory and occasionally offensive remarks were
frequent.
At one point Antinori pointedly observed that Dr.
Mengele, the Nazi
torturer, was a `government doctor' and that
this represented an
argument against legislation or
regulation.
"It is now clear that Antinori, Zavos, and their colleagues could
be
disregarded were they not so dangerous. They are willing to
accept
risks that no one else considers remotely acceptable, in
an attempt
to do something that most people consider obscene.
Yes, they have
between them created a lot of babies. Yes, they
may be able to make a
clone, which might or might not be born
without significant deformity.
Certainly, they have the
determination, probably the technical
expertise, and undoubtedly
the complete lack of conscience required
to attempt such a
thing.
"There is no better argument for an international ban on human
cloning."
--Pete Shanks
1. Papers on Women and Human Genetic Manipulation Available
Two new articles are available: "The Implications of Human
Reproductive
Cloning and Germ Line Alteration for Women and
Women's Health: Ten
Mis-conceptions" by Lisa Handwerker. Contact
<lisahand@juno.com> or
see <http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/>.
"Human Germline Manipulation and Cloning as Women's Issues" by
Marcy
Darnovsky. Contact
<genetic-crossroads@genetics-and-society.org>.
2. US Congressional Representatives on Cloning
Rep. James Greenwood (R-PA), chair of the House Energy and
Commerce
oversight subcommittee: "We're dealing with the most
profound of human
responsibilities--the future of our
species."
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL): "Human cloning must be banned now and forever."
Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), chair of the House Energy and
Commerce
Committee: "Cloning may literally threaten the character
of our human
nature."
Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL), ranking Democrat on the Energy and
Commerce
Committee: Members seem to feel "a total consensus. .
.that we should
absolutely, completely ban human cloning. . .It
is our job to legislate
to make sure that human cloning is not
legal and acceptable here in
the USA."
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL): "Even if cloning begins with a benign
purpose,
it could lead to scientific categories of superior and
inferior people."
3. Condemnations of Human Cloning from Around the Globe
The cloning projects announced by the Antinori/Zavos team and by
the
Raelian religious sect have sparked legislation on cloning in
several
countries, and strong condemnations by scientists, senior
government
officials, and many others:
- The Council of Europe's protocol against human cloning, the
first
binding international ban, took effect on March 1 when a
fifth nation
ratified it. Two weeks later, Italy joined Spain,
Slovakia, Slovenia,
Greece, and Georgia in ratifying the ban, by
a 385-3 vote with 13
abstentions. The Romanian legislature also
passed, without debate or
objection, a draft bill ratifying it.
Twenty-four of the 43 Council of
Europe states have signed the
protocol.
<http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_242345.html>
<http://www.centraleurope.com/romaniatoday/localpress/
monitorul.php3?id=285444>
- The Canadian government now hopes to pass legislation this
spring
banning human cloning and "germline" genetic engineering,
and regulating
other genetic and reproductive technologies.
<http://www.vancouversun.com//>
- The Xinhua News Agency reports that a member of the Chinese
People's
Political Consultative Conference National Committee
stated that human
cloning is not allowed in China. <http://library.northernlight.com/
FA20010308420000036.html?cb3D0&dxg3D100=
6&sc3D0>
- Antinori and Zavos were condemned by Britain's Human
Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority and by the Australian
Medical Association. The
Italian medical association warned that
any member who tries to clone
a human risks expulsion and loss of
the right to practice medicine.
<http://salon.com/mwt/wire/2001/03/12/cloning/index.html>;
<http://
www.abc.net.au/news/science/
research/2001/03/item20010310123616_1.htm>
- The Cypriot government said it would not permit human cloning
after
Antinori identified Cyprus as a possible locale for his
project.
<http://www.ekathimerini.com/news/content.asp?id=74950>
- Panos Zavos agreed to retire from the University of Kentucky,
where
he was professor of animal sciences in the agriculture
department since
the early 1980s. Zavos said university officials
were concerned by his
association with the human cloning
effort.
<http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/kentucky/2815209.htm>
V. ABOUT GENETIC CROSSROADS (formerly Techno-Eugenics Email Newsletter)
This newsletter originated in 1999 out of the concerns of
academics,
activists, and others in the San Francisco Bay Area
about the direction
of the new human genetic and reproductive
technologies. It is published
by the Exploratory Initiative on
the New Human Genetic Technologies, a
public interest
organization working to alert the public and leaders of
civil
society about the urgent need for societal oversight of
these
technologies and the dangers of the techno-eugenic
vision.
We support genetic and reproductive technologies that serve the
public
interest. We oppose those--especially human germline
engineering and
human reproductive cloning--that would be likely
to exacerbate inequality,
the commercialization of reproduction,
and the commodification of human
genes and tissues.
GENETIC CROSSROADS is published approximately once a month.
Feedback,
submissions, and suggestions are welcome. Marcy
Darnovsky will moderate.
Please forward GENETIC CROSSROADS to
others who may be interested.
Exploratory Initiative staff, San Francisco:
Marcy Darnovsky,
Ph.D. <genetic-crossroads@genetics-and-society.org>
Richard
Hayes, M.A. <richard.hayes@genetics-and-society.org>
Tania
Simoncelli, M.S. <tania@publicmediacenter.org>
Jesse
Reynolds, M.S. <reynolds@nature.berkeley.edu>
Exploratory Initiative staff, Washington DC:
Douglas Hunt,
Ph.D. <dhunt@hgtinitiative.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