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- February 26, 2002
-
- RE: Human Cloning Legislation Now
Pending in Senate
-
- Dear Senator:
- With human cloning before the
U.S. Senate and with the announcement by Advanced Cell
Technologies (ACT) that they have taken the first steps toward
cloning human embryos, it is critical that you be aware of the
position that environmentalists hold on these matters.
-
- As environmentalists, we strongly
oppose all human reproductive cloning and inheritable gene
modification and call on you to pass legislation that would
prohibit these practices. We also call for a moratorium on the
creation of clonal human embryos for research.
-
- Two cornerstone principles of
environmentalism inform our positions: respect for nature, and the
precautionary principle.
Environmentalists embrace an
ethic of respect for nature and affirm the interdependence of
humans and our natural world. Reproductive cloning-the creation of
genetic duplicates of existing people-radically transforms the
fundamental processes of procreation and development. Together
with proposed techniques of inheritable gene modification, the use
of cloning for reproduction would irrevocably turn human beings
into artifacts. It would bring to an end the human species that
evolved over the millennia through natural evolution, and set us
on a new, uncontrollable trajectory of manipulation, design and
control. Proponents of cloning extol the virtues of "improving"
what nature has given us - constructing, for example, "designer
babies," or cloning pets that don't cause allergies. We believe
this will lead us down a slippery slope toward the redesign of all
life. We cannot allow this to happen.
-
- Our call for a moratorium on the
creation of clonal embryos is based on the precautionary
principle. It requires that we have some regard for the
consequences of our actions before we carry them out. We support
research that would help determine the therapeutic potential of
human stem cells. However, the creation of clonal embryos as part
of such research clearly increases the risks of fully-formed human
clones eventually being born. While many scientists and physicians
who advocate embryo cloning strenuously disavow the goal of
cloning human beings, others do not.
-
- Fortunately, needed research on
human embryo and adult stem cells can proceed without having to
create clonal embryos. During a moratorium, alternatives to the
use of clonal embryos can be explored. We view the use of clonal
embryos for research as a last resort.
-
- It is no secret that the pursuit
of cloning technology is being driven to a great extent by
profit-driven firms and a very small number of scientists. Most of
these undoubtedly sincerely believe they are working for the
betterment of humanity, but more than a few are irresponsibly
dangling highly unrealistic visions of miracle cures before the
American people, in an effort to discourage necessary public
sector control and regulation. Environmentalists know first hand
that without public sector oversight, the public good will not be
represented in any final outcomes.
-
- Finally, we call on you to
support active United States participation in an international
treaty effort to set global standards and policies for governing
the most consequential of the new human genetic technologies.
Without such policies, it may be difficult for national
legislation to prevent "eugenic tourism" where people travel to
other countries to get a procedure that is not legal or morally
acceptable here.
-
- Motivated by our deep regard for
the natural world and for human life, we urge you to support:
- A ban on human reproductive
cloning and inheritable genetic modifications, including "designer
babies."
- A moratorium on the creation of
clonal human embryos for research, while alternatives are explored
and strict government regulation is established to prevent abuses
of this technology.
- An international convention under
the auspices of the United Nations to bring the new human genetic
technologies within the ambit of responsible global governance.
- Sincerely,
-
- Brent
Blackwelder
President
Friends of the Earth
-
- Mark Dubois
President,
WorldWise and
International Coordinator, Earth Day 1990 and
2000*
-
- Randy
Hayes
President
Rainforest Action Network*
-
- Robert F. Kennedy,
Jr.
President
Waterkeeper Alliance*
-
- John A. Knox
Executive
Director
Earth Island Institute*
-
- Robert K. Musil,
Ph.D.,M.P.H.
Executive Director and CEO
Physicians for
Social Responsibility*
-
- John Passacantando
Executive
Director
Greenpeace U.S.A*
Michele
Perrault
International Vice-President
Sierra Club*
-
- Mark
Ritchie
President
Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy
-
- * = for identification purposes
only
-
- Please reply to: Friends of the
Earth 1025 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC
20005
|
Friends of the Earth - 1025 Vermont Ave.
NW - Washington, DC 20005 USA Tel: 202-783-7400 - Fax: 202-783-0444 -
email: foe@foe.org |