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Welcome to
GENETIC CROSSROADS #16
March 31, 2001
Supporting responsible uses of human genetic technologies
Opposing the new techno-eugenics
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For subscription and submission information, see end of message.
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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
V. ABOUT GENETIC CROSSROADS
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I. US CONGRESS TO CONSIDER BAN ON HUMAN CLONING
1. Hearing held March 28
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.
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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>.
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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.
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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 <teel@adax.com>.
"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
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IV. POINTERS AND QUOTES
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 <www.ourbodiesourselves.org>.
"Human Germline Manipulation and Cloning as Women's Issues"
by Marcy
Darnovsky. Contact <teel@adax.com>.
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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."
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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://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010310/sc/human_cloning_1.html>
<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. <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>
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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. <teel@adax.com>
Richard Hayes, M.A. <rhayes@publicmediacenter.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>
To subscribe, unsubscribe, and for all other communications:
<teel@adax.com>
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe no-cal" to <majordomo@geneticcrossroads.org>.