In California, Proposition 71 will give $6 Billion in tax money to researchers to use Embryonic Stem Cells. Some are against this, because they don't think the State can afford to add more to the enormous deficit (the Nurses Union, for example). But I believe it is important to the economic health of California, to become a leader in this field, as it was in the Computer Science field these past 20 years. I see it as an investment, that will pay off ten fold, if not more.
I also support it because I believe this research will provide real cures for people, while at the same time, relieve the need to use animals for vivisection.
There has been some confusion among animal rights activists about the later reasoning. Because the law is written somewhat vaguely, to some, it sounded like it supported more animal experimentation. The fact is, stem cell research using animals has been going on for a long time. They have cured rats, making them able to walk again using the technology. To be able to reproduce this in humans, they must use human stem cells.
A scientist on a veggie mail list posted the note below, to clear up any confusion. I have it posted here, the name withheld.
Vote YES on Proposition 71
Hello fello Veggies:
I never thought I'd have to explain the science and politics behind stems cell research on a veggie list serve, but there's just been too much mis-information flying around these emails.
As background, I am a scientist, not currently doing research, but I run a lab, and just this week we were looking at HUMAN STEM CELLS under the microscope in my lab. I'm going to lay out the issues, and then address the animal rights implications towards the end of this email.
You should become informed and vote with your beliefs. I'm constantly surprised at how much people think things are black and white. Nothing in this world really is....
Prop 71 is about the access to research on HUMAN stem cells.
It is legal and there's plenty of funding to research on animal stem cells, and indeed as Christopher Reeves pointed out before he died, they are making crippled rats walk again already.
Bush decided that it is IMMORAL to work on HUMAN EMBRYOS because he believes they are already live babies (this is a complete other discussion)....
He could not make HUMAN STEM CELL research illegal, so he tried to deny ACCESS to researchers in the form of funding. No one that recieves public funding (National Science Foundation or other) can have access to these cell lines.
This means that virtually no academic people have access to this research. I was able to view these cells this week, because a private company brought these cells and asked to view them in my microscope. PRIVATE companies have venture capital money and can therefore have access to the limited human stem cell lines because they don't get PUBLIC funds.
California being one of the largest economies in the word, and also known for marching to their own tune, decided that they'd put a proposition forward to ENABLE access to human stem cell research REGARDLESS OF THE BUSH agenda (one he calls "pro-life" which, is laughable given how many deaths of ADULTS he's responsible for with his wars...)
As far as animals are concerned, this proposition will undoutably lead to some animal research, but ultimately will eliminate tons more animal research as diseases such as diabetes, Altzheimer's, spinal cord injury, etc, are CURED. Scientists won't need to induce injury in animals to learn about the mechanism of disease, because EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS are cells that have the ability to turn into other types of cells.
(think back to sex 101...two cells: sperm and egg join, and divide into 4 cells, all the same...from these four cells we eventually get a complete human baby with unique cells. Human heart cells don't later turn into brain cells, but the embryonic stem cells have the ability to turn into nerves, heart, pancreas, whatever is needed to make a complete human).
You should vote either yes or no based on these issues:
1) Voting yes or no will not decrease or increase animal research in the short term, but for the longer term will ulimately decrease animal research
2) Compassion for animals also means compassion for humans. finding cure to human disease is an important issue for some people
3) The resean there is currently no public funding for HUMAN embroyonic cell is that Bush is afraid women will abort their fetus to sell their stem cells (ARGH!)
4) Access to this research is currently restricted due to funding. If you belief in freedom of academic knowledge and are afraid of vested interest research this is a good proposition.
Any time the sole research into a drug or product is done by the same company that will later profit from it, one should be leery of the completeness of the safety testing, as well as information about conflicting information.
Look at the cigarette industry and more recently issues regarding drug safety. Time and again companies will only tell the "good side" if they stand to turn a profit. Academics love to prove each other wrong, so they are constantly re-testing each other, and giving the postive AND negative sides of things in free open forums. I trust that more than private industry.
Vote yes, or no. Either way animal research will continue. HUMAN EMBRYONIC stem cell research will continue, but only in select PRIVATELY funded labs.
This prop would make an alternative PUBLIC funding source:CALIFORNIA, since BUSH has made Federal funds unavailable.
Vote based on your heart: Pro-animal, Pro-human, Pro-life, Pro-science, Pro-business, Pro-smaller California goverment...all these issues are involved in this proposition.
Location
South San Francisco, California, United States
"There is no creator" - the Dalai Lama. These are words of common sense, and it tells me that "spirituality" has nothing in particular to do with a belief in the supernatural. But then, those of us who grew up in the seventies watching "Kung Fu" already knew that being a vegan, atheist who follows the path of the buddha can reach enlightenment.
All kidding aside, what does a vegetarian atheist have to say? Stick around and you'll find out! Politically I'm rather liberal, but I do like to listen to staunch conservative talk show host Michael (the 'Whiner') Savage so I'll probably be mentioning him from time to time in my weblogs. So for now, how about some talk of broccoli, carrots and peas? Recipe's anyone??
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