There is also an option to send an email or a hard copy of an excellent letter--these are much more effective than email petitions, and simple to do by way of copy/paste . Then you can "send again",and chang the recipient's name---easy and a great idea. Thanks Charlotte. . > To Sign A Petition Supporting Embryonic And Fetal Stem Cell Research, GO > TO: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/stmcll/petition.html > > To E-mail An Editorial To Your Local Newspaper Or Favorite Magazine, GO > TO: http://www.mrsmithmedia.com/ > > To Send E-Mail Or Postal Mail To Your U.S. Senators Or Representative, > GO TO: http://congress.org/elecmail.html > > THE TEXT BELOW IS SUITABLE TO COPY AND PASTE INTO ANY OF THE ABOVE > LETTER FORMS, AND TO SEND TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST! > > Dear Sir, > > I am writing to urge support for federal funding of human embryonic and > fetal stem cell research. This field shows great promise in leading to > treatment or cure of a wide spectrum of diseases, including Alzheimer's, > Parkinson's, ALS, and spinal cord injuries. > > The undifferentiated pluripotent master cells that researchers cull from > fetal tissue and embryos have the ability to divide indefinitely and in > later stages of development specialize into cells that make up most > tissues of an organism (but not an entire human). Scientists say that by > guiding the growth of these cells it might be possible to culture new > organs to replace ailing hearts, or neurons for the treatment of brain > disease or injury. Indeed, a recently completed 3-year study in humans > with Parkinson's Disease showed fetal cells to be highly beneficial. > > A recent poll indicates 2 out of 3 Americans support pluripotent stem > cell research, yet politics continues to jeopardize this effort. The > cruel irony is that concern for the well-being of embryos is misplaced > here. Scientists at John Hopkins University report that the number of > embryonic cell lines currently in cultivation is sufficient to supply > future research needs--so that not a single embryo needs be destroyed. > > The use of fetal tissue from terminated pregnancies is necessary because > of the likelihood of genetic mutations in tissue derived from > miscarriages. Much as each organ donation is a happy by-product of a sad > event, the beneficial use of fetal tissue after a terminated pregnancy > in no way means that researchers caused or condoned the act--it simply > offers a truly productive use for tissue that would otherwise be > discarded. > > A Yale University stem cell researcher working with noted Dr. Evan > Snyder has reported that results of latest primate stem cell studies > show tremendous promise in treating ALS, Parkinson's and spinal cord > injuries. He acknowledged that a ban on federal funding of human > pluripotent stem cell research will have very detrimental effects on the > stem cell field as a whole. > > Stem cell pioneer Dr. John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University has > cited the previous federal ban as "slowing the pace of discovery. > Without federal money the research will be taken up in the private > sector, which will make the whole process less open." > > Without stem cell research millions of people will remain paralyzed, > suffer, and die needlessly. Please help protect and extend federal > government funding of research involving human embryonic and fetal stem > cells. > > Most Sincerely, > > Your Name > Camilla Flintermann <[log in to unmask]> On PDWebring at : http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/genugten/flinterm.htm "A single voice among thousands stands alone, but a thousand voices united as one, stand to make a difference!"