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Dear Ray, First of all, I appreciate your disappointment with Representative Bono's vote. There is so much misinformation about "therapeutic cloning" research. Scientists have a humane, ethical, and promising path to take to develop cures. But these politicians -- basing themselves perhaps in misguided religious ideas -- stand in the way. People like Senator Hatch and Nancy Reagan are devout Christians, and their highest values lead them to support the research. If only others were equally aware of what is at stake here! We are fortunate here in California (I live in the Bay Area) that our two U.S. Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both strongly support therapeutic cloning research. The very word "cloning" is confusing, and suggests to many people that something bad is being proposed, like in a Frankstein movie. But actually, biologists use the word "cloning" to describe copying processes that have nothig to do with making an identical copy of a human being. You're right to draw attention to the critical distinction between reproductive cloning (to make a baby) and therapeutic cloning (to develop a therapy for conditions like Parkinson's and many other illnesses). As you may know the technical term for therapeutic cloning is "somatic cell nuclear transfer" (SCNT). What is to be done? That depends partly on the nature of Rep. Bono's opposition to SCNT. If the problem is only that she is misinformed about the facts, then the task is to share correct information with her. If her opposition is based on a religious conviction that refuses to look at the facts, then the problem is more serious, and you may have to organize to replace her as your representative with someone else. Maybe those of us here in California should organize a state-wide conference, where we would all get together for a weekend of sharing, education, and organizing. There are number of people here in the Bay Area who are interested in advocating on behalf of stem cell research. I'd be happy to host all or part of the conference at my home. And I'll bet that others nearby would be happy to share that responsibility too. Regarding Representative Bono, if you've got the energy and the time, here are some steps you might take: 1. Contact everyone you know -- and also people you don't yet know -- to discuss and figure out how to deal with Representative Bono's opposition to this life saving research. I believe you live in the vicinity of Palm Springs, a hundred miles or so East of Los Angeles. Are there others in this voting district who favor SCNT research and whom you might connect up with? I have heard that some great organizations, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's support groups, meet in Palm Springs. And isn't the Betty Ford Center also located nearby? Ex-president Gerald Ford has spoken out in favor of therapeutic cloning, and I'll bet his wife agrees. So you may be able to find strong local allies. You might be able to use the Internet to help find specific persons. Or you might have to visit places like the Betty Ford Center and local medical institutions to gather allies in the health professions. Can you discuss this with Betty Ford herself? Are there local Parkinson's support groups? Alzheimer's support groups? Juvenile diabetes support groups? These are great places to find people who realize that this research might mean the difference of life and death for millions of human beings. 2. Set up a telephone and email network to link your allies on this issue, and perhaps organize a meeting so that people can get to know one another better and can draw up a plan for approaching Mary Bono and her office staff. You may wish to meet face-to-face with the politicians and present your case to them. 3. At the same time, you might organize a media campaign, involving writing letters and articles for local newspapers, approaching local television stations and asking them to publicize the issue, etc. 4. If Rep. Bono remains unswayed by the compelling case you make for this research, then maybe you've got to mobilize a larger campaign to educate her constituency. If necesscary, find a candidate who is on the correct side of this issue to run against Bono in the next election. Remember that it's not just our loved ones or ourselves who are affected by this issue. We want people who have PD in the future to benefit from better remedies. Our first line of support is and always will be our love for one another. But healing research is also a form that love can take. OK Ray, that's enough for now. No ... one more thing. Please send us a "portrait" (brief description plus a photo or two) to be posted on the Internet, as several other participants in this discussion group have done. You can find information about how to do this, and also examples of portraits, at http://www.stemcellaction.org. These portraits put a human face on the need for stem cell research. They also value and honor a person who is loving and learning through what they are experiencing. We honor those who are ill themselves, and also their caregivers, friends, and families. Best wishes ... and glad to meet you. Raymond Barglow, Ph.D. ******************* Rayilyn Brown wrote: > > my rep, Mary Bono, whose office I called a couple of days ago, voted yea on > HR 534, the Weldon bill to ban BOTH reproductive and therapeutic cloning. My > former rep, right-winger Ken Calvert also stands in the way of a cure and > kills my hope. I have called his office many times. If Chris Reeve can't > get their attention, who can? Ray > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn