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Therapeutic Cloning; The landrush of the 21st Century 80 Million families world wide have had their hopes raised by the thought that tSCR will bring a cure. Biotech has sprang up in countries and states in anticipation of hitting the jackpot. Finding a cure is not a motivating factor in all of this positioning. Governments, who many believe should be leading the way in basic science, are shying away. There are deep divides in the ethics community. There are some who believe any use of embryos is wrong. Suffers and families on the other hand believe an ethical solution can and should be permitted to allow therapeutic cloning to assist in finding a cure. The rush to biotech is motivated by future visions of profits. Biotech is in a race to create pristine hearts, livers, and kidneys. Using fetal stem cells they are banking on discovering ways to create and patent body parts. Suffers worldwide are hoping on basic research performed by government grants to see if a cure can be found. Government research is the only way this research will be done in those cases where no economic benefit accrues to business and commerce. Private fetal stem cell research is not prohibited in the U.S. but ethics concerns have slowed the funding of public grants to find a cure. Critics will say that there have been no cures to date from any fetal stem cell research. That is probably a fact but we are early on in the quest for a cure. While George W. Bush and his wife are correct about him permitting limited fetal stem cell research, that is not the "rest of the story". The ethics committee appointed by him is heavily represented by those who believe that any use of human embryos is wrong. Researchers seeking fetal stem cell grants report having to pass a litmus test before being approved for their research. NIH only reports 22 stem cell lines are available for NIH researchers. Most of the stem cell lines touted by the administration have had mouse cell contamination and many scientists have called for additional stem cell lines. Internationally, governments and suffers have pride in their researchers. Vocal critics of any fetal cell research would try to divide us by using "our research is better than your research " argument and would discount any findings "overseas". The U.S. administration would make the case that it was their compassionate nature to allow fetal stem cell research but would not want to "give false hope". Stacking the ethics committee with those that oppose any use of human embryos guarantees that fetal stem cell research to find a cure for Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes and the spinal cord injury, will fail. Support and cheer leading for the Costa Rica treaty proposal, criminalizing therapeutic cloning, is intended to send a chill over the world and make it problematic for governments and researchers. Costa Rica is a Catholic country and is following the lead of Pope John who is one of us wishes to wait on a divine cure. Is there a Plan B? There are some who believe that even if the current administration is returned to office, US public opinion will cause Congress to revisit the therapeutic cloning, fetal stem cell issue. The truth is that even if Congress overcomes a sure presidential veto, the stacked ethics committee will stymie research in spite of public opinion. If you believe finding a cure is possible, please vote. John Cottingham U.S. citizen exercising his 1st Amendment Right ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn