This appeared in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Make your voice heard now By Alison Landes Posted August 1 2005 _E-mail story_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-21forum01aug01,0,3204645,email.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion) _Print story_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-21forum01aug01,0,2872401,print.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion) STORIES _Where to turn_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-81wheretoturn.box,0,5695146.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion) Aug 1, 2005 MOST E-MAILED (last 24 hours) 1. _Be cautious about cashing out of your home_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-zsave03aug03,0,3345955.column?track=most emailedlink) 2. _Sports fan gets death for killing nagging wife who wanted to cuddle_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-84sportsfandeath,0,6239079.story?track=mostemailedlink) 3. _Race drops couple into path of bear intent upon only one thing -- its prey_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-83grizzly,0,7093147.story?track=mostemailedlink) 4. _Backlash grows as August becomes September for students, families_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-83schoolbacklash,0,2638046.story? track=mostemailedlink) 5. _Firefighter accused of 'employee terrorism' wins $1 million verdict against Deerfield_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cjoe04aug04,0,2061728.story?track=mostemailedlink) _See the complete list ..._ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/most-emailed.front) Subscribe today to the Sun-Sentinel and find out how to get one week extra! _Click here_ (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/services/sfl-startsub,0,2480096.htmlstory) or call 1-877-READ-SUN. Three cheers for Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson. A July 19 article heralding Aaronson's launch of Floridians for Stem Cell Research and Cures is cause for celebration. Thanks also go to Sen. Bill Frist, who on Friday announced his support for federal funding of stem cell research. Aaronson is spearheading the initiative as a nonpartisan issue, and rightly so. Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, spinal cord injury, Lou Gehrig's disease, cancer and other disorders do not differentiate between political parties. For two years, Palm Beach County and the state of Florida have been in ongoing negotiations, spending over $800 million to bring Scripps to Florida. There is talk of paying out more to entice biotech companies to set up shop next door to Scripps. With talented researchers being sought after by universities in other states and countries, how can our officials spend so many taxpayers' dollars and not include stem cell research? Does it make sense to restrict the means by which the most cutting-edge research of the century can be funded? Where in this equation are the patients and caregivers who are living and dying with these illnesses, disorders and spinal cord injuries? Shouldn't all stakeholders have a say? Researchers believe that stem cells can replace diseased cells in patients, reversing the symptoms of a disease and perhaps even curing it. By continuing to restrict scientists' freedom to conduct research, the United States will lag further behind in technology -- with a heavy scientific, financial and human toll. For those diagnosed with Parkinson's, families watch their loved ones' health deteriorate as the disease progresses and assistance is needed for the most basic of life's necessities. The cost of Parkinson's is astronomical, financially and emotionally. And Parkinson's represents only a fraction of the 100 million Americans who can benefit from this science. Considering the extent of this human suffering, is it humane, is it moral, is it ethical to shut out research because of limitations imposed on the many by the few? The House of Representatives has passed HR810 and the Senate is likely to vote in September. Contact your senators and urge them to pass it with no amendments. In addition, support the initiative set forth by Floridians for Stem Cell Research and Cures to put a constitutional amendment before Florida voters in September 2006. Each of us who has a voice needs to speak out to get the information to the people. Voices raised in unison will be heard. Alison Landes is the founder and president of Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc. and South Florida congressional coordinator of the Parkinson Action Network. ____________________________________ Where to turn For more information: E-mail [log in to unmask] or write Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc., 1489 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 442, Boca Raton, FL 33486. On the Web at www.cureparkinsons.org Urge the Senate to pass HR810 with no amendments. Log on to www.StemPac.com or www.parkinsonaction.org or www.camradvocacy.org to contact your senators. Support the initiative of Floridians for Stem Cell Research and Cures to put a constitutional amendment before Florida voters in September 2006. Sign on to _www.StemPac.com_ (http://www.StemPac.com) . Alison Landes Founder/ President Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's, Inc. 1489 W. Palmetto Park Road Suite 442 Boca Raton, Florida 33486 Tel: 561.620.1970 Fax: 561.488.5726 E-mail: [log in to unmask] Web site: _www.cureparkinsons.org_ (http://www.cureparkinsons.org/) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn