Outrage in China over 'body-processing' factory

AFP/yahoo.comnews ^ | November 27, 2003 | AFP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

BEIJING, (AFP) - Outrage is growing over a factory processing dead bodies in northeast China for a German company that puts them on display in major European cities, state media says.

The plant, near Dalian city, is used by Body Worlds which was founded by Guenther von Hagens, the German anatomist who has created a stir with his exhibitions of flayed human corpses in a variety of poses, the Beijing Morning Post reported.

According to reports in the Chinese media, the plant imports more than 100 corpses from abroad every year, and reprocesses them into about 40 plastinated works of art.

Chen Tianmin, a medical scholar, criticised the idea of commercializing dead bodies and told the Beijing Morning Post they should be used only for research purposes.

Body Worlds has arranged exhibitions in Vienna, Berlin, London and a number of Asian cities.

"The aim of the exhibition is to inform visitors and to open up the opportunity particularly to medical laymen to better understand their body and its functions," the company says on its website.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Just in time for Christmas Body Worlds

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Outrage is growing over a factory processing dead bodies in northeast China for a German company that puts them on display in major European cities (AFP/File/Matthias Schrader)

[Simmy2.5]

This is what passes as art?? *shakes head*

[FreedomPoster]

Unacceptable. I can't believe there is a market for this stuff, and that the company that sells this in Europe is allowed to exist without having protestors on their doorstep daily. Especiirally in Germany, with their history of the Holocaust and human skin lampshades, forced medical experimentation, and such. Truly depraved.

[clee1]

It seems that Germany is continuing in its Holocaust pogroms.

I can think of few things more hideous than this.

[AmericaUnited]

The Spirit of Adolf lives on...

[wideminded]

I don't really see anything wrong with this as long as the bodies are freely donated. It's not at all the same thing as the abuses perpetrated on the bodies of concentration camp inmates by the Nazis. The exhibits are highly educational and will encourage young people to think of studying medicine and related sciences, From what I have seen, the unusual poses are not disrespectful but help to bring out the reality of the interior of the body in living, moving human beings. Criticism of the teaching of anatomy through dissection has seemed old-fashioned and anti-intellectual since Vesalius (1514-1564).

[Pete'sWife]

At first glance, all I could think of was:

"SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!!"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It could be just as well done without using bodies. It's the ick factor they're counting on. I expect profit isn't far behind.

[observer5]

...that the company that sells this in Europe is allowed to exist without having protestors on their doorstep daily.

They are reserved for Bush!

[Ethan_Allen]

*** Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Gen/1/26.html

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus [our] brother,

Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

*** Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

*** Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Col/1/15.html

*** 2Cr 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/2Cr/4/4.html

*** Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Rom/1/23.html

Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Psa 106:20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox [OR AN ASS] that eateth grass. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Rom/1/23.html

*** Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

*** Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

*** Ecc 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Ecc/3/20.html

*** Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Dan/12/2.html

[joesnuffy]

The spirit of Adolf lives

Among the Nazis, Islamofacists,communists and their allies... Welcome to the new world odor...its the same as the old world odor... The new boss ought to be a pip

[BlazingArizona]

Outrage is growing over a factory processing dead bodies in northeast China...

That does it! Our cats are getting nothing but Iams from now on.

[flamefront]

Chen Tianmin, a medical scholar, criticised the idea of commercializing dead bodies ...

Only criticised in the context of capitalism, else this gruesomeness would not see the light of day in Beijing media for any other reason.

[ChadGore]

This is an intelectual orgasm for those who cheapen llife.

[jonatron]

What else would you expect from Germany? Respect and fear of God?

[ryanjb2]

This is one enterprise I am sure no one here will object to being outsourced...

[wideminded]

It could be just as well done without using bodies.

Very doubtful and no one would attend. Why do doctors study anatomy using real bodies?

It's the ick factor they're counting on.

Yes, there will probably be a lot of people who attend because of the "ick factor". But so what? Even they will learn something. I read in a book by the well-known pathologist Cyril Wecht that as a boy he and his friends would sneak into the county morgue and look at the bodies. BTW, there are a number of medical museums that have preserved body parts on display.

I expect profit isn't far behind.

I thought conservatives were in favor of profits :) There's got to be a limited market for this. Even if there isn't the bodies were all donated voluntarily. If I specify in my will that after my death I want my body to be in a (possibly commercial) public display, that's my business. If the person or organization putting the show together violates the terms of the wills of the donors, that's a bad thing and they should be sued or prosecuted.

[demlosers]

The goal of the exhibition, which has been slammed by some, is to help visitors learn how the human body works, says the company. -- ALAN LIM The Straits Times

Yuk...