Posted on 03/17/2007 9:23:26 PM PDT by Coleus
Israel and New Jersey jibe when it comes to stem cell research: They're two of the few places in the world that support embryonic stem-cell research. About 70 women from the Clifton-based North Jersey chapter of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, met on Thursday night to learn about stem cell research and consider donating money to the group's research unit within the Hadassah Medical Organization near Jerusalem.
"It's ironic that Israel and Hadassah are positioned perfect for this," said Barry Schindler, patent attorney and guest speaker for the event, held at the Montclair Art Museum. In the U.S., only a handful of states allow public money to be used for embryonic stem cell research -- the use of cells extracted from leftover embryos at fertility clinics, about 5 to 10 days old, for medical experimentation. Those cells have the potential to transform into any type of cell in the body and could, in theory, be used to treat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes, experts say.
Israel allows embryonic stem cell research because Jewish law doesn't consider embryos less than 40 days old to have any moral status, said Dr. Leonard Sharzer, a New York-based rabbi and physician who does work in medical ethics. "An embryo less than 40 days of age has no moral status. It has the status of fluid," he said.
The Bush administration banned federal funding for most embryonic stem cell research in August 2001; scientists can use public money for embryonic stem cell research only if the stem cells were extracted from embryos before August 2001.Karen Cooper, 64, of Livingston, who has Type 2 diabetes, attended the event. Her brother died at age 60 from Type 1 diabetes, she said. Diabetes could theoretically be treated through embryonic stem cell research. Cooper was unequivocal on her opinion of the U.S. government's negative stance on stem cell issue.
"Thumbs down," she said. Privately funded embryonic stem cell research is legal in the U.S., and worldwide, about a dozen countries, including Iran and China, support the use of embryos in stem cell research. A color-coded world map Schindler used in his presentation categorized countries into three types, depending on the governments' permissiveness in allowing embryonic stem cell research. The U.S. was labeled "TAN" as the least permissive category, "Restrictive."
Former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey signed New Jersey's stem cell research bill in January 2004, which allows public money to be used to finance embryonic stem cell research. Last year, Gov. Jon S. Corzine approved spending $270 million to build five stem-cell research facilities in the state.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
----------------------------
You ain't kidding, Barry. If Rip van Winkle fell asleep in 1943 and woke up today in the middle of this event in New Jersey, he'd never believe it if you told him the Nazis had lost World War II.
Note that embryonic stem cell research is **LEGAL** in the United States, and that federal funds exist to support such research. Saying that it's illegal or that all funding has been cut it a lie.
Most scientists are convinced that there's no future in embryonic stem cell research, and invest their time and money in non-embryonic research instead.
This article does seem pretty fair, IMO.
Bump because nobody cares about human rights abuses committed by our plucky little friend, The Only Democracy in the Middle East ™
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.