Film screening tonight (10/22) on Stem Cell Research

[stechen]

Location: Michigan Theater - FREE
Time: 7PM, Wednesday

ABOUT THE FILM
The stories of six American families living with the painful realities of
Juvenile Diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Spinal Cord Injury set against the national
debate over embryonic stem cell research. As the debate continues in Washington
and across the country, three generations reveal their challenges, their
frustration with the President’s policy, and the hope that more funding for
embryonic stem cell research will lead to new treatments and cures to relieve
their suffering and save their lives.

Life is for the Living also
explores the science behind stem cell research and the political debate taking
place across the nation. The film includes an introduction by CBS 60 Minutes'
Mike Wallace and interviews with the nation's leading scientific researchers,
political leaders, and advocates including Former Attorney General Janet Reno,
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, US Senator Carl Levin, Dr. Sean Morrison,
Director of the UM Center for Stem Cell Biology and Dr. David T. Scadden,
Co-Director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

I highly recommend this documentary for anyone who's curious about the issue of stem cell research - particularly with Proposal 2 coming up on the ballot in November. It clarifies and explains much of the poitical situation behind (embryonic) stem cell research, providing more background for us voters. While it definitely leans in favor of loosening restrictions (in this case, that specifically means allowing couples the right to donate their excess embryos left from fertility clinics for research rather than let them be simply thrown away), I hope that would not stop anyone from going if only to learn what the debate is about.

[Psychosis]

And for the record, stem cell research will NOT lead to cloning, unlike the misleading, right-wing ads that have been shown on TV to oppose Proposal 2.

[corlegacy89]

And for the record, stem cell research will NOT lead to cloning, unlike the misleading, right-wing ads that have been shown on TV to oppose Proposal 2.

And how do we know that this statment is not a misleading, left-wing ad?

[stechen]

Because that is not what the bill proposes to do - the film goes into details about these concerns, and the language inserted into the bill also takes such things into account. For example, another concern that I heard before is that poor people will have the incentive to "harvest" embryos if you will - thus, in the proposal there is also the stipulation that people cannot be financially reimbursed for donating embryos, thus taking away that incentive.

Again, reasons why I strongly recommend people to learn all they can about the issue before making a decision either way.

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