ETHI: religion and genes

[Hans Goerl <GENETHICS@delphi.com>]

A few responses to the religion/gene patenting issue. More are solicited
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>From the bionet:
Subject: Religious groups to sign document opposing patents on human genes
Original author: philipp@westnet.com (Ralf Philipp)

Today's NY Times reports that major US religions will soon
sign a statement opposing patents for products involving
human genes and for new organisms in general. This
would apparently include a prohibition on patents for
therapeutic agents. The initiative apparently is
being led or coordinated by Jeremy Rifkin, who has
in the past opposed various aspects of gene technology.
If you are a member of one of these religious groups,
you may wish to make your opinion known before the
document is signed. In my opinion, the signing could
be the start of a new campaign against gene technology
in general.

Ralf Philipp
philipp@westnet.com

Home Page: http://www.westnet.com/~philipp

EDITOR'S NOTE: The news conference announcing this initiative took place in
Washington DC on Thursday May 18th. The organization sponsoring the
initiative promised to send me a copy of the letter, but has not yet done
so. The initiative has received a great deal of press coverage in The Times,
The Wall Street Journal, all of the major wire services, etc.

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From:   IN%"mlsnead@zygote.hsc.usc.edu"  "Malcolm Snead"

Thanks for the information on Rifkin, whose anti-everything claims of
doom must be stoped by sensible scientist preaching that what we are
doing is reasonable and desirable.  mal snead

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Rik4D2@AOL.COM to the HUM-MOLGEN ------------------
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"We must control ourselves lest we forfeit that right to others"
R.D.Weaver



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