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U.N. Delays Debate on Cloning
hedpe2003 writes "'The General Assembly on Tuesday ducked for a year a polarizing debate over human cloning that has set the Bush administration against some allies like Britain and much of the world's scientific community.
All 191 United Nations members agree on a treaty to prohibit cloning human beings, but they are divided over whether to extend such a ban to stem cell and other research known as therapeutic cloning.
Opponents say total prohibition would block research on cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other conditions. The White House says that enough stem cells from human embryos exist for research and that cloning an embryo for any reason is unethical.
United States was happy to go along with the one-year consensus but would not alter its stance. 'We will continue to work for a total ban,' he said.'
I was just wondering what everyone thought about this. To tell the truth, I didn't know that the US was pushing so hard to ban stem cell research all together."
If only those embryos had even a couple synaptic responses that it could use to tap out in Morse code whether it agreed to be used in such research.
I have been pwned because my
I think America has a Christian problem. They rule your country, not some impartial, like, say, the scientists.
kjorn
All 191 United Nations members agree on a treaty
You mean the Arab and Muslim states voted with Israel? Amazing. Maybe there is hope in the world.
What reason would there be for mass-cloning?
A mad scientist wanting to create an evil army of Richard Nixon clones?
There might be someone out there crazy enough to do it just because they think the idea of a real-life Clone Wars would be cool.
But probably not clones of myself. There can be only one Nixon.
Nobody died when Nixon lied.
I'm meeting you half way you stupid hippies!
How about we let this hypothetical God decide about what he is willing to let us do.
Not pseuso-christian religious fanatics like you who so much like to spout nonsense in His name.
Personally talked to God about biotechnology, recently, have you? I'm sure Creator's just taking a little nap and forgot to throw fire and brimstone upon those EEEEEEEVIL scientists trying to stole His rightful place. He'll probably be back in few billion years or something.
I take it donations to the US president's campaign from the odder churches have exceeded those from biotech companies thus far.
Hey, what about the bigotted christian scientists, you insensitive clod?
The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: those with brains, but no religion, and those with religion, but no brains.
- Attibuted to the blind Syrian poet Abul'-Ala' al-Ma'arri (973-1057)
Only to idiots, are orders laws.
-- Henning von Tresckow
So Tyler wasn't making soap, he was cloning himself?
Jaysyn
There is a war going on for your mind.
Actually, that is a pretty sound point of view. I myself have been thinking a lot about the very start of the universe, and find myself (perhaps through lack of knowledge) to be left with a small conundrum.
Energy cannot be created, everything is made out of some form of energy. Throughout the life of the universe, the total amount of energy will be the same. Where did the energy come from? Such an amount of energy had to come from somewhere. This is something which I haven't actually seen any explanation for.
While some scientists say that the life of the universe is growing and collapsing all the time, but that doesn't explain the very first beginning. Or perhaps this is my mortal view of time.
"If anyone needs me, I'm in the angry dome."
I think it's too late. By using a reliable technique akin to Bible Code Reading I have discovered that Darth McBride is already secretly cloning obermensch!
"'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
- JRR Tolkien.
I doubt that 98% of the world has demonstrated any amount of reasonability. Certainly not in America.
Well, since only 5% of the world lives in America, it would be pretty hard for 98% of the world to demonstrate reasonability in America. Let's hope they don't decide to visit to do so either - it might get a bit crowded.
Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!