The recent announcement that a private consortium of scientists intends  to begin cloning human beings is a very serious development. (See URLs  below.)

These scientists have the skills and resources to create human clones. They are operating outside any structures of public or scientific  accountability. In a growing number of countries, their efforts to  clone human children would be felonies punishable by imprisonment.

Human cloning is a crime against human dignity and humanity. It is a  step toward the commodification and brutalization of human life. We  must not allow ourselves to be pushed any further down this road. If  we can't stop human beings from being cloned, try to imagine what we  won't be able to stop next.

The Exploratory Initiative on the New Human Genetic Technologies is  in discussion with other organizations about what needs to be done,  and will report on this soon.

In the meantime, here is what people can do:

1. On Saturday and Sunday February 24-25 a major conference on  "Globalization and Technology" will be held in New York City. (See  the URL below.) The Saturday night plenary, and sessions on Sunday, will focus on genetic engineering, including human genetic engineering. There will be a special session on Sunday on the situation regarding  human cloning and what needs to be done. We encourage everyone who  can do so to attend these sessions. IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE LET  US KNOW by reply to this email, so that we can facilitate arrangements.

2. On Monday Feb. 26, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, there will be a special  strategy meeting on human cloning and the challenge of the new human  genetic technologies, also in New York City. IF YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD  LIKE TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE PLEASE LET US KNOW by reply to this  email.

We will be holding similar meetings concerning human cloning in Northern  California and elsewhere in the near future. Information about these  meetings will be shared in subsequent Bulletins.

The Exploratory Initiative is producing materials for people who want  to work to stop human cloning. Copies will be available at the meetings  noted above, and information on how to obtain copies will be given in  future Bulletins. We are setting up a web page and other support  activity as well.

We believe that humanity's technological abilities are a great gift  and a great responsibility. We must take action now to prevent their  dangerous misuse and ensure their wise use in the decades and centuries  to come. Our common humanity is at stake.

INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO BEGIN HUMAN CLONING:

Washington Post: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53307-2001Jan26.html

LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/print/20010128/t000008216.html

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1144000/1144694.stm

Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac3D001432256857616&rtmo=3DpsQSUeQe&atm= o3D99999999&pg=3D/et/01/1/28/wgen28.html

INFORMATION ON THE "GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY" CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK  CITY: www.ifg.org.
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Exploratory Initiative on the New Human Genetic Technologies  466 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 ph: 415-434-1403 fax: 415-986-6779 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. subscribe to GENETICS CROSSROADS: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. staff: Richard Hayes, Dr. Marcy Darnovsky, Rev. Douglas Hunt, Tania  Simoncelli