Defend the Littlest Ones!

Action Needed on Bill C-56
By Peter Ryan

The federal government has introduced groundbreaking legislation on reproductive technologies. The legislation would sanction the killing of human beings for research purposes.

Bill C-56, The Assisted Human Reproduction Act , would target the littlest humans - embryos up to 14 days old. Action is needed NOW to defend their right to life.

The embryos affected are created in the laboratory by in vitro fertilization techniques, but are then unwanted by parents for their own reproductive purposes. Some scientists want to harvest stem cells from these so-called "spare embryos," for research they hope will lead to treatments for various diseases. However, the harvesting kills the little ones! Plus, there are alternative, non-lethal sources of stem cells.

Bill C-56 has some positive features. It attempts to ban one form of cloning and other questionable technologies. However, it is deeply flawed in principle for authorizing the killing of human beings for research purposes as well as the outright destruction of other embryos not wanted for research.

This legislation is being studied by a parliamentary committee and may be voted upon by Parliament this fall. Please consider expressing your concerns to your MP regarding Bill C-56. Some points you may wish to make:

•  "Please do not support any bill that would authorize human beings to be killed for research purposes."

•  "We were all little embryos once. Disregard for human life at any stage breeds disrespect for human life at every stage. Please uphold the right to life."

•  "There are promising alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. Why pick on the youngest members of the human family?"

•  "If parents do not want an in vitro embryo, why not adoption by those unable to conceive?"

•  "Human beings are not objects to be used, for research or anything else, but subjects with an inviolable dignity and right to life."?

The postage-free mailing address for all MPs is: House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6. If you do not know your MP's name, call 1-800-622-6232 or visit www.canada.gc.ca.