You've probably heard of the $450 million Bond issue in New Jersey that will be voted on in 21 days, right?
You probably also know by now that I am a very active embryonic stem cell research activist with no ties to corporatism. It is therefor that I come to you to warn you that the pro-embryonic stem cell research hype in NJ is just that: HYPE!
While all of us were thinking the BLUE state of New Jersey would come through for us, an adult stem cell researcher by the name of Dr. Young and others including Assemblyman Neil Cohen(D) have led new Jersey heavily into Adult Stem Cell Research, while touting embryonic stem cell research at every opportunity they get.
So far in New Jersey Adult Stem Cell Research vs Embryonic Stem Cell Research has been funded 9 to 1. Why trust them to do better for embryonic Stem Cell Research with the tax payer dollars they hope to get their hands on if the $450 million bond issue passes in 21 days?
The hESCR Fight is NOT just against Fundy-Republicans.
Clearly something is seriously amiss in NJ. I call it corporatism.
An Oct 10th article in the Star-Ledger titled "N.J. acts on third stem cell research center" says this:
"The three projects are being launched as voters prepare to consider a $450 million bond issue on Nov. 6 that would bankroll grants for research into stem cell-based medical treatments.
Embryonic stem cells, the building blocks of living things, are seen as a potential key to curing diseases like Alzheimers, Lou Gehrig’s disease and spinal cord injuries. But their use in research is opposed by critics who say it involves killing human embryos, and could lead to human cloning."
As an embryonic stem cell research supporter I have been extremely disappointed in NJ’s embryonic stem cell research efforts since their bold 2003 pro-ESCR announcement, and do not believe we’ll see much human embryonic stem cell research in NJ in the future either.
It’s pretty shocking to see NJ’s lack of interest in hESCR ( human embryonic stem cell research)!
In fact it’s ironic to see the "anti-choicers" protest the ballot, when the pro-hESCR folks should be the ones to be outraged. Please see Senator Karcher’s letter to Governor Corzine attached below.
On Dkos you may also have seen my diary in June titled "Christopher Reeve Betrayed by NJ Governor".
Still hard to believe that even after the second round of stem cell funding in the BLUE state of NJ: 31 grants went to non-hESCR ( adult and mouse-embryonic), and ONLY 2 grants for hESCR.
A quick look at the $10 million funded in 2007. $5 million went to Facilities= Buildings and equipment.
So we do keep that separate in the $10 million funded in 2007.
That leaves $5 million for actual research grants: ONLY one grant went to hESCR for $300,000 of a total of $5 million that went to actual research.
The solitary research grant going to human ESCR went to Dr. Rick Cohen.
So let's look at the ratio then: we now see that 95% of the 2007 issued research grants went to non-hESCR research.
That makes the ratio even worse than 9 to 1 going to non-hESCR vs hESCR.
Thanks for taking a hard look at the numbers.....
http://www.state.nj.us/...
Unless the bond issue provides for substantial and dedicated hESCR funding it’s a sham. VOTERS BEWARE!!!
A lesson for the hESCR community is that rather than work for the symbolism of making hESCR legal in all states, it may be more important:
To be VIGILANT in those states that already support hESCR but have not come through on their hESCR promise.
Let’s make sure we’re not just satisfied with "crumbs" as in "half a loaf is better than none", while the state of NJ falsely keeps hyping the extent of their hESCR funding.
Here is a letter from a New Jersey Senator who has become aware of the New Jersey deception too:
September 20, 2007
Honorable Jon S. Corzine
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, N.J. 08625
Dear Governor Corzine:
As a firm supporter of stem cell research, I commend you for your efforts in bringing the state of New Jersey to the forefront of stem cell research. I believe that it is imperative that the state of New Jersey funds the type of stem cell research that the federal government has chosen to ignore.
I am writing to encourage you to explore the promotion of embryonic stem cell research. If New Jersey wants to become a leader in stem cell research, it must also be a leader in promoting embryonic stem cell research. It was my understanding that New Jersey would primarily be promoting embryonic stem cell research. Yet, out of the seventeen award recipients of 2006, only two are truly focused on the promotion of embryonic stem cell research.
I appreciate your consideration in this matter. I would ask that you contact me at 732-462-8883 or at SenKarcher@njleg.org.
Sincerely,
Ellen Karcher
Senator, 12th Legislative District
Barbara Ehrenreich, a cancer survivor herself, often writes about the pathology of hope:
how for industry purposes we are often misled and strung along by the abuse of the word hope.
Well oddly enough a group in NJ just sprung up that calls itself:
New Jersey for Hope.
Don't be fooled! As Bernie Siegel once wrote about ESCR opponents:
The current vogue by embryonic stem cell research opponents is to characterize their proposed legislation supporting adult stem cell and untested alternatives to embryonic stem cells, as "offering hope" and being "principled, ethically sound stem cell research."
The vast majority of Americans believe embryonic stem cell research is principled, moral and offers the real hope. The "false alternative" bills are crafted to conceal their true purpose that is to place unreasonable curbs on embryonic stem cell research. HB 1065 ( the Florida Bill) and its Senate counterpart constitute "false advertising" and "bait and switch."
I contend that there is "false advertising" in the state of New Jersey, and certainly a "bait and switch", but because Dr. Young sits on Siegel's GPI board, and the state of New Jersey is willing to throw hESCR a couple of crumbs, Bernard Siegel is o.k. with the Bait and Switch in New Jersey.
Pro-hESCR advocates have been toyed with in New Jersey, while the anti-choicers will get what they want if the $450 million bond issue passes:
MORE Adult Stem Cell Research, to further increase the gap between funding for hESCR and ASCR in the United States.
The $450 million bond issue is just as much a phoney hESCR ballot initiative, as all the "hope" bills produced by the opponents of hESCR.