Austria: embryo stem cells, superfluous use “To rank as leader in adult stem cells research”: this was the request of Wien’s Institute for medical anthropology and bioethics (Imabe). In a press release issued on February 19, the Institute asked a clear “ban on embryo cell research”: “The embryo is a person who cannot be used and manipulated for research purposes”, states the press communiqué. If it’s true that in nature not all embryos become human beings, “nobody is responsible for natural processes. Interventions which cause the death of embryos, are ethical actions by individuals against other individuals, they are not processes.” The Institute also took a stand against the scientific motivations of embryo research: “for basic research animal embryo stem cells are sufficient. By comparison with human cells, today it’s possible to use the new induced pluripotenet stem cells, obtained with an ethically exemplary procedure. This is why the use of human embryo stem cells is superfluous even from a scientific viewpoint”. “Against all forecasts, after ten years of research, there is neither a therapy nor a single clinical study with embryo stem cells”, Imabe underlined. “Research with adult stem cells offers constantly new therapeutic options which saved the lives of thousands of people throughout the world, like stem cells transplants in cases of acute leukemia”. The Institute’s stand is linked to forthcoming political debate on the issue. In fact, human embryo stem cell production is forbidden in Austria, while the importation of stem cell lines originated abroad along with related research isn’t. These two activities are presently not subjected to legal regulations.England: unusual “fasting”Walking back home, lowering heating, not wasting water, using energy-saving lamps, recycling plastic bags and donating the saved money to the Third World. This is how Cafod, the agency of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales for aid to Third World Countries invited to celebrate “Fast Day”, Friday’s fasting day. These new environment-friendly proposals add up to more traditional initiatives for charity such as going without lunch, sponsoring walks, holding events and games organized in different schools. “Global heating has an impact also on projects we finance in the Third World”, Pauline Milligan, press officer of Cafod, told Sir. “In the Philippines we helped farmers grow organic crops and use solar panels which make them less dependent on traditional energy supplies like rainfall, decreased as a result of global warming”. “In Kenya and Eastern Africa there is a draught every two-three years, while in the past it occurred every seven-ten years”, Mulligan affirmed. “It’s therefore important to teach local population activities that could replace farming, like the sale of handicrafts or else supply them with know-how on draught-resistant seeds and alternative irrigation methods”. Fast Day fund-raising in 2007 amounted to 2.2 million euros. We hope to reach the same amount this year.Spain: no religion hour out of school timeIn Spain the National Catholic Confederation of Heads of Families (CONCAPA) criticized the proposal by the education administrations of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands to shift religion teaching out of school time. CONCAPA stated that this initiative has something to do with a “strong secularist campaign promoted by some lobbies close to the government”. “It is not clear why they want to eliminate a subject which the majority of Spanish parents want, while they want to impose other subjects such as Citizenship Education, which on the other hand is supported by the minority, exactly in the name of democracy”, stated CONCAPA. “The government – went on the Confederation – must respect the agreements signed with the Holy See, in which it was clearly stated that religion should be taught at education centres”. Religion teaching was established in the agreements between the Holy See and the Spanish State in 1979. Religion is a subject which must be compulsorily provided by education centres, while there is free choice by parents. In the year 2006, about 70% of parents decided to let children follow religion teaching, in accordance with the data of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.
