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| Number 27, March 2002
Page 2 |
| SRT Events at Edinburgh Science Festival 2002 |
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Cooling the Greenhouse: Halving Carbon Emissions by 2050? Tuesday 9 April, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square If the goal to slow climate change is ten times our Kyoto target, do we need more nuclear power, or do we just switch off the central heating? Sir John Houghton, co-chair of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, and Kevin Dunion, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, debate the implications for both policy and our personal lives. <<<<<<<< ==== >>>>>>>> Making Food Better: Is Organic the Best Answer? Tuesday April 16, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Royal Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh Something has to change in food production, but what? Three of Scotland's top experts debate the options for sustainable agriculture - organic, integrated or GM. Have we had too much technology or too little? Prof. David Atkinson, Scottish Agricultural College, Dr Ulrich Loening, Centre for Human Ecology, Prof. John Hillman, Scottish Crop Research Inst. <<<<<<<< ==== >>>>>>>> Tickets £6/£4, by phone 0131-473 2070; by post: Science Festival Box Office, The Hub, Castle Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2ME; or call at The Hub in person; or on the door
For more information see SRT at 2002 Edinburgh Science Festival. .
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The European Commission invited SRT Director Donald Bruce as a panelist at a major conference on embryo stem cells December 18-19 in Brussels. Issues have been hotly controversial across Europe this past year. Despite some encouraging advances in adult stem cell research, few speakers thought that this would avoid needing embryo research to achieve cell replacement therapies for degenerative diseases. Most argued that it would be illogical to forbid the use of "spare" embryos to make stem cells, because there are hundreds of thousands which will simply be destroyed otherwise. No to Cloned EmbryosBut there is general opposition in Europe to using cloned embryos for stem cells. They pose serious practical problems and ethical concerns, creating embryos just to make stem cells and opening the risk of diversion to reproductive cloning. Such is the rapidity of developments in this field that the General Assembly position rejecting the use of spare IVF embryos to make stem cells but allowing cloned embryos may need revisiting. The UK Parliament vote to allow research on embryonic stem cells is seen across Europe as very controversial. The SRT Director has been invited to speak at many important gatherings as Europe debates these crucial ethical questions. Germany, in particular, has strict laws banning all embryo research, reflecting sensitivities about abuses in the Nazi era. Their research community is now urging a relaxation of the law to allow it to take part in medical advances expected from stem cell research. In this hot climate of debate Dr Bruce was asked to address German scientists, ethicists & politicians at the Humbolt University in Berlin, and researchers in Heidelberg, and to write in German national newspapers. He was also invited to discuss with the European Parliament Human Genetics Committee on its recent visit to Edinburgh, and to be a panelist answering questions from the public at the European Commission hearing on stem cells December 18-19 in Brussels. In November he presented the concerns from the European churches on the patenting of stem cells at a hearing of the EC's Ethical Advisors. |
SRT has produced a special report for this May's General Assembly on sustainable agriculture. 'How should we make our food better?' is being asked by lay person and expert alike. The media have tended to polarise it into organic vs. GM, but the reality is more complex. In the context of a theological reflection on God's creation SRT examined the alternatives and argues that intensive methods geared to competitivity on global markets are not a desirable future. Range of AlternativesRather than making one exclusive choice, SRT advocates increasing use of a range of alternative methods, including both organic and 'integrated' farming. The aim is environmental sustainability with economic and social viability. The report notes that all methods have risks and drawbacks, organic as well as GM. Each should be treated on its merits. For consumers, a lot of wise actions like buying local produce grown in season are not tied to any one system.SRT report 'How should we make our food better?' and the Church and Nation Committee's report on the aftermath of Foot and Mouth disease will be available via this Website from 25 April 2002. See also Genetically Modified Food, SRT's 1999 General Assembly report. Each year the A Rocha Trust prepares a resource pack to help UK churches hold a 'conservation Sunday'. In the wake of foot & mouth and much else this year's theme looks at the ecological and community dimensions of Healing the Land. It contains service outlines, sermon ideas, group study material and suggestions for practical action. Packs will be available in April (£6) from the A Rocha UK office at 13 Avenue Road, Southall, Middx., UB1 3BL. For more information, see the A Rocha Website |
| SRT Associates | SRT and Your Needs | |||
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The SRT Associates scheme enables people to be kept more closely in touch with SRT's ongoing work via regular mailings of our reports, papers, talks, etc. We also want to widen the base of our work, drawing on advice and relevant skills of Associates. To find out more contact the SRT administrator. The SRT Trust exists to raise funds to help support SRT's core work and to expand into major new projects. To find out more contact the SRT administrator, or Fill in an Inquiry Form.
SRT TrustScottish Charity Number SC 028260 The SRT Trust exists to raise funds to enable SRT to expand into major new projects, and if possible to take on an associate director to meet the many new opportunities now opening up for SRT. |
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