Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis or embryo screening is the business of doctors and parents selecting the embryos to be implanted in the womb which on first glance is a horrific proposition and the idea is strongly criticised for parents creating designer babies.
Where the argument against loses some impetus is when a story like that of the baby girl born today who was genetically selected to be free of a certain breast cancer gene that had been inherent in her family.
The Medical Director of the University College where the embryo screening process was performed said "The lasting legacy is the eradication of the transmission of this form of cancer that has blighted this family for generations" and it is hard to disagree with him, what parent would want to force their child to gamble growing up with a 85% chance of developing breast cancer because of this family gene when there is a route available to eliminate it.
On the face of it, this development sounds like a no-brainer. Here we have the capability to eliminate all kinds of inherited diseases and it would be immoral to not utilise it but the large pink elephant in the room is the opening of the door to a world of nightmarish possibilities of parents 'designing' their children.
If embryos can be selected to be free of harmful genes such as in this case, they could just as easily screen for particular genetic traits that parents desire and turn up at the procedure with a wish list of physical and mental traits. There is also the possibility of parents with handicaps wanting their children to have the same impairment such as deafness and even the nightmare scenario of a society divided between an elite super race of genetically selected people and an underclass who are at the mercy of their family genes.
The implications of that scenario are horrendous and is the reason why i tentatively remain opposed to embryo screening but it would not be easy for me to justify it to the parent of a child with a genetic disorder which could have been prevented.
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Tony Blair's Medals
Following Detective Constable Stephen Oakes death during a counter terrorism operation in January 2003, Tony Blair and his Government rejected an application to award the officer the Queen's Gallantry Medal for bravery.
A six year long battle later and with wonderful timing, Detective Oakes has this week finally been awarded a posthumous medal for bravery.
With this in mind, the same Tony Blair that blocked that particular policeman's award is to be handed the US medal of Freedom for his work to 'improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad' from his good pal George W Bush.
That's nice of Bush to recognise Blair's work in improving the life of us Brits, not sure how he improved it mind you but he's getting a medal pinned on his lapel for it so it would be churlish to point out how glad we all were to see the back of him.
Of course the medal is not so much about how Blair reduced waste in the Civil Service and more about how he helped to shock and awe Iraq into a country where Al Queada is still free to blow up people at will five years later. Congratulations Tony.
Blair is still yet to pick up his other medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, which he was awarded more than five years ago for his support during the Iraq War. Can't think why he would be reluctant to stand shoulder to shoulder with easily the most hated American of our generation and receive an award for a war that did much to ignite terrorism around the World but if he is struggling to think of a place to stick his two medals, i can suggest somewhere.
A six year long battle later and with wonderful timing, Detective Oakes has this week finally been awarded a posthumous medal for bravery.
With this in mind, the same Tony Blair that blocked that particular policeman's award is to be handed the US medal of Freedom for his work to 'improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad' from his good pal George W Bush.
That's nice of Bush to recognise Blair's work in improving the life of us Brits, not sure how he improved it mind you but he's getting a medal pinned on his lapel for it so it would be churlish to point out how glad we all were to see the back of him.
Of course the medal is not so much about how Blair reduced waste in the Civil Service and more about how he helped to shock and awe Iraq into a country where Al Queada is still free to blow up people at will five years later. Congratulations Tony.
Blair is still yet to pick up his other medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, which he was awarded more than five years ago for his support during the Iraq War. Can't think why he would be reluctant to stand shoulder to shoulder with easily the most hated American of our generation and receive an award for a war that did much to ignite terrorism around the World but if he is struggling to think of a place to stick his two medals, i can suggest somewhere.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
The Appalling Ignorance Saddens Me
I suppose it was sadly inevitable that in light of what is happening in Gaza, the less intelligent among us would take it upon themselves to act their shoe size and attack Jews and synagogues in retaliation for Israels actions.
Unable to distinguish between a country and a countries religion, there has been a surge of attacks on Jews in Britain and Europe from the terminally thick and stupid with arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish buildings, anti-Semitic slogans daubed on shops in areas with a high Jewish contingent and physical assaults including a Jew pulled from his car and beaten.
"There has been a significant rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents but it is a pattern with which we and the police are now sadly familiar, whereby hysteria is whipped up against Israel, and British Jews then suffer a wave of anti-Semitism" said a spokesman for the Jewish group Community Security Trust.
Police are stepping up patrols in the Jewish communities in England but the violence against Jews is increasing in other parts of Europe with a burning car rammed into the gates of a synagogue in France and "murderers" and "don't subject Palestine to ethnic cleansing" daubed on Israel's embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
In Denmark, two Jews were injured when someone shot at them with a pistol and there has been a rash of attacks on buildings in Belgium.
Israel is very quick to take any slight against them as anti-Semitic and it saddens me that a violent minority here are also unable to separate Israel and Judaism and attack innocent civilians whose only connection with Israel is their religion.
The Independent Jewish Voice, Britain's highest profile Jewish group, released a statement that reads:
'IJV stands for the application of the principles of human rights and international law to the resolution of the Middle East conflict. Israeli citizens have the right to live free from the threat of rocket attacks, but these cannot justify Israel's actions. The massive attack on Gaza has destroyed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, and is creating an immense humanitarian crisis for a people under siege, a form of collective punishment illegal under international law. Such violent and inhumane conduct will do nothing to reduce the risk to Israelis. There can be no military solution. In furtherance of our declaration, we support the international calls for an immediate ceasefire.'
Being Jewish does not make you an Israeli as being Roman Catholic does not make you Italian so engage the few braincells that you possess and stop the mindless violence against an innocent population. If you feel that strongly, boycott Israeli goods or join one of the many demonstrations against Israel but don't take out your anger on innocent people who are probably as disgusted at Israel as you are if you only bothered to ask.
Unable to distinguish between a country and a countries religion, there has been a surge of attacks on Jews in Britain and Europe from the terminally thick and stupid with arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish buildings, anti-Semitic slogans daubed on shops in areas with a high Jewish contingent and physical assaults including a Jew pulled from his car and beaten.
"There has been a significant rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents but it is a pattern with which we and the police are now sadly familiar, whereby hysteria is whipped up against Israel, and British Jews then suffer a wave of anti-Semitism" said a spokesman for the Jewish group Community Security Trust.
Police are stepping up patrols in the Jewish communities in England but the violence against Jews is increasing in other parts of Europe with a burning car rammed into the gates of a synagogue in France and "murderers" and "don't subject Palestine to ethnic cleansing" daubed on Israel's embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
In Denmark, two Jews were injured when someone shot at them with a pistol and there has been a rash of attacks on buildings in Belgium.
Israel is very quick to take any slight against them as anti-Semitic and it saddens me that a violent minority here are also unable to separate Israel and Judaism and attack innocent civilians whose only connection with Israel is their religion.
The Independent Jewish Voice, Britain's highest profile Jewish group, released a statement that reads:
'IJV stands for the application of the principles of human rights and international law to the resolution of the Middle East conflict. Israeli citizens have the right to live free from the threat of rocket attacks, but these cannot justify Israel's actions. The massive attack on Gaza has destroyed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, and is creating an immense humanitarian crisis for a people under siege, a form of collective punishment illegal under international law. Such violent and inhumane conduct will do nothing to reduce the risk to Israelis. There can be no military solution. In furtherance of our declaration, we support the international calls for an immediate ceasefire.'
Being Jewish does not make you an Israeli as being Roman Catholic does not make you Italian so engage the few braincells that you possess and stop the mindless violence against an innocent population. If you feel that strongly, boycott Israeli goods or join one of the many demonstrations against Israel but don't take out your anger on innocent people who are probably as disgusted at Israel as you are if you only bothered to ask.
Questions Over Obama's Silence
There has been much dragging of feet over diplomatic efforts to end the conflict currently raging in the Middle East with the usual suspects either keeping silent while others pile the pressure on Israel to cease.
We got what we expected from George Bush, a complete exoneration for Israel's actions, but there is growing dismay over the silence coming from the President elect, Barack Obama, which seems unfair as he is unable to do anything until he takes over although his critics say that it didn't stop him making pronouncements about the economy or other aspects of his upcoming role.
The UK has played it's usual game and pathetically toadied along with the American view, Gordon Brown keeping his head down and the odious Tony Blair, when asked by a reporter why the Middle East envoy was not making any noises about what was going on in his area of influence, was told that "He's on holiday at the moment".
There is a limit to how many pictures of death and destruction even the most pro-Israeli Government can take before it grudgingly joins the calls for a ceasefire and after 10 days of bombardment and 550 Palestinian deaths, no amount of Israeli spin will now quieten the growing call for an end to the fighting.
Using the dying embers of his time as EU President, it is France's President Sarkozy who was the first to condemn Israel's actions and is doing the legwork to bring about a conclusion and earning himself a hatful of brownie points with those who considered him a rabid right winger, myself included.
It is Barack Obama, even before he gets the keys to the White House, who is beginning to be questioned about his credentials to change the diminished perception of America around the World. His silence, perceived as approval by many for what Israel is doing, greatly reduces his chance of making a fresh start in US relations with the Muslim world, the Middle East especially, and those who want to see an American President prepared to act with a more even hand on international affairs.
To those horrified by the television pictures of what Israel is doing in Gaza, Obama's reputation of a President about to reverse the divisive effects of his predecessor is diminishing with each new wave of Israeli attacks.
An unfair assessment perhaps as he has to balance ruling over a very much pro-Israel country with the opinion of the rest of the world that doesn't view Israel through such rose tinted spectacles but have very high expectations of him to be the polar opposite of George W Bush in moments like this.
We got what we expected from George Bush, a complete exoneration for Israel's actions, but there is growing dismay over the silence coming from the President elect, Barack Obama, which seems unfair as he is unable to do anything until he takes over although his critics say that it didn't stop him making pronouncements about the economy or other aspects of his upcoming role.
The UK has played it's usual game and pathetically toadied along with the American view, Gordon Brown keeping his head down and the odious Tony Blair, when asked by a reporter why the Middle East envoy was not making any noises about what was going on in his area of influence, was told that "He's on holiday at the moment".
There is a limit to how many pictures of death and destruction even the most pro-Israeli Government can take before it grudgingly joins the calls for a ceasefire and after 10 days of bombardment and 550 Palestinian deaths, no amount of Israeli spin will now quieten the growing call for an end to the fighting.
Using the dying embers of his time as EU President, it is France's President Sarkozy who was the first to condemn Israel's actions and is doing the legwork to bring about a conclusion and earning himself a hatful of brownie points with those who considered him a rabid right winger, myself included.
It is Barack Obama, even before he gets the keys to the White House, who is beginning to be questioned about his credentials to change the diminished perception of America around the World. His silence, perceived as approval by many for what Israel is doing, greatly reduces his chance of making a fresh start in US relations with the Muslim world, the Middle East especially, and those who want to see an American President prepared to act with a more even hand on international affairs.
To those horrified by the television pictures of what Israel is doing in Gaza, Obama's reputation of a President about to reverse the divisive effects of his predecessor is diminishing with each new wave of Israeli attacks.
An unfair assessment perhaps as he has to balance ruling over a very much pro-Israel country with the opinion of the rest of the world that doesn't view Israel through such rose tinted spectacles but have very high expectations of him to be the polar opposite of George W Bush in moments like this.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Che 50 Years On
There are a few essential things that a student must have when he leaves home and moves into Student accommodation, one of them is the obligatory poster of the left wing pinup, Che Guevara, to hang on the bedroom wall.Despite being killed by Bolivians in 1967 aged only 39, the iconic image of Che is still as well known today as anytime over the past 50 years even if the story of how he and Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban dictator Batista is hazy to today's teenagers.
They can quote his famous and defiant last words ("Shoot, coward, you're only going to kill a man") and they can tell you how he risked his life to overthrow a corrupt dictator for the downtrodden Cubans while tending to wounded enemy soldiers although not telling, or possibly just not knowing, how he cold-heartedly signed orders to execute prisoners without trial.
Mostly what they don't see is the irony of the man's image who died for his Communist beliefs, can now be bought on any number of tacky merchandise which would of horrified Che but shows that his image has continued to resonate.
Che's image is kept alive by today's new Socialists such as the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who has certainly helped to burnish the image as has Bolivian president Evo Morales who also says he is continuing to spread the message carried by Che. Nelson Mandela referred to him as "an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom".
To today's young the image stands for rebellion and a man who stood up for the little guy against a more powerful foe, fighting and dying, for his beliefs while to the generation of older hippies and socialists he also stood for an ideology.
The 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the Steven Soderbergh film 'Che' will drive renewed interest in the one time Argentinian medical student and may even fuel some curious reading into Marxist ideologies but the left has yet to find an icon as appealing, romantic or as instantly recognisable as the high contrast black and white photograph of Che Guevara.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
What New Year Resolutions?
New Years Day and a time for that new brush to sweep away all our old habits and replace them with new resolutions. Goodbye cigarettes, filter coffee, chocolate and alcohol and hello exercise bike, 2 litres of water daily and bran for breakfast.
My annual stopping smoking resolution traditionally went the way of every other annual stopping smoking resolution and lasted as long as it took me to find my lighter this morning. The switching on of the coffee machine meant that a second resolution quickly went the same way.
Alcohol and chocolate fell soon afterwards as i stole the Snickers out of my husbands Christmas selection pack as we made our way to the local Wetherspoons for the Annual New Years afternoon get together with friends.
I can therefore shamefully claim to have broken every single one of my resolutions within 3 hours of being awake which probably isn't a good thing.
The newspapers are all claiming that 2009 is going to be a bit rubbish due to the recession but that all depends upon your circumstances. If you are in a secure job it is kerching time as prices for everything is going to drop like a stone and the low cost of fuel means we can all upgrade our cars to helicopters to get to work.
If you have lost your job already or are in a not so stable area of employment, things are not looking quite so hot as unemployment is expected to spiral and prices rise as the Chancellor claws back the money he gave to the bankers by whacking up VAT.
Maybe it would be best to just skip 2009 and go straight to 2010 where the DVLA will be taking on extra staff to deal with the influx of applications for helicopter licences.
All the best for the New Year.
My annual stopping smoking resolution traditionally went the way of every other annual stopping smoking resolution and lasted as long as it took me to find my lighter this morning. The switching on of the coffee machine meant that a second resolution quickly went the same way.
Alcohol and chocolate fell soon afterwards as i stole the Snickers out of my husbands Christmas selection pack as we made our way to the local Wetherspoons for the Annual New Years afternoon get together with friends.
I can therefore shamefully claim to have broken every single one of my resolutions within 3 hours of being awake which probably isn't a good thing.
The newspapers are all claiming that 2009 is going to be a bit rubbish due to the recession but that all depends upon your circumstances. If you are in a secure job it is kerching time as prices for everything is going to drop like a stone and the low cost of fuel means we can all upgrade our cars to helicopters to get to work.
If you have lost your job already or are in a not so stable area of employment, things are not looking quite so hot as unemployment is expected to spiral and prices rise as the Chancellor claws back the money he gave to the bankers by whacking up VAT.
Maybe it would be best to just skip 2009 and go straight to 2010 where the DVLA will be taking on extra staff to deal with the influx of applications for helicopter licences.
All the best for the New Year.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
2009 Predictions
As the UK Psychics were so disappointing last year, i have expanded the search to Psychics all over the world with this years predictions coming from One World Psychics, a network of Psychics from all corners of the globe.
The majority of these psychics are predicting financial doom and gloom but you don't need a crystal ball to see that one coming so we can leave those to one side and look at the no nonsense, this-is-what-is-going-to-happen ones instead.
1. There will be an assassination attempt on Barack Obama
2. Gordon Brown will be forced out of office and an early election will be called.
3. A large number of C of E bishops convert to Catholicism simultaneously.
5. A dam will burst in the Far East – maybe China.
6. Victoria Beckham will become pregnant with a daughter.
7. There will be a knife attack on a top celebrity
8. Tsunami in Asia or perhaps an earthquake possibly in Malaysia.
9. Funerals for Bill Cosby and Robbie Williams and a close call for Nicole Kidman.
10. Kate Winslett to win an Oscar for best actress
11. A serious terrorist attack in the UK and less serious attacks in Germany.
12. Obama's first year overshadowed by a scandal involving his wifes financial dealings.
Bill Cosby and Robbie Williams had better not start reading any long books then and Kate Winslett should make an Oscar shaped space on her mantelpiece if these turn out to be correct. I shall return later in the year to see how many they have got right.
The majority of these psychics are predicting financial doom and gloom but you don't need a crystal ball to see that one coming so we can leave those to one side and look at the no nonsense, this-is-what-is-going-to-happen ones instead.
1. There will be an assassination attempt on Barack Obama
2. Gordon Brown will be forced out of office and an early election will be called.
3. A large number of C of E bishops convert to Catholicism simultaneously.
5. A dam will burst in the Far East – maybe China.
6. Victoria Beckham will become pregnant with a daughter.
7. There will be a knife attack on a top celebrity
8. Tsunami in Asia or perhaps an earthquake possibly in Malaysia.
9. Funerals for Bill Cosby and Robbie Williams and a close call for Nicole Kidman.
10. Kate Winslett to win an Oscar for best actress
11. A serious terrorist attack in the UK and less serious attacks in Germany.
12. Obama's first year overshadowed by a scandal involving his wifes financial dealings.
Bill Cosby and Robbie Williams had better not start reading any long books then and Kate Winslett should make an Oscar shaped space on her mantelpiece if these turn out to be correct. I shall return later in the year to see how many they have got right.
Futile Israeli PR Exercise
Day 4 of the Israel action in Gaza and as the outcry rightly grows, Israel are forced into a PR exercise to counteract the images of dead Palestinian children being dragged from the rubble of their former homes. Apart from the expected softball questions from US TV News anchors conscious that America is probably the only country in the world that much cares for Israel during this period, the Israeli spokesmen have been struggling to justify their actions and repeat the mantra that Hamas is to blame and they broke the ceasefire and they are killing Israelis with their rockets and Israel is just doing what it must to defend itself and it regrets any loss of innocent life in Palestine.
I suppose that if it is repeated enough times the people will believe it but as i mentioned here back in June, Israel never actually stopped incursions into Palestine or the killing and kidnapping of Hamas members including lasts months murdering of six civilians as it launched missiles at Hamas leaders. Of course it never lifted its siege of the territory either and continued adding to the 240,000 settlers illegally living on Palestine's West Bank.
Any loss of life on either side, be it Palestinian or Israeli, is horrific and before this weekends activities, 14 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian rockets since 2000. In return, 5000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli weapons in the same time with 310 people killed and more than a thousand reported injured this weekend alone. How would the Government, and Hamas is the legally elected Government of Palestine, of any other nation reply to being illegally occupied for over 40 years with the occupier blocking essential supplies of food, medicine and moving its own people to live on your land. I am pretty certain that no country on earth would sit quietly and let the occupier go merrily about its way. If Israel can justify the use of excessive force for 14 dead Israelis while continuing its occupation of another land, what would we call what the Government of Palestine is doing for over 5000 dead Palestinians while under an apartheid system of occupation.
Israel may regret any loss of innocent life but it doesn't seem to be going out of its way to prevent it, the list of places it has bombed over the past four days include a University, a school, mosques, police stations, refugee camps and private homes. Eight students were killed while standing at a bus stop and four young children killed in one home as they lay in their beds.
Of course the main mantra repeated is that if Hamas stopped firing rockets into Israel, peace would prevail but while no rockets have been fired from the West Bank, this year 45 Palestinians have died there by Israeli hands.
During the six month truce, the West Bank saw the continuation of settler programs, incursions and kidnappings despite Mahmoud Abbas acceding to all Israel's demands.
What Israel really want is for the Palestinians to meekly remain quiet while Israel starves them, kills them and continues to violently colonise their land so it doesn't matter what weak justifications Israeli spokesmen wheel out to try and calm the tide of angry criticisms aimed at them, there is no justification. Israel and its backers are complicit in one of the greatest atrocities since the 2nd World War.
I suppose that if it is repeated enough times the people will believe it but as i mentioned here back in June, Israel never actually stopped incursions into Palestine or the killing and kidnapping of Hamas members including lasts months murdering of six civilians as it launched missiles at Hamas leaders. Of course it never lifted its siege of the territory either and continued adding to the 240,000 settlers illegally living on Palestine's West Bank.
Any loss of life on either side, be it Palestinian or Israeli, is horrific and before this weekends activities, 14 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian rockets since 2000. In return, 5000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli weapons in the same time with 310 people killed and more than a thousand reported injured this weekend alone. How would the Government, and Hamas is the legally elected Government of Palestine, of any other nation reply to being illegally occupied for over 40 years with the occupier blocking essential supplies of food, medicine and moving its own people to live on your land. I am pretty certain that no country on earth would sit quietly and let the occupier go merrily about its way. If Israel can justify the use of excessive force for 14 dead Israelis while continuing its occupation of another land, what would we call what the Government of Palestine is doing for over 5000 dead Palestinians while under an apartheid system of occupation.
Israel may regret any loss of innocent life but it doesn't seem to be going out of its way to prevent it, the list of places it has bombed over the past four days include a University, a school, mosques, police stations, refugee camps and private homes. Eight students were killed while standing at a bus stop and four young children killed in one home as they lay in their beds.
Of course the main mantra repeated is that if Hamas stopped firing rockets into Israel, peace would prevail but while no rockets have been fired from the West Bank, this year 45 Palestinians have died there by Israeli hands.
During the six month truce, the West Bank saw the continuation of settler programs, incursions and kidnappings despite Mahmoud Abbas acceding to all Israel's demands.
What Israel really want is for the Palestinians to meekly remain quiet while Israel starves them, kills them and continues to violently colonise their land so it doesn't matter what weak justifications Israeli spokesmen wheel out to try and calm the tide of angry criticisms aimed at them, there is no justification. Israel and its backers are complicit in one of the greatest atrocities since the 2nd World War.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
2008 Predictions Revisited
With only a few days left of the year, i think we can revisit the psychic predictions made for 2008 and see how accurate the crystal balls and tarot cards of the folks at UK Psychics were when it came to foretelling the events of the past 12 months.
The predictions were:
Beijing Olympics cancelled.
Earthquakes in California and Greece.
A hurricane greater than Katrina striking the US.
Scientists discover something long held to be healthy is not.
India to be engaged in conflict.
Small nuclear detonation in the Middle East.
Major terrorist attack involving a missile.
Assassination of a major American politician.
Major volcanic eruption.
Riots in the UK.
Poignant space news.
White boat/ship with the name ELLE in the name making major news.
Maybe we can put it down to cloudy crystal balls but that is hopeless and a pretty disappointing return for a group of people who reckon they have a hot line to the other side. Hopefully they can give their crystal balls another wipe and do rather better with the 2009 predictions.
The predictions were:
Beijing Olympics cancelled.
Earthquakes in California and Greece.
A hurricane greater than Katrina striking the US.
Scientists discover something long held to be healthy is not.
India to be engaged in conflict.
Small nuclear detonation in the Middle East.
Major terrorist attack involving a missile.
Assassination of a major American politician.
Major volcanic eruption.
Riots in the UK.
Poignant space news.
White boat/ship with the name ELLE in the name making major news.
Maybe we can put it down to cloudy crystal balls but that is hopeless and a pretty disappointing return for a group of people who reckon they have a hot line to the other side. Hopefully they can give their crystal balls another wipe and do rather better with the 2009 predictions.
Commenting
I seem to be having a few problems commenting on other blogs over the last few days. I get a message saying: Sorry, you are not a member of the blog at http://www.bruisefalling.blogspot.com/
No idea what it means or how i am not a member of my own blog or even why it stops me leaving comments elsewhere while being able to still post but hopefully it is a glitch that will soon be righted and i will be able to rejoin the debates on others sites.
No idea what it means or how i am not a member of my own blog or even why it stops me leaving comments elsewhere while being able to still post but hopefully it is a glitch that will soon be righted and i will be able to rejoin the debates on others sites.
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