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Despite the UN Declaration adopted on 8 March 2005  banning all forms of human cloning -- both for research  (therapeutic) and reproductive purposes    Victorian Government Ministers and some scientists are whingeing that a ban on cloning means Australia will be "left behind"  in research.  However, all the research is showing that there are no clinical treatments from cloning or embryonic stem cells, while there are many from stem cells derived from ethical sources such as adult stem cells and cord blood. 

As a result, private investment in embryonic stem cells research is drying up and leading embryonic stem cell research firms are losing money. Geron, the California-based biotech firm has put over $100 million into embryonic stem cell research and, because it has little to show for the investment, lost $80 million last year.  Advanced Cell Technology, a Massachusetts company that was one of the first to claim to have cloned a human embryo, is running into significant financial troubles and is having problems finding enough eggs from women for research. 

This is why acquisitive scientists are demanding not only government permission to create and  experiment on  embryos, but also government investment, i.e. taxpayers' money. 

Medical conditions that can be treated with cord blood include certain types of leukemia, disorders such as Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer and sickle cell anemia.  Cord blood is especially powerful in treating sickle cell anemia. 

A South Korean woman paralyzed for twenty years is now walking again after scientists repaired her damaged spine using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.  Thirty-seven-year-old Hwang Mi-Soon told the media she considered her ability to walk nothing short of a miracle. "I never dreamed of getting to my feet again," she said.  Another remarkable success story is Adam Susser of Florida, a child with cerebral palsy who was cortically blind and could not speak prior to receiving umbilical cord stem cell therapy. He can now both see and speak. 

The Australian government has appointed a Committee to review the "Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002” and the “Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002”.  Chairman of the panel is Judge John Lockhart.  Members are: Professor Ian Kerridge, clinical ethicist, Sydney University; Professor Barry Marshall, a gastroenterologist at the University of Western Australia; Professor Loane Skene, an expert in health law at  Melbourne University; Professor Peter Schofield,  University of New South Wales; and Professor Pamela McCombe,  University of Queensland. Professors Kerridge and Skene have spoken in favour of the legalisation of therapeutic cloning in the past.    

 What we are not hearing is an honest debate  - there is too much hype, misinformation,  and deliberate efforts by the pro-cloning scientists to confuse  the public.  Manufacturing  and killing embryos is an offence against human dignity.When submissions are called for, please write to the Committee, opposing  cloning, experimenting on  and destruction of embryos, and highlight successes with stem cells from ethical sources.  Please attend our public meeting on this issue.