X-Message-Number: 23692
From: "Daniel Johansson" <>
Subject: Stem cell research - Sweden and cryonics
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 13:57:12 +0100

Hi everyone!

I have been on Cryonet for many years, reading the daily digest,
although I can not recall ever making a post. A short presentation in
english of who I am and what I do can be found on my personal site,
linked in the end of the mail, I will not take up your time with my life
history, the mail is long enough anyway... Me and my spouse are members
of CI, making us two of I believe totally three signed up swedes at the
moment.

1) First a comment on the mail entitled "Pentagon Bankrolls Swedish Stem
Cell Study". This is actually something that is happening a lot these
days. Just a couple of weeks ago our Research minister Thomas Ostros and
our Social minister Lars Engqvist wrote a co-articel in the largest
newspaper about the possibilities with stem cell research and terapeutic
cloning. They were almost transhuman in their approach... Sweden is very
positive and open on this kind of research, I think we are one of the
most open countries in the world. The US limitations on this research
has led to a lot of research being moved here. I believe this will
increase in the coming years if the legislation in the US is not
changed.

2) Second a comment on Sweden as a possible cryonics facility country.
At the moment the legislation in Sweden does not make the cryonic
procedure and cryonic storing of frozen human bodies possible. But, the
subject of cryonics from a swedish point of view has never been up on
the political table, the public awareness is very low that it even
exists, and the question itself has never been asked. The legislation
has never been challenged from the cryonic view. I do believe that if
the subject was presented from a serious institute, university, company,
or from the national organization of funeral directors, and there was a
strong opinion being heard from the public, there would be a good chance
for a change in legislation, making cryonics possible. As you probably
know, Sweden is most forefront in technology, medicin, research, and
transhumanistic thoughts and philosophies are actually very common in
different parts of the society. I believe cryonics really could boom in
this country! Someone has to start the work though... :)

3) And finally a comment on the Frozen Dead Guy subject. I do not think
the event is good for the long time public awareness of cryonics as a
scientific field and as serious business, and there might be a lot of
misconceptions if this is the only contact people get with cryonics. It
might be good as a first "starter" to get to know that there actually is
something like cryonics (although perhaps the public in the US are much
more aware of the cryonics concept then here in Sweden). The ones really
interested in the subject will of course then find the developed
cryonics business and hopefully get signed. This goes also for the
headlines about boys being brought back to life after half on hour in
cold water etc. BUT it is extremely important that CI, Alcor, and other
developed and experienced companies in the cryonics field have easy
explanations and short understandable facts on the differences between
homegrown cryonics and cryonics as a scientific field and business area.
By doing this the seriously interested hopefully sees the difference and
take the next step in getting more information. We do not need more "new
age" and "crazy whacko" approaches to cryonics. We need scientists,
universities, companies, politicians, high level people in society to
comment repeatedly in favourable ways in media of cryonics, no more
headlines about "those strange people"...

In my own business we always have ONE media responsible (or two if there
is big events). All questions, and all public appearances are forwarded
to this spokesperson. In cryonics it sometimes seems as if anyone that
likes to do it can be a spokesperson... Would it not be a good idea that
members ALWAYS discuss media matters and public affairs with the person
really responsible for it in the organization we are connected to? 

Sincerely,

/daniel

E-mail: 
Tel: +46 495 696 37
Fax: +46 495 695 51
ICQ: 403303
www.danieljohansson.se - Personal site.
www.rockcity.se - Rock City in Hultsfred.
www.musiclink.se - Music & technology.
www.rockparty.se - The Hultsfred festival.
www.hultsfred.tv - Hultsfred Web-TV.

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