X-Message-Number: 2675 Subject: CRYONICS: UKRAINIAN RESEARCH From: (Ben Best) Date: Mon, 4 Apr 1994 07:53:00 -0400 WELCOME TO ROBERT ETTINGER TO THE CRYONET !! I think Robert's efforts to get cryonics research done at the Kharkhov Institute for Cryobiology are an unmitigated boon. Any thought that it is "exploitative" is entirely misplaced. Would it be more "honorable" to make a charitable contribution? No! The Ukrainians are being given the opportunity to do badly-needed research in exchange for badly-needed money. Both parties should take pride in giving value for what they receive. From the point of view of the Ukrainians, should they allow themselves to feel guilty for the availability of what to them seem like "vast sums" from "wealthy" Americans? Yes, the monthly salary of a Ukrainian researcher is $15 per month. But cost of housing is probably no more than $1 or $2 per month. And you would be amazed at the amount of bread that can be bought for $1. Food costs are nonetheless painfully high for them -- especially since they feel it is so necessary to eat meat (VERY expensive, relatively speaking). Supplements of zinc, iron and vitamin B12 would make meat less necessary, but these are probably hard to obtain. How many Ukrainian researchers are expected to work for the Cryonics Institute? Are any of these people cryobiologists who have no sympathy for cryonics? Will this research seem "unethical" for them, or will it disgrace them in the eyes of the cryobiological community? Is much money being allocated for equipment? Are the researchers being paid directly, or is the money going to the Institute for Cryobiology? If the latter, the Cryonics Institute should take pride in helping a reputable Ukrainian scientific organization to survive. Is there a contract? I'd be interested to see the specific directives that the Cryonics Institute is giving for research to be done. As you can tell, I am excited and fascinated by this work. -- Ben Best (ben.best%) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=2675