X-Message-Number: 2981 Subject: More on BC anti-CRYONICS law From: (Ben Best) Date: Fri, 12 Aug 1994 00:44:00 -0400 I have posted messages before concerning British Columbis's anti-cryonics law, but my personal frustration and a possible opportunity provoke me to raise this issue again. In the BC Cemetery and Funeral Services Act (Bill 42) under the heading "Arrangements Forbidden" can be found Part 5, Section 57, which states: "No person shall offer for sale or sell any arrangement for the preservation or storage of human remains based on cryonics, irradiation or any other means of preservation or storage, by whatever name called, that is offered or sold on the expectation of the resuscitation of human remains at a future time." A Consultation Group has been formed to review the BC Cemetery and Funeral Services Act, and this Group has already met in June -- and is meeting again on August 23rd. Their primary objective is to provide for the licensing of funeral directors in BC (who are currently not licensed). Section 57 of the Act is the least of their concerns -- the subject was not raised at all in June. Paul Snikars, the BC Registrar who is in charge of enforcing the Act, indicated to me that he might raise the question of Section 57 on August 23rd (perhaps seeking extra vindication). But when I asked him if he received other letters besides my own which objected to Section 57, he said that he thought there was ONE other. The effect of this is that he is left with the impression that the only person who really cares about the fact that cryonics is illegal in BC is me. Unfortunately, considering how many imploring columns and postings I have written, I am starting to believe the same thing. If anyone reading this message objects to the anti-cryonics law in BC, then please give some material reality to that care by writing to Mr. Paul Snikars, or by phoning him [(604) 387-9114] or phoning him for his FAX number. Each letter these people receive represents (in their minds) thousands of people who have not written. Even if you do not live in British Columbia or Canada, write anyway -- it might impress them to see evidence of international outrage over their "pioneering" fascism. Tell them that Section 57 does NOT "protect" consumers by denying them access to a possibly lifesaving procedure. Tell them that heroic surgury is often "unproven", but that it has saved lives. Tell them that no scientist who might view cryonics favorably were consulted in the formulation of Section 57. Tell them that no cryonics societies were consulted, nor were any cryonics contracts or other documents examined by the committee that dreamed-up Section 57. Tell them that Section 57 does NOT represent the "will of the people", but was the handiwork of a few ill-informed bureaucrats who misguidedly believe that consumer protection means denying free choice. And tell them SOON! Write today or write tomorrow! Better TODAY! Write to: Mr. Paul Snikars, Registrar Cemeteries and Funeral Services Branch Ministry of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services 1019 Wharf Street Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4 CANADA -- Ben Best (ben.best%) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=2981