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%)

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