X-Message-Number: 9456
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 17:37:35 -0400
From: Saul Kent <>
Subject: Cooperation

        Olaf Henny's (message #9447) includes a quote
from James Halperin's book "The First Immortal", which
states that:  "...planning and teamwork between
competing organizations, was a rare luxury in twentieth
century cryonic suspensions."  By doing so, Henny suggests
that cooperation between cryonics organizations on
human cases has been rare.

        This is untrue.  Actually, cooperation between
cryonics organizations on human cases has been the
rule rather than the exception.  Even at the time of greatest
conflict within Alcor, shortly before a number of Alcor
members joined the newly formed CryoCare, there was
close cooperation in a human case among several of
those most deeply involved in the conflict.

        Today, there is more cooperation among
cryonics organizations, and less competition, than ever
before in cryonics history.

        As someone who has been personally
involved in several of the most serious conflicts in
cryonics history, I can state with authority that this is
a time of unprecedented cooperation among cryonics
organizations.

        It is also a time of unprecedented scientific
research in cryonics.  As the CEO of 21st Century
Medicine, which is devoted entirely to research, I can
state (again with authority) that FAR more and FAR
better research is being conducted in cryonics and
related fields today than ever before in history.

        I can also tell you that far more money is
needed to speed the course of this research, especially
for those of us who are getting on in years.  I will be
59 years of age in July.  I first became involved in
cryonics in early 1965, when I was 25.  At that time,
there were a number of research teams at mainstream
institutions doing organ cryopreservation research.
Today, there are none.  

        Today, the funding of organ cryo-
preservation research, which is the key to the
development of suspended animation, appears
to be completely dependent on cryonicists.

        In the 1960s, when important organ
cryopreservation research was being funded by
the government and major corporations, and I was
a comparative youngster with very little money, I
never imagined (in my wildest dreams) that, in
1998, there would be no money for this kind of
research coming from the establishment, and that
research funding related to cryonics would be so
heavily dependent on me personally.

        In 1998, I find the truth about funding for
cryonics research both flattering and frightening.
Although I'm happy to be in a situation where I
can be responsible for substantial funding 
for research, I'm unhappy about the fact that so few
others are contributing to that research.

        I'm investing time and money in research
because my life and the lives of my loved ones and
friends are at stake.  I believe everyone in the cryonics
community understands this kind of motivation because
it applies to them as well as to me.  

        It's time more of us acted in our own interests
to improve our own chances of survival by increasing
our funding for research.

---Saul Kent, CEO
21st Century Medicine

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