Dear Friends,

The Embryo Bill has been passed back to the Senate after its enquiry. The full Senate will debate the Bill from November 11.

There were over 1800 submissions made to the Senate Committee, by far the greater number opposing the Bill. The Committee report seems to highlight the inadequacies of the Bill, but the Senate remains evenly divided.

At this special time, it will be the personal letters to the Senators of your state that can be used to sway them to vote our way. In your letter, use the following arguments:

* The legislation will provide for the experimental use and destruction of human beings. All people start as embryos. They are always fully human.

* The promises of cures for diseases through embryonic experimentation cannot be substantiated. Adult stem cell research shows greater promise.

* The people and Parliament have been misled by the promoters of embryonic research: frozen embryos are not “fresh” enough to be used.

* Having created the precedent now, there will be a call for more in the future when “newer” embryos will be needed.

* There will be nothing to stop scientists from using embryos as saleable commodities in the future, if the Bill is passed.

This is a fight we can win! Happy writing!

Geoffrey Bullock.