World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research newsletter -5

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Number 5, October 2009

• New tools to regulate illicit drug market. Aninternational workshop on the illicit drug market was held last September 16-17 in Rome. It was organized by the first University of Rome “La Sapienza”, the second University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and the financial support of the Open Society Institute. A wide international audience discussed of methodologies for data collection and the economic and political influence of the illicit drug industry. The organizers were among the signatories of a callto action urging Governments to reform harmful drug policies, by enacting policies that are based on scientific and medical research rather than politics. Readmore about the workshop.

• International support forfreedom of research in Italy to be continued. In concert with professor Elena Cattaneo, Elisabetta Cerbai and Silvia Garagna, Luca Coscioni Association launched an appeal to raise funds aimed at covering part of the legal expenses of the three Italian scientists appealing against the Italian government’s decision to arbitrarily exclude human embryonic stem cells from an 8-million euro fund for stem-cell biology (read the chronology of the action). The legal expenses for the first degree of judgement were of around 6.000,00 euro. Since the beginning of the appeal (July 7) 7.604,79 euro (around 11.252 USD) have been raised. Prof. Cattaneo, Cerbaiand Garagna have been promptly reimbursed (reimbursement receipts are available on line). The spare amount will help covering expenses for the next step.

• American Civil Liberties Union addresses Luca Coscioni Congress. The president of ACLU, Susan Herman, sent a message to the on line congress of Luca Coscioni Association, welcoming its advocacy activities and common goals. “I think you can tell just from a couple of examples I have given what our two organizations have in common so I am glad we now have discovered each other and I hope that we´ll be able to collaborate in the future”. Listen to her message (also attached in English and Italian).

• Challenging Religious Fundamentalisms. The Canadian AWID – Association for Women’s Rights in Development - has launched the first issue of “Facing Fundamentalisms”, a quarterly update of critical news, insights and analysis on the rise of religious fundamentalism across regions, as well as key feminist strategies for resistance and action. In 2008 Luca Coscioni was awarded by AWID a prize money to study the effects of religious fundamentalism in Italy. To subscribe to Facing Fundamentalisms, send an e-mail to cf@awid.org

News in brief:

• “Study Using Embryonic Stem Cells Is Delayed” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/health/research/19drug.html?_r=2

• “Vatican, food experts say biotechnology will improve African farming” http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0904317.htm

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