World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research the bulletin

Number 25, June 2011

• Arab Spring and scientific revival. “The upheaval in multiple Arab countries, known as the “Arab Spring”, is certain to lead to new political structures in a part of the world hitherto dominated by monarchies and dictatorships. But this revolution against autocratic stability and despotism, which are largely responsible for keeping the Arab world in darkness, does not by itself guarantee that a scientific revival is around the corner. An Arab renaissance will happen only if appropriate cultural and attitudinal changes follow the political changes”. Read the full article by Pervez Hoodbhoy, Department of Physics, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan and School of Science and Engineering, LUMS, DHA, Lahore

• Embryonic Stem-Cell Funding Challenge Should Be Dismissed, U.S. Says. A challenge to funding of human embryonic stem-cell studies should be dismissed after an appeals court found the government-backed research to be lawful, the Obama administration said. The Justice Department recently urged U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth to end a lawsuit that seeks to block the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and the National Institutes of Health from spending federal funds on researching human embryonic stem-cells. Read the full article by Bloomberg.

• Controversial Stem Cell Clinic Closed. The XCell Center, Germany, has closed as new laws governing stem cell treatments come into effect. The ISSCR affirms the critical role that independent oversight plays in the responsible development of stem cell treatments as detailed in the ISSCR’s “A Closer Look” website.

News in brief:

• Egypt invests in its science. Latest budget establishes research as a national priority. http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110615/full/474266a.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20110616&elq=d918850b70704eb8b6302534d87d55df

• European Court Issues Landmark Decision Against Poland, Says Women Entitled To Prenatal Genetic Testing.http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/european-court-issues-landmark-decision-against-poland-says-women-entitled-to-prenatal-ge

• France. Loi sur la bioéthique : Le Parlement adopte la loi de révision http://www.francesoir.fr/actualite/sante/loi-sur-bioethique-parlement-adopte-loi-revision-112779.html

Edited by Carmen Sorrentino

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