Monday 18 October 2010

Sterilisation of drug addicts for cash


Drug addicts in the UK are being offered £200 to agree to be permanently sterilised and unable to ever have children.

Watch this BBC video

The controversial American charity - Project Prevention - was set up by Barbara Harris, from North Carolina, who adopted four children born of a crack addict mother.

"I got very angry about the damage that these drugs do to these children"
"I was angry at the mum, And then my anger turned a little bit to where why did we allow her to do that?"
"Typically I just say to my critics: 'If you believe these women should continue to take drugs and have children, then step up in line and adopt their babies.' It's that simple."


What do you think?
  • Do you agree, should we support a scheme aimed at stopping babies suffering by being born as addicts, to addict parents and most likely ending up in care?
  • Or do you disagree, that such a scheme does not consider the addict or that they may 'get clean' and then not be able to have children. Does it manipulte people at their most vulnerable when they need help?
  • Some have called Barbara Harris essentially 'Nazi' in her approach. Why is this and is it a fair comparison?

Tuesday 23 March 2010

2010 Cheltenham Science Festival

A great event with excellent speakers on our doorstep Wed 9th - Sun 13th June 2010.
Have a look through the brochure at the talks available on a wide range of topics, particularly those touching on ethics and issues relevant to persons and the philosophy of mind.

A few relevant talks include;

Engineering Human Tissue - 9th June 12 - 1pm
Should Computers have Rights too? - 9th June 7 - 8pm
Computer Domination - 9th June 9 - 10pm
Breaking the GM Taboo - 11th June 4.30 - 5.30pm
Your Decadent Human Brain - 12th June 12 - 1pm


You do not have to study science to get a lot out of this event!