Re: LIFESCIENCE: gender 1

[Luba Lacinova <lacinova@ipt.med.tu-muenchen.de>]

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ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL 99
LIFESCIENCE
Linz, Austria, September 04 - 09
http://www.aec.at/lifescience
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On Wednesday, August 11, 1999 at 11:25:26 am MEZ,
"Prof. Dr. Birgit Richard" <B.Richard@kunst.uni-frankfurt.de> wrote:

Dear Birgit Richard,

>> Nevertheless, for me is more important question if women should really 
accept
>> "industrialization" of formerly natural reproduction.

>you are absolutely right i am probably not so well informed about 
alternative
>possibilities for women to plan these issues autonomously

Natural reproduction is the one when man awomen get together etcetera. In 
most cases it still works.

>yes  i also read about that and i asked myself what is natural and what are 
the
>technical implication forced upon women birth in a clinical e.g. the lying
>position is already not natural and not comfortable for women.

Yes, and again, you have (particularly in Germany these choices are open) 
also a choice to return to more natural position, to give birth at home, to 
use a help of "Hebamme". Or you can go for technology. But I quite doubt that 
techlogy can outsmart what nature developed during thousands of years. 
technology mostly only fixes the problems which we would not have if the 
progress would not adnace as it did.

>> The point is not to increase accessibility of "alternative
>> conception methods", the point is to reject their use in cases when they 
are
>> not a necessity.

>i must confess that i am not able to judge what is a medical necessity and 
what
>is not. i would be always like to the whole topic of life science dependend 
on
>informations of other people of experts. i am only able to choose my source 
of
>information.

Assisted reproduction is a medical necessity in a case when natural 
conception is not possible. Either women reproductive organ have a 
substantial problem, e.g., sperm access to the egg is disabled, or a man has 
substantial problem. 

One example: there is a discussion that sperm count for european men is 
decreasing. When it drops under certain number, man is practically sterile. 
Now comes assisted reproduction and if man still has some viable sperms, 
there will be delivered directly into womb by some smart method. If not, 
sperms could be donated by anonymous donor. Now, there are two possible 
attitudes: first is to master methods of artificial insemination of women who 
have sterile partners - this seems to be prevailing. Second, which I would 
prefer, would search for reasons for decreasing sperm count and would 
counteract it. Most probale reson are estrogen-like chemicals in our 
environment. And here we are: estrogen-like chemicals are a part of our 
technologically advanced future. How could we admit, that once again our 
wonderfull progress went wild?

Into science comes more money from industry than from state budget. Therefore 
many experts are not neutral but are advertising their products to be able to 
sell them to be able to get more money from industry.

>yes but tv is not a neutral medium

I agree, but other media are not neutral, too. And the situation in Germany 
is
quite good - I am always fascinated to see that main TV news on ARD (public
TV) reach the highest audience. And regarding gene- and biotechnologies, ARTE
regularly prepares whole-evening-programs where both supporters and their
opposition have they say. Perhaps, this has some relation to generally high
level of german skepticism towards technology and their support for Greens? 

>don't forget the total eclipse today

It was not possible to forget here in Munich - even BMW stopped the machines
for a while to allow employees to see "Black Sun."

Regards,Luba Lacinova
e-dress  lacinova@ipt.med.tu-muenchen.de
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