Swiss Government - Plants Entitled to "Dignity."

[lawrocket 3]

http://www.practicalethicsnews.com/practicalethics/2008/04/the-dignity-of.html

So I ended up watching Fox News this morning (first time for everything, I guess) and there was a story on the Swiss Government finding that plants have a right to dignity. And I found this article that seems to confirms it. It was also in Nature, though I stopped my subscription to that after my son was born.

So plants now have dignitary rights? Pass the Tylenol...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Butters 0]

Quote

http://www.practicalethicsnews.com/practicalethics/2008/04/the-dignity-of.html

So I ended up watching Fox News this morning (first time for everything, I guess) and there was a story on the Swiss Government finding that plants have a right to dignity. And I found this article that seems to confirms it. It was also in Nature, though I stopped my subscription to that after my son was born.

So plants now have dignitary rights? Pass the Tylenol...

Some people took to much LSD ... dude, that carrot just winked at me.

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[billvon 3,132]

>So plants now have dignitary rights?

What about bacteria? After all, e coli spends its whole life living in poo. That's just not right. Where's the dignity? Where's the respect for life? We are literally shitting on these poor guys!

[nerdgirl 0]

Just for clarification, the Nature news story (not peer-reviewed article), "Swiss 'dignity' law is threat to plant biology, is on the decision of the Swiss govt, the reaction of scientists, and the legal battles.

Excerpts:

"Government ethics-committee guidelines could halt techniques such as hybridization of roses."

"When it comes to the ethics of experimenting on living subjects, plant biologists have had cause for a certain smugness. But perhaps no longer in Switzerland."

"The Swiss federal government's ethics committee on non-human biotechnology has mapped out guidelines to help granting agencies decide which research applications deeply offend the dignity of plants — and hence become unfundable."

"Although most people might be bewildered that a discussion on how to define 'plant dignity' should be taking place at all, the stakes for Swiss plant scientists are high. The Gene Technology Law, which came into effect in 2004, stipulates that 'the dignity of creatures' should be considered in any research. The phrase has been widely criticized for its general woolliness, but it indisputably includes plants."

"All plant biotechnology grant applications must now include a paragraph explaining the extent to which plant dignity is considered. “But scientists don't know what it means,” says Beat Keller of the Institute of Plant Biology at the University of Zurich who is running the first field trial — of disease-resistant corn (maize) — to be approved under the new legislation.

“At the moment not even authorities who decide on grants know what the 'dignity of plants' really means,” says Markus Schefer, a constitution lawyer at the University of Basel and a member of the ethics committee. “That's why we were asked to deliberate.”

"'The constitution says that the 'dignity of creatures' must be taken into account in the gene-technology arena, which is why the term has been adopted into the regulations. The government called on the advice of its ethics committee two years ago to help develop a definition for plants. “My first reaction was — what the heck are we doing considering the dignity of plants,” says Schefer. “But this very broad provision exists, and we have to help to prevent a legal mire.”"

"Keller sees the issue as providing another tool for opponents to argue against any form of plant biotechnology, which is already very difficult to conduct in Switzerland. Schefer says that things will start to become clearer when legal challenges to specific research projects come to court, and case law becomes established."

"The definition of what constitutes dignity in animals is currently being tested in a Zurich court. Primate-research projects at the ETH Zurich technology institute, which involve separating young marmosets from their mothers, have been put on hold while the court decides if they conflict with the animals' dignity. A ruling is expected this year. Whichever way it falls, the decision is likely to end up in the federal constitutional court."

Imo, it appears that someone(s) made science policy without understanding science ... or was reading too much dystopic science fiction/science fantasy on the shores of Lake Lucerne, i.e., what some have called "Bio-Luddites."

There are underlying questions w/r/t biotechnology science & biotechnology ethics, legal, & social issues (ELSI). This isn't one I would have envisioned but working in nanotechnology & nanotechnology policy (including nano-biotechnology), the ability of humans to imagine creative scenarios never fails to amaze me!
VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[Butters 0]

Quote

“At the moment not even authorities who decide on grants know what the 'dignity of plants' really means,” says Markus Schefer, a constitution lawyer at the University of Basel and a member of the ethics committee. “That's why we were asked to deliberate.”

Don't deliberate what plant dignity is because plants don't have dignity. Change The Gene Technology Law to specify what plant biotechnology is legal and what is illegal. Also, lay off the LSD ... dude, that banana just smiled at me.

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[thirdworld19 0]

Quote

http://www.practicalethicsnews.com/practicalethics/2008/04/the-dignity-of.html

So I ended up watching Fox News this morning (first time for everything, I guess) and there was a story on the Swiss Government finding that plants have a right to dignity. And I found this article that seems to confirms it. It was also in Nature, though I stopped my subscription to that after my son was born.

So plants now have dignitary rights? Pass the Tylenol...

Wasn't there a Twilight Zone episode where plants actually had feelings and only some people could hear them scream when they were plucked or cut down???

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

dude, that banana just smiled at me.

What about research into an all-natural female pleasure tool? "Ja! Ja! Die Mexican Springende Bean und die cucumber! Ja! Happy frauen!"

"Nein! Nein! Zey need dignity!"

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

"All plant biotechnology grant applications must now include a paragraph explaining the extent to which plant dignity is considered. “But scientists don't know what it means...""

They have the right to the dignity of being eaten while smothered in butter.

[Amazon 7]

This is completely undignified.. Poor veggies


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3OxKdDxkpg

[kallend 2,184]

Plants should get free education, healthcare, social security, and the right to vote. Of course, they should have to pay taxes too.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[SpeedRacer 1]

Plants don't deserve dignity.

Here's why: Spring hayfever/pollen allergies. (Pollen is plant jizz.)

Caused by a bunch of plants and trees standing around IN PUBLIC exposing their sexual organs for all to see and jacking off in full view of everyone.

How come Pat Robertson & Hagee & all the rest don't say anything about these Photosynthetic Perverts?

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[kelpdiver 2]

does this mean no more pissing in the wheaties?

[Amazon 7]

So basically the trees just jizzed up your nose

[SpeedRacer 1]

yep. Hayfever sufferers are Plant Bukakee victims.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[tbrown 26]

But haven't you heard ? Plants also "wave" to attract insects. They're like hookers when the fleet sails in. For pretty much the same purpose...

That doesn't sound very dignified to me. If plants want to be treated with dignity, they can start by behaving themselves.

And that's all I'm a-gonna say about it.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[quade 4]

Holy fuck you guys can take a story and completely miss a point based on linguistic differences; just like Anders Sandberg who wrote the original blog that was linked and Fox News btw.

This has nothing to do with individual plants (yummy or not) and has everything to do with whether the bio-engineered versions might cross breed with unpredictable consequences including but not limited to; becoming a more invasive species that might make the original plant species extinct.

Yes, it -should- be a concern.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tbrown 26]

Quote

Holy fuck you guys can take a story and completely miss a point based on linguistic differences; just like Anders Sandberg who wrote the original blog that was linked and Fox News btw.

This has nothing to do with individual plants (yummy or not) and has everything to do with whether the bio-engineered versions might cross breed with unpredictable consequences including but not limited to; becoming a more invasive species that might make the original plant species extinct.

Yes, it -should- be a concern.

Plant lover.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !