X-Message-Number: 14670
From: 
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 16:10:07 EDT
Subject: German cryonics etc.

Sabine Atkins (#14656) asks about possible cooperation between U.S. cryonics 
organizations and German groups, specifically the transhuman DE:Trans and 
also the Group of the Eighth Day of Creation. She also mentions laws against 
cryopreservation in Germany.

First, in general terms, as Mrs. Atkins knows, CI is willing to try to 
cooperate with any cryonicists anywhere. Specifics will of course depend on 
the situation and the details.

Still in general terms, it is probably premature to attempt to start or build 
cryonics organizations in other countries. The numbers just aren't there. It 
is most likely to result, as so often in the past, in wasted effort and 
discouragement. I could be wrong, but my guess is that, for the near future 
at least, it is best to rely on U.S. organizations, with local help from 
funeral directors and possibly from local members, although there is little 
in the record to indicate much effectiveness from the latter.

What can be done abroad, and has been done e.g. in Australia, is to form 
country groups, open to members of any cryonics organization, mainly for 
communication and mutual information exchange. That can be very helpful, 
especially in a non-English speaking country. Such groups could also, in some 
cases, share expenses for employment of local funeral directors.

As for the "Eighth Day of Creation," I don't know enough about it to comment. 
I do remind readers that the Society for Venturism started out as a legal 
religion, and I think it still is, although that has not been emphasized 
recently. As far as I know, the religious angle never made much difference 
either way, except for the tax exemption. Dave Pizer and Mike Perry could 
comment on that. My guess is that ties to religion, or lack of them, are not 
important, compared to the other factors.

As for laws against cryonics on German soil, I have not seen any such 
documents, and would be grateful to see them if they exist. We have had one 
German patient, a couple of years ago, prepared by Albin's of London in 
cooperation with a German funeral director. As far as I know, there is no 
obstacle to handling future German patients the same way.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=14670