X-Message-Number: 18252
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 11:59:18 -0500 (EST)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: How "Independent" is the European Cryonics Support Group?

In personal email I have received a mild complaint from John de Rivaz (who
has always been extremely courteous toward me), suggesting that there were
"inaccuracies" in my report in Alcor Forum about the British situation,
where a new support group claims to be unbiased yet requires all its
directors to be members of CI. I am sending a copy of this text to John so
that he can respond immediately if he wishes to do so.

When you accuse a journalist of "inaccuracies," you'd better expect a
response. I felt sure that my report was correct, so I visited the UK site
(which is maintained by John as webmaster). I have to conclude that my
report contained no inaccuracies at all. Rather, it understated the
situation.

Here's a reference to the European Support Group at the Cryonics Europe
web site at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/quantium/ce/ce.htm. Note the
phrase "which has this web site..." seems to mean that ECSG owns the
Cryonics Europe site; in other words, ECSG is the primary entity of which
Cryonics Europe is secondary.

> Recently an association was formed called the European Cryonics Support
> Group (ECSG), which has this web site and its associated communication
> list. It consists primarily of British and other European members of the
> Cryonics Institute, plus individuals affiliated with other organizations
> or with none. Its officers are (and are required to be) members of CI.

From the Cryonics Europe "officers and contacts" page one would conclude
that only a single cryonics services organization exists:

> ECSG Website http://www.cryonics-europe.org
> ECSG List 
> Main CI Website http://www.cryonics.org
> CI Free Online Newsletter
> http://www.egroups.com/message/long_life
> E-Mail  Tel.01323-509836.
> Chairperson:Chrissie Loveday,Treasurer:Mark Walker
> Secretary: David Flude, WebMaster: John de Rivaz.

Another page at the site, titled "The Global Membership Challenge,"  does
mention Alcor, but in the worst possible way: It reprints the year-old
statement from Linda Chamberlain which was instrumental in alienating many
UK members of Alcor. There is no indication whatsoever that Linda stepped
down from her role at Alcor many months ago. In fact, Linda is identified,
incorrectly, as Alcor's President and CEO. Also, there is no hint that the
Alcor policy regarding UK members is under review, or that Jerry Lemler
has made this one of his highest priorities and has announced his
intentions to visit the UK early in the year.

Meanwhile, John de Rivaz suggests that *I* am guilty of biased reporting!
On the contrary, John: My report was correct, and the Euro support
organization to which you belong seems to have a deliberate policy of
misleading people.

Note, none of this should be taken as implicit criticism of CI, since CI
seems to have had no role in it whatsoever, and the European site
emphasizes that it is not run by CI.

While I have circulated my own complaints about Alcor's policy toward
European members (indeed, I think I was the first person to complain about
it on CryoNet), I recognize that sincere attempts are being made to revise
this policy. If Cryonics Europe is as neutral as it claims to be, it will
surely recognize these attempts.

--Charles Platt

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