X-Message-Number: 22457
Date: Wed, 03 Sep 2003 00:32:26 -0500
From: BJKlein <>
Subject: WTA defending CI 

The following was sent to Michigan's Attorney General in defence of CI on 
behalf of WTA.
---

Dear Attorney General Mike Cox,

The World Transhumanist Association (WTA) submits the following letter in 
defense of the Clinton Township, Michigan based Cryonics Institute (CI).

The WTA has recently learned that CI has been ordered to shut down by the 
Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services. As an organization 
which supports the use of advanced technology to improve the lives of all 
people, the WTA is puzzled and shocked by the recent action.

As a membership supported organization with dozens of chapters and 
affiliates in cities across North America and around the world, the WTA has 
a number of members who are signed up for cryonics including a number of 
who are signed up with CI. It is clear to us that CI has operated as an 
exemplary nonprofit organization for as long as we have know them.

For 27 years CI has operated as a 501 3 non-profit organization. All 
financial information is available to the public on IRS form 990. No CI 
director nor any member has ever been shown to have gained substantially 
from their work at CI.

Furthermore, we believe there is a clear difference between mortuary 
services and the service that the CI provides. CI works at maintaining 
people in cryostasis in the hope that they can be revived once technology 
permits the repair of their bodies and brains. Therefore it would be 
inappropriate to regulate CI under statutes governing mortuary services.

Thus the WTA asks that the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry 
Services please reconsider its proposal to shut down the Cryonics Institute.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the above information. We will be 
happy to provide any further information which may help in making your 
decision.

Sincerely,
Bruce J. Klein

In conjunction with, and on behalf of fellow WTA Directors:

Chair, Nick Bostrom Ph.D.
Vice Chair, Giulio Prisco
Secretary, James Hughes Ph.D.
Treasurer, Mike Treder
Publications Director, Mark Walker Ph.D.
Michael LaTorra
Ziana Astralos
Eliezer Yudkowsky
Tarik Theo Ibrahim

Links:

State Orders Local Cryonics Institute To Close - 


<http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2434929/detail.html>http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2434929/detail.html
Cryonics Institute (CI) - <http://www.cryonics.org/>http://www.cryonics.org/
The World Transhumanist Association (WTA) - 
<http://www.transhumanism.org/>http://www.transhumanism.org/



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