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   #1 A.M.Canto 27 de mayo de 2006

   Reproduzco una información muy reciente, en la se explica por qué los colectivos indígenas del mundo se oponen al proyecto que Verracus comentaba y que intenta desarrollar, por segunda vez en unos años, una toma generalizada de muestras de ADN. Los interesados consideran que se debe a un "racismo científico", y que constituye un acto de intrusión y de "piratería genética":
   
   Indigenous Peoples Oppose the 'Genographic Project'
   
   Indigenous Peoples Oppose National Geographic & IBM Genetic Research Project that Seeks Indigenous Peoples' DNA
   
   Dated: May 20, 2006
   Released by: Indigenous Peoples Council on
   Biocolonialism
   Contact: Debra Harry, Director
   Tel: (775) 338-5983
   
   http://www.ipcb.org/issues/human_genetics/htmls/geno_pr.html
   
   (Nixon, NV) The Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism (IPCB) is alarmed at the launching of new global genetic research project that will focus on the collection of Indigenous peoples DNA. The National
   Geographic Society and the IBM Corporation announced the launch of the Genographic Project today that
   purports to "help people better understand their ancient history." The project, funded by the Waitt Family Foundation, expects to collect 100,000 DNA samples from Indigenous peoples around the world. The taking of samples will be coordinated by ten worldwide regional research centers. With centers in Australia,
   Brazil, North America and Southeast Asia, Sub-Sahara and South Africa, this project is certain to affect
   many Indigenous peoples around the world.
   
   The IPCB, an Indigenous organization that addresses issues of biopiracy began its work in 1993 to oppose
   the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), a project so fraught with ethical and scientific problems it failed
   to get endorsement from the National Science Foundation, or UNESCO. Debra Harry, who is Northern
   Paiute and serves as IPCB's Executive Director, noting this new project's similarities with the HGDP, said,
   "This is a recurrent nightmare. It's essentially the same project we defeated years ago. Some of the actors
   are different, but also some are the same. With the founder of the HGDP serving on this new project's
   advisory committee, I can't help but think this is simply a new reiteration of the HGDP."
   
   The HGDP faced international opposition by Indigenous peoples who considered the project an unconscionable
   attempt by genetic researchers to pirate their DNA for their own means. That experience has led to strong
   advocacy by Indigenous peoples to insure human rights standards are entrenched in research. Cherryl Smith, a
   Maori bioethicist from Aotearoa (New Zealand) said, "Indigenous groups around the world are much more aware
   of biopiracy, and our own human and collective rights in research. In the past ten years, we have developed
   extensive networks of Indigenous peoples who are knowledgeable and active in defense of their rights."
   
   Le'a Kanehe, a Native Hawaiian who serves as the IPCB's Legal Analyst, gives the example of the Havasupai
   Tribe, who filed a lawsuit in 2004 against Arizona State University for the taking and misuse of their genetic samples. "Indigenous peoples are holding scientists accountable for use of their genetic material without prior informed consent, which is the accepted legal standard." The tribe authorized diabetes research, but later discovered their samples were used for schizophrenia, inbreeding and migration theories.
   
   The Genographic Project press release claims that an international advisory board will oversee the selection
   of Indigenous populations for testing as well as adhering to strict sampling and research protocols. The
   HGDP was unable to secure federal or UN support for failure to meet ethical concerns and standards. The
   Genographic Project has striking similarities to the HGDP. Dr. Jonathan Marks, genetic anthropologist and
   board member of the IPCB, said, "The HGDP was terminated because of intractable bioethical issues.
   Have IBM and National Geographic been able to remedy those issues? I don't think so." Harry is similarly
   concerned that the Genographic Project is an attempt to escape public and legal scrutiny by going private.
   
   Kanehe says that "It's interesting how in the past racist scientists, such as those in the eugenics movement, did studies asserting that we are biologically inferior to them; and now, they are saying their research will show that we're all related to each other and share common origins. Both ventures are based on racist science and produce invalid, yet damaging conclusions About Indigenous cultures."
   
   IPCB Chairperson Judy Gobert (Blackfoot), said, "These kinds of projects have to stretch to claim any tangible
   benefits to Indigenous peoples. Somehow, the Genographic Project has led its Indigenous participants
   to believe its work will insure their people's cultural preservation. There is a huge disconnect between
   genetic research and cultural preservation." Smith says, "If they really want to help promote Indigenous
   peoples cultures there are more productive ways and methods for doing so."
   
   Noting the project's goal to map the migratory history of humankind through DNA, Marla Big Boy, a Lakota
   attorney on IPCB's board, says, "Our creation stories and languages carry information About our genealogy and
   ancestors. We don't need genetic testing to tell us where we come from." Big Boy notes with concern that
   the project proposes to do studies on ancient DNA. "We will not stand by while our ancestors are desecrated in
   the name of scientific discovery."
   
   The IPCB is calling on all Indigenous peoples, and our friends and colleagues to join in an international
   boycott of IBM, Gateway Computers (the source of the Waitt family fortune), and National Geographic until
   it's demand that this project be abandoned are met. Harry said, "We are prepared to stop projects that
   treat us as scientific curiosities. We must act to protect our most vulnerable communities from this unwanted intrusion. We resisted the HGDP, and we will defeat this proposal as well."
   
   For more information contact:
   Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonism
   ipcb@ipcb.org
   www.ipcb.org

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