In This Issue: Controversial life-destroying research quietly goes away at a key company; and Carly Fiorina praises AUL’s “distinguished” work.

Life-Destroying Embryonic Stem Cell Research ending at Company that championed the
destructive practice

Mainstream media ignored an important story during Thanksgiving week – the shutting down of life destroying embryonic stem cell research at a California-based company. Geron Corp. officials announced that they would refocus their work on cancer drug research and development.

According to the Christian Post, “Geron began its embryonic work in 2010 amidst much controversy and criticism,” conducting research that included human test subjects. Bloomberg News reported that the company’s stock dropped following the announcement.

“This is good news for those who appreciate the science behind stem cell research,” said Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. “Life saving treatments have come from adult stem cell research, a moral good coming from a person’s own stem cells. But research in which unborn children are cannibalized for stem cells destroys life and has proved to be ineffective.”


AUL attorney Mailee Smith has been tracking the latest developments with stem cell research. She told the Christian Post, “Clearly, investors don't want to put money into research that will not pay off …We can hope it is the bell toll for unethical and unproductive embryo stem cell research, but it will not have a devastating impact on the field of 'stem cell research' as a whole."

To read more in the Christian Post or Smith’s analysis of the events, click here.

New Poll Provides Insight into
Mississippi Personhood Loss

Personhood Mississippi last week released a post-election poll they commissioned following the defeat of Amendment 26 that attempted to amend the Mississippi state constitution with an affirmation of the humanity of the unborn. The amendment became controversial on many points, with voters eventually rejecting the effort.

Pro-abortion advocates raised doubts about the scope of the amendment, claiming it carried broad repercussions and would prohibit birth control and infertility treatments.

That was false advertising, because the amendment limited state governmental conduct, not individual conduct, according to AUL Sr. Counsel Clarke Forsythe. However, he noted that the loss of the amendment would not set back the pro-life cause because other legislative and legal means will move ahead in 2012.

“The legal tradition that recognizes the humanity of the unborn through civil and criminal law remains strong,” said Forsythe.

But polling indicated that the abortion industry’s claims had an impact.

Personhood Mississippi reported that 31% voted “no” because they thought it would ban in vitro fertilization and 28% of voters polled voted "no" because they believed that women would be denied treatment for ectopic pregnancy.

For more information on “Personhood,” click here.

Carly Fiorina notes AUL and Dr. Charmaine Yoest’s “distinguished” and “reasoned” leadership on life

At AUL’s recent 40th Anniversary Gala, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard Company weighed in on what makes AUL unique among pro-life organizations. Click here or on the image above to view Fiorina's comments.