#32 Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008: Royal Ireland Academy

(Nobel Prize in Literature), Garret Donal had requested if I could a meeting on stem cell research at the Royal Ireland Academy and I was allowed. RIA (not to be confused with the IRA) was founded in 1785 to heighten the study in sciences, humanities and social sciences in Ireland. Over the the 223 years it has been a host to many famously acclaimed people. Current and past members include Seamus HeaneyFitzGerald (Taoiseach), Mary McAleese (Current president), Mary Robinson (President before other Mary), Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin (evolution), W. B. (influential Irish poet) and many more. Anyways, what I am trying to say is I felt privileged that they allowed me to come and agreed to give me a tour. The conference had a small selection of people who were scientists, reporters, anti-stem cell research, professors and me. I told one of Donal's acquaintances that I am going to major in Russian Studies and he said that he met with President Vladimir Putin's closest advisers in Moscow. Apparently he was suppose to make a speech but they forgot to inform him. I think talking to this man (who you will see on the video) and the history/architecture of the building was equally as important as the conference. The conference was about the released report by The Irish Council for Bioethics, titled Ethical, Scientific and Legal Issues Concerning Stem Cell Research. The report showed statistics on how much of the general population is supportive of stem cell. Let me just say they are against it. To shield from disapproval the council had to place the word OPINION under the title.
A nice lady showed me and Donal around the reading room and the library. It just happened that the rarest texts from the library were taken from the vault that morning! They were being brought somewhere. I got to see the oldest complete text written in Irish in the entire country of Ireland. Not to mention it was written by Saint Columcille an exile who established 27 Irish monasteries. The book is from the seventh century. The woman put together a folder full of stuff for me and Donal.
CHECK THIS LINK OUT!!! http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0423/6news_av.html?2365876,null,230
When you get there click on Ethics body backs embryos for stem cell research. You will see some familiar faces...