A spokesperson for Rick Hansen’s Wheels in Motion research organization into spinal cord injuries has confirmed that its research methods include the use of human embryos. And Hansen himself has been quoted as saying: “To limit the science based on fears or political pressure would be wrong. I expect government leaders will be able to differentiate between fear or conjecture or political lobbying and what is the true consensus of the Canadian population.”
The Huntington Society of Canadahas also been found to be officially supporting research on human embryos. This came out in a 2002 board policy decision, wherein the society recognized “the importance of stem cells to the worldwide research effort in Huntington Disease.”
Southwest Airlines is dedicating a webpage specifically to the “gay and lesbian community.” “From gay-friendly destinations to gay events around the country, you’ll find information to suit your needs,” the airline boasts.
Amnesty Internationalhas become the target of boycotts after adopting a policy of advocating that abortion be decriminalized worldwide. Its European members also participated in Riga Pride 2007, a Latvian event for homosexuals.
A trust set up to invest billions of dollars in Bill and Melinda Gates’s money is among a group of investors that has bought a $26.2 million stake in PlanetOut, a homosexual lifestyle and publishing group. Last year, that company lost $3.7 million.
The San Diego Padres’ July 8 game recognized supporters and volunteers of the San Diego Pride homosexual organization with a scoreboard welcome and the singing of the national anthem by the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego.
Matthews, N.C.-based Stewardship Partnersinvestment company, founded in 2001 and which handles $230 million, specializes in biblically responsible stocks, meaning it does not pour money into abortion, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, pornography, cloning, stem cell research or homosexual rights. Other sources of “spiritual investing” include the Florida-based Timothy Plan, the Connecticut-based Catholic Values Investment Trust, the AveMaria Catholic Values Fund and – among Muslims – the Amana Mutual Funds Trust.
As the Girl Scouts of the U.S.have become increasingly liberal – and have lost 100,000 members as a result – the American Heritage Girlsare stepping in to offer a Christian alternative. Founded in 1993, the AHG operates in 33 states is aiming for 50 by next year.
Life Decisions International has come out with a new edition of its boycott list, which targets corporate supporters of Planned Parenthood, the world’s leading abortion-advocacy group. Corporations appearing on the list for the first time are: CCA Global (Carpet One, Flooring America, Flooring Canada, Flooring One, Lighting One, etc.), Chevron(fuel/energy; Xpress Lube, Texaco), Comcast(cable television, internet, etc.), DuPont(chemicals), eBay(online marketplace; PayPal), Four Seasons Hotels(Regent Hotels), GlaxoSmithKline(over-the-counter medication, prescription drugs, etc.), Marriott(Courtyard Hotels, Fairfield Inn, Grand Residences, Horizons Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels & Inns, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites), OSI Restaurant Partners(Outback Steakhouse, etc.) and Sears(K-Mart). Corporations continuing as boycott targets are Adobe(software), Nike(shoes/apparel, etc.), Time Warner(Cinemax, HBO, AOL, etc.), Walt Disney, Johnson & Johnson, WellsFargo, Whole Foods Market andNationwide(insurance), among others.
The Travelodge hotel chain in the U.K. has decided to cut its pornography services and replace them with family-friendly material. A spokesman said: “Our … customers tell us that they would prefer to use a hotel without adult content available, so we have responded to meet their needs.”
To its credit, Sony Corp. has so far resisted allowing the pornography industry to press its movies on the company’s new Blu-ray DVD discs, presumably on moral grounds. But the rise of competing format HDDVD may be swaying it to change its position, as Sony is now reported to be “softening” its anti-porn stance. It is offering more technical support to pornographers and is allowing its associated manufacturer to issue Blu-ray pornographic discs.
The website for Children of God for Life (www.cogforlife.org) offers a list of Canadian vaccines derived from aborted fetal cell lines. It notes that all flu vaccines use non-human cell lines.
A recent Levi’sjeans ad in the U.S. featured two versions – one “straight” and one “gay.” Still, observers note there are few mainstream companies making commercials specifically aimed at homosexuals, even though they are known to have significant discretionary spending power.
