Dear Ms. Berardi,

 

In your letter of response you stated that, “GE respects your views on stem cell research, but we do not agree with them.”  May I ask, just what there is in “my views” that you don’t agree with? Let me assure you these are not simply personal opinions, but well known documented facts.

 

From a purely scientific and practical standpoint, surely you realize that there has not been one single successful treatment or cure using ESC (embryonic stem cells) – in either human OR animal trials.  In fact, in all cases genetic abnormalities and cancerous tumors have formed and in at least one documented case, the patient died when the ESCs formed bone fragment, teeth and hair follicles where it was hoped neural cells would form in the patient’s brain.

 

If there are so many massive chromosomal abnormalities documented in the human embryos frozen, thawed, cultured and killed in order to derive these human embryonic stem cell lines, those stem cells will also be genetically abnormal.  In all human and animal trials using ESCs, carcinogenic tumors have formed - even those originally derived by cloning from the same patient.  And if tumor formation is necessary in order to develop quick, stabilized, efficient, repeatable human embryonic stem cell culture protocols, what good are they?  These same problems have been repeatedly demonstrated with aborted fetal cell tissue transplants as well – and those are even further differentiated than ESCs!

 

Meanwhile, as I mentioned in my previous letter, huge advances are being reported daily on the use of non-controversial ASC (adult stem cells) in thousands of patients.  Why in the world would anyone want to pursue an avenue that has absolutely no history or foreseeable success?  GE’s investment into morally unacceptable and failing research does not make one bit of financial sense.  Nor does it help your public relations image, which until now, has been untarnished.

 

As an investor I simply cannot allow my own funds to be used in such an irrational manner.  As a faithful Catholic, I cannot and will not be party to anything that contradicts Church teaching.  As as a citizen of the US it is my moral obligation to defend and protect the lives of innocent human beings, no matter how small or insignificant that life may seem to others.  And last but not least, as a pro-life leader it is my obligation to advise the public and take action against those who advance the Culture of Death.  I am deeply saddened that GE - the company I have heavily invested in for so many years will now be the brunt of massive formal protest, bad press and boycotts nationwide, but your decision leaves me no other choice.

 

I implore you in all human decency and urge you in pure common sense to reconsider this decision. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Debra L. and Paul J. Vinnedge

 

Cc:       BY US MAIL: GE Board of Directors Members

            Jeffery R Immelt, Chairman and CEO

            James L Cash, Director

            Sir William Castell, Vice Chairman

            Dennis D. Dammerman, Vice Chairman

            Anne M. Fudge, Director

            Chaudio X. Gonzalez, Director

            Andrea Jung, Director

Kenneth G. Langone, Director

            A. G. Lafley, Director

            Ralph S. Larsen, Director

            Rochelle B. Lazarus, Director

            Sam Nunn, Director

            Roger S. Penske, Director

            Robert J. Swierings, Director

            Douglas A. Warner III, Director

            Robert C. Wright, Director