MercatorNet. A voice for human dignity. Our focus is parenting and family issues, bioethics, demography, religion, philosophy and entertainment.

False dawn for stem cell cures

Michael Cook | 27 May 2005

The sick and the scientists are rejoicing over two different visions of the future after the cloning of human embryos by Korean scientists.

Surveillance nation

Bob Moniot | 27 May 2005

Is the threat of terrorism enough to justify intrusion upon civil liberties?

Is there anyone in charge here?

Christopher Martin | 27 May 2005

The mediaeval philosopher Maimonides asked who runs the world and came up with a sensible answer.

China sulks over the guest list again

Joseph Lim | 27 May 2005

Why didn't the head of the world's biggest nation attend the world's biggest funeral?

Bringing the house down

Francis Phillips | 27 May 2005

Intellectuals have to build ideas on solid foundations or their elaborate ivory towers tumble down. A review of Architects of the Culture of Death.

Join the party!

Michael Cook | 19 May 2005

Innovation. Ambition. Idealism. That's what we're offering in this new internet magazine. And we need your help.

The internet is transforming the way people learn about the world. With nearly everything they want to know somewhere on the web, it can be a fascinating place. But it is also dangerous, both for your computer and for you and your children. In this backgrounder, William West outlines some technical strategies for ensuring that your forays into cyberspace will be safe.

Morning-after pill

Anne Williams | 12 May 2005

Many governments believe that the best way to stem rising numbers of unwanted pregnancies, especially amongst teenagers, is to make emergency contraception, or the morning-after pill, freely available. Ethically and medically, this is very misguided, argues Dr Anne Williams, a British family doctor.

Stem cell research

Amin Abboud | 12 May 2005

Regenerative medicine is an exciting new field with enormous potential for repairing damaged organs and body parts with human stem cells. But if their source is human embryos, there is a serious ethical difficulty. The destruction of human beings for the sake of their stem cells is ethically unacceptable. The author of this backgrounder is Dr Amin Abboud, a medical doctor and bioethicist who teaches at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Same-sex unions

Dwight Duncan | 12 May 2005

The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada have granted formal legal recognition to same-sex unions which are equated to marriage. This MercatorNet backgrounder discusses the moral and practical difficulties of allowing gay couples to marry. The author, Dwight Duncan, is a professor of constitutional law at Southern New England School of Law.

Population

Dermot Grenham | 12 May 2005

Many people still feel that a burgeoning population is responsible for a wide range of political and social problems. Dermot Grenham summarises the controversies over shortages of natural resources and degradation of the environment and argues that these problems can be solved. The real issue confronting the world is ageing and declining populations.