"I never thought politics would get in 
the way of hope."  — Christopher Reeve
PRESS RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2004

Contact: info@extropy.org  
www.extropy.org  
512.263.2749 U.S.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEB 14, 2004.  Online Summit Challenges President Bush's Bioethics Council

Extropy Institute invites top scientific, technological, and cultural thinkers to share knowledge and exchange ideas about working to improve the world’s understanding of biotechnology and science to improve and extend life. Beginning Sunday, February 15 through 29th, the Summit presents a 2-week virtual discussion and debate of President Bush's Bioethics Council's ultraconservative  Beyond Therapy report. Summit keynotes are addressing the use of the well-known "Precautionary Principle" by anti-biotech activists as a rallying tool to turn people against the science, medicine and biotechnology that could cure disease and improve life.

President of Extropy Institute and Chair of the VP Summit, Natasha Vita-More says, "We have a responsibility to protect ourselves, our children and our loved ones in determining what choices to make about the future of our health. No one has the right to tell us that we must go into the later years of life in crippled or feeble states. No organization, no policy, no person should have the absolute power and authority to hinder scientific and medical advances that can and do help millions of people throughout the world."

Vital Progress Summit to Protect Human Rights for Our Future.

Negative reaction to the possibility of fundamental progress in these fields threatens to stifle innovations that can make major improvements in the quality of life of people throughout the world. Extropy Institute has made a name for itself as an intellectual networking and educational organization, encouraging cultural foresight about profound technology-driven change. It encourages critical thinking about ideas and technologies that will help people, our society, and the world.

The Vital Progress Summit is being held on the Internet at http://summit.extropy.org from Feb.15-29. Register at http://summit.extropy.org/?q=register. For more information on the Summit please contact info@extropy.org or call 512.263.2749. The VP Summit is chaired by Natasha Vita-More, President of Extropy Institute.

SUMMIT KEYNOTES.

• Ronald Bailey, Science Correspondent, Reason Magazine
• Aubrey de Grey, Ph.D., Professor, University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics
• Robert A. Freitas Jr., J.D., Author, Nanomedicine
• Raymond Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies; Author, The Age of Spiritual Machines
• Max More, Ph.D., Philosophical Strategist; Author, Elements of a New Enlightenment
• Prof. Marvin Minsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Author, Society of Mind
• Christine Peterson, President Foresight Institute; Author Leaping the Abyss: Putting Group Genius to Work
• Prof. Michael D. Shapiro, Professor of Law, University of Southern California Law School
• Lee Silver, Ph.D. Professor at Princeton University in the Department of Molecular Biology
• Gregory Stock, Ph.D., Director, Program on Medicine, Technology, and Society UCLA’s School of Public Health; author
• Natasha Vita-More, President, Extropy Institute; "Primo Posthuman," Author, 1-on-One Prescription for Fitness
• Roy L. Walford, M.D., Professor of Pathology at the UCLA School of Medicine; Author, Maximum Life Span
• Michael West, Ph.D., President and CEO, Advanced Cell Technology

SUMMIT OUTCOMES.
The Vital Progress Summit forms the first phase in the continuing online summits, we aim to achieve distinct, practical results. Early deliverables expected from the February summit include a concise response to the current use of the Precautionary Principle, a policy and values statement to counter "Beyond Therapy" report, resources for Internet users.

ABOUT EXTROPY INSTITUTE.
Extropy Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Extropy Institute sees enormous potential in advanced decision making and strategic thinking to accelerate humanity's resolution of fundamental problems. To learn more about Extropy Institute: http://www.extropy.org

SUMMIT DATES. February 15 - 29th, 2004 on the Internet at http://summit.extropy.org  

REGISTRATION.  $15.00 donation toward developing the reports and outcomes of the VP Summit.