Some years back, with the support of Ireland, the European Union agreed to fund embryonic stem cell research. Now a petition is about to the sent to the European Commission that will oblige it to reconsider this funding.

The petition is called One of Us. Signatures are being gathered by hand and electronically. Already more than 1.3 million people have signed it.

This is enough under EU to force the Commission under EU law to hold a public hearing in which arguments for and against funding of human embryonic stem cell research can be heard.

Unfortunately, not very many signatures have been collected here in Ireland so far. In other for our signatures to form part of the petition that must be a minimum of 9,000 and as at yesterday there was only 5,500.

The target of 9,000 must be reached in the next few days. So please go to the link for One of Us and sign it electronically and then urge your friends to do so as well.