Healthy Wealthy Boomer – Longevity and Life Extension

Read an interesting post today about longevity and life extension written by this guy: Attila Csordas, Budapest born and raised, is a trained molecular biologist and biotechnologist trained in mitochondrial and stem cell biology with a focus on regenerative medicine.

His post politely implies the following question:

What is up with Kurzweil? I particularly like his Chris Patil quote: “You first.”

My comments about this post are here at newsvine

Intelligent science has always been appealing – as has longevity and life extension.

The human body is the finest example of engineering ever.

Developing scientific capability that will empower the system to regenerate itself and “activate” the built in self-repair mechanisms is a noble and sensible goal of medical research.

One aspect not mentioned is that aging and physical deterioration begin in the mind.

If one plans to upload consciousness into a ‘bio-physical’ structure that offers life in perpetuity, just remember the old computer adage:

Garbage in garbage out.

But taking the discussion further, Kurzweil’s focus on his own life extension borders on fanaticism.

Nutrition is absolutely a piece of the puzzle regarding longevity. But ~200 nutritional supplements a day plus intravenus treatments is off the chart and has to be wreaking havoc on the natural flow of his biochemistry. Coupled with his vision of a 2030 Bionic Humanity it brings the following images to mind:

• The Terminator
• The mad scientist in the Spider Man movie

The idea of making scientific errors in judgment that have potentially serious long range impacts is not a subject to be taken lightly.

Ethics, Science and Social Responsibility – Key Factors Impacting Longevity and Life Extension

Because of the nature of such rapidly changing technology, mistakes made now have devastating potential implications regarding life extension: like extinction.

An interesting factoid regarding Csordas, that may equip him better than many scientists to do this type of research. He also has a Masters degree in Philosophy.

Being able to visualize a glimpse into the future at the potential ramifications of your work and the ethics involved may be enhanced significantly by its study if you consider the definition of philosophy.

• Love of wisdom; rational investigation of theories and principles or knowledge, existence, and conduct.
  ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryp.html

 

• concerning possibility, impossibility, necessity or contingency
  www.rbjones.com/rbjpub/philos/glossary/m.htm

 

By implication, he is well equipped to consider: contingency, wisdom and conduct.

When you consider the ever growing influence of the federal government on science and medicine, the concept of ethics and the gravity of potential errors magnify our need as a society to really look long and hard at the influences that are driving political decision making within the halls of government.

Frankly, looking at how social security has been handled and almost every other major government program, how could anyone with intelligence want the government to take control of health care or science?

The Increased Need for Watchdogs to Monitor Ethics in Government and in Science and Medicine

A current example of the need for ethics in the decision making process as the application of science in society is genetically engineered sugar beets.

My question is this:

What possible nutritional benefit to the human body can be derived from making the sugar beet root completely resistant to the effects of Roundup?

Frankly, I’m not sure how you feel about it, but I don’t want to eat the stuff or it’s residue.

In fact I already spend an inordinate amount of time concentrating on getting toxins out of my system. Why then would I want to ingest them? There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that accumulated toxins are a primary cause in many modern diseases and a contributor to accelerated aging.

And further, if bioengineered food is going to be used in food processing or sold in the produce stand in my local grocery store, I want to know about it.

Give me the choice to decide if I want to eat it or not.

And if bioengineered food is so good for us and SO SAFE, why don’t the producers put big signs up at the produce stands telling everybody?

They should be proud of marketing their success in technology.

But the fact is they know that many people will not buy the produce if they are given a choice. That’s why they do not identify produce that has been “irradiated, genetically modified or bioengineered” and they do not identify these processes or ingredients on the labeling of their packages.

If I were you, I’d be pissed off about this and very concerned.

Surely the manufacturer is not sincerely considering:

• the long range implications to the degree that social responsibility would dictate
• nor the actual preferences of the consumer.

Here is a good example of the market place holding the manufacturer accountable:

ICCR is calling Monsanto to task by urging:

63 top U.S. restaurant, food, beverage, candy companies to oppose spring planting of genetically modified sugar beets

With assets in the $100 Billion range, this is a good use of financial leverage to affect change and protect the population; particularly when:

• the lawmakers and
• federal beaurocrats have not done so
• and

have already allowed the situation to progress this far along in the approval process.

That this has happened indicates some type of conflict of interest or at the very least a lack of due diligence by Congress to protect the interests of their constituency.

Not to mention the fact that about 50% of the population does not want genetically engineered foods in the marketplace. It’s not just a group of religious fanatics that think this way either. It is widespread opinion on both sides of the political aisle.

Take also the example of the HAARP project in Alaska. It was brought to my attention by Dr. Nick Begich’s book, Angel Don’t Play That HAARP that I read in the 90′s.

Many scientists interviewed in the book said the research was very dangerous and unpredictable. Read it and form your own opinion.

Fast forward about 10 years and the implications of this wave science are now showing up in the form of “microwave and wireless” pollution on a unprecedented level. The human body, in the history of our society, has never before been exposed to this level of microwave technology and new research now shows that it may directly affect certain protein expression in the skin.

Personally, I think a strong defense is intelligent.

But the magnitude of the potentially irreversible global damage from a scientific experiment gone wrong is not an incidental matter. This type of decision making exemplifies the need for ethics and integrity – in the “fox guarding the hen house scenario”.

Technology is awesome. It is now achieving unprecedented accomplishments that have the potential to create a totally new global consciousness coupled with the potential for an unparalleled lifestyle for most global citizens. However the more awesome it becomes, the greater the care and handling that is required.

Longevity and life extension should be a mandate for science using the kind of science that Csordas is suggesting – by focusing on enabling the body to repair itself and by also counteracting the negative influences being created as a by product of social expansion and change.

To be a Healthy Wealthy Boomer – Longevity and Life Extension is an important issue. It’s a matter of taking responsibility:

• for what you put into your mouth everyday
• what you think about and
• holding your Congressmen and your government accountable to the people regarding science, technology and medicine.

It’s not just a personal issue anymore, it is now global.