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A bill was introduced in the Hawaii Legislature to outlaw exhibition of dead human bodies!
I saw this exhibition and I thought it was incredable. In fact my wife and I flew to Honolulu twice and saw it both times last December. This worldwide exhibition has been through the Mainland US and around the world ...and only in Hawaii did a small group of people find it offensive and are now trying to block it so that all residents won't be able to see it. What does that say about Hawaii?
I say if you don't like what you've heard about the exhibit....then don't go!
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/articl.../901280391
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If the exihibits were made from plastic and not plasticized humans I would agree with you. If it was strictly for science and not an exhibition I would agree with you. If there was real assurance that the original occupants of the bodies freely consented to that use of their bodies I might agree with you.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
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Big Islander to be.
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From the Body Worlds website:
All anatomical specimens on display in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions are authentic. They belonged to people who declared during their lifetime that their bodies should be made available after their deaths for the qualification of physicians and the instruction of laypersons. Many donors underscore that by donating their body, they want to be useful to others even after their death. Their selfless donations allow us to gain unique insights into human bodies, which have thus far been reserved for physicians at best. Therefore, we wish to thank the living and deceased body donors.
The human body is fascinating and oddly beautiful in a artful kind of way. I have seen the exhibit and cannot imagine what the hoopla is about. IMHO everyone should see this exhibit.
-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/
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On local news last night it was reported the Chinese community is suspicious the bodies are from executed prisoners. All the bodies in this display are from China.
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From the linked article:
quote:
The exhibit, which displays remains of Chinese citizens or residents that were originally received by the Chinese Bureau of Police, recently completed a seven-month Honolulu run that started June 14 at an Ala Moana Center exhibition hall near Nordstrom. The displays were created by Premier Exhibitions Inc., an Atlanta-based company that maintains that the cadavers are unclaimed bodies from Dalian Medical University, a teaching hospital recognized by the World Health Organization.
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Premier Exhibitions settled a lawsuit brought last year by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who accused Premier of displaying the bodies of executed Chinese prisoners.
In that settlement, Premier agreed to obtain documentation of the cause of death and origin of the bodies as well as the consent of the deceased to have their remains displayed.
For unclaimed remains previously obtained, the company must post notices, including: "This exhibit displays human remains of Chinese citizens or residents which were originally received by the Chinese Bureau of Police. The Chinese Bureau of Police may receive bodies from Chinese prisons. Premier cannot independently verify that the human remains you are viewing are not those of persons who were incarcerated in Chinese prisons."
The settlement does not apply outside the state of New York.
Hong Jiang, a professor of geography at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said she did not attend the display while it was in town because she believes the Chinese government is lying about where the bodies came from.
"It is very hard to believe that Chinese families would sell the bodies of their family members for any amount of money. It's culturally prohibitive," she said.
Jiang believes the bodies used in the exhibition are executed Chinese prisoners
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Scott Lozanoff, chairman of the anatomy department at the University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine, said "even informed consent does not justify displaying human remains in public. I didn't see a lot of educational intent in that program."
"In my estimation, both the process in developing that display and the display itself lacked redeeming social values," Lozanoff said. "The display dealt with bodies almost certainly from Chinese individuals who were prisoners, and there was no evidence of consent for body procurement or display."
I think I would pass on that exhibit. I have more respect for my fellow man, includung his remains.
Pass the law.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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The executed Chinese prisoner thing is kind of old news from years ago and the questionable remains were returned for burial. There are currently lists containing thousands of people who wish to donate their bodies for this so they are not exactly robbing graves. I do not personally have issues with this or the exhibit but fully respect the opinions of those who do. I feel legislation banning this is extreme but I can support legislation requiring them to be able to present identification and next of kin information to avoid issues such as that of the questionable remains. It seems various states have taken this approach. Anyway here is some consolidated information on the wiki if you are interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Worlds
-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/
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I will pass, I have seen all the dead bodies I ever want to see!
I like it here in the shallow end of the gene pool
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DANGER: ART !!!!!!!
If this exibit has generated a response, reaction, or otherwise made people think; It is a total success!
If someone feels compelled to try and censor the exibit; They are donating thousands in free publicity.
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg
DANGER: ART !!!!!!!
If this exibit has generated a response, reaction, or otherwise made people think; It is a total success!
If someone feels compelled to try and censor the exibit; They are donating thousands in free publicity.
That is so true! I just decline to see this type of thing, to many fresh bodies over 30 years, thank you!
I like it here in the shallow end of the gene pool
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Gotta admit the whole Chinese prisoner thing is more than a little creepy. They need to show documented proof that these "exhibits" have authorized the use of their bodies after their death.
Showing them off at a mall is a little gruesome as well...kinda like the elephant man.
I'd faint, but hey - if it's legal and you're interested go for it.[xx(]
Carrie Rojo
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." Barack Obama
Carrie Rojo
"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR
