Dear Ecologers, Most policymakers and members of the media are not aware of the importance of biodiversity to human health and welfare. The Pew Charitable Trusts is taking the next step in this education process by working to give global biodiversity conservation a compelling human dimension.
Pew is working to identify individuals across the country who have benefited from medicines that were wholly or partially derived from natural compounds. This could include Vincristine (childhood leukemia); Vinblastine (Hodgkin's disease); Captopril (hypertention and heart failure); Topotecan (various cancers); Irinotecan, Camptosar or CPT-11 (various cancers); Taxol (cancers); Rapamycin (antirejection therapy and cancers); AZT (HIV); Neostigmine (glaucoma); or Protoveratrines (hypertension). If you or someone you know has benefited from one these drugs and are willing to sign a group statement or speak either to the media or to policymakers about the importance of protecting biodiversity, please contact Julie Sherman at Pew (202-887-8820, [email protected]). Help give the imperative of biodiversity conservation a human face. Thanks, Jeffrey Wise Director, Global Conservation Initiative Pew Environment Group | The Pew Charitable Trusts 202-887-8827 | [email protected]
