[Aileen]

Let's hope this Kiwi judge really does have more backbone than our spineless, corrupt wonders.  It's high time that these despicable child abusers, and those who cover-up for them, were called to account for their actions and punished accordingly, and a clear message sent that such activities will no longer be tolerated.

"New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard has been named as the head of a new inquiry into historical child sex abuse in England and Wales"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31130805

[Aileen]

   I hope so too, but I fear that yet again the worst perpetrators in the deeds and the cover-up have escaped justice through death. The exact circumstances of the recent death of Lord Brittan, the Tory Home Secretary who "lost" the original files has never been explained. He was suffering from terminal cancer, but the involvement of the police following his death suggests suspicious circumstances, probably suicide.

Yes, sadly you're right, but if steps can be taken to find perpetrators who are still alive and punish them with harsh jail sentences (preferably in bare cells with only bread and water, only that latter will never happen), and send out a clear message that in future such perpetrators will be similarly dealt with, then at least some justice will have been done.

[Aileen]

Don't know nowt about this to be honest, but if the pics of the chairwomen who were replaced portray anything of their personna, well...
One of them looks like a right sour moo.. and the other has a look of Saville about her. 

No abuse problems in Scotland, then? Just that pesky England and Wales.. 

Of course there is, but this is a matter for the Scottish parliament to deal with, not Westminster, thank goodness, because you're right in thinking that these two ladies are rather unsavoury individuals, having had links themselves to paedophiles.

http://www.survivorscotland.org.uk/

http://www.stopitnow.org.uk/scotland.htm

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/41815.aspx

[Aileen]

   There have been issues in the past around the Scottish judiciary I believe, though not necessarily with juveniles, and former Scots MPs are suggested to be involved in the England and Wales investigation. And just last week there was a judgement in a horrific abuse case involving a childcare centre manager. But rogue individuals rather than systematic organisation.

Yes that Lochaber case is pretty appalling, and I hope he gets a lengthy jail sentence, but I suppose there will always rogue individuals who will try to get away with it, and possibly some of them might even succeed, unless people in general become more vigilant, which is one of the reasons this organisation has been set up - http://www.stopitnow.org.uk/scotland.htm

[Aileen]

@blueberryhill -
"any time a woman enters hospital to give birth  nature is being "interfered" with and a good thing too, or most of us would be dead."

Maybe I'm missing something but this statement makes no sense to me.  OK so she gets pain relief, or maybe has a CS, but at least nothing is being done to permanently change anything in her body or that of the baby, which is what is happening here.

Also just because a handful of people in the US have had this treatment, that doesn't mean we have to follow suit, although we being the usual sheep it doesn't surprise me.  Yes the stable door will definitely be shut because once scientists start trying to change nature then goodness knows where it'll stop, and nature will retaliate too in the only way nature knows how, and that's something I don't care to think about in this case.

In addition to the above, I find the destruction of two healthy embryos to create what in effect is a 'perfect' human as being abhorrent, immoral and unethical.

A law designed to stop babies getting life changing genetic diseases that could ruin their lives and put them in a world of misery and possibly pain? I'm all for it.

I'd like to know if you think the same thing in ten or twenty years' time when you've had more experience of life than you have now.

[Connor]

@blueberryhill -
"any time a woman enters hospital to give birth  nature is being "interfered" with and a good thing too, or most of us would be dead."

Maybe I'm missing something but this statement makes no sense to me.  OK so she gets pain relief, or maybe has a CS, but at least nothing is being done to permanently change anything in her body or that of the baby, which is what is happening here.

Also just because a handful of people in the US have had this treatment, that doesn't mean we have to follow suit, although we being the usual sheep it doesn't surprise me.  Yes the stable door will definitely be shut because once scientists start trying to change nature then goodness knows where it'll stop, and nature will retaliate too in the only way nature knows how, and that's something I don't care to think about in this case.

In addition to the above, I find the destruction of two healthy embryos to create what in effect is a 'perfect' human as being abhorrent, immoral and unethical.
I'd like to know if you think the same thing in ten or twenty years' time when you've had more experience of life than you have now.

Yes, I would think the same

[Aileen]

http://www.nature.com/news/a-slippery-slope-to-human-germline-modification-1.13358      This is 'not about' DNA! This is about 'genetics'!

Exactly!

@Connor -
How can you possibly know what you would think when you're a lot older and have had more experience of life?  The vast majority of people's views change with maturity, life events, and changing circumstances because you soon realise that nothing is either black or white, but several shades of grey in between.

@bbh -
I don't see what malnutrition, poor hygiene or medical negligence, have got to do with the topic we're discussing, but if you want to go down the medical negligence line, then messing around with DNA and genes is just that.

[Aileen]

I shouldn't even have to think about what I'd think of this subject in 20 years, because it sounds to me like you're brushing my opinion off because I'm not 50+ and haven't had much experience in life. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the same crap here before. I can be 10, and my views should be treated with the same amount of worth as if I was 50. I'm sick and tired of my opinions/thoughts being devalued because I'm one of the young members here!

I apologise that I'm not 50 years old and have been working for 30+ years, have a wife and kids and earning a decent income. I'm very sorry I haven't yet met them requirements. Maybe I should keep my mouth shut until then. Only 32 years.

For goodness sake, I wasn't criticising you or brushing your opinion off, merely expressing what I know to be true from my own experience.  And don't forget that I was 18 once and thought I knew it all!