The promo echoes very closely that which proponents assert is the mission of 'intelligent design': bridging the gap between science and religion.
A little research on Spencer Wells, the scientist at the center of the Nat'l Geographic doc, "Search for Adam," reveals the following:
Spencer Wells is described on the NG "Search for Adam" website as follows:
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blog/2005/06/explorer_adam.htmlgeneticist Spencer Wells, an Explorer-In-Residence at the National Geographic Society, to figure out whether they were indeed descendants of the notorious warrior who lived 800 years ago and thousands of miles away. Such exotic historical enigmas are daily fodder for Wells who is in the midst of the Genographic Project (GP)—a massive undertaking to sample human DNA from around the world to illuminate human genetic and migratory history.The Genographic Project (GP) is largely funded by the Waitt Family Foundation (as in 'Ted Waitt' founder of Gateway Computer, a big contributor to Repubs), with technological assistance from IBM. The PRESIDENT of the Waitt Family Foundation is (drumroll, please):
John D. Heubuschhttp://www.waittfoundation.org/aboutus/john.htmlJohn is also President of The Waitt Family Foundation, where he oversees the organization’s strategic direction. Under John’s stewardship, the Foundation--established in 1993 by Gateway computer company founder Ted Waitt – is focused on the improvement of mankind’s knowledge through historical and scientific exploration.
Previously, John has served as Gateway’s Senior Vice President for Strategy as well as its Senior Vice President for Human Resources. His first position with Gateway was Vice President for Government Relations where he opened an office for the company in Washington, DC. During that period (1997-1999), he also served as Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO Ted Waitt and as Vice President for Corporate Communications.
John was the Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during the 1995-1996 election cycle. Under John’s leadership, two more seats were added to the Republican column in the Senate, bringing the number to 55, a majority margin not seen since 1929.
Prior to his appointment to the NRSC, he served Elizabeth Dole as the Vice President of Communications for the American Red Cross, one of the largest non-profit humanitarian organizations in the world, from 1991-1994. In this capacity, he was accountable for all internal and external communication activities for the organization, including advertising, media relations, and public affairs. He acted as the chief spokesman and coordinated press relations for President Dole.
During the Bush Administration, John was Chief of Staff to Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole from 1989 to 1991. At the Labor Department, John served as a senior advisor to the Secretary, with responsibility for assisting in operations of a department with a budget of $30 billion and 31,000 staff.
John worked on Capitol Hill and was on the staff of Representative Denny Smith (R-OR) from 1981-1988. He served as Chief of Staff to Representative Smith from 1986-1988, Legislative Director from 1984-1986, Associate Staff Member of the Committee on the Budget from 1984-1986, and Legislative Assistant from 1981-1984. From 1980-1981, he was a Research Analyst with the Office of the Secretary, Department of the U.S. Air Force, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
John earned a Master’s degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University in 1988 and Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and English from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1980. John currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Economic Development Corporation, The Waitt Family Foundation, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and is a Member of the Genographic Project Advisory Board for the National Geographic Society.That the Waitts Family Foundation also funds other scientific projects (e.g., nanotechnology) in partnership with Battelle, a major DOD org. This, along with Heubusch's ties to government republicans, hints at some level of possible governmental involvement in Spencer Wells' Genographic Project, good reason to view Well's data and assertion of the existance of an 'Adam' with a jaded eye. The religious reich has been quick to cite Well's 'Adam' as proof of creation, and as a weapon against evolution. (e.g.,
Human evolution: or Adam (21 Jan) - By analyzing DNA from people in all regions of the world, geneticist Spencer Wells has concluded that all humans alive today are descended from a single man who lived in Africa around 60,000 years ago. See http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/12/1212_021213_journeyofman.html from the Institute for Biblical and Scietific Studies' website at http://www.bibleandscience.com/news/2003/creation.htmStill other groups, specifically The Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism (IPCB) (
http://www.arena.org.nz/indbiop.htm), question the ethics and motives behind work like Wells' Genographic Project:
The Genographic Project press release claims that an international advisory board will oversee the selection of Indigenous populations for testing as well as adhering to strict sampling and research protocols. The HGDP was unable to secure federal or UN support for failure to meet ethical concerns and standards. The Genographic Project has striking similarities to the HGDP. Dr. Jonathan Marks, genetic anthropologist and board member of the IPCB, said, "The HGDP was terminated because of intractable bioethical issues. Have IBM and National Geographic been able to remedy those issues? I don¹t think so." Harry is similarly concerned that the Genographic Project is an attempt to escape public and legal scrutiny by going private.
Kanehe says that "It¹s interesting how in the past racist scientists, such as those in the eugenics movement, did studies asserting that we are biologically inferior to them; and now, they are saying their research will show that we¹re all related to each other and share common origins. Both ventures are based on racist science and produce invalid, yet damaging conclusions about Indigenous cultures."The more I learn about Wells, The Waitt Family Foundation, and the Geographic Project, the more I'm inclinced to believe that this, like so many other religious-propagandist 'projects', is likewise part of the well-funded, highly-organized, and oft-disguised neocon - fundamentalist agenda.
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