As you read this ezine, Youth Defence volunteers are busy in Knock gathering signatures to a pro-life petition opposing embryo research and calling for life to be protected from conception. We also held a busy stall in Clanmacnois last weekend and have a another two weeks on non-stop activities planned.

"Our immediate target is to have 100,000 pro-life signatures on the petition by the end of the Summer of Life campaign," said Rebecca Roughneen of Youth Defence. "If people are free to help out or to gather petitions locally, please call us in the office on 01 8730463 and talk to one of the YD team."

She said the group were planning a series of important campaigns - some of which would take place in conjunction with the Life Institute - which wold be "crucial" to ensuring that any forthcoming legislation did not introduce embryo research and embryo destruction.

See more on the campaign here and a link to petition sheets