Category: Announcements

June 1, 2011

Ken Harvey Taken to Court

Dr Ken Harvey is well known to Vic Skeptics and readers of this site as a tireless campaigner against the sale of unproven medicinal products. His actions leading to adverse findings against the Power Balance Wrist Band have been well documented here. Now SensaSlim Australia Pty. Ltd have labelled Dr Harvey’s complaint to the Therapeutic Goods Administration about the promotion of their slimming product as “defamatory”. Their legal action, which seeks punitive damages has also successfully stalled the complaint process.
This podcast from ABC’s The Health Report discusses the use of SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) writs and the deficiency in current legislation which permits their use against TGA complaints.
For a more comprehensive report and information about making a pledge to assist with Dr Ken Harvey’s legal expenses, please see this story on the Australian Skeptics national web site.
The audio from The Health Report featuring the interview with Dr Ken Harvey can be heard here:
[or download the MP3 file]

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June 1, 2011

June Puzzles

A new monthly crop of Picture Puzzles and “Mixed Bag” Puzzles has been added to our Puzzles and Diversions page.
In addition, the June 2011 Skeptical Crossword by guest cruciverbalist Roy Arnott can be found here: https://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/june-2011-crossword/
There are now ten Skeptical Crosswords available on this website. They can all be accessed from here: https://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/crosswords-links-to-all-crosswords/

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April 30, 2011

Announcing: Three Special Events

We’d like to tell you about three special upcoming events.
1. Dr Rachael Dunlop will be our featured Lunch guest on Sunday 26th June. Rachael  is a scientist researching into heart disease, and is a vice-president of  Australian Skeptics Inc (aka NSW Skeptics)
She is also part of the Mystery Investigators show for schools, co-organises the Sydney Skeptics meet-up group, contributes to The Sceptics’ Book of Pooh-Pooh blog and may be familiar to some of you as Dr Rachie from The Skeptic Zone.
The venue is La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon Street Carlton. It’s a 12:00 for 12:30 start.
Set menu (Choice of four mains and two deserts, tea and coffee) will cost you $35 per person
You can enquire about or book for this event by emailing vic@skeptics.com.au or phoning (03) 9378 4414 or 1800 666 996

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2.Nigerian Humanist  Leo Igwe will speak at a Dinner at La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon Street Carlton on Thursday evening 25th August.
For information about Leo Igwe, please see our recent post https://skeptics.cafe/2011/04/02/leo-igwe-tour/ and last year’s https://skeptics.cafe/2010/07/14/support-for-leo-igwe
La Notte’s famed smorgasbord will cost you $50 per person. The proceeds of the evening will pass to Leo.
You can enquire about or book for this event by emailing vic@skeptics.com.au or phoning (03) 9378 4414 or 1800 666 996

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3. Leo Igwe will speak again at a public meeting on Saturday 27th August. Our friends at the Humanist Society of Victoria are joining Vic Skeptics in staging this event. It’s at 2pm at Victorian Trades Hall New Council Chambers at 54 Victoria Street Carlton South. $10 at the door, ($5 concession)

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March 7, 2011

Vic Department of Health's "Better Health Channel"

by Graeme Hanigan

This is the background to a petition addressed to The  Minister of Health, David Davis MLC, calling for a review of the Victorian Department of Health’s Better Health Channel. 

Penelope Dingle was 45 years old when she died of colorectal cancer on the 25th of August, 2005. Had her cancer been detected and treated when symptoms were first observed 4 years earlier, she may still be alive today.  Instead of seeking medical treatment, Penelope put her health into the incompetent hands of a deluded Homeopathic quack.
At the conclusion of the inquest into the sad death of Penelope Dingle, the W.A. State Coroner made two recommendations. View More Vic Department of Health's "Better Health Channel"

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January 29, 2011

New Skeptics In the Pubs

We’re pleased to tell you about three brand new Skeptics In the Pubs.
*Eastern Hills SITP meets at The Knox Club, on the corner of Stud / Boronia Rds Wantirna South. The first meeting will be on Tuesday 15th February, but all subsequent meetings will be on the second Monday of each month.
Details are at http://groupspaces.com/meh-sitp (NOTE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS ADDRESS)
* Melbourne SITP: The first will be held on Monday, January 31st at the James Squire Brewhouse in Waterfront City, Docklands. RSVP on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123743067689382 The event will kick off at 6:30pm. Future events will be held on the fourth Monday of each month.
http://www.melbourneskeptics.com.au/skeptics-in-the-pub/
* Great Ocean Road SITP launched on Saturday morning 5th February, with regular meetings on the Last
Wednesday of each month from 6.30 pm.  For March 30, the venue is City Quarter Bar on Cunningham Pier Geelong. For further information, contact Carolyn Coulson. CAROLCO(AT)BarwonHealth.org.au. See our article on Great Ocean Road Skeptics below, as well as their 10:23 video

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Well established Victorian Skeptics groups looking forward to 2011 are:
*Borderline Skeptics (Albury Wodonga) meeting 3rd Wednesday of each month; contact Russell Kelly (02) 6072 – 3632 or Laurie Smith (02) 6072 – 3415
*The Celestial Teapot (Mornington) meeting 3rd Thursday of each month; http://www.meetup.com/Teapot-Mornington-Peninsula/
*Mordialloc SITP http://www.meetup.com/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/
*Sale SITP meeting at the Star Hotel on the 2nd Friday of each month from 6.30pm. For details contact saleskepticsinthepub@hotmail.com
AND DON’T FORGET our very own Skeptics Café on the 3rd Monday of each month. See our Events section for details.

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January 17, 2011

Darwin Day February 12 2011

BARBECUE:
12 Noon to 4.30 pm

(NOTE CHANGE to PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED TIME)

An Invitation from the Atheists, Humanists, Rationalists & Skeptics to celebrate
Charles Darwin’s birthday
For details, go here: https://skeptics.cafe/events/darwin-day-barbecue-2011/

CELEBRATE DARWIN DAY IN YOUR CLASSROOM:
Here’s a suite of classroom exercises designed to mark Charles Darwin’s Birthday.
https://skeptics.cafe/for-sale/stuff-for-teachers-education-resources/darwin-day-february-12-classroom-suite-of-exercises/

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January 5, 2011

Great Ocean Road Skeptics


The new Geelong-based Skeptics group, Great Ocean Road Skeptics In the Pub launched spectacularly on Saturday 5th February at 10 am at Bell’s Beach Torquay.
Regular meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month from 6.30 pm. For March 30, the venue is City Quarter Bar on Cunningham Pier Geelong. For further information, contact Carolyn Coulson.

CAROLCO(AT)BarwonHealth.org.au
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December 23, 2010

The ACCC Moves on Power Balance

After the TGA Complaints Panel ruled on Power Balance bracelets last month, the promoters of Power Balance were asked to put up this disclaimer on their web sites.  To no one’s surprise, they didn’t.
Now stepping in to take on Power Balance is a regulatory body with a little more grunt, the ACCC. Unlike the TGA, the ACCC can force business to act responsibly if they won’t do it voluntarily.
Power Balance Australia has given the ACCC a number of undertakings that include:

– not make any further claims to the effect that the products will improve the user’s balance, strength and flexibility.
– not, in conjunction with the products, make claims that “Power Balance is Performance Technology” or use the phrase “Performance Technology”.
– not make claims that Power Balance products are “designed to work with the body’s natural energy field”.

The company has 14 days to comply View More The ACCC Moves on Power Balance

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December 20, 2010

George Hrab at the Clyde

I should really have put this post up weeks ago but, sorry I’ve been busy, with work, blah blah…. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.  Anyway this post is a not-very-good attempt to re-live a great night, a bit of a pat on the back for the organizer, Catherine D and to show some nice photos.
And what a week TAM Australia Fringe was in Melbourne, with events on successive nights.   Beginning on Tuesday the 30th of November, George Hrab put on a great performance at the Clyde Hotel.
Self confessed “suit guy”, podcaster, composer and musician George Hrab was pleasantly surprised to find that he had so many fans in Melbourne. A crowd that numbered around 150, knew the words and joined in with enthusiasm.   What a fun night, lyrics that resonate with skeptics and rational thinkers, music and laughter – good stuff.
I recall talking to Terry Kelly after the event. He said:

That was great. I can’t believe it was a free event – I would have paid good money to see that!

(hint, Terry, don’t tell Catherine).
George played Far, I really didn’t View More George Hrab at the Clyde

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December 16, 2010

A Skeptic in Church

As you’ve probably gathered, Skeptics normally don’t go to church.

President, Terry Kelly

So it was unusual for Vic Skeptics president Terry Kelly to be invited to speak at one.
No, not just any church: the Unitarian Church in Melbourne is different.  Their motto is:

Seek the Truth and Serve Humanity

It’s a good motto. It assumes that the truth isn’t already written down in an ancient book or is impossible to find.
As far as I know, none of our members are regular attendees at the Unitarian Church; we and they are clearly distinct organizations.  I’ll leave it to the reader to investigate the Unitarian Church further.  However it was interesting that Terry was given a free rein to speak about the skeptics, current issues and who we are.  Here then, is the skeptical equivalent of a “fire and brimstone” from the pulpit.
(The sound has been edited only to remove long pauses and “ums” and “arrs”.  The sound file can be found on this file sharing site.)terry-kelly-uc-talk.mp3

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