June 11, 2011

The SensaSlim Libel Action Against Dr Ken Harvey. How Did it Happen?

Dr Ken Harvey
Dr Ken Harvey

After the last brief post about this issue, readers may be interested in the details, (as far as an amateur blog writer like myself can establish), as to what occurred between SensaSlim, the TGA and Dr Ken Harvey.
[Note: Links have been added to the end of this post to keep readers up to date with the legal case and to provide further reading.  Recently, this story has had significant coverage in the mainstream press.]
February 2008
A whois search shows that the Sensaslim dot com web site was registered in February 2008.
A Queensland manager of a SensaSlim distribution operation says the company is owned by a Peter O’Brien.
November 2009
The company was registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), on the 2nd of November 2009.
September 2010
SensaSlim, as a product, was listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) on the 20th of September 2010.  The ARTG product number is 176003. Only the sponsoring company is listed “SensaSlim Australia Pty Ltd” at a Sydney address, no individual’s names are shown.
As has been stated before on this site, listing on the ARTG simply means that the TGA considers the product not likely to be harmful. The TGA does not test whether the product is effective, whether supporting evidence for the claims made by the sponsor exists, or whether the claimed underlying scientific mechanisms are real.
The claims as shown on the register include:

….encourages the body’s natural fat burning processes.
….contains Camellia Sinensis (green tea) which is an antioxidant containing caffeine to assist with thermogenesis.

Thermogenesis being the nice technical View More The SensaSlim Libel Action Against Dr Ken Harvey. How Did it Happen?

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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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May 27, 2011

"Mixed Bag" June 2011 Answers

1. a. Star, rats; b. Keep, peek; c. Guns, snug; d. Part, trap; e. Reward, drawer
2. a. eating watermelon; b. the number 6; c. the moon
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Africa
5. Matthew Flinders
6. Shag
7. Long-sightedness
8. Hotel Uniform Golf
9. Manila
10. O.J. Simpson

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May 21, 2011

Enraptured?

The Rapture is ImminentMost people will now be aware that the Christian Rapture is predicted to take place today, May 21, 2011.
In fact, according to Harold Camping of Family Radio, this world-shaking event is due in just a few hours.
In the Skeptics we usually steer clear of religious topics. This is not because of any political correctness or an unwillingness to offend. It’s simply because we prefer to examine issues based on the evidence.
And if a religion makes no testable claims (which they usually don’t) then it’s not a question of evidence, but a question of faith.
The interesting thing about this particular religious prophecy, is that Harold Camping has made a testable claim.
View More Enraptured?

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May 7, 2011

Martin Plowman on Roswell

UFO Diaries CoverIn April, Martin Plowman visited the Vic Skeptics to talk about his book “The UFO Diaries” and his travels to UFO hotspots in the US.

It was a fascinating talk, touching on the philosophy of Jacques Lacan and his distinction between the “real” and the “symbolic”.

The book isn’t all high philosophy though. There’s a lot of travelogue, and a lot of the amazing characters you would be likely to meet on a UFO tour

In this snippet Martin discusses the famous Roswell UFO incident, and the evidence (or lack thereof) around it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHwPPtmQ4mI&w=448&h=252&hd=1]

Matt

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May 5, 2011

Power Balance: the End of a Shonky Fad

What can we learn from the short history of the Power Balance wrist bands in Australia?  It was a pseudo science fad that the Australian Skeptics played a part in ending.
The recent ACCC threat to prosecute retailers who continued to sell them has had an immediate chill effect.
Sports shops, health shops and retailers of all kinds have now removed Power Balance wrist bands from shelves and counters all over Australia.
How did it happen?  Who’s behind it?  Can we do the same to (insert your favourite pseudo science product here)?
What follows is a potted history of the end of the Power Balance fad.  (If you disagree or have more to add please make a comment below.)
How did it all start?
2007 (USA)
Two young entrepreneurial brothers, in Orange County California, Troy Rodarmel and Josh Rodarmel started the company in early 2007.
The business model is quite straight forward: design colourful, stylish wrist bands that can be manufactured very cheaply in China and sell them locally at a much higher price.  Market the bands by making health and technology claims and View More Power Balance: the End of a Shonky Fad

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May 1, 2011

May Puzzles

There are new puzzles available. For May’s (and April’s) Picture Puzzles and Mixed Bag questions, click on “Puzzles and Diversions” above.
The CROSSWORD PUZZLE has returned this month: go to https://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/may-2011-crossword/
Our Puzzles Archive is here: https://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/puzzles-archive/
Eight Previous Skeptical Crossword Puzzles can be found here: https://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/crosswords-links-to-all-crosswords/
Enjoy.

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