Following the great success of the Victorian Skeptics stands at the “Great Australian Science Show” in previous years, we will have a stand at “Science Week 2005“. It should be lots of fun with science, magic, fortune telling, lots of debate – and the bed of nails!
Where?
ScienceWorks, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood
Price: entry to ScienceWorks, for prices and deals see: http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/
View More Science Week 2005
Philip J. Klass, 85 died Aug 9. Klass was an aviation journalist who investigated UFO sightings and wrote books debunking reports of visits from outer space. “In nearly 30 years of searching, investigating famous cases, I have yet to find one that cannot be explained in down-to-earth prosaic terms” In 1988 he offered a reward of $10,000 to any victim whose abduction by aliens could be confirmed by the FBI. No-one ever collected. http://www.csicop.org/klassfiles/Home.html
Shockingly, Education Minister Brendan Nelson has said he thinks schools should be allowed to teach Intelligent Design (Creationism) in science classes, presented as an alternative to evolution. The minister clearly has fallen for the con and missed ID’s main point that a cosmic Intelligent Designer (God) superceded natural laws to make the world and all living things. This is not science it is religion.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/08/10/1123353386917.html
Homeopathy is an “alternative medicine” invented in the early 19th century by German doctor Samuel Hahnemann. Despite numerous experiments showing homeopathy to have no effect, it has become a multi-million dollar international industry with its own special rules in advertising law. In the 19th century, homeopathy was seen as a welcome alternative to dangerous medical practices of the time such as blistering, purges, leeches, and blood-letting. Although homeopathy has declined with advances in mainstream medicine, many people are nervous about the complex array of medicines that they do not understand, and which may have adverse side-effects. To them, homeopathy sounds great. Homeopathic remedies are advertised as safe. They have no side-effects, you can’t overdose, they are non habit-forming, and have no “use by” date. Why? Homeopathic preparations contain no medicine.
Some people feel better when they take homeopathic potions or pills. Some people don’t. In the modern world it’s easy to think that every time we are sick we should take medicines to make us better, (despite the fact that conditions like colds, flu and hangovers run their course and go away without medical intervention). Maybe homeopathic potions don’t work, but some people just View More Homeopathy
Echinacea doesn’t work, study finds Being sick with a cold is nothing to sneeze at, but new research finds that taking the popular herbal remedy echinacea does nothing to treat or prevent it. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/07/28/1122143939019.html
This reminds us of a 2003 study by “Choice” Magazine (ACA) which found that even if you assume echinacea works, there isn’t enough of it in common products to deliver any result. http://www.choice.com.au/goArticle.aspx?id=104058&p=1
The 2005 National Convention will be held at Bond University on the Gold Coast over the two days of the weekend 13th and 14th of August.
Please visit this website for more information: http://www.skeptics.com.au/convention/2005/index.html
Homeopathy For Pets??? Vet Says “No Way!” (Public Talk)
Homeopathy is an unusual kind of medicine that was invented in the early 19th century as an alternative to the leaches and blood-letting that were popular at the time. It’s so popular these days that homeopathic remedies can be found in almost every local chemist, and every health food shop. It’s a multi-million dollar industry.
The only trouble is that, despite many personal endorsements, there’s no real proof that it actually works. Further, it also claims to break a basic law of chemistry (and cooking!): the more you dilute something – the stronger it becomes. A tiny amount is stronger than a larger amount. Could this be? (see Homeopathy)
In recent times shops have even started selling homeopathic remedies for pets. In his talk for the Skeptics, outspoken vet, Dr Chris Andrews, will tell you why it’s just not on.
Dr Chris Andrews has been practicing as a vet for 28 years and is outspoken about his fears that clear thinking is being clouded in the veterinary profession.
Dr Andrews says that the public is demanding homeopathic treatments for their pets. “It is a great opportunity to make money which must not be taken. Homeopathy has a 200 year history of failing to get any runs on the board.”
“You are not treating the animal, you are treating the owner who is always already a believer in homeopathy.”
“Homeopathy texts talk about assessing the human psyche and treating the whole person, involving an emotional and spiritual assessment. How can this possibly be applied to animals?”
| Date | 13th July 2005 |
| Time | 8:00 pm (dinner 6:30pm) |
| Where | Imperial Hotel, function room |
| Entry | Gold coin donation |
extra keywords: homoeopathy
The Victorian Skeptics occasionally hold events at the Imperial Hotel.
Please find more information about the Imperial Hotel, including a map at the following website:
Jupiter visible today – 4pm. Visible with the naked eye during the day, but best with binoculars. http://theage.com.au/articles/2005/06/15/1118645848098.html
Astronomy Details: http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/ssky.htm#Occult
| This article is taken from The Australian Skeptic magazine and was written by Christopher Short, President of the Victorian Skeptics | See also Sensing Murder overview, Murders and Clairvoyants |
Taking a look at “Sensing Murder” – a shabby and insulting TV show
It is night in the suburbs. A street-lamp pole bears a tattered poster with the photos of three girls, information wanted. Under the bright star-lit sky stands an eldritch Rebecca Gibney.
“Many people are reticent to believe in psychic phenomena until there is scientific proof. What many people don’t realise is that there already is.”
At this, the stars in the sky coalesce into the Greek letter ‘psi‘�
“Psychic phenomena or �psi’ has been shown to exist in thousands of scientific experiments. Virtually all the scientists who have studied the evidence, even the hard-nosed sceptics, now agree that psi merits serious attention. The question is now no longer �What proof is there?’ but rather �What does the proof reveal about ourselves and the universe?’”
(Accompanying photographs show tests being performed with the words “Princeton University“)
Despite Channel Ten billing “Sensing Murder” as a show in which psychics work with police to solve murder cases, the police are not View More Sensing Nothing