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RED ESCÉPTICA INTERNACIONAL Arturo Bosque
RED ESCÉPTICA INTERNACIONAL Arturo Bosque PAÍSES DE HABLA EN ESPAÑOL SUECIA: Vetenskap och Folkbildning (V&F). Correo- www.o4r.org/home.htm. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia ESPAÑA: ARP- Sociedad para el Avance del Pensa- e.: [email protected]. Web: www.vof.se. Association for Critical Thin-king (PhACT). Web: miento Crítico (ARP-SAPC). Correo-e: arp@arp- www.phact.org. Tennessee: Rationalists of East Ten- sapc.org. Web: www.arp-sapc.org y Círculo Escéptico. RESTO DEL MUNDO nessee Web: www.rationalists.org. Texas: North Texas Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: AUSTRALIA: Nacional: Australian Skeptics. Correo- www.circuloesceptico.org/ e.: [email protected] Skeptics. Web: www.ntskeptics.org. Washington: The ARGENTINA: Contactos: Enrique Marquez, correo-e: Web: www.skeptics.com.au.. Regionales: Web común: Society for Sensible Explanations. Web: seattleskep- [email protected] y Alejandro Borgo, correo-e: www.skeptics.com.au. New South Wales. Correo-e : tics.org. [email protected]. Argentina Skeptics. Correo-e: [email protected]. Victoria. Correo-e: vic@skep- INDIA: Indian Skeptics. Web: www.indian- [email protected]. Web: www.argentinas- tics.com.au. Victoria (Borderline). Correo-e: asborderli- skeptic.org/html/index.html. Indian Rationalist Associa- keptics.com.ar. [email protected]. Victoria (Gold Fields). Correo-e: tion. Web: www.rationalistinternational.net. Maharashtra COLOMBIA: EC. Escépticos Colombia. Correo-e: [email protected]. South Australia. [email protected]. Web: www.escepti- Correo-e: [email protected]. Tasmania. Correo-e: Superstition Eradication Committee. Web: www.anti- coscolombia.org. [email protected]. Canberra. Correo-e: act1@skep- superstition.com. COSTA RICA: IPPEC-CR. -
The Enf Ield 'Poltergeist' This Morning's Revisit of the Classic Case Provokes Further Thoughts
The Enf ield 'Poltergeist' This Morning's revisit of the classic case provokes further thoughts AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, I appeared on This Morning to talk highly resistant to disbelieving witnesses. Playfair himself wrote that"... about the Enfield 'poltergeist' with Guy Lyon Playfair (writer of This paranormal events only took place in the presence of people who House is Haunted) and Janet Winter. The producers were very pleased believed them to be possible"3 In fact, it's hard to avoid wondering that they had an appearance by the woman who had been the eleven- whether the agents of the peculiar occurrences at Enfield were simply year-old at the centre of the events in the late 70s, but were extremely refusing to play to tough crowds. concerned about her resilience and sought an assurance from me that In her piece, Ms. Barrington makes the point that "Janet has consis- I could keep it generalised and unconfrontational, which I was happy to tently resisted the fame and fortune that would certainly come her way do. When I met Janet in the Green Room, I have to say I found her if she were now to claim that she had faked all her phenomena." While extremely likeable and every bit as nervous as I had been warned. She true, that carries the implicit assumption that fame and fortune are the has previously been quite publicity-averse and, fair enough, most peo- objects of Janet's desire. Having been a witness to her demeanour at a ple would find going on the telly very nerve-wracking indeed. -
CFI-Annual-Report-2018.Pdf
Message from the President and CEO Last year was another banner year for the Center the interests of people who embrace reason, for Inquiry. We worked our secular magic in a science, and humanism—the principles of the vast variety of ways: from saving lives of secular Enlightenment. activists around the world who are threatened It is no secret that these powerful ideas like with violence and persecution to taking the no others have advanced humankind by nation’s largest drugstore chain, CVS, to court unlocking human potential, promoting goodness, for marketing homeopathic snake oil as if it’s real and exposing the true nature of reality. If you medicine. are looking for humanity’s true salvation, CFI stands up for reason and science in a way no look no further. other organization in the country does, because This past year we sought to export those ideas to we promote secular and humanist values as well places where they have yet to penetrate. as scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The Translations Project has taken the influential But you likely already know that if you are reading evolutionary biology and atheism books of this report, as it is designed with our supporters in Richard Dawkins and translated them into four mind. We want you not only to be informed about languages dominant in the Muslim world: Arabic, where your investment is going; we want you to Urdu, Indonesian, and Farsi. They are available for take pride in what we have achieved together. free download on a special website. It is just one When I meet people who are not familiar with CFI, of many such projects aimed at educating people they often ask what it is we do. -
Red Escéptica Internacional Arturo Bosque
Red escéptica internacional Arturo Bosque PAÍSES DE HABLA EN ESPAÑOL REINO UNIDO: INDIA: Association for Skeptical Enquiry (ASKE). Correo-e.: aske@talktalk. ESPAÑA: Indian Skeptics. Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http://www. net. Web: http://www.aske.org.uk/. The Skeptical Inquirer. Correo-e.: indiansceptic.in/index.htm. Indian Rationalist Association. Correo-e: ARP- Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Crítico (ARP-SAPC). [email protected]. Web: http://www.csicop.org/si/. The Skeptic Ma- – – Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http://www.arp-sapc.org/ o http:// gazine. Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http://www.skeptic.org.uk. [email protected]. Web: http://www.rationalistin- www.escepticos.org. Presidente: Félix Ares de Blas. Vicepresidenta: Skeptics in the Pub. Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http://www. ternational.net/. Teresa González de la Fe. Director Ejecutivo: Ismael Pérez. Círculo Es- skeptic.org.uk/pub/. céptico (CE). Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http:// INDONESIA: www.circuloesceptico.org/. REPÚBLICA CHECA: Indonesian Skeptics Society. Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: Ceský klub skeptiku SISYFOS. Correo.e: [email protected]. Web: ARGENTINA: http://www.sisyfos.cz/ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/5591. Contactos: Enrique Marquez, correo-e: [email protected]. Alejan- dro Borgo, correo-e: [email protected]. RUSIA: ISRAEL: Zdravyi Smysl (Sentido común). Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: Israel Skeptics Society. Correo-e: [email protected]. Web: http:// COLOMBIA: http://humanism.al.ru/en/. Club de rusos escépticos. Correo-e: club@ EC. Escépticos Colombia. Correo-e: [email protected]. mindquest.co.il/israel_skeptics_society.htm. -
Tall Tales About Mind and Brain
Tall Tales about Mind and Brain Supporting Resource Pack for Teachers Contents The Royal Society of Edinburgh ..................................................................................................1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................2 Supporting Resources for Teachers.............................................................................................4 Memory and Learning...............................................................................................................4 - Memory a User’s Guide. Professor Alan Baddeley CBE FRS,Professor of Psychology, University of York - The Myth of the Incredible Witness. Professor Tim Valentine, Professor of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London - The Perils of Intuition. Professor David G Myers, Professor of Psychology, Hope College, Holland - Magic and the Paranormal: The Psychology. Dr Peter Lamont, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, the University of Edinburgh Intelligence ................................................................................................................................8 - Bigger and Better? Brain Size and Species. Dr David Carey, School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen - Intelligence. Professor Michael Anderson, Department of Psychology, the University of Western Australia, Perth - Myths about Intelligence and Old Age. Professor Ian J Deary FBA FRSE, Professor of Differential Psychology, Department -
Defending Isagenix a Case Study in Flawed Thinking
SI Jan Feb 11 from home_SI new design masters 11/12/10 11:56 AM Page 41 Defending Isagenix A Case Study in Flawed Thinking Do those who comment on blogs even read the articles they are responding to? Here is a case study in emotional thinking, ad hominem arguments, logical fallacies, irrationality, and misinformation. HARRIET HALL he Internet is a wonderful medium for communicat- To illustrate, let’s look at some re- sponses to a piece I wrote about a ing ideas and information in a rapid, interactive way. weight-loss product called Isagenix, TMany online articles are followed by a section for which is sold through a multilevel mar- comments. Like so many things in this imperfect world, keting (MLM) scheme. To quote its website verbatim, “The Isagenix cleanse comments are a mixed blessing. They can enhance the ar- is unique because it not only removes ticle by correcting errors, adding further information, or impurities at the cellular level, it builds contributing useful thoughts to a productive discussion. the body up with incredible nutrition. Besides detoxing the body, Isagenix But all too often the comments section consists of emo- teaches people a wonderful lesson that tional outbursts, unwarranted personal attacks on the au- they don’t need to eat as much as they thor, logical fallacies, and misinformation. It provides are accustom [sic] to and eating healthy choices are really important and also a irrational and ignorant people with a soapbox from which lot of the food we are eating is nutri- to promote prejudices and false information. -
A Skeptical Look at Overnight
SI May June 2011_SI JF 10 V1 3/25/11 11:53 AM Page 1 Miracle Oil | UFO Abductology Implodes | Water Memory | Book Review: Emperor of All Maladies Vol. 35 No. 3 | May/June 2011 THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE & REASON A Skeptical Look At Overnight Power Lines and Cancer, Distant Healing and Health Care The Numerology of 23 Slaying the Vampire: Solving the Chupacabra Mystery Gho$tly Book Endeavors Published by The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 2 AT THE CEN TERFOR IN QUIRY /TRANSNATIONAL www.csicop.org Paul Kurtz, Founder Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Richard Schroeder, Chairman Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Ronald A. Lindsay, President and CEO Benjamin Radford, Research Fellow Bar ry Karr, Ex ec u tive Di rect or Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to Thom as Gi lov ich, psy chol o gist, Cor nell Univ. Lor en Pan kratz, psy chol o gist, Or e gon Health Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first editor, Sci en ces Univ. New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine The Skeptic magazine (UK) Robert L. Park,professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Kimball Atwood IV, MD, physician, author, Sus an Haack, Coop er Sen ior Schol ar in Arts and Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Newton, MA Sci en ces, professor of phi los o phy and professor Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist, au thor, con sum er of Law, Univ. -
Red Internacional Escéptica
RED INTERNACIONAL ESCÉPTICA EUROPA European Council of Skeptical Organizations pour I’Etude des Phenomenes Paranormaux.Mer- PORTUGAL: CEPO; Contacto: Ludwig Krippahl, Praceta Pero (ECSO). Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Arheilger Weg 11, lin Gerin. RGE/A2 38050 Grenoble Cedex. Union Ra- Escobar, N 2 R/c Dto 2675-599 Odivelas. Correo-e: 64380 Rossdorf.Alemania. Fax: +49 6154 695022.Tel.: tionaliste. Contacto: Jean-Paul Krivine. 14, Rue de l’E- [email protected] +49 6154 695023. Correo-e: [email protected]. cole Polytechnique. 75005 París. REINO UNIDO: Association for Skeptical Enquiry ALEMANIA: Society for the Scientific Investigation of HUNGRÍA: Hungarian Skeptics.Gyula Bencze.Termes- (ASKE),P.O. Box 5994 Ripley DE5 3XL. Fax.: +44 114 Para-Science (GWUP).Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Ar- zet Vilaga. PO Box 25. Budapest 8, 1444. Fax: 011- 221 7319. Correo-e.: [email protected]. The Skep- heilger Weg 11, 64380 Rossdorf.Tel.: +49-6154695021. 3611187506. tical Inquirer: Representante: Michael J. Hutchinson. 10 Fax: +49-6154695022. Correo-e.: [email protected]. IRLANDA: Irish Skeptics.Contacto: Peter O’Hara. St. Jose- Crescent View. Loughton. Essex 1G10 4PZ. Correo-e.: BÉLGICA: Committee Para. Presidente: J. Dommanget. ph’s Hospital, Limerick. [email protected]. ‘The Skeptic Magazine’: Editores: Observatoire Royal de Belgique.Avenue Circulaire 3. B- ITALIA: Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Toby Howard y Steve Donnelly. PO Box 475. Manchester 1180 Brussels. SKEPP.Secretario:W. Betz. Laarbeeklaan Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP). Contacto: M60 2TH. Correo-e.: [email protected]. 103. B1090 Brussels. Fax: 32-2-4774701. Massimo Polidoro, editor Scienza & Paranormale.PO Box REPÚBLICA CHECA: Czech Club of Skeptics.Contac- ESTONIA: Contacto: Indrek Rohtmets. -
Comet Elenin Will Not Destroy Earth This Year DAVID MORRISON
SI Sept. Oct 11_SI new design masters 7/26/11 1:09 PM Page 5 [ NEWS AND COMMENT Comet Elenin Will Not Destroy Earth This Year DAVID MORRISON y r o In the middle of the gathering Internet t a v r fear about the doomsday of December e s b O 12, 2012, there have been two new apoc- n i a t alyptic distractions. First there was a n u o M widely reported prediction by fundamen- e l b talist preacher Harold Camp ing (the a T L P founder of “family radio” in Cali fornia) J / s r that the end of the world would begin on e m o S May 21, 2011. Camp ing claim ed that on d n a this date the good people would be trans- , s k c ported to heaven in what is called “the i H , n Rapture.” It now seems clear that this did a m s not happen or that the number of good s i e people is vanishingly small. W In addition, there is growing fear of Comet Elenin on May 5, 2011, when it was 170 million miles from Earth. It is nothing unusual and no dramatic events are expected. newly discovered Comet Elenin, which is variously predicted to collide with Earth exerted strong gravitational or electro- Elenin. Some websites have substituted in October 2011 or to in duce massive magnetic effects on our planet. When photos of the much brighter comet Wild earthquakes and pole shifts from its grav- scientists pointed out that this little 2 and called it Elenin. -
Regression to Fundamentalist Religion As an Inadequate Defense Against Growing Environmental Complexity
Paper prepared for the sessions of the Research Committee on Sociocybernetics at the 16th World Congress of Sociology, July 23-29, 2006 in Durban, South Africa THE "WAR ON TERROR" AND "THE FUTURE OF AN ILLUSION": REGRESSION TO FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGION AS AN INADEQUATE DEFENSE AGAINST GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEXITY FELIX GEYER, [email protected] DRAFT VERSION, NOT YET TO BE QUOTED! 1. INTRODUCTION: In this paper we will argue that the present period of rapidly increasing environmental complexity and interdependence tends to increase feelings of insecurity caused by a lack of environment mastery, in both the developed Western world and the largely underdeveloped Muslim world. This will be the case especially in the less educated parts of the population, where it will stimulate an upsurge of religion, especially its fundamentalist versions. In my last few papers I have dealt, directly or indirectly, with the overwhelming political and economic1 reasons for the war on terror 2 and the leading role of the US in that war 3, in this paper attention will therefore be directed to these religious aspects, both on the Muslim side and on the US-Christian side, and to the functions of religion as such in the 21st-century world. For a thorough understanding of the following, nearly all you might ever want to know about terrorism from the Muslim side can be found by thoroughly looking at the PowerPoint presentations – and if you are interested in the subject also the papers - of the participants in a 2004 Suicide Terrorism Conference in Washington. 4 A recent MIT study complements these findings.5 The main points of these presentations will be discussed later. -
For a Tolerant World Where Rational Thinking and Kindness Prevail Welcome
Northumbria Students Union 2 Sandyford Ford, Newcastle NE1 8SB 22-24 June 2018 Newcastle FOR A TOLERANT WORLD WHERE RATIONAL THINKING AND KINDNESS PREVAIL WELCOME Welcome to Humanists UK probed some of the bigger Convention 2018, in the questions about human nature stunning city of Newcastle. We and morality. hope, over this weekend, to be inspired and entertained as One of the most striking we bring together hundreds features of Northumbrian of like-minded people to think, humanism has been its laugh, eat, and discuss ideas outward-looking nature, under one roof. We’re all here exemplifying Harold because we are humanists: Blackham’s maxim that people who shape their own ‘Humanism is about the lives in the here and now. And world, not about humanism.’ as the national organisation The North East Humanists, a for humanists in the UK, it’s partner group of Humanists Humanists UK’s mission to UK originally founded in 1957, in. And you’ll have a chance champion ideas for the one is a great example of this. to ask questions of some of life we have. This weekend The group has been a great the foremost activists working we’ll dive deep into some of supporter of the Isaac Newton to build a fairer, more rational those ideas – and we hope High School in Uganda for society in the UK and around you’ll find the talks, debates, many years now, helping the the world. and entertainment we’ve Ugandan humanists ensure put on both stimulating and that a broad-based, liberal Whether this is your first ever rewarding. -
Mark Lynas's Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference, January 3, 2013
Mark Lynas’s Lecture to Oxford Farming Conference, January 3, 2013 Reprinted from: (with video) http://www.marklynas.org/2013/01/lecture‐to‐oxford‐farming‐conference‐3‐january‐2013/ I want to start with some apologies. For the record, here and upfront, I apologise for having spent several years ripping up GM crops. I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti‐GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment. As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter‐productive path. I now regret it completely. So I guess you’ll be wondering – what happened between 1995 and now that made me not only change my mind but come here and admit it? Well, the answer is fairly simple: I discovered science, and in the process I hope I became a better environmentalist. When I first heard about Monsanto’s GM soya I knew exactly what I thought. Here was a big American corporation with a nasty track record, putting something new and experimental into our food without telling us. Mixing genes between species seemed to be about as unnatural as you can get – here was humankind acquiring too much technological power; something was bound to go horribly wrong. These genes would spread like some kind of living pollution. It was the stuff of nightmares. These fears spread like wildfire, and within a few years GM was essentially banned in Europe, and our worries were exported by NGOs like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to Africa, India and the rest of Asia, where GM is still banned today.