. . SOCIETY

Vol 38, No 4. December 2018

Green Meanies? Environmental

+, Hoaxes & Skepticon 2018

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

Skeptic_Cover_Dec18.indd 1 3/12/2018 8:19 pm The Skeptic December 18

Skeptical Groups in NSW VIC Inc – Eran Segev Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Chris Guest www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 5166, Melbourne VIC 3001 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: 0403 837 339 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 [email protected] Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest speaker. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm sharp. More details on – 6pm first Thursday of each our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic month at the Occidental Hotel, York Street in the city, near Wynyard Park (meeting second floor) Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis. Ballarat Skeptics in the Pub http://facebook.com/groups/3978112230309544

Hunter Skeptics – John Turner Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] Geelong Skeptics Society Contact: James Rolton [email protected] Occasional social meetings at the Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks Online group: See Facebook for details. Hill. Those on the contact list be sent details in advance. Hosting the Annual Surf Coast Summer Skepticamp (February) Currently meeting at 12.30 on third Sunday of each odd-numbered month. Gippsland Skeptics in the Pub Interested parties contact Mark Guerin or Martin Christian Power Blue Mountains Skeptics via the Gippsland Skeptics page: https://www.facebook.com/gr See Facebook for details. oups/291929110900396/?ref=bookmarks

Coffs Coast Skeptics & Freethinkers Melbourne Eastern Hills Skeptics in the Pub See Facebook for details. Contact: Andrew Rawlings [email protected] Tel: 0438 043 050 hyyp://groupspaces.com/meh-sitp ACT https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melbourne-Eastern-Hills Canberra Skeptics – Lauren Kelly PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 Skeptics-in-the-Pub/19241290737690 www.canberraskeptics.org.au Tel: 0410 382 306 Meets second Monday of each month at The Knox Club, [email protected] (general ), Wantirna South. [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). A free monthly talk, open to the public - check website for details Melbourne Skeptics in the Pub Skeptics in the Pub gather at 1pm on the third Sunday of each See Facebook for details. month at King O’Malleys Pub in Civic. For up-to-date details: Meets on the fourth Monday of every month from 6 pm at the www.meetup.com/ SocialSkepticsCanberra/ Mt View Hotel in Richmond.

Mordi Skeptics in the Pub http://www.meetup.com/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ Meets at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month at the Mordialloc Sporting Club. ($4 to cover website costs)

For details on Skeptical groups in states and territories, see inside back cover Volume 38 • No 4 December 18 Contents REPORTS Skepticon 2018 12 12 Various authors

NZ Skeptics convention 24 Ian Bryce 24

FEATURES 26 The Green Meanies? 26 Jonas Larsen

The Old is Still Present 34 Geoff Russell 34 38 ARTICLES It’s All in Your Head 38 Mchelle Cooper Hitler, Dogs and Sexism 44 44 Martin Bridgstock

The of EUTS 48 Sir Jim R Wallaby

48 REGULARS 52 Editorial 4 Around the Traps 5 Them! 10 Logical Place 42 Puzzles page 43 54 What goes around 52 Book reviews 54 Forum 59 Letters 60 Quotable Quotes 62 EDITORIAL

You’re welcome regular comment among the required skills and expertise to reach Amanagers of associations is that an audience will change, as there is a fragmenting of their potential develops and as society evolves into audience, often based around the new areas and new attitudes. And if the particular medium you use to try to volunteers aren’t able to work with those reach them. There is the snail mail changes, then you miss out on reaching ISSN 0726-9897 audience, the email audience, the one potential audience while your Quarterly Journal of magazine audience, the newsletter current ones gets smaller and smaller Australian Skeptics Inc audience, the Facebook audience, the until the organisation no longer serves (ABN 90 613 095 379) Twitter audience … it goes on. enough people to warrant its . Editor Obviously, there are overlaps For years, Skeptics have been tarred Tim Mendham between those groups, but there are with the image of old bearded white also a significant number of people males. Now there’s nothing particularly Editorial Board who prefer one medium to the other. wrong with old bearded white males Steve Roberts We know for a that there are many (ahem) except perhaps for the old bit. Eran Segev people who subscribe to our newsletter But a fair proportion of the potential Martin Hadley who do not also subscribe to this audience is not old, bearded, white, or Design Services magazine. Likewise, there are people male. Ignoring that potential audience – Nova Consulting P/L who regularly visit the various Skeptics in the same way as ignoring the various groups’ Facebook pages who you might media – means we won’t grow, probably All correspondence to: never see at a function or reach via because we have scared off or not even Australian Skeptics Inc traditional mail or even email. reached those who might be interested PO Box 20 Every organisation, whatever its area in joining up. Beecroft NSW 2119 of activity, needs to keep refreshing This is one reason why we launched Australia its audience and reaching out to new our diversity and inclusivity statement. Contact details potential supporters, simply to survive. You can read the full statement on Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 Members, supporters, and followers get our website (skeptics.com.au/about/ Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 tired, get bored, find other interests, inclusivity-and-diversity). It’s not Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 or simply move on to that great very long, but in summary it’s “We organisation in the sky. are committed to the presence and [email protected] Organisations that rely on only one contributions of all persons, regardless www.skeptics.com.au medium to reach their current and of age, culture, abilities, ethnic origin, future audience will wither and die. gender identity, sexual orientation, The Skeptic is published four times That’s a fact of life ... and death. And if religious background, etc.” per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. the organisation’s management is not There are two aspects to this Views and opinions expressed in articles aware of or not capable of using all the statement. One is that we do not want and letters in The Skeptic are those of communications means available to it, to scare off potential audiences because the authors, and are not necessarily then they need to get out of the way we don’t seem to “speak their language”: those of Australian Skeptics Inc. and let those who do know to play a new blood with different views is the Articles may be reprinted with leading role, if not run the show. life-blood of any organisation. But the permission and with due acknowledge- That’s particularly true for Skeptics other more important aspect is that it is ment to The Skeptic. groups. All such groups were started by the right thing to do. It’s an ethical, fair All effort is made to ensure correct volunteers – enthusiastic, committed, and sensible approach as much as it is a acknowledgement of all contributions. hard-working, and knowledgeable. pragmatic survival one. And if there is We are happy to update credit when so Some have managed to bring in something Skeptics are (or should be) informed. professional help for specific tasks and it’s ethical, fair and sensible. Anyone functions, but most are still run by who thinks otherwise is in the wrong Editorial submission deadline volunteers. organisation. . for the next issue: Volunteers have their own skills January 31, 2019 and expertise, but as sure as eggs the - Tim Mendham, editor 4 NEWS The Skeptic December 18 Around the traps ... Australian Skeptics’ annual awards

Every year Australian Skeptics hand with a love for natural remedies, out a range of awards – some positive, functional training, healthy recipes and the not-so-desirable Bent Spoon. and learning to listen to my body”. This year’s winners have a decidedly She’s warm, engaging, has a bubbly medical flavour - a proponent of personality, has product lines in haven’t prayed hard enough, haven’t ‘natural’ healing with over a million food and clothing, and is one of the thought positively enough, or haven’t followers, a university-based proponent loudest voices in the Australian health consumed the right supplement. of the rational side of medicine in and wellness industry. So to suggest you can heal your the fight against “chemo-phobia”, But she does not have cervix with positive thoughts and a journalist who has written qualifications in health. and green smoothies is not only exceptional investigative pieces on On 26 April 2018, Sarah’s Day narcissistic, it’s also dangerous to pseudomedicine. posted on Instagram “I DID IT!! I recommend other women should do The winners were announced on reversed my cervical dysplasia”. She the same thing. October 13 at the formal dinner for promoted her own ‘natural’ success Just because she is lovely and the Australian Skeptics’ National story in treating her pre-cancerous charming doesn’t mean that she’s Convention, which this year was held condition through a regimen of “the right. in Sydney. power of natural medicine, food, Sarah Stevenson, for wielding lifestyle changes and prayer” and that her influence by spreading The Bent Spoon: she “made a conscious effort every misinformation based on her own A Bad Day for Sarah day to cure [her] cervix”. anecdotal , is a worthy It’s admirable to promote a healthy recipient of the 2018 Bent Spoon. The Bent Spoon is awarded to the lifestyle, but believing you’ve healed There were other contenders for proponent of the most preposterous your cervical dysplasia “naturally” is the Spoon, and while not everyone piece of pseudoscientific or not grounded in . can win, a particular dishonourable piffle of the year, and is one of the The vast majority of cervical mention went to the Therapeutics least desirable prizes in the country. abnormalities are caused by the Goods Administration (TGA) and the Past winners have included Pete Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), also Australian Government. On March ’Paleo’ Evans, known as the 6 the TGA enshrined hundreds of the CSIRO’s wart virus, which pseudoscience former head is known to claims in legislation. The Therapeutic Larry Marshall, regress of its own Goods Act now includes a list of the ABC, the accord in 70 per “permissible indications”, which Pharmacy Guild cent of cases. are medical advertising claims of Australia, the The Cancer that complementary medicine University of Council of manufacturers can include on Wollongong, and a Australia states products to encourage purchase. dentist. that “there is no These claims include: “Balance This year’s Bent evidence that Aggravated Vanta”, “Upraise/Lift Spoon went to there is anything Sunken Middle ”, “Moisten Sarah Stevenson, a woman can do Dryness in the Triple Burner”, aka Sarah’s Day, in terms of diet “Replenish the gate of vitality”, and who has built and lifestyle that a personal favourite, “Disinhibit an online following, largely in the promotes regression”. Water”. These advertising claims, now demographic of young women, with Declaring that you’ve healed supported by legislation, are worse over 1 million people on social media. your cervix “naturally” is not only than misleading – they have no basis She hosts one of the most popular ignorant, but it’s insulting to people in reality. health podcasts in the country - The who have been diagnosed with [See all of the 2018 nominations at Health Code. She describes herself as cervical dysplasia or cancer. It implies skeptics.com.au/features/bent-spoon/ “a holistic health and fitness youtuber that if you require treatment, you nominations/] 5 23 NEWS

Annual awards... Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism continued For 20 years, Barry Williams was the face of Australian Skeptics. As president and then executive officer he was everywhere, representing the across all media, and doing it with style, enthusiasm, , humour, and a deep loud voice. Barry passed away early this year, and in honour of him, we have established the Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism. We’ve nicknamed this award the “Wallaby”, Life Memberships in memory of Sir Jim R Wallaby, which Life Memberships of Australian Skeptics was the regular nom-de-plume Barry are awarded occasionally to those who used for his more whimsical editorial have supported Skeptical activity for pieces. The award will be given some time and with distinction. They annually, with a citation and a $2000 are often given to those who work in prize. the background, not often appreciated It will recognise the best piece of by the public but definitely so by the journalism (in any medium) that Skeptical movement. takes a critical and skeptical approach This year two Life Memberships to a topic that falls within our remit, were awarded, both to past presidents of which is the scientific investigation of Australian Skeptics Inc. Martin Hadley The Thornett Award: pseudoscience and the paranormal. received his award for his important role Reason in the Face of Fear The inaugural winner of the Wallaby in bringing stability and development was Jane Hansen, reporter for News to ASI in the late 90s and early 2000s, Colloquially known as the Fred, the Corp, who has written extensively on sometimes during challenging times. He Skeptics’ Thornett Award for the many areas of interest and concern to still acts as treasurer for ASI. Eran Segev, Promotion of Reason commemorates Skeptics, including the anti-vaccination who stood down as president earlier Fred Thornett, a Tasmanian Skeptic and anti-fluoride movements, fad this year, was the second recipient, who died in 2009. This award diets, and quack cures. Her output who received his award for his work acknowledges a member of the public always – and especially in 2018 - in extending the Skeptics reputation or a public figure who has made a reflects the best in and internationally and for bring his significant contribution to educating investigative reporting. particular management skills to ensuring or informing the public regarding ASI is run as a professional and effective issues of science and reason. The organisation. . award includes a cash prize of $2000. This year’s Fred went to Dr Ian Musgrave, senior lecturer in pharmacology at the University Adelaide. Dr Musgrave has been a prominent voice in the media, giving the science- based perspective on stories related to the toxicity of various herbal remedies, as well as conducting his own into the properties of these products. He has been a long-standing and effective science communicator in the area of pharmacology and provides a voice of reason in challenging “chemo- phobia”. 6 The Skeptic December 18

Belle Gibson faces jail time if $410k fine Europe takes action on for cancer fraud goes unpaid alt med and anti-vax

AUS: A Federal Court In September EUROPE: Following a major judge has warned fake last year, she was outbreak of measles across Europe, wellness blogger Belle ordered to pay a with nearly 33,000 cases reported Gibson she could go total of $410,000 in since 2016. About half of those to jail if she does not fines for misleading were in Romania. Consequently pay $410,000 for and deceptive various European governments have duping customers and conduct, but to taken strong action to protect the breaching Australian date has not paid. population. consumer law. In fact, she missed The Spanish government has Gibson claimed to most of the court proposed legislation to avoid ‘harmful have had brain cancer, which she cured hearings simply by not turning up. effects’ caused by and using alternative therapies and good Gibson and Consumer Affairs , among other alt med nutrition. It was later revealed that she Victoria have until December 11 treatments. The proposal, unveiled by never had the condition, but had made to respond to the decision before a science and health ministers, aims to hundreds of thousands of dollars in penal notice can be issued. avoid the “potential harmful effects” donations and sales through an app, The judgement added a warning of the practices when they are used and the launch of a “Whole Pantry” that “Any other person who knows as an alternative or a complement to cookbook. of this order and does anything treatment that is itself based on “proof She also made false claims about which helps or permits you to and scientific rigour”. donating a large portion of her profits breach the terms of this order may The Israeli government has proposed to charities and to the family of a boy be similarly punished.” . a “Vaccination Law” which will ban any with an inoperable brain tumour. unvaccinated person - child, parent, or teacher - from attending school “where there is concern of an outbreak”. Anti-vaxxer charges $4000 for ‘ report’ This would apply to all schools, from kindergartens through universities. AUS: Anti-vaccination activist Judy and medical community. Her thesis Despite earlier threatening to Wilyman, with no medical training, is argued vaccination was a conspiracy. dismantle Italy’s vaccination program, charging $4000 for an “expert report” Hansen quoted immunologist the country’s populist coalition to present in court cases to help parents and president of Friends of Science government has called for nearly a who do not want to have their children in Medicine Professor million children and young people to vaccinated. as saying that, if courts allowed be given vaccinations against measles Discussed in the previous issue of Wilyman to be an expert witness there amid an “emergency” over the rising The Skeptic, Wilyman acted on behalf was something wrong with the legal number of cases (see above). The Five of a mother who was fighting her pro- system. Star Movement and The League, which vaccination husband in court. While Hansen was winner of the first make up the government that came to the amount she was charging was not Australian Skeptics’ award for skeptical power in June, have previously peddled known at the time of the previous journalism, announced at the Skeptics conspiracy theories about the supposed article, an investigation by Jane Hansen convention in October. . risks of having vaccinations. But they for the Sunday Telegraph now seem to have renounced their reveals that Wilyman has scepticism, with the health ministry been involved in four calling for 800,000 infants, children separate court cases of and young adults to receive vaccinations estranged parents. Wilyman against measles. also charges $150 an hour A 2016 survey by the School as an expert witness. of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Wilyman received a showed that many of the countries with doctorate in humanities the highest skepticism of vaccines were in 2016, controversially in Europe. In France, for instance, 41 awarded by the University percent of those surveyed said vaccines of Wollongong amid are not safe — more than three times criticism from the scientific the global average of 12%. . 7 23 NEWS

John Maddox prize for Britt Hermes A fairtyale ending

INTERNATIONAL: Britt cost and she was sued for UK: A recent auction of original prints Hermes, an American former defamation by an American of the photos of the infamous Cottingley naturopath, has been recognised with naturopath in a case due to be fairies reached a final price well above as joint winner of the john Maddox heard in a German court. Australian expectations. Prize for her advocacy of evidence- Skeptics has been instrumental The auctioneers had estimated that the based medicine through in establishing an two prints would sell for between £700 her blog, Naturopathic international fund to cover and £1000 each, but huge international Diaries, in which she her legal costs. interest led them to fetching more than exposes bogus claims Her co-winner of the ten times that. made by alternative prize is Prof Terry Hughes, The most famous photo, Alice and the medicine practitioners, the director of the ARC Fairies, which shows one of the girls (who which she says could place Centre of Excellence for was actually named Frances, not Alice) patients in danger. Coral Reef Studies in surrounded by four The Prize is awarded Australia and a world fairies, sold to scientists for “their expert on the Great Barrier for £15,000, courage in promoting Reef. He was awarded the while Iris and the science and evidence on prize for bringing to the Gnome - which matters of public interest, despite world’s attention the catastrophic features a gnome smears, threats and attempted coral reef bleaching that has dancing towards lawsuits”. occurred as the world’s oceans have Frances’ cousin Hermes said her own professional warmed, in the face of government Elsie - reached journey had come at a personal apathy or even denial. . £5400.” .

SPECIAL OFFER Leader of “socially harmful ” guilty for Subscribers AUS: Serge Benhayon, a former involving healing techniques such Australian Skeptics is offering tennis coach turned self-styled spiritual as “esoteric breast massage”, “ subscribers to the hard copy healer, has been found guilty of leading puncture”, and “ovarian reading” edition of The Skeptic a “socially harmful cult”, “intentionally brought his reputation down around indecently touched” clients and his head. an additional digital copy making “bogus healing claims”. Media reports suggests that the for free. Benhayon sued acupuncturist “numerous supporters, including Many of our subscribers have and former client Esther Rockett for family members and associates who defamation over a series of blog posts kept a watchful eye on media coverage already taken up this offer. and tweets she posted beginning in of the case” during the case dwindled If you are not doing so but November 2014. The suit backfired to “a handful of stalwarts as the trial would like to get the free dramatically when Benhayon made a dragged on”. number of strange admissions, such While the trial was underway, digital copy, then email to as being a of Leonardo other reports appeared of Benhayon’s [email protected] de Vinci and Pythagoras. More practices in ensuring income for his and we’ll adjust your importantly, his spiritual practice organisation Universal Medicine, located on the North Coast of NSW. subscription accordingly. The ABC reported that the Note, this offer is only open to daughter of a woman who had left subscribers to the hard copy the bulk of her estate to UM released emails between Benhayon and her (paper) edition and is limited mother where he warned her against to one free digital copy per publcly revealing donations to UM subscriber. because evil spirits known as “the Dark Lodge” could “cause serious harm” to donors. . 8 The Skeptic December 18

Faith in higher power coincides with US psychic industry other paranormal beliefs worth $2 billion

USA: A new study by PsychTests. • (82% vs 49% of non- USA: A report from industry com indicates that people who believers) researchers IBISWorld predicts a believe in a power or a • (64% vs 40% bright future for the psychic industry: divine entity are also more open to of non-believers) “Improving economic conditions the existence of other paranormal • (92% vs 53% of non- will continue to boost industry phenomena. believers) performance”. According to the research, people The one area where non-believers In 2018, the industry, comprising who are open to the possibility of outnumbered believers was in more than 94,000 businesses, had a supernatural essence don’t limit extraterrestrial life. total revenue of US$2 billion, annual themselves to strictly religious or Dr Ilona Jerabek, president of growth between 2013-2018 of two spiritual beliefs. They are, in fact, PsychTests, said “ in divinity per cent, and employed nearly 90,000 more likely to be open to other or in supernatural seems to (which means some people must be paranormal phenomena including act like a gateway to other beliefs. running more than one business). telepathy, bad luck, curses, and aliens. In contrast, the only paranormal The report says the steady growth Analysing data from 11,341 people phenomenon skeptics believed in very was a result of recovering economic who took their Paranormal Beliefs strongly was aliens. For many people conditions and “growing acceptance of Test, researchers from PsychTests who believe in extraterrestrials, it’s industry services among consumers”. compared two unique groups: those pretty much a mathematical According to another study by Pew who believe in a supernatural power that there has to be life on other Research Center, women are twice (the believers) and those who don’t planets, given the incalculable size of as likely as men to visit a psychic. As (the non-believers). the . more women enter the workforce, they Compared to non-believers, people “It’s important to keep in mind, are able to afford a greater number of who believe in a supernatural power that a surprisingly high percentage discretionary services, such as psychic also believe in: of Non-believers, people who don’t readings. • Premonitions (87% vs 50% of believe in a divine entity, still hold a “Given that psychic services are non-believers) number of paranormal beliefs. While relatively discretionary, industry • Horoscopes (74% vs 45% of non- our sample may be somewhat biased - revenue is positively correlated believers) people self-selected to take the test - it with trends in per capita disposable • The adverse effects of negative goes to show that paranormal beliefs income. Per capita disposable income thinking (64% vs 27% of non- in the general population are alive is expected to increase in 2018, believers) and kicking.” . presenting a potential opportunity for the industry.” . Crowdfunding sites may fuel bogus cancer cures

UK: The results of an 18-month they do not facilitate the exploitation” study into fundraising for cancer of patients. pseudo-cures, undertaken by Good Some sites are already looking Thinking Society in the UK, indicate at how they can put protections in that crowdfunding has allowed place and GoFundMe told the British people who couldn’t afford treatment Medical Journal that it is already on their own to access private “taking proactive steps” in the US to treatments not available through warn people fundraising for treatment the NHS, or join clinical trials for and will roll this out globally soon. experimental drugs. The problem But UK-based crowdfunding is, of course, that some of those group JustGiving, which reports more treatments are bogus. than 2300 cancer-related appeals were The study has received major set up in 2016, a seven-fold increase coverage in the UK press. It points on the year before, said: “We don’t out that fundraising sites should believe we have the expertise to make “have a responsibility to ensure that this judgement.” . 9 23 THEM Readers’ indigestible Tim Mendham looks at some websites which try to instill some skepticism into news coverage.

his issue, we look at several websites which make an attempt to look Tbehind the news stories to assess whether they have correctly interpreted and relayed the key issues of medical and other technical subjects. But while fake news proliferates, the analysis of them is in decline. Read on.

fake Behind the ^News The term “fake news” is thrown Just as you have journalists to help so far this year. around, especially in political circles, you understand a topic, there are also There is a handy page of pie charts often indiscriminately, inconsistently, journalists (albeit fewer) to help you showing the scores for a particular and hypocritically. As Wikipedia spot a shonky story. outlet’s stories. The average for over defines it, “Fake news is a type of For example, Health News Review 2600 stories across all outlets is 3.1 stars. yellow journalism or propaganda that (healthnewsreview.org) describes its role Fox News scored no 5-star reviews, and consists of deliberate disinformation or as “improving your critical thinking more than half had 2-stars, giving it an hoaxes spread via traditional print and about health care”. average score of 2.13. That puts it down broadcast news media or online social The US site, which is designed like the bottom of those outlets with enough media.” a news outlet’s website in its own right, reviews to make a proper statistical That’s one aspect. Another is as was launched in 2006 by journalist judgement. Sadly it’s joined there by an “A term … used to cast doubt upon Gary Schwitzer, modelling it after a outlet called Medical Daily. legitimate news from an opposing Media Doctor Australia project he Overall there is a plethora of very political standpoint, a tactic known as admired. (That site, which was started interesting and useful information, ‘the lying press’.” by Amanda Wilson of Newcastle including a helpful “veteran science But there is also accidental fake news, University, went into hiatus in 2012. communicator’s guidelines for PR news which may not have any particular Its current state is uncertain.) To date, releases on medical research”. agenda behind it. Accidental fake news Schwitzer’s team has produced 6000+ The problem is, Health News might derive from a lack of time on articles, investigating health stories in Review is closing down due to a lack of a journalist’s part to properly cover a mainstream media, wire services, PR sufficient funding. subject, lack of knowledge to properly releases – whatever comes out in words. And thereby hangs the tale of self- understand a subject, or just laziness The pieces they review are given star funded sites that rely on presumably that leads to misinterpretation and ratings, assessing accuracy, coverage of low-paid workers (if paid-at-all misrepresentation. issues like costs, data assessment and workers) to churn out copious But how to recognise fake news and quality of evidence, disclosure of harms, amounts of copy. how to deal with it? Most of us do not sensationalism (“disease mongering”), It was the same for Sharon Hill’s have the knowledge to fully understand appropriate sources, etc. Doubtful News – closed due to lack every topic and every subject. The areas While many stoties are crticised for of financial support, and a touch of Skeptics operate in are full of esoteric “unsatisfactory” coverage, not all are exhaustion. Healthnewsreview even and technical information that is very dismissed. A CNN report on peanut offered a pre-publication press release difficult to keep on top of. This is allergy treatment gets the maximum review service ... for free. Only seven particularly so in health and medicine. five stars, while a Fox News piece on the institutions took them up on their offer. That’s no-one’s fault – we can’t all be same research gets only two. But there As Schwitzer says in a comment: “We renaissance men or women. aren’t many stories that tick all the boxes are bewildered. We don’t know what Fortunately there is help at hand. required for good reporting - only eight more we can do.”

10 The Skeptic December 18

fake Spotting^ News In September the ABC News series “Mr Peabody and his pet boy website published a useful article Sherman”, which aired as part of on how to spot fake news online, the Rocky & Bullwinkle show in listing a number of free tools for fact- 1959-60.) The ABC guide finishes checking bogus stories (tinyurl.com/ with checking for bots that create ya5za3a3). ‘attractive’ versions of news stories, These include tools for reverse and online translation services image searches - you see a photo for text using optical character in a news story, and think, that recognition. These include captions looks familiar, is that real or on photos, which is difficult and PhotoShopped. The classic “shark in a neat trick. But none of these are NHS SERVICE a flooded subway” would fit here, or perfect. Perhaps they should go for a publicly- simply, as demonstrated, using the On the topic of photos, there’s funded operation, like the UK NHS’s hopeful “Not Afraid” sign from one a Facebook page that looks at fake Behind the Headlines – “Your guide protest (following the Charlie Hebdo photos, like those mentioned above. to the science that makes the news” terrorist attack in January 2015) and Fake History Hunter (facebook. (nhs.uk/news). transposing it to a photo of a massive com/fakehistoryhunter) is run by This site has a very clean look (you protest following the Paris Bataclan one person, presumably Jo Hedwig might call it dull) but full of easily massacre in November of the same Teeuwisse, a Dutch historical digestible information, including year. consultant for TV, films, etc. The an A-Z of medical conditions and Other tools look at pages from Facebook site looks at a wide range medicines. The section on Health websites that have since been taken of photos – often wartime – and News breaks down recent coverage of down - the Wayback Machine investigates them to find their real research and health announcement contains “a virtual library of the origin. These are largely just real according to a range of circumstances changes to billions of pages across the photos with fake attributions, not (eg cancer, food and diet, exercise and web”. It’s been going since 1996, so necessarily digitally manipulated, lifestyle, older people, etc). Each item that’s a lot of pages. This is extremely pitched as if they were one thing gives the media source, the of useful for finding what someone when they’re really another, usually the coverage, details of the research said years ago which they now done by someone other than the (methodology), and a conclusion. deny saying. (If you want to know photographer. The comments on the This might include a comment on the origin of the name Wayback site are often as or more interesting the media coverage itself, though Machine just Google the cartoon than the photos. . basically it is a means to look behind the often-superficial media story to see the research and results in more detail, without being overly academic. The obvious conclusion is that there are a lot more websites promoting fake or sloppy news than there are sites reviewing and exposing them. Gary Schwitzer makes the point that “Journalism, which is supposed to be a watchdog, needs to have a watchdog eyeing it – especially on health care topics so often polluted by inaccurate, imbalanced, woefully incomplete reporting.” Such watchdogs are few and far between. .

11 REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

———————–––––––– 1 illed as a “festival exploring science, reason and critical DR KARL KRUSZELNICKI thinking”, the 34th annual Australian Skeptics convention – Great moments in science – real or fake? Skepticon – was held in Sydney during October this year, and Blike its 33 predecessors it featured an impressive range of speakers Listening to a presentation by Dr Karl is covering medicine, space, education, belief systems, linguistics, like standing in rough surf and trying not and classic skeptical topics, drawing on the best of local and to move – one topic after another washes international researchers and science communicators. over you, and when you’ve just found your feet and taken a deep breath after The post-convention response from attendees was extremely the last one, then another one hits you in positive, achieving very high review scores, with some calling it “the the face and you’re winded all over again. best ever”. Especially noted was the fact that more than half of the Dr Karl is, of course, one of Australia’s speakers were women, countering the oft-suggested image of skeptics best known science communicators, the as “old bearded men”. Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at Sydney Here, then, is a summary of a great event, in the order of University and an official National Living Treasure. His enthusiasm for every aspect appearance. It’s the next best thing to being there (that is, until we of science and medicine is palpable. At post videos on at least some of the presentations, hopefully soon). times, the thread in the non-stop stream Next year’s convention will be in Melbourne (date and place to be of science consciousness as he hops from announced), the 35th in a line of consecutive annual conventions, one set of to the next seems to be which is a record for any skeptical group. lost in the melee. But that doesn’t matter; it’s just hold on and enjoy the ride. a PLACE of REASON

Skepticon 2018 featured a panoply of local and overseas on a broad range of topics, skeptical and scientific. Tim Mendham, Jessica Singer, Ian Bryce, and Lara Benham capture the of and reason.

12 The Skeptic December 18

He kicked off the convention with an electricity; it will take 15 years to do the hour long collection of science facts and same for transport; and 40 years for zero fiction, beginning with a comment on emissions in livestock and agriculture, how he had benefited from government albeit that latter figure will be hard to support for higher education, having reach, thanks to genetics and that cows spent 16 years at university doing various don’t like being messed around with. degrees in medicine and science. This So there was a thread – it was the was when governments considered wonder of science and technology. As a investment in the future via education fascination, as a passion, Kruszelnicki’s was worthy of its largesse – a benefit presentation was as bright and lively as his to the nation rather than a financial infamous colourful shirts. He concluded burden. with a quote from Nobel Prize winner Before, during and after his academic Richard Feynman: “Science is a way to life he worked as a ditch-digger, taxi not get fooled”. And, in this case, a way driver, roadie for Bo Diddley, steel to keep you fascinated for an hour. industry researcher, and developed [TM] ophthalmology technology for Fred Hollows. ———————–––––––– 2 1 It would be impossible (and lengthy) ALESSA TEUNISSE to describe in detail every “great moment The psychology of gullibility decline in people identifying with a in science” he covered, but briefly they . But according to Teunisse, ranged from the history of the ‘selfie’ (the Most of us have received an email with religious beliefs have no connection with word’s first appearance in writing was by the exhortation The Prince of Nigeria gullibility. Australian Nathan “Hopey” Hope in an Needs Your Help! or something similar, She has also looked at belief in the online forum on September 13, 2002 - which then goes on to offer an amount paranormal, which so far seems only to at 15:19:29 to be precise); the obvious of money beyond most people’s wildest be moderately connected with gullibility. assessment that Santa and Superman dreams to be had for just a small So why do people fall for scams or are the same person; a paranormal/ transaction fee. And of course no one ? It seems that some people are more pseudoscience Venn diagram; his broken that they will ever be taken in by vulnerable than others. little finger; Bach rescue remedy (a drop a confidence trickster. But so far this year, In order to conduct her research she of dew and brandy); the tilt of the Earth; Australians have lost $84 million to such has had to come up with a working that anthropogenic-caused climate scams. definition of gullibility and has change was recognised first by the So what makes otherwise intelligent, developed the following: gullibility insurance industry in 1973; falsehoods seemingly rational people fall for dodgy is an acceptance of a false premise spread by the alcohol industry; the claims or get drawn into cults? in the presence of indications of history of Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Alessa Teunisse is studying the untrustworthiness. Benz, and her travels in the first car – psychology of gullibility as part of her Gullibility is different from trust, no road maps, no roads; the poor sod PhD at Macquarie University and while it which Teunisse defines as a generalised falsely accused of starting the Great is too early for any concrete results, she is expectancy that people can be relied Fire of London; why judges tend to developing a methodology for measuring on. Counterintuitively, people who make negative judgements when they’re gullibility and made some interesting are high in trust are quicker than hungry; and what poet Alexander Pope discoveries along the way. 2 had to do with the Pierian Springs in You might think we are Thrace. less gullible than we were And the rest. 10 years ago. Every year, The adventures of Bertha Benz held Professor Mike Archer at a lesson for energy developers and the UNSW has surveyed consumers, and those who understand his first year students on technology change. In 1888, when she their belief in evolution set off on the first long distance drive versus theistic creation. The (she travelled close to 200km) there were results of his study have no petrol stations; in 1988 there were been published recently 500,000; in 2088, Karl says, there will and show a decline in be none. Likewise carbon emissions – in belief in theistic creation 10 years, he predicts, there will be zero commensurate with the carbon emissions in the production of census data showing a 1303 REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

A place of reason Continued...

others in detecting indicators of untrustworthiness. So how is gullibility measured? Teunisse’s gullibility scale uses a 12 question self-assessment and she has run the assessment on three groups: scam victims, skeptics and a control group. So far, the results are as expected, with 3 the scam victims scoring a mean of 40.6 in gullibility, whereas the control group Howarth, Trish Hann, and Dr Vyom June 2018, Stevenson claimed that she scored a mean of 35.4 and the skeptics Sharma, together with moderator Dr had healed her own cervical dysplasia scored a mean of 27. Brad McKay. CIN 3 through natural medicine, food, Her research to date suggests that Benhamu and Howarth both work in lifestyle changes and prayer. gullibility seems to be related to a lack cancer treatment and both see plenty of Sharma noted that the appeal of of social intelligence and is exhibited by problematic alternative treatments in this Sarah’s Day is that it demonstrates people who are more impulsive and have area. Jo noted that alternative treatments over one’s own health and a less developed theory of mind. fall into two types: treatment of the creates a sense of community, but [JS] cancer itself and symptom management. there is also a lack of understanding. The latter is more forgivable, but it can As Benhamu said, when it comes to ———————–––––––– 3 be a gateway to other more problematic treating cancer, it is impossible for one MEDICAL PANEL treatments. Howarth the person to understand and apply the Something is wrong on the internet same issues in the UK and also noted required degree of specialised knowledge. that alternative therapies promote Howarth pointed out that the simplistic You’re probably familiar with the cartoon distrust in doctors. approach and explanations are typical of a person, hunched over the computer, As a GP, Sharma sees different trends. of alternative medicine and that Sarah’s unable to go to bed because something is Currently, he has noticed the rise of Day demonstrates the increasing distrust wrong on the internet. technology as a health disrupter and in experts which is harnessed by the And when it comes to medical as a new form of alternative medicine. alternative health movement. matters, many things on the internet are Hann, who works as a clinical educator So what can skeptics do to compete wrong as was explored by the participants in diagnostic radiology, pointed out that with internet personalities? Complaining on this panel: Joanne Benhamu, Dr Alice the internet plays a pivotal and universal about dangerous content to web hosters role in this, as it is available all the time or reporting it to regulators are two and provides a platform for new ways options. It is also possible to leave to manage health (through new medical comments or post rebuttals to erroneous apps) and access health information. claims, but this could backfire and YouTube is a vehicle for alternative encourage attacks by trolls. And if you practitioners to market their services and respond to trolls, the panel’s advice was on Instagram “influencers” are able to to stay on message and keep the wider proffer advice and encouragement on all audience in mind at all times. sorts of topics – medical ones included. [JS] McKay, who is a GP as well as a regular guest on TV and radio programs, ———————–––––––– 4 went on to introduce discussion of the LEE MURRAY winner of the 2018 Bent Spoon, Sarah’s What does(n’t) your speech say Day, aka Sarah Stevenson: a “holistic about you? health and fitness YouTuber” who uses Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and a Linguist Lee Murray kicked off her blog to promote her message of health presentation with a live demonstration and happiness, despite having no - using audience online input - of how 4 qualifications in health whatsoever. In we characterise a person based on their 14 The Skeptic December 18

survival rates differ according to the type of cancer. Inevitably, alternative treatments for cancer have mushroomed. Such treatments are invariably expensive and online fundraising by desperate cancer patients collects millions of dollars annually. One example is Gerson Therapy, which Howarth examined in depth. It is both expensive and unpleasant, it involves time spent in a clinic receiving treatment (which could be spent instead in getting evidence-based treatment), as well as money spent on machinery for at- home treatments, and on products such as “organic” produce, juices and enemas. So why do patients choose 5 alternative therapies? Treating cancer is a complicated process and it is essential to accent alone. respondents primed to react in particular understand cell mutation and the types Accents are real, and the way ways. of cancer in order to tailor treatment. someone talks is intrinsic to how we deal “Conclusions about language are not This is where science comes in: it is about with them. But that decision is often as objective as we like to think.” finding clever solutions and continuous influenced by aspects other than the Decision-making based on accents improvement. But it can also be difficult language used. can have serious implications, including and complex and, most frightening of The way this is studied includes how we allocate people for social, legal, all, uncertain. “variations linguistic studies” which look employment and education positions. By contrast, pseudoscience tends at single variants in speech and what Is the person intelligent, educated, to simplify the issue, misrepresent the personal aspects correlate with, and how will they fit in? Our decisions are science and peddle alternative cancer “ethnographic linguistic studies” which based as much on race, gender, class, treatments as easy, one stop, “magic involves researchers often embedded in or “something else”. We need to be bullet” solutions any or all of which are cultures, establishing speech patterns in aware of “accentism”, and take all such guaranteed to succeed. the real world. decisions with a grain of salt. To combat this, Howarth suggested The problem with our personal [TM] that people need agency in their assessments of linguistic clues is that we treatment and for this a trusting aren’t consistent, but nonetheless we still ———————––––––– 5 relationship with their medical provider make decisions based on what may be DR ALICE HOWARTH is essential. Better communication is faulty perceptions. Cancer cures: are we there yet? the key, so that patients are given the “An accent isn’t a set of sounds; tools to make informed decisions about it’s a social interpretation of a set of One in two people born after 1960 in their medical care and not fall back on sound differences,” she said, indicating the UK will develop some form of cancer the easy promises of pseudoscientific that our use of accents to determine and the statistics in Australia are similar. treatments. socioeconomic status, geographical It is no wonder that there is immense [JS] region, education, etc is “100 per cent pressure to find “a cure” and as a cancer subjective”. researcher Dr Alice Howarth is all too The is that such assessments familiar with the pseudoscientific cancer are based not just on the language you treatments that have sprung up as a react to, but are at below conscious result. level. When asked to explain why an So what is cancer? Cancer occurs assessment is given, respondents often when cells in the body grow out of have difficulty narrowing in on specifics. control. It is a set of diseases, not just Using tests on accent perception, but one. With 37.2 trillion cells in the with test environments manipulated human body, of many different types, it (such as subtle or even overt clues is no wonder that more than 100 types in videos of speakers), shows that of cancer have been identified. Cancer perceptions can be changed and survival rates have improved overall, but REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

& Citizens Committee requests it, A place the Principal OK’s it, and trained volunteers are available (this can of reason include you!). It was started by volunteers, but is now augmented by Continued... donations and bequests. The lessons have reached 40,000 students. ———————––––––– 7 It extends from kindy (even 2.5 KIRSTEN BANKS year-olds can discern some moral rules) Emus can’t fly but there’s an emu to year 6 (11 year olds are ready for in the sky introduction to some worldly themes). For the younger children, the One of the most engaging presenters characters in the scenarios are often at the convention was Kirsten Banks, animals such as wombats and bilbies. a passionate astronomer and science Key tools include , communicator, and undergraduate evidence, reasoning, , and physics student at UNSW. She has big science. When two principles suggest goals and dreams: she wants everyone different actions, or when there are to know about astronomy. no applicable principles, the kids are Being a proud Wiradjuri woman, taught to evaluate the consequences

Kirsten also studies astronomy from 7 – the degree of suffering or wellbeing an indigenous perspective, which is caused. The idea of equal human worth somewhat different from the approach by stars representing his two wives, or sharing a common humanity is a most of us are familiar with. figures in an ancestral story. Wurren is common theme. Animals also deserve With regard to constellations, a signifier of seasons and food. Larawag consideration arising from their indigenous astronomy tends to (in Scorpius) signifies an initiation specific needs. be more subtle, with a single star ceremony. Ginan (the smallest of [IB] representing a single thing or group the five stars in the Southern Cross) of things, such as birds or trees. What represents a dilly bag containing ———————––––––– 9 is in the sky is seen as mapping what’s knowledge songs that are passed on. CARRIE POPPY on the ground. The Milky Way is So indigenous star stories are not Being skeptical of hypocrisy described in various ways: one group just stories, they provide information sees it as a stream or a waterway, and education about the relationship “I’m a hypocrite, and I bet you are whereas another sees it as smoke from between the sky and the land and how too.” a fire. the universe functions. Carrie Poppy’s talk pulled Kirsten’s favourite indigenous [JS]. no punches. When hypocrisy is constellation comes to us from the mentioned, there are some obvious Wiradjuri and is the Great Celestial ———————––––––– 8 examples which come to mind, such Emu, in which the dark clouds of the DR SUE KNIGHT as the Pope, Mother Teresa, Bill Cosby Milky Way are identified as an emu Teaching without religion and Jenni McCarthy. But Poppy, stretching across the sky. It is also an who is an investigative journalist and example of how astronomy is used to Is it ever OK to lie? Why do we eat pigs podcaster on Oh No Ross and Carrie, indicate the right times to find certain not dogs? Should we Aussies be tolerant believes that we are all hypocrites in foods or go hunting. When the emu of other’s food cultures? What moral one degree or another and she set (known as Gugurmin in Wiradjuri) obligations do voters have? Should out to examine this, using some very appears on the eastern horizon in the we always condemn racism or slavery personal examples. upright “running” position, the emus when encountered in some cultures? The only vice that cannot be are nesting. So there are no emu eggs These are some of the moral forgiven is hypocrisy and the to collect. Later in the year, when questions which primary children repentance of a hypocrite is itself Gugurmin’s body is directly overhead discuss, under the NSW Primary hypocrisy. Do as I say, not do as I after sunset and lying down, the emu Ethics curriculum. Its first incarnation do is hypocrisy, as is changing your egg hunt can begin. was trialled in 2010 and introduced in mind about something you made a Recently four stars have been 2011 (of which this author was part). “Big Fucking Deal” about. It indicates recognised by their indigenous names Dr Sue Knight has been developing competing values and an inner and afforded global recognition by the this program for seven years now. struggle. International Astronomical Union. Ethics becomes available in a public We are all expert at moral licensing Unurgunite (in Canis Majoris), flanked primary school when the Parents and giving ourselves free passes, 16 The Skeptic December 18

judging others objectively and ourselves their session opened with news of the subjectively. When people initially , well known behave in a rigidly moral way and for its spectacular high-resolution commit themselves to abstract rules, images of the cosmos and its great they are later more likely to display contributions to our understanding of behaviour which is immoral, unethical the universe. A gyroscope had failed or otherwise problematic. Recognition two weeks earlier, but as of today, a of one’s own hypocrisy is important for backup was successfully brought into a skeptic to avoid such behaviour. service. Hubble is once again collecting When engaging in activism and images, an astounding 28 years after it argument, it can be a good sign if you was launched with a scheduled life of can leverage common ground and areas 15 years. where you agree with your opponent. Its successor, the James Webb Space As a skeptical activist Poppy Telescope, is under construction, but has identified four stages of is suffering from budget blowouts and extraordinary claims: , funding cuts under the present US the conspiratorial, the paranormal and administration. When launched in the spiritual. When dealing with such 2021 at the earliest, it will reveal far claims, she suggests that you evaluate fainter objects and provide spectacular what stage the other person has reached detail, with its 8 metre mirror of 18 and where you agree. And be aware, segments, compared to Hubble’s one- 8 the hypocrite could be you! piece 2.4 metre mirror. [JS] More dramatic perhaps was the recent failure of a Soyuz ———————–––––––10 capsule, manned by a Russian and PAMELA GAY & ALAN DUFFY an American, on its way to the Stars in their eyes International Space Station (ISS). When a jettisoned booster recontacted Swinburne astronomer Prof Alan the rocket at about 50 kilometres Duffy is the Lead Scientist of the altitude, the escape system plucked Royal Institution of Australia, and Dr the capsule away from the rocket as Pamela Gay is director of science and planned, and it parachuted down safely technology at the Astronomical Society (if roughly). of the Pacific. Since the retirement of the In the setting of a fireside chat, American Space Shuttle, the normally reliable Soyuz has provided the 9 only access to the ISS. Soyuz will be grounded until at least January, while the three astronauts in the ISS are due to return (by capsule) in December. If so, this will leave the ISS uninhabited, and when manned flights resume there might be problems restarting systems. The panel described projects, which enable volunteers and school groups to participate in astronomy. These include mapping and classifying the thousands of craters using detailed photographs of the Moon and Mars. The same can be done for the myriad of distant galaxies revealed by the Hubble. Or you can simply allow your computer to sift through radio signals for alien messages in its idle time, under programs like seti@home. 10 [IB] 17 REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

A place negative results, and she moved into the over a vulnerable person. Referring to world of skepticism. her earlier comment about the of reason Saunders raised the issue of of psychic readers, she said “Genuine , and used as an example the people can still be harmful.” Continued... disappearance (and possible abduction) Paranormal investigator Beth of the young boy William Tyrell four Darlington said that some psychics used years ago on the NSW North Coast. He the death of famous people - and their ———————–––––––11 showed psychics’ own videos of contact claims of contact - to raise their own OLD SCHOOL with Tyrell, including one psychic profiles. SKEPTICISM PANEL using an action figure of Spiderman, In their investigations of ghosts Ghosties, and psychics, & cryptids – a particular interest of the boy and and possession, “ hunters” used oh my! encouraging his to interact with technology based on prestige for having it. Many psychics have boasted about “the biggest suitcase” of gear. Kelly Many people come to skepticism via their success in connecting with him, described how students at the institution traditional non-skeptical beliefs. Once often with different and contradictory where she lectured would borrow believers in ghosts, UFOs, psychics, techniques and manifestations. They equipment that they couldn’t afford, cryptids (unknown animals), etc, they also regularly contact police to ‘help’ but they had no idea about calibration, discovered alternative explanations for them with investigations, something so any reading or measured movement their pet belief, and consequently sought which police say they avoid as useless became proof of the existence of a out skeptical views on other topics. and misdirecting. haunting, even though there might be Panel moderator Richard Saunders, Dr Lynne Kelly, Honorary Research simple mundane reasons for even a tiny past president and chief investigator for Associate at LaTrobe University, said anomalous reading. Australian Skeptics Inc, put some of that, in her view, psychics are believers Documentary maker Sam these topics into three categories: in their procedures, and most are sincere Hutchinson said most investigative gear • The Golden Age of the 60s, 70s and in their actions. She herself had acted used is not necessarily highly expensive 80s – UFOs, /Yowies, Loch as a psychic, giving readings to research - although high-priced equipment is Ness monster, , pyramid how “customers create the meaning” definitely available and impressive, power, , Kirlian of psychic prognostications. In one especially to other investigators. Most photography, ESP, instance, she gave a reading to a woman equipment, he said, is stock standard off- • Flash in the Pan – channeling, and who wanted to contact her husband. the shelf consumer gear, albeit used for Power Balance wristbands Based purely on Kelly’s comment that paranormal purposes. • Evergreens – talking with the dead, “It isn’t fair, is it”, the woman broke Investigator Carrie Poppy asked , tarot, alt med, ghosts, down, and revealed that her husband why electrical impulses (EMF) were , healing, palm had suicided and she desperately wanted an indication of the presence of spirits. reading, reading, fire walking, to contact him to find out why. She Darlington said that the general belief Lithgow panther, and healing broke down in tears, she was desperate, among paranomalists is that we have our crystals and offered any amount of money for own EMF emissions, which continue to These are often fascinating topics, Kelly to contact her husband and find exist after death, but the emissions are and are attractive to people - especially out why he had killed himself. Kelly minute so it requires ‘sensitive’ gear to young people -who are just starting out stopped the reading instantly when she discover them. on their ‘education’ in the ways of the was confronted with the power she had The community world. continues to grow, Dr Sue Blackmore, she said, despite Visiting Professor decreasing ratings at the University for TV programs of Plymouth, UK, on the topic and and researcher into declining numbers consciousness, at conventions. outlined her initial However, if you intent in such areas, do want to raise particularly Ganzfeld attention, using studies, leading the term “demon” to a doctorate in is currently . But particularly hot in her studies were paranormal circles. derailed by consistent Hutchinson 18 11 The Skeptic December 18

———————–––––––12 DR VYOM SHARMA What doctors get wrong

Dr Vyom Sharma is a GP and a magician, and while he spends most time on the former, the latter does arise to help explain how we perceive the world. He pointed out that medicine progresses quickly, and by the time you finish your medical education, half of what you learned is out of date. “The 12 problem is, you don’t know which half.” He compared accepted wisdom said that among the UFO proponents their church. with Magic 8-Balls, the ones that you he has worked with, the current belief is And how should Skeptics cope with shake and get a or character that ghosts and such cryptids as Bigfoot the believers and the beliefs? assessment. These can be different every are actually aliens: “We are all inter Kelly said it is important to ask time you shake the ball, and sometimes it dimensional beings”, which explains why questions, with enthusiasm and a seems that way with medical knowledge. physical evidence is so difficult to find. willingness to share (or at least witness) He compared old accepted beliefs Not to mention the fact that apparently their experiences. She personally found which are now discredited (blood-letting Yowies can see cameras positioned on the skeptical community helpful in can treat herpes; tobacco smoke can tracks and avoid them. bouncing her ideas off, particularly with be used for respiratory infections) with Poppy said that paranormal beliefs her recent book, The Memory Code, new ones (eating smaller meals more start out based on evidence, which which looks at a new theory on the frequently can help with weight loss; is the most ‘reachable’ aspect. But as purpose for such places as Stonehenge appendicitis almost always requires an evidence becomes unconvincing, the and the Nazca lines, which are often operation). These are all ‘wrong’, he said belief evolves into conspiratorial (“They given paranormal associations. - either unproven, disproven, or existing are covering it up”), then paranormal Blackmore likewise found that proof is incomplete. (evidence is hidden somehow), and skepticism was very useful for her: “One “Science doesn’t have answers”, finally metaphysical/spiritual (“God is of the best things that ever happened he said, “but doctors assume it’s all testing them with counter-evidence”) to me was being wrong. It was difficult settled.” They are not aware of scientific explanations. Classic cognitive to change who I was”, but the exercise disagreements. Unfortunately doctors are dissonance, summarised Blackmore. proved to be extremely valuable. wrong because the science is ‘wrong’. “Community” was a common thread Darlington sad it was important to In a vacuum of knowledge, doctors throughout the panel discussion - a encourage paranormal investigators who rely on the hierarchy; assumptions that sense of being with your ‘own kind’ is are coming up through the system, who those who should be in the know are gratifying for many believers who find want to understand science and how our correct. This is like a group of people comfort and support where previously brains work, to embrace true skepticism assuming that someone else has checked they felt isolated. (Paranormalists aren’t as a means of separating poor from good that the front door is locked. alone in this. It is also a regular comment evidence. Some doctors, sadly, do believe in of skeptics, especially those from regional Hutchinson said that most magic … the alternative medicine kind. areas, who often suggest that they felt paranormal followers that he has met And one of the magic concepts that “they were the only one” until they attend believe skeptics are there to belittle them. is almost universally accepted is the events such as Skeptics conventions.) Be nice, and you will at least go some placebo. Apparent results of placebo trials Hutchinson said that the people he way to dispelling that attitude. are often misattributions, where there deals with - UFO and Yowie hunters - Poppy said we can learn from people may be other reasons for a result, such don’t want to get out of the community, who have survived membership of cults, as regression to the baseline, or natural they don’t want to challenge their beliefs. who often have no idea what it will be variation, or biases in the recall of data. Darlington said this is the same in ghost like to be in the ‘outside’ world. There are problems with the results hunting circles, where participants are It’s all about community, and and trials that underpin much of often “chasing the dragon” of their first skeptics can learn more about those modern evidence-based medicine, such personal experience and attempt to communities and their members (and as false peer-reviewed papers, a so- replicate that from then on. probably skeptics themselves) by looking called replication crisis, and a common “People feel guilty about no longer at them as valid groups with their own misunderstanding of mathematics and believing”, she said, similar to the way consistency and purpose. probability. people do not want to break away from [TM] Quoting from David Sackett, widely 19 REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

A place the desert toward the Nile, leading locals to cry “Turn back the nomads”. (The of reason comparison with the situation today was noted.) Continued... But there was some integration, although evidence such as the widespread use of Pan-Grave pottery does not regarded as the father of evidence-based necessarily indicate that this was medicine, Sharma said that evidence- widespread. “Pots are not people”, he based medicine is (or should be) “the said. As much as having a wok in your integration of individual clinical expertise house today doesn’t mean you have a with the best external evidence.” Chinese worker, local people probably “Evidence-based medicine is the used Pan-Grave pottery in their own tool, but we still need logic, reason, and households. skepticism.” One group that did not integrate were [TM] the Hyksos, who entered Northern Egypt 13 from the eastern Mediterranean, taking ———————––––––––13 over from the pharaohs, something that DR AARON DE SOUZA was considered “a disaster for Egypt” What the evidence says because of their poor management. about ancient Nubian cultures Egyptians used Pan-Grave people to get rid of the Hyksos. This meant greater Archaeologist Aaron de Souza says assimilation of Pan-Gravers, a form of he’s often asked if his life is like that of ‘Egyptianisation’. Some have suggested Indiana Jones. Unfortunately it’s not that this meant that Pan-Grave people quite that glamorous - it is about dogged disappeared archaeologically, but de investigation over often long periods of Souza says this is not correct. The Pan- time, something which he has done as Grave burials continued, and he gave an a “sherd nerd” or “pot head” studying account of the excavation of such graves 14 pottery. in the south around Hierakonpolis, The images we hold of ancient Egypt where the first Egyptian kings came from. of pyramids, pharaohs and mummies The description of a funeral of a young represent only a very small percentage of child, using evidence from the grave and the population and culture of the time, footprints surrounding it, led him to give probably as little as one per cent. We a moving narrative of how the funeral don’t know much about the other 99 per might have taken place. cent, the average Egyptian from 3800 As a working archaeologist, de Souza years ago, he said. said he was living his childhood dream, Pan-Grave people were initially literally being able to touch history (and nomadic, no settlement, with our the people who populate it) by placing

knowledge of them coming from his own hand in the recessed print of 15 their cemeteries, thus the name. Their another person’s, albeit one from four graves were shallow pits in the sand, thousand years ago. But it brought him where bodies were buried with pottery, to realise that the past he is studying is patchwork leather garments, richly “everybody’s past”. adorned with jewellery, and accompanied “The stories and challenges that we by painted skulls of cattle. They gave up live today are the same stories everyone their nomadic life in about 1800 BCE. has lived for thousands and thousands of The question, though, is why. years. We are always connected with the De Souza suggested climate change past.” might be a factor. Around the second And if that includes our attitudes to millennium BCE, the area east of the nomads, or emotional responses to the Nile - Sudan and the Ethiopian highlands funeral of a child, then all the better for - started to dry out. “The desert is dying our understanding of civilisations four from hunger” said one Egyptian report thousand years ago, or now. at the time. This pushed people out of [TM] 16 20 The Skeptic December 18

———————––––––––14 with visual impairments so that they Saunders has been able to compile some DR PAMELA GAY might better understand the night’s results: the late Simon Turnbull scored Universal design for sky. She explained how Twitter has a 4 correct out of 43; celebrity understanding our universe feature where any uploaded image can psychic Mitchell Coombes scored 3 out and should be tagged with a thorough of 71; and Woman’s Day’s Ann Ann For her second time on stage, Dr Pamela description of what is in the image, so scored 12 out of 126. Gay described the ideas behind Universal people listening to their computers can Interestingly, Nicole Kidman is the Design and why it is so important. access the picture on some level too. darling of the Australian psychics. She Universal Design in general terms is YouTube videos can be automatically has the most mentions of anyone, be the creation of things that are able to captioned now. they celebrity, royal, or sportsperson. meet everyone’s needs, regardless of age, The world is more accessible The obsession with our Nicole, while colour, gender, ability and inability. She to more people. But, as she said in perfectly understandable, unfortunately told personal anecdotes of why this has closing, “We need to be better, so we stop seems to have interfered with the affected her and then moved on to give flushing people away, and we make our psychics’ capacity to predict other major examples of how the Universal Design discoveries of the Universe universal for events, failing to note Brexit, the election process is being incorporated in her all.” of Donald Trump, and MeToo. work. [LB] Dare we say, the results so far are She began by telling a story of predictable? being thrown from her bicycle. This ———————–––––––15 [JS] happened relatively recently and caused RICHARD SAUNDERS considerable damage to her left arm. The great prediction project ———————–––––––16 By attempting to go about her work as TRISH HAHN normal, she realised how much she was Over the Australian Christmas and Woo woo aimed at women being forced to interact with the world New Year, being the silly season, around her differently. For example, television producers have a tendency to There is no intentional similarity typing became too inefficient so she tried give psychics air time, as they are easy between the words “woman” and out the voice recognition software on her program fillers with the built-in topic “woo woo” but there is a depressing computer. of making predictions for the coming correlation. On top of this temporary physical year. Richard Saunders, who has been “Woo woo” or “woo” describes impairment, she has experienced hurdles analysing the outpourings of psychics pseudoscientific nonsense. And a in her life due to being dyslexic and for many years, has started collecting frightening amount of woo, in the due to being female. The scientific information on psychic predictions with form of dodgy health products and community is mostly made up of a view to monitoring their accuracy. services, is targeted at women. As white men. Given the extraordinary Saunders started with annual Trish Hahn explained, the reason for diversity of humanity as a whole, why predictions in the Australian Psychics this is that women’s health problems would we end up with such unexpected Directory, but before long expanded are under researched and women proportions within this community? The to other print sources, as well as audio often experience indifference or unconscious and conscious biases held and video and is now looking at the poor treatment from the medical by most people have led to inequalities possibility of building a predictions establishment. Health is also seen and in the way that boys and girls have been archive. marketed to women as a lifestyle choice taught science from the start. He is currently focusing on magazines rather than as science. Ripe pickings She told a story of when she set a and has spent considerable time in the indeed for woo merchants. question to a group of graduates that State Libraries of and Apart from setting the world record inadvertently discriminated against Victoria mining Woman’s Day and New for the number of times the word international students, reinforcing the Idea for predictions made over the last “vagina” has been used in a skeptical idea that everyone has biases. decade and longer. presentation, Hann has also pioneered The examples of Universal Design in Essentially, he “marks their the “Paltrow rating” of woo which she action started with a topographical globe homework” for accuracy. He has used to assess various products and of the Earth, with colour and texture identified some distinct categories of therapies. and shadow allowing nearly everyone prediction: celebrities, royals, politics, Facials (an anti-aging to better understand and visualise the terrorism, natural disasters, the economy, treatment made from the patient’s structure of our planet. In her work she sport and society. When it comes to own blood which is spun and then is part of a team that develops shows scoring, a prediction could be correct, injected into the face) and Poseidon for planetariums. They are producing expected, 50/50 correct, wrong, 50/50 Sponge Natural Sea Sponge Tampons 3D-printed spheres with raised stars and wrong, too vague or still open. (because who really needs hygienically constellations to be handed to people While this work is far from complete, produced, disposable tampons and why 21 REPORT Skeptics Convention 2018

A place of reason Continued...

worry about toxic shock syndrome) garner a relatively modest 3 Paltrows on the scale. For those for whom #Metoo isn’t enough, you can receive a natural breast enlargement by going to a practitioner 17 of esoteric breast massage (yes, it is as creepy as it sounds). Vaginapractic ———————–––––––17 (gynaecological invented DR Until relatively recently, the science of by an osteopath which certainly pushes Positive skepticism: the new science the brain was not developed enough the boundaries of consent – informed of out of body experiences to provide an explanation of such or otherwise) is claimed to be able to experiences. Then in 2002 the Swiss treat all sorts of conditions. These were As a university student in October 1970, neurosurgeon, Olaf Blanke, made an awarded a Paltrow rating of 4 and 4½ Dr Susan Blackmore had an out of body accidental discovery while treating a respectively. experience. patient with epilepsy. When the right also received Her experience was typical: she temporoparietal junction of her brain short shrift with a Paltrow rating of experienced the sensation of galloping was stimulated, the patient reported 4. This is an example of a treatment down a tunnel of leaves towards a bright sensations identical to an out-of-body which is made to sound magical and light. She then found herself on the experience: floating, bodily distortions empowering, but really you’re just ceiling looking down at herself and was and leaving her body altogether. courting second or even third degree able to spend the next two hours flying The temporoparietal junction is burns. As Hann noted, the vagina is over the roofs of Oxford and describing the critical part of the brain which self-cleaning and it is definitely not a what she saw in intricate detail to her constructs the body schema and the carpet! friend, who talked her through the sense of self. Stimulation of the TPJ will However, the clear winner, with 5 whole experience. produce altered perceptions, and even out of 5 Paltrows, is the pride of Goop: The experience led her to do a PhD split the body schema in two. the famous Yoni egg. This egg-shaped in parapsychology and she researched For Blackmore, this was an exciting product (retailing at a modest US$55 and tested extra sensory perception as discovery: out-of-body experiences each) is made from crystal such as rose a cognitive process. However, with all are no longer considered to be “woo”, quartz or jade, and is intended to be her results coming in at chance levels, but are now taken seriously and are placed in the vagina for hours at a time. her research failed to demonstrate any being researched by neuroscientists All sorts of claims have been made paranormal phenomena at all. This set and psychologists. It has led to positive about what this is supposed to achieve: her off down the path of skepticism, but skepticism, which can only be a good balancing hormones, de-tox, healing she also gradually became disillusioned thing, particularly if it leads to a better wounds, increasing sexual energy, with this approach. understanding of the human mind. [JS]. balancing chi pathways - the list seems To Blackmore, both sides showed the endless. However, the advice from same conviction in their own position ———————–––––––18 health professions was unanimously and lack of curiosity. But her out-of- YVETTE D’ENTREMONT “don’t put that there”. In the end, Goop body experience had been so vivid and Food, nutrition and “wellness” was fined $145,000 and ordered to joyful that she wanted to understand it. make refunds to unsatisfied customers This has led to her embracing positive Skeptics would be (or should be) as a result of the unscientific claims skepticism, the aim being to investigate familiar with Newton’s third law, that made in respect of its crystal eggs. with the goal of understanding rather for every action, there is an equal and So what can be done? Hann suggests than the negative skepticism of de- opposite reaction. that we stop shaming women for bunking. And this principle is reflected on looking for solutions to genuine health Blackmore’s working definition of an the internet: for each doom laden and problems and target the purveyors of out-of-body experience is one in which depressing claim, there is a diametrically these egregious products. one seems to perceive the world from opposed, wildly optimistic counterclaim. [JS] a location outside the physical body. This was entertainingly demonstrated 22 The Skeptic December 18

G e t t i n g T o g e t h e r

o Skeptics convention is complete without its social aspects. Apart from the Nusual mingling in breaks, in 2018 attendees (and the public) were invited to a couple of more organised events - an informal evening at a city pub on the evening prior to the convention, and the more formal dinner on the night of the convention’s first day. The pub night included a well-attended trivia competition on skeptical and science topics. A full house, which included a number of the convention speakers, took part in what turned to be a close competition, with the winning team decided by a single supplementary question. A prize of $100 for the table was well received

18 … and consumed. Attendees at the gala dinner, which was held adjacent to the convention, included performances on stage and for each table by magician Nicholas Kay. by Yvette d’Entremont, aka podcaster Much time was spent trying to figure out “how did he do it?” The secret of such SciBabe, in her presentation about food, deliberation is a classic example of applying Ockham’s Razor - the simplest nutrition and the “wellness” industry. explanation is usually the best and most correct, even though a magician will not Nearly all substances which humans tell you if you are right. ingest are either actively trying to kill The dinner also included the traditional awards, which are covered elsewhere us or cause a slow and painful demise. in this issue of The Skeptic. These were warmly received, particularly when Thornett The so-called “wellness” industry is Award winner Dr Ian Musgrave dedicated his award to his recently deceased son. . particularly adept at exploiting the fear [TM] and insecurity of the “worried well”. Gluten, meat and GMOs (OMG!) are all lethal, if some claims are to be believed. Sugar in any form is toxic – unless of course one accepts the rather remarkable claim that sugar can actually cure diabetes. Products labelled “natural” and “organic” are considered to be healthy. Kale, goji berries, and chia seeds are all guaranteed superfoods … except when they cause health problems. The internet has developed its own bizarre rules as to how information about food and nutrition is treated. Pronunciation rather than meaning is used to determine toxicology vis-à-vis chemicals. There is a profound distrust of experts and any study can be twisted and used as proof of a pre-determined conclusion, just as any contradictory information is resolutely ignored. One thing is certain: everything is trying to kill you. [JS] . ———————–––––––– Photos by Ruth Ellison: #2,3,4,7,8,10,12,13,14,15,16,17 + magician, speakers’ gifts, Skeptics shop, Maynard. Mal Vickers: #1,9,18 + Jane Hansen journalism award. Eran Segev: #5, 11 + Bent Spoon award. 23 REPORT NZ Convention 2018 Kiwis & Butterflies

Ian Bryce, challenge coordinator for Australian Skeptics, describes the latest Skeptical convention across the water.

he Skeptics TSociety held their annual Conference in on 16-18 November 2018. There were many talks of interest, and a smaller crowd made it easy to meet likeminded skeptics. The venue was the Butterfly Creek wildlife theme park, which provided opportunities to move among butterflies, visit Dinosaur Kingdom, and see crocs, kiwis (those with beaks), birds and insects. The program opened with Australian Skeptic’s $100,000 Challenge and the Laws of Physics, in which I described some of the information (and misinformation)”, With “Methamphetamine testing dubious claims Australian Skeptics Dr Justine Kingsbury, who lectures of ordinary homes – how did New have investigated, some violating in critical thinking and philosophy Zealand go insane?” Dr Nick Kim, the laws of physics or the laws of the of science, described types of surplus senior lecturer on environmental land. The expensive Aquapol device information. Certain techniques were chemistry, described a problem is claimed to drive rising damp back presented in order to cope – critical perhaps specific to NZ. After a meth into the ground. In Andrea Rossi’s thinking tools, selecting your feeds, lab is discovered and the perpetrators E-CAT cold fusion reactor, the ignoring unproven sources, and locked up, the building that housed persistent excess power developed was asking do I really need to form an the lab has to be cleaned and rendered exposed as a surreptitious repurposing opinion? safe. Thus councils adopted a standard of the earth wire. Kathleen Kuehn, senior lecturer (provided by the Ministry of Health) This was followed by Dr Daniel in media studies, spoke on “Nothing for the contamination level of walls Hikuroa, an earth systems scientist and Nowhere to Hide: Mass and other surfaces. A new industry of Maori descent, speaking on “Heed Surveillance in the Digital Age”. arose around 2005 for measuring and the Taniwha”. This is a Maori legend Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and cleaning premises. The problem arose described as a sea monster, life Chelsea Manning exposed the mass when it was indiscriminately applied spirit, or psychic being. But perhaps surveillance perpetrated by trusted to the housing market in general, as the Taniwha are codified forms of authorities, and Cambridge Analytica one third of houses exceed the overly knowledge that serve as warnings and typified the cynical manipulation of strict limits, due perhaps to casual use guardians. the public. But are there also benefits, of meth (called “P” in NZ) by past In “What to believe? Critical such as targeted news feeds and occupants. This has rendered many thinking in the face of a surplus of advertisements? perfectly safe homes unsaleable. 24 The Skeptic December 18

THE WORLD BEYOND the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975 Dr Alex Taylor & friend My favourite talk was titled “Is there (the Soviets call it Soyuz-Apollo). The anyone out there? What birds can teach motivation for the visible civil programs us about the Fermi Paradox”. Animal were national prestige and the secret scientist Dr Alex Taylor described militarisation of space (the Hubble how the search for any evidence of space telescope was later revealed as a extraterrestrial life has so far drawn a repurposed spy satellite). There was a blank. This is something of a puzzle, backlash against the billions spent, such given the number of available stars as the song lines “I can’t pay no doctor and planets. Perhaps there is a Great bill, but Whitey’s on the moon”. Filter – a yet undiscovered hindrance to Journalist Dr Gavin Ellis spoke intelligent life developing. Alex’s own on “Can’t believe your eyes or research has revealed extensive tool- ears?”. Fake news plants the seeds of Ian Bryce, challenge coordinator for Australian Skeptics, describes making and problem-solving abilities suspicion and discredits individuals in the New Caledonian crow. This and institutions. It plays on prejudices the latest Skeptical convention across the water. demonstrates evolution of intelligence and breeds intolerance. It is the visible in a species separated from the human face of a post- age in which lies line (unlike apes) by at least 310 million are legitimised as “alternative facts” years, helping to flesh out the factors in and verifiable facts are undermined the Drake Equation used to estimate the with a dismissive “truth isn’t truth”. number of communicating civilizations Unchecked, it will weaken what binds in the cosmos and the odds of finding society together – trust. This talk intelligent life in the universe. examined the dangers and the defences. Then geologist and astrobiologist Prof Among other events, there Kathleen Campbell spoke on “Are We were several panels, which further Dr Nick Kim Alone? — The Search for Extraterrestrial workshopped the themes of the Life in the Solar System”. Life is believed lectures. A panel on free speech was to have started not in the oceans or hot of interest to skeptics, who have been mat and it wasn’t relaxing or fun”). A vents, but thermal pools, with cycling known to spoil the business plans of special mention Bravo was awarded wet-dry conditions. Astrobiologists charlatans. Singapore has an automatic to David Farrier of the online media look for micro fossils in the oldest right of reply in the media, intended to channel The Spinoff for a piece on “The rocks, which are in Western Australia. provide balance. But is balance called mystery of Zach, New Zealand’s all-too- NZ rocks get recycled due to volcanic for, when one side is just wrong? miraculous medical AI”. activity, but it is a good place to observe Finally, the much un-coveted Bent the process of microbes being preserved AWARDS Spoon, awarded to the New Zealand in opaline silicate. The Mars rover Spirit The NZ Skeptics announced their organisation which has shown “the uncovered such material by accident in annual awards at the convention. most egregious gullibility or lack of 2006. Campbell is involved in selecting Skeptic of the Year went to Jess critical thinking in public coverage of, the landing site for the Mars 2020 rover, Macfarlane, NZ Skeptics editor and or commentary on, a science-related which will collect and cache samples social- media promoter, for “fantastic issue”, went to TVNZ’s current affairs for possible return to Earth by a future work promoting skepticism via Twitter” program Seven Sharp for an item on a mission. Other sites to be examined for and “above and beyond duties as woman’s fears of a mobile phone tower possible life include Antarctic glacial journal editor”. Bravo awards are issued next to her home – “some science … a lakes, and the moons of Jupiter. to media professionals and high public lot of fear-mongering”. Dishonourable “Who really won the US-Soviet profile people “who have provided mentions went to the NZ Herald for space race?” This question was food for thought, critical analysis and Buzz Aldrin’s encounters with aliens, addressed by historian Prof Jennifer important information on topics of and TVNZ for “yet another series of Frost. The Soviets achieved important relevance to our interests.” The winners Sensing Murder”, which obviously sits firsts in the 1950s-60s, including were Jacob McSweeny (NZ Herald – a high on the list of NZ Skeptics’ pet satellite in orbit, man in space, $4000 water machine), James Mustapic peeves. . spacewalk, first woman. But the (Spinoff TV – the continuing saga of Americans were open about their the credulous psychic investigation failures whereas the Russians covered program Sensing Murder) Sarah them up. The Americans got to the Lang (North and South Magazine – moon, and then the Russians stopped breastfeeding ‘battle ground’), and trying. The narrative concluded with Elanor Black ( – “I tried a Shakti 25 FEATURE Environmentalism The Green Meanies? Jonas Larsen he ways in which society would be somehow better for the looks at how Tgathers its food and energy environment. What makes things worse have put significant pressures on is that it is quite common to have irrational and the environment. In response to environmentalists completely deny or this, environmental movements shun the possibility of certain practices anti-science have played an important role in which could be as green, if not, greener environmentalists the conservation and protection than what is currently embraced and of the natural world. promoted in the movement simply impede their For decades environmental because it doesn’t align with their activists (the foot soldiers of the adopted positions. own cause environmental movement) have How is it that such an important been involved in thwarting movement would disregard or be activities and policies which against and practices seek to harm the environment. which could help us reach a more The collective action of such sustainable and greener society? individuals has saved Is it possible that ideology rather innumerable hectares than has been a part of a of forests, prairies, movement that should be exercising rivers, creeks and logic, reason and rationality in more throughout defence of the planet? Is adopting history, and “environmentalist ideology”, which played a may or may not hold irrational or key role in anti-science positions, required to join environmental or be accepted by some environmental conservation. groups? But sometimes I’m not saying all environmentalists the targets of what or environmental groups are the environmentalists oppose have same, as that is definitely not the case. been quite questionable. Oftentimes However, it is quite common for me, throughout history environmentalists an environmentalist and environmental have opposed and got in the way of scientist, to come across fellow adopting technologies and policies environmentalists who hold positions which could help the environment. that may actually impede the path to These well-intentioned (but mistaken) sustainability. I’m not going to turn environmentalists may ignore or this article into some kind of literature disregard evidence which proves the review which has endless citations (just safety, efficiency and impact these a few). However, the aim here is to practices may have on the environment. question some of the “logic” behind the For example, many environmental beliefs anti-science environmentalists activists will embrace and promote have on certain topics. And in the certain food production methods or tradition of being sceptical, I invite you belief systems under the assumption to explore these topics further for the that these practices or systems validity of my claims. 26 The Skeptic December 18

SAY NO TO GMO! (REPEAT AD INFINITUM) The words “significant risks” from You are most likely aware of the the 2016 stance has since changed to controversy which surrounds the the less scientifically weighted word of The genetic of crops. Being a “unacceptable threats”. Unacceptable Skeptics publication, covering this topic to what or whom? Your ill-informed Green would be like beating a dead horse (I perception of their dangers that is apologise to any animal rights people not based on science? Or someone’s reading this sentence). But I must ideological stance on biotechnology? mention the fact that many anti-GMO Furthermore, the words “adequate (or genetic engineering) positions scientific understanding” is also quite Meanies? are adopted by many environmental troubling. The word “adequate” in all groups and influential activists. This actuality has no scientific bearing and is includes Greenpeace, Environmental an immeasurable standard. Working Group, Friends of the Earth, With such an open-ended criterion, Union of Concerned Scientists, Jane their definition of “adequate” and Still from Greenpeace’s video of its destruction Goodall, and Vandana Shiva. That “unacceptable” may never be achieved. of a CSIRO experimental GMO crop in 2011. list is extremely short considering the Using such unscientific wording to form vast number of environmental groups the basis of a stance on a clearly science- bill which extends a moratorium in their and environmentalists openly against based topic is questionable. state on the use of biotechnology until biotechnology. On a more extreme level, the 2025. Australia’s very own green national Tasmanian Greens has declared that The greens’ stance on the use of party (The Australian Greens) has they will never support the introduction biotechnology is likely based on likewise held hard stances against the of GM crops in their state. So, since misinformation and an overapplied use use of such biotechnology, although 2001 the State government has a on the precautionary principle. This is their position has softened over recent moratorium on the technology. in spite of the large body of evidence years. However, this is up for review in 2019. gathered through numerous independent In 2016 the Australian Greens stance The 2014 Tasmanian Greens Leader studies pointing toward genetic on biotechnology was “Genetically Nick McKim has mentioned that the engineering’s safety to both humans and modified organisms government should the environment. Some of the language (GMOs), their products, implement a permanent used in the aforementioned statements and the chemicals used “Using unscientific ban on GM crops. from greens parties throughout Australia to manage them may wording as the The Greens is more associated with upholding an pose significant risks to (WA) also had a ideology than conceding to evidence. natural and agricultural basis of a stance on similar position Moving away from politics, activists ecosystems”. They aimed science-based topic to the Tasmanian from the environmental group to have “a moratorium is questionable. Greens with the Greenpeace had a rather questionable on the release of GMOs ” Genetically Modified stint with the CSIRO back in 2011 when into the environment Crops Free Areas members destroyed a crop of genetically until there is an adequate scientific Act 2003 (GMCFAA), where a modified wheat in Canberra’s scientific understanding of their long-term moratorium was in place from 2003 research facility which was grown as a impact on the environment, human until late October 2016. The WA field trial . Shane Rattenbury, and animal health. This includes the Greens currently state on their website who is a member of the ACT Greens removal as far as possible of all GMOs “The Greens (WA) oppose transgenic and who used to work for Greenpeace, from the Australian environment and and animal genetic engineering and is not surprised the group has taken such food supply while the moratorium is in the release into the environment of action. “It’s always very controversial place.” genetically engineered micro-organisms. these sorts of actions,” he said, “but you Currently their stance has changed The genetic engineering industry have to stand up for what you believe in slightly, with their website stating has failed to demonstrate that it is sometimes”. Additionally, he mentioned “Genetically modified organisms operating safely and ethically in these “I’ve certainly been involved in action in (GMOs), their products, and the areas”. Failed? In accordance with what the past where Greenpeace has broken chemicals used to manage them, standard? Additionally, The Greens the law and that has been necessary to may pose unacceptable threats to (WA) would “encourage and support highlight what we’ve considered at the ecosystems.” However, their aim for the legislation and actions that reinstate time to be a greater issue than perhaps a moratorium remains the same except Western Australia’s moratorium on simple trespass.” with the current position mentioning GM crops”. The SA Greens has similar With the “further release” of GMOs. positions, where they recently passed a concluding genetically engineered crops 0327 FEATURE Environmentalism

The green meanies? Continued...

to be quite safe, how does opposing such a technology impede the path to environmental sustainability? First of all, genetically engineering crops seeks to improve the efficiency at which crops produce yield. This is done by either enhancing the rate of photosynthesis and/or allowing protection? With all these bans and Left: Silvopastoral systems combine woodland crops to grow more efficiently in regulations limiting the use of such and grazing in a mutually beneficial way. unfavourable conditions. This technology, how much of this has led to inadvertently would lead to reduced increased environmental destruction? as wheat, which make up the lion’s inputs (pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, share of the food consumed around the operation of farming equipment, etc) IT’S ORGANIC! IT’S GREEN? world”. Other studies such as the one and increased output (crop yield) per The organic food industry is where conducted by Muller et al (2017) had unit land area of farm land. With we start to get into the realm of come to similar conclusions. They used less chemical inputs used, less of this counterintuitive, that’s if you believe a food systems model that addressed would leach into the environment. in all the claims made by organic food the agronomic characteristics of organic Soil quality would also be maintained producers. Many people (including agriculture and the role that organic or improved by having less herbicides environmentalists) believe the well- agriculture could play in sustainable food and pesticides entering the soil. The marketed claims that organically systems. As a result of this modelling, amount of CO2 used to operate produced food is better for the Muller et al has shown that a global farming equipment, produce, transport environment compared to conventional shift toward organic food systems would and apply fertilisers, herbicides and farming methods. This would be the require up to a third more land to feed pesticides would also subsequently case if most organically produced food the world by 2050. reduce. With reduced input due to was efficient and sustainable (better yet, Another study by Clark & Tilman increased efficiency, roughly 28 billion regenerative). In some rare cases this is (2017), who undertook a meta-analysis kg of CO2 emissions is offset per year true, but overall there is much evidence of lifecycle assessments examining from the use of genetic engineering. suggesting otherwise. Because organic different aspects of organic agriculture Considering all these benefits, farms produce substantially less yield and its environmental impact, states less forests, rivers, prairies and other per acre compared to conventional that up to twice as much land would be ecosystems would be cleared or farmers, organic farmers require more needed. Moreover, nutrient management destroyed for agriculture. land to produce the same amount of in organic systems has created concerns. In other words, if you are food a conventional farm would. Again, A meta-analysis by Tuomisto et al anti biotechnology, you are pro this means more forests, rivers, prairies (2012) analysing the data of more agricultural inefficiency. If you are and other ecosystems being cleared or than 100 farms across Europe states pro agricultural inefficiency, you destroyed for agriculture. that ammonia emissions, nitrogen support the unnecessary clearing According to a meta-analysis by leaching and nitrous oxide emissions of precious ecosystems. You would Seufert et al (2012) which compared per product unit were higher from also inadvertently prefer to have the yields of organic and conventional organic systems. The organic systems preventable externalities associated agriculture, organic farms can produce included in the study also had higher with increased labour, herbicide, up to 34% less yield on average per land use (unsurprisingly), eutrophication pesticide and fertiliser use. unit area of land compared to its potential and acidification potential per Rationally the previous two conventional counterparts. In other product unit compared to conventional sentences make sense, but does that words, up to a third more land would farms. This means more groundwater matter if your environmental group be needed to produce the same amount and aquatic ecosystems being degraded opposes the use of genetically enhanced of food we do currently. Seufert et al than necessary. crops? Is upholding a misinformed idea remark further that “organic agriculture There are also doubts as to whether about biotechnology more important performs particularly poorly for or not organic farms emit less CO2 than than your passion for environmental vegetables and some cereal crops such conventional farmers. 28 The Skeptic December 18

Just imagine, if the world switches to farmers use are as safe or as efficient THE “V” WORD organic farming (which some countries (which call for higher application rates) Veganism and vegetarianism are deeply are already attempting to do), how as their synthetic counterparts. Valuing intertwined within the environmental would this play out? Shall we utilise what is safe, sustainable and efficient movement. Throughout my time as the same amount of land and ride out rather than what is natural or synthetic an environmentalist I have heard “You the mass starvation it could ensue? Or could free organic farming from some of are not an environmentalist if you are destroy more of the natural world in its inefficiency. not vegan” countless times. Claims order to scale up our farming practices to Concerning evidence points toward resembling “There is no such thing as compensate for reduced yields? a sad possibility that organic farmers sustainable meat”, “eating meat is bad Knowing humans, we would surely are more concerned with meeting for the planet!” and “going vegan is choose the latter option. And what would their “organic” food label requirements the single best way to save the planet” happen to all of the happy forest friends? than producing sustainable food in an are thrown about frequently. Even the Well they would be rescued and relocated efficient manner using science-based general rule of thumb among many to a conservation reserve where they all methods. Through clever marketing, environmentalists “eat less meat” is quite can live happily ever after. I’m kidding the organic food industry is supported common. guys, they’ll die. or kept alive by people who think Sadly, vegans, vegetarians and Overall, a major part of this they are making a better choice for the environmental activists who think this inefficiency between organic and environment (and their health, but we way believe that all meat is sourced in conventional farming methods stems don’t have to get into that). This would the same way (#notallmeat anyone?), from the adoption of anti-science obviously mean a lot of misinformed and that everyone’s lifestyle is the same. positions caused by upholding the environmentalists prioritising organic To refute the first claim, it is entirely naturalistic fallacy deep within the food in their shopping lists. possible to get or buy meat sourced practice guidelines for organic farmers. Looking at whether or not your food from an animal population which is If you take a brief look at the practice is stamped with the organic food label destroying its environment. An animal guidelines which dictate whether or not takes the thinking out of whether or may destroy its environment by existing you qualify for the “certified organic” not your food is actually sustainable. beyond the means of the system due food label, it is deeply shaped by the Questions like “how many ecosystems to a lack of ecological checks (usually naturalistic fallacy. Under the assumption were destroyed to produce my food?“, predation). Animals could exist in an that all things natural are better or safer “does my food build or destroy top ecosystem ill-adapted to its presence than all things synthetic, organic farmers soil?”, “how much processing went into (pest), or exist in overly abundant do not use genetically engineered crops or making my food?”, “how far did my populations. In both scenarios, synthetic chemicals. The benefits of genetic food travel to get here?” and finally “is environmental degradation would occur. engineering have already been discussed, my food actually produced sustainably?” Through the very simple theory of but the avoidance of using certain are far more legitimate than just “is trophic cascades as defined in ecology, herbicides and pesticides simply because my food organic?”. According to the the reduction of a species destroying they are not “natural” causes concern. evidence, environmentalists should be its environment would actually be an For example, there is ongoing sceptical at the thought of supporting environmentally regenerative practice. discussion surrounding whether or not such an industry. Instead, it is embraced A trophic cascade, in ecological theory, the “natural” chemicals that organic and promoted. is the abundance and distribution

The Kiwirrkurra people of Central Australia have achieved preservation of the bilby, unlike the rest of Australia, by killing arguably Australia’s most destructive invasive species - cats. 29 FEATURE Environmentalism

The green meanies? Continued...

of a predator (which loosely could mean one that consumes another) will impact the abundance, distribution and behaviour of its prey (one that is consumed). This in turn would impact the prey’s prey (so on and so forth). Does protecting brumbies in the Predators (let’s say, a carnivore of some Kosciuszko National Park destroy kind) would put pressure upon the the environment? herbivores (let’s say, a grazer) which then impacts the primary producer(s) (grass, shrubs etc). If either piece of the ecosystem puzzle is out of balance, it begins to degrade the ecosystem as a regions of Australia, kangaroos exist at crops while simultaneously providing whole. A lack of predators allows for an a population level beyond the carrying valuable services to the system. overabundance of grazing herbivores, capacity of their environment. Hunting These services can come in the form for example, which would then in turn overpopulated kangaroo communities of weed or pest control, draught power, overconsume its food base and destroy and selling their flesh provides both fuel, manure, eggs, dairy and meat. its environment. environmental and economic benefits. Using these animals would reduce the Unfortunately for the environment, Another real-world example of hunting use of external inputs associated with humans have created this scenario and consuming pest species is with the environmental degradation. Recycling many times. However, it is possible for native Kiwirrkurra people of Central crop residue as animal feed would us to fix or alleviate this degradation. Australia. Aboriginal people in this area mean less land dedicated to growing Humans can create this ecological have a strong tradition of cat hunting. feed stock, applying manure to crops check (by hunting populations of (Cats have been in Australia since would reduce chemical fertiliser use, and wild domesticates, for example), and European settlement, and may have selectively using animals to consume consume the aftermath. Replicating this arrived as early as the 17th century with pest or weed species would reduce simple process found so abundantly Dutch shipwrecks.) This way of life is pesticide and herbicide use. Even using in nature could be beneficial for the the reason why the region’s bilbies - an draught power would reduce CO2 environment. endangered species - is flourishing emissions. Earlier this year, Professor David compared to its surrounding areas. By understanding how integral Watson, a leading scientist on the New However, because of the vegan and animals can be into supporting South Wales Government’s Threatened vegetarian stance on hunting, activists sustainable or regenerative farming Species Scientific Committee, resigned of these movements would impede the systems, consuming the excess offspring his position due to the government’s establishment of ecological “checks” for or their everyday animal products granting heritage status to feral horses species that have none. would hardly be classified as being in Kosciuszko National Park (to the Industrial factory-farmed meat and unsustainable or “killing the planet”. delight of many animal rights activists). meat obtained by hunting pest animals What about intensive meat In his resignation letter he states are extremely different regarding their production, aka animal grazing or “The information summarised in this impact on the environment. It is also livestock farming? Isn’t that bad for the document is clear and unambiguous entirely possible for farmers to raise planet? Well, with most management - feral horses have a litany of negative animals in such a way where they practices, it is. But sustainable livestock effects on native plants, animals and would help sustain or even improve production is possible according to ecological communities.” the environment rather than degrade a review published in the journal So, why can’t we hunt feral horses, it. In an integrated sustainable farming proceedings of the Royal Society B by consume their bodies and allow nature system dedicated to sustainable food Professor Donald Broom et al (2013). to rejuvenate? production, building top soil and Silvopastoral systems, or agroforestry, This process is already happening revegetation (eg ecoagriculture or is the practice of combining woodland quite successfully with the consumption agroecology), an animal may live off (trees, shrubs and herbage) with animal of kangaroo meat in Australia. In many the by-products from the system’s farm grazing in a mutually beneficial way. 30 The Skeptic December 18

Broom has said “The planting as on the planet. Giving up meat (or going into the atmosphere. The forage plants of both shrubs and trees dairy) is not necessary for living an International Atomic Energy Agency whose leaves and small branches can environmentally-friendly lifestyle. In (IAEA) estimates that energy derived be consumed by farmed animals can the same way, just because you or your from nuclear power offsets two billion transform the prospects of obtaining food/product is vegan or vegetarian does tons of CO2 every year which would sustainable animal production.” In his not automatically make your food or have otherwise been produced through article, Broom shows that silvopastoral lifestyle more environmentally-friendly fossil fuel-based energy. Additionally, systems promote healthy soil, improve than food or lifestyles that aren’t. nuclear power plants are considered water retention (meaning less runoff Similar questions taken from the earlier to be a very low emitter of CO2, impacting aquatic systems), reduce discussion on organic farming should particularly after the construction phase. greenhouse gas emissions, encourage be pondered. Just like the people who In effect, nuclear power would offset predators of harmful animals, and most buy organic food because it meets their far more CO2 than it emits, making importantly improve overall biodiversity “organic” checklist, the followers of nuclear power a powerful ally in the across the landscape due to the wide these food ideologies may be applying race against climate change. Nuclear incorporation of native plants. With the same type of lazy thinking. power could be integral when it comes the increase in biodiversity, silvopastoral Finally, my two cents on the “going to achieving the goals set by the Paris systems would provide opportunity vegan is the best way to save the planet” Agreement, or avoiding “catastrophic” for connecting isolated ruminants mantra. No, not having children is the or “dangerous” levels of climate change. of native ecosystems and facilitate best way, probably followed by growing The goals of the Paris Agreement the improvement of genetic diversity your own food in a are to keep global between these ruminants. sustainable or regenerative temperature rise this Since a significant portion of the manner. “Meat sourced century well below 2 earth is taken up by grazeland, if from wild pest spe- degrees Celsius above these lands were to be converted into THE “N” WORD pre-industrial levels, silvopastoral systems, a boost in the The amount of fear cies may be more and to pursue efforts to Earth’s biodiversity would follow. The and propaganda which sustainable than limit the temperature review article even highlights studies surrounds nuclear energy vegan burgers. increase even further where silvopastoral systems outperform is mind boggling. To ” to 1.5 degrees Celsius. conventional (monocrop) pastoral cut straight to the point, (According to the systems in regards to total yield for nuclear energy is the safest, cleanest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate different livestock products. and most efficient energy source we Change, the catastrophic level of climate To summarise, meat sourced from have available to us. It’s also our most change is 1.5C above pre-industrial wild pest species or environmentally- concentrated form of energy production, levels.) responsible farms may be far more from its waste generated to the land it Currently, the world is scurrying sustainable than that gourmet vegan occupies – both exceeded by fossil fuels to embrace and invest in renewable burger made from overseas ingredients and even renewable energy. energies, largely hydro, solar and obtained by destructive farming However, thoughts of nuclear wind power, in order to achieve the practices. meltdowns, environmental aforementioned goals. However, a One could reason that by contamination, and death plague recent MIT study claims that the campaigning against the consumption many people’s minds when they hear transition to a carbon-free grid without of meat as a whole on the grounds the words “nuclear power”. But when including nuclear would make the of animal rights or environmental examined, a lot of the fear-mongered transition significantly more expensive concerns may impede meat sourcing myths and “information“ surrounding (or exceedingly difficult). Another study practices which improve or sustain the nuclear power are simply not true. The done by Peters et al (2017), which environment. Furthermore, the general risk to human life and safety regarding provided a toolkit for examining the rule of thumb “eat less meat” spoken nuclear meltdowns will not be discussed progress we are making to achieving by many environmentalists as being at length here, but I invite you to the Paris Agreement, found that relying good for the planet may be true for explore those topics further. What I will on renewables alone to achieve the industrially-produced meat, but should convey is the significant role nuclear Paris Agreement would, quite frankly, not apply to meats which are sourced energy could play in regards to the be impossible. Peters states that “wind in a sustainable or regenerative way. By environment. and solar alone are not sufficient to classifying meat as being all the same, Between 1971 and 2009 electricity meet the goals”. He says further “The this closes off a significant part of the generated from nuclear power has rapid deployment of wind, solar and discussion regarding the impact of prevented around 64 gigatons of CO2 electric cars give some hope. But at meat and animal product consumption equivalent greenhouse gas emissions this stage, these technologies are not 31 FEATURE Environmentalism

et al (2013). Co-author Jeffrey NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS WORLD-WIDE, IN OPERATION, The green AS OF 27 NOVEMBER 2016 Sachs adds “On a global scale, Total number of reactors: 450 meanies? it’s hard to see how we could Continued... conceivably accomplish this USA without nuclear.” FRANCE JAPAN Accordingly, since nuclear CHINA really displacing the growth in fossil is easily scalable, what we can RUSSIA fuels or conventional transportation.” achieve with renewables could KOREA, OF They found that even though global possibly be done via nuclear power INDIA CANADA renewable energy consumption has in a relatively short timescale. UKRAINE increased five-fold since the year 2000, The big drawback for the it accounts for less than three per cent adoption of nuclear power is the SWEDEN GERMANY of the total energy consumed. And that nuclear waste that is generated. BELGIUM the consumption of fossil fuels (roughly Would this waste have any SPAIN 87 per cent) has remained the same due significant impacts towards the CZECH REPUBLIC to a retreat in the use of nuclear power environment? Considering the SWITZERLAND FINLAND between 2000 and 2015. In order to fact that Switzerland’s high-level HUNGARY achieve the goals of the Paris agreement nuclear waste from the past 45 PAKISTAN by 2050, 80 per cent of the world’s years fits inside a medium-sized SLOVAKIA energy consumption needs to be from warehouse, or that an average ARGENTINA BRAZIL clean sources. American’s lifetime nuclear waste BULGARIA But does renewable energy have would fit inside a soda can, waste MEXICO the strength to complete such a task generated from nuclear power ROMANIA SOUTH AFRICA alone? Almost flipping the world’s main is quite miniscule. And with ARMENIA source of energy from roughly 80 per improved technology, much of IRAN, REPUBLIC OF cent fossil fuels to clean energy (wind, this waste can be recycled by more NETHERLANDS solar, hydro, biomass etc) is a staggering efficient systems, leaving less waste SLOVENIA feat. Deputy Director General Mikhail than there originally was. 0 20 40 60 80 100 NUMBER OF REACTORS Chudakov, head of the International Unfortunately, much like the Source: European Nuclear Society, 2017 [email protected] Atomic Energy Agency’s Department of discussion on biotechnology, Nuclear Energy, has said “This scenario many environmental groups But the idea of doing so goes against requires a significant scaling up of all (some mentioned previously) are against many environmental groups. Just like there clean, low-carbon technologies such as the adoption of nuclear power. Their is an extraordinary amount of evidence nuclear power, with electricity demand attitude towards nuclear is much like which points to the reality of climate expected to rise sharply in the coming that of fossil fuels, it is better left in change or safety of genetically modified years as countries need more power for the ground. This backlash could have organisms, there is an extraordinary development.” contributed to the fact that Australia amount of evidence which points toward Furthermore, he states “If nuclear does not incorporate nuclear energy as the safety, efficiency and potential of power deployment doesn’t expand part of its baseload power supply. This nuclear power in mitigating global in line with this scenario, the other has led to the situation where Australia warming. We are running out of options, technologies may not fill the gap - and is the only country among the world’s and since renewables alone may not allow we may not meet our climate targets.” top 25 economies not to have taken us to achieve our climate goals, being anti- Clearly, the world’s nations require advantage of nuclear power (see Sidebar nuclear is quite counterproductive when a rapid transition from fossil fuel-based “France’s future power”). Australia examining the only other significant source energy to low-carbon or clean energy also has an abundant uranium supply, of power (fossil fuels). I would argue at this sources. The fastest recorded decrease making nuclear power’s absence even point that if you are anti-nuclear, you are in CO2 emissions occurred in France more perplexing. pro-coal and pro-global warming. between 1970s and 80s when that Considering the role nuclear energy (Note: A large amount of the nuclear country transitioned from fossil fuels can have in the race against climate discussion was not conversed here, to nuclear energy. This led to a decrease change, the absence of nuclear energy particularly regarding safety, efficiency in its greenhouse gas emissions by surely does not help Australia shift to a and meltdown risk. As mentioned earlier, two per cent a year. Globally, to avoid cleaner, greener economy. If Australia much of the public’s general knowledge “catastrophic” or “dangerous” levels of was serious about climate change, we of these issues is based on misinformation climate change, we need to drop about would also be serious about considering and fearmongering. I invite you to explore six per cent a year according to Hansen nuclear power. these topics further.) 32 The Skeptic December 18

WALKING WITH A LIMP. general checklist may work some of the REFERENCES Due to the varying viewpoints between time, but not all, and removes critical Seufert, V., Ramankutty, N., & Foley, J. A. environmentalists and environmental thinking from the situation. Denying (2012). Comparing the yields of organic and groups regarding certain policies, the possibility that your checklist conventional agriculture.Nature, 485(7397), technologies or lifestyles, it is not could be wrong may actually promote 229. hard to imagine that ideology rather results that are the antithesis of your Muller, A; Schader, C; Scialabba, NEH; than rationality has penetrated many conservation and environmental aims. Brüggemann, J; Isensee, A; Erb, KH; ... environmental groups in Australia and When you’re dealing with & Niggli, U. (2017) Strategies for feeding throughout the world. If you can take the extremely important issue of the world more sustainably with organic one thing away from this article it would environmental conservation, there is no agriculture. Nature communications, 8(1), be that conflict between evidence- room for ideological thinking. Valuing 1290. based rationality and ideology cripples logic, rationality, and evidence on Clark, M., & Tilman, D. (2017). Comparative environmental choices and action. behalf of the planet instead of ideology analysis of environmental impacts Valuing ideology over evidence would only optimise the environmental of agricultural production systems, and rationality creates a path toward movement, conservation and agricultural input efficiency, and holding a misinformed position such environmentally conscious choices. . food choice. Environmental Research as those regarding biotechnology and Letters, 12(6), 064016. nuclear energy. Unfortunately, this is Tuomisto, H. L., Hodge, I. D., Riordan, P., & why so many environmental groups and Macdonald, D. W. (2012). Does organic activists have such counterproductive farming reduce environmental impacts?–A ideas regarding environmentally- About the author: meta-analysis of European research. Journal beneficial actions and technologies. Jonas Larsen is an of environmental management, 112, 309-320. Following ideological “checklists” has environmental scientist Broom, D. M., Galindo, F. A., & Murgueitio, additionally shaped many decisions and specialising in ecology and E. (2013). Sustainable, efficient livestock policies regarding the environment. This soil biogeochemistry. production with high biodiversity and good welfare for animals. Proc. R. Soc. B, 280(1771), 20132025. 0 20 40 60 80 100 Peters, GP, Andrew, RM, Canadell, JG, NUMBER OF REACTORS Fuss, S, Jackson, RB, Korsbakken, JI, & F r a n c e ’ s F u t u r e P o w e r Nakicenovic, N. Potential for renewables rench President Emmanuel Macron announced in late November that France to achieve 2015 Paris Agreement (2017). Key Fwould shut down 14 of the country’s 58 nuclear reactors currently in operation indicators to track current progress and future by 2035. It would also close its four remaining coal-fired power plants by 2022. ambition of the Paris Agreement. Nature According to a report from AFP, Macron said that “reducing the role of nuclear Climate Change, 7(2), 118. energy does not mean renouncing it”. Comments made by Deputy Director General France relies on nuclear power for nearly 72 per cent of its electricity needs, Mikhail Chudakov, (1983a). Head AFP says, though the government wants to reduce this to 50 per cent by 2030 of the Department of Nuclear Energy: or 2035 by developing more renewable energy sources. International Atomic Energy Agency, tinyurl. Macron said France com/yapcszzc. would aim to triple its Hansen, J, Kharecha, P, Sato, M, Masson- wind power electricity Delmotte, V, Ackerman, F, Beerling, output by 2030, and DJ, ... & Rockstrom, J. (2013). Assessing increase solar energy ‘dangerous climate change’: required output fivefold in that reduction of carbon emissions to protect period, the report says. young people, future generations and He would also nature, PloS one, 8 (12), e81648. ask French electricity giant EDF to study the feasibility of more Note: The references listed above represent next-generation EPR only a portion of a much longer list of sources nuclear reactors, but will and further reading. A copy of the full list is wait until 2021 before available from [email protected]. deciding whether to pro- The Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station southeast of ceed with construction. . Paris. (Source: European Pressphoto Agency) 33 FEATURE Environmentalism

THE OLD IS STILL Present ustralian Skeptics are renowned Obsolete science can operate just like pseudoscience, Afor defending rational thinking in the face of dodgy evidence, whether and Geoff Russell is concerned that obsolete science that concerns the claims about para- normal phenomena, vaccines causing is rife in the anti-nuclear movement. or a whole host of things best described as pseudoscience. is neither waste generation nor removal. understand that DNA damage is But what about people stuck with This wrong science was used to make ubiquitous, not because radiation is a view of the world based not on some fearful and powerful predictions ubiquitous, but because of free radical pseudoscience, but on obsolete science? which were accepted on faith and had a generation in our cells as a result of Some travel a metaphorically potent impact on following generations. energy metabolism. Roughly speaking pretty straight line. Meaning that In 1958 Linus Pauling used a set this damage comes in two forms: obsolete physics can be perfectly of four assumptions to predict tens breaks to a single strand of the DNA effective for building bridges, designing of thousands of birth defects, still double strand; and total breaks. These complex machinery, and understanding births, neonatal deaths and cancers are cuts right across the double strand. a wide range of phenomena. But other from radioactive carbon-14 generated These latter breaks are called, obviously sciences have progressed very differently. from atmospheric bomb testing. enough, double strand breaks (DSBs). Back in the 1960s, genes were The geneticist he relied upon for his It’s harder for your cells to fix thought by leading geneticists to be assumptions and base data was James DSBs, especially if there are lots of essentially unchanging, with natural Crow, the same one responsible for the them floating around in the nucleus mutations occurring perhaps “once in a view that natural mutations of genes are of the cell. Most days, most cells get hundred thousand generations”1. What’s rare. about 40-50 of these DSBs due to this the modern view? It is now estimated2 The rest, as they say is history. They natural process of energy metabolism. that every one of your 20,000 or so were both spectacularly wrong and This is the kind of damage rate our genes is mutated in about a billion cells spectacularly successful. Atmospheric DNA repair mechanisms have evolved in your body during your lifetime. Why bomb testing was stopped, Pauling got to deal with. is the new understanding so utterly the Nobel Peace Prize, and the anti- If you expose cells to ionising different from the old? The structure nuclear movement was off and running. radiation you can also produce DSBs, of DNA was only discovered in 1953 Pauling estimated that 30 years and these can indeed give a cell a and nobody knew anything about of testing would result in a radiation kick in the direction of becoming the ubiquitous nature of both DNA dose of just under one milliSievert cancerous. How much radiation do damage and repair. It’s like looking at a and that this was enough to produce you need to cause 40-50 DSBs in clean city street and guessing that there the corresponding horrors. We now a day? About 1.5-2 Sieverts3. Note 34 The Skeptic December 18

carefully that I just wrote ‘Sievert’, surprise them. DSBs are just one of it’s also what our bodies do. Our whereas all Pauling’s predictions a number of types of damage; single immune system is constantly getting followed from wrong science applied strand breaks of varying kinds are rid of dodgy cells and tiny cancers. to a dose a thousand times smaller … a far more common. The researchers More recently we are realising that the milliSievert. estimated that radiation at 400 times same mechanism is at work in cancer- Pauling got everything wrong. background levels would add about 12 preventing foods. Consider avocados. Garbage in garbage out. He was well pieces a day of DNA damage to the As well as being good smashed on intentioned and using the best available normal rate of 10,000. Remember, this toast, they are excellent at smashing knowledge of his day, but he was simply is 10,000 pieces of damage in every cell DNA. Genotoxic is the technical term. wrong. every day, on average. Avocados make a natural toxin, persin, James Crow The anti-nuclear But the Japanese which damages genes. For some years died in 2012, but “ Government caved there was a suggestion that this might in 2000, at the age movement grew out spectacularly to make avocados carcinogenic, but after of 84, he wrote a of ‘Ban the Bomb,’ and fear and ordered an considerable research it turns out quite scientific review paper evacuation, throwing the opposite. The toxin doesn’t just about the rates and never moved on. sick and elderly onto damage genes, it does enough damage consequences of de ” buses in the middle of to kill the cell. Dead cells don’t cause novo mutations. These the night. At least 150 cancer. And the best bit is that persin are changes to DNA which appear in died directly as a result. Some of the preferentially kills cancerous cells. children but aren’t in their parents. sick were left behind in hospitals as staff The paper discussed, at some length, apparently panicked and fled. Animals NUCLEAR FEARS the disease consequences of elderly died by the thousands as farmers The anti-nuclear movement grew out males fathering children. There was a abandoned them. I recall TV footage of of Pauling’s Ban the Bomb crusade nice clear table describing the number the ruts made by a cow in a stall floor and inherited its world view; and of cell divisions experienced by the as she struggled in the days it took her never moved on. In those days the DNA in sperm of men of different to die. known carcinogens were few, radiation ages. Radiation didn’t rate a mention Caving to fear mongering based happened to be the first carcinogen anywhere in the paper. on obsolete science can be just as discovered, and we now know it is But unlike Crow, our news media, devastating as to fear mongering based one of the weakest. The survivors of environment movement and the general on pseudoscience. the atomic bombings of Japan had a population are still stuck in a 1950s Radiotherapy works by killing cancer rise in cancer of just 11 percent. Had time bubble where Pauling’s fears are cells more readily than normal cells. they moved to Australia and adopted still potent. I cited previously a paper showing our lifestyle, their cancer rate would that normal DNA damage is similar gradually rise to match ours; meaning it MELTDOWN to that which would be produced by would rise by about 50 percent. In 2011, the earthquake damage to 1.75 Sieverts a day. An added dose of Epidemiologists have long reactors at Fukushima was treated that magnitude would swamp repair understood that lifestyles are the by the media and the Japanese mechanisms, and during radiotherapy a major causes of cancer. When people Government not as an incredibly patient’s tumour is hit with an amount from a low-cancer-rate country move expensive screw-up, which it was, of this size in about 5 minutes! That’s to a high cancer rate country, their but as an existential threat, which going to cause DNA damage at about rate rises over time. By the time the it wasn’t. The International Atomic 300 times the normal rate. But still kids are assimilated, their cancer rate Energy Agency, surprise surprise, has many tumour cells recover. So the dose been keeping up with the science so its is repeated, over and over again. emergency guidelines don’t recommend Radiotherapy works because cancer evacuation as a measure until levels cells tend to be multiplying faster and of radiation hit about 400 times the are thus a little more susceptible to background levels; meaning about 1 damage than normal cells and because Sievert per year. The evacuation area they try to limit the number of non- never got even close to this level. tumour cells caught in the cross fire. Researchers using mice (which are These levels of radiation are definitely far more prone to cancer than people) dangerous and there is a risk of their subjected them to this level for six causing cancer as well as curing it. But months and found no detectable (ie the risk-to-benefit ratio is tiny. Linus Pauling - spectacularly wrong unrepaired) DNA damage, within Killing tumour cells is the standard Nobel Laureate the limits of their tools; which didn’t medical for treating cancer; 35 FEATURE Environmentalism

The Old is Still Present Continued...

is roughly that of their new home. The age standardised rate of cancer in IAEA experts visit India is about a third that of Australia Fukushima reactor for and that of Japan is about two-thirds decommissioning, 2013 that of Australia. The great irony of the evacuation of Fukushima is that evacuating those people to Australia and subsequent lack of a social licence by those obsolete beliefs. One US would have been far more dangerous for what is easily the safest and most company, Thorcon, is trying to change than anything remotely possible by eco-friendly source of clean energy how nuclear reactors are built and leaving them in their homes, even if the is driven by a world view rooted in approved. Instead of going through rate of radiation from the meltdowns Pauling’s predictions in the 1950s. They an approval process for a design that had been two or three times higher. resulted in the anti-nuclear movement might take a decade, they want to do Moving from Tokyo to live in the and that movement has passed on with nuclear reactors exactly what Fukushima evacuation zone (or the the fear by chanting “Chernobyl” in we do with every other technology Chernobyl zone) is far safer than a solid and noisy cacophony for over … even incredibly dangerous things moving to Sydney or Adelaide and 30 years. Who remembers Ufa? Who’s like aeroplanes and supertankers. adopting our lifestyle. Fukushima even heard of it? The Ufa natural gas They are built and subject to rigorous confirmed the lessons that should have disaster made Chernobyl look like fullscale testing and if they pass, they been learned from Chernobyl. Bad a paper cut. Ufa is the capital of the are licensed. But before we can bring nuclear accidents are just like other bad Russian Republic of Bashkortostan, rationality to the regulatory process we accidents, except with far fewer deaths near the Ural Mountains. In June 1989, need to bring the public up to speed on and long term consequences. a faulty gas pipeline allowed natural about 40 years of work in cancer, DNA A modern understanding of DNA gas to accumulate across a lowlands and radiation biology. and cancer explains many things which area, creating a flammable cloud along Obsolete science can be just as are impossible to explain with the part of the Kuybyshev Railway. The dangerous as pseudoscience when it Pauling world view. It will explain why explosion occurred after wheel sparks infects public consciousness. . cancer rates in Kerala (in South India) from two passenger trains heading are similar to the rest of India and so in opposite directions ignited the much lower than in Australia, despite a flammable cloud. Between 500 and REFERENCES very high background rate of radiation; 800+ people died and a similar number 1. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January in some places Kerala’s radiation level suffered horrible burns. But without the 1958 can be 30 times normal background constant chanting of “Ufa! Don’t forget 2. Alberts, Bruce, et al, Essential Cell Biology, levels. The same science also explains Ufa! Never again Ufa!”, the accident was fourth edition, 2019 why there is no spike in cancers quickly forgotten. I’m sure many of the 3. Michael M. Vilenchik and Alfred G. around the popular monazite beaches burns victims are still suffering. Knudson, “Endogenous DNA double- of Brazil, despite radiation readings But irrationality, fear and outright strand breaks: Production, fidelity of repair, much higher than the exclusion zone dread isn’t the only legacy of the and induction of cancer”, PNAS October 28, around Fukushima. People sunbathe in obsolete science of the anti-nuclear 2003. areas getting 50 microSieverts per hour movement. The high costs and long 4. George Monbiot, “Evidence from these sands. Their biggest risk is build times of nuclear reactors are also Meltdown”edu.au/museums/exhibitions- sunshine. Modern science also explains a direct result. Regulatory churn, the events/phrenology.shtml why there has been no general rise in constant change to design rules, saw cancers in the exposed populations of designs changed mid build, concrete Chernobyl, other than from ingested repoured, safety system duplicated, and About the author: radio-iodine in young teenagers. Long duplicated again. All this in what is Geoff Russell is a former time campaigners like Helen Caldicott objectively the safest energy source on software writer and have to fall back on a grand conspiracy4 the planet, by far. mathematician, now turned by the United Nations to explain this. So now, when we most need fast to science writing and The fear of nuclear power in Australia cheap clean energy, we are still stymied animal advocate. 36

ARTICLE Pseudoscience It’s All In Your Head! Michelle Cooper looks at the bumpy road of phrenology, and its practice in Australia.

n the morning of 11 November skull showed enormous organs of O 1880, prison wardens cut down combativeness, destructiveness and the corpse of notorious bushranger Ned self-esteem, with underdevelopment in Kelly from the scaffold at Melbourne the organs of cautiousness, sublimity Gaol. Soon Kelly would be buried and conscientiousness. Phrenology in an unmarked grave in the prison had been proven correct, yet again! grounds – but first, authorities would Most Herald readers would have been shave his beard and hair off, take careful familiar with Hamilton’s terminology, THE ORIGINS OF PHRENOLOGY measurements of his skull and because phrenology was as much a The founder of phrenology was Franz a plaster cast of his head for further part of nineteenth century popular Joseph Gall, a Viennese doctor who’d study. culture as newspaper horoscopes would noted during his school years that Archibald Sillars Hamilton, self- become in the twentieth century. students with prominent eyes tended to proclaimed ‘Professor of Phrenology’ But how seriously did the authorities be good learners. Around the beginning – a man who’d had his own brushes take phrenology? Did it ever have any of the nineteenth century, he began with the law – had been bitterly scientific credibility, in Australia or examining the heads of people he disappointed that he’d not been elsewhere? deemed exceptional in some way and permitted to examine Kelly prior to the execution. Hamilton had strongly desired to “throw the light of science upon the character of the condemned man”. However, Hamilton was there to inspect the dead man’s head afterwards and a week later, the Melbourne Herald published the professor’s detailed phrenological analysis of Ned Kelly. Hamilton reported that Kelly’s

Top: Classic phrenology bust, as made by Lorenzo Niles Fowler. Right: Lorenzo Fowler and his Fowler American Institue of Phrenology in New York. 38 The Skeptic December 18

came up with a radical new theory: of Man, listing 39 organs. A Mr H. Franz Joseph Gall that a person’s moral and intellectual Lundie of Leeds then announced he’d (1758-1828) faculties were innate and that these discovered four new organs, which ‘craniologist’, faculties were linked to particular included organs of ‘Comicality’ and feeling his way regions (or ‘organs’) of the brain. ‘Grotesque’. And on it went. through his science, Gall claimed he’d found brain organs with (left) one of responsible for verbal skills, arithmetic, CELEBRITY HEADS his demonstration music and appreciation of colour. Despite this confusion, interest in the models. There was an organ for ‘Perseverance’, new ‘science’ of phrenology one for the ‘Sense of God and Religion’ spread rapidly throughout and another devoted to ‘Tenderness Europe. Phrenologists were for the offspring’. However, there especially intrigued by the were also organs for less benevolent heads of recently deceased characteristics and behaviours, such celebrities. When composer as Vanity, Larceny and Murder. The Joseph Haydn died in more an individual used a particular 1809, two phrenologists organ, the larger that organ would broke into his newly grow, causing a corresponding bump interred coffin to steal his on the overlying part of the skull. A head and examine his skull, skilled phrenologist would merely need subsequently reporting to run his fingers over someone’s skull that his organ of music to reveal that person’s intelligence, was “fully developed”. The personality, talents, marriage prospects, Marquis de Sade’s exhumed career options and/or criminal history. skull, however, was There was disagreement about where described by a doctor at exactly these skull bumps were located his asylum as showing “no and even how many organs and related ferocity … no aggressive faculties existed. This may have been drives … no excess in because Gall had often drawn his erotic impulses”. Perhaps conclusions from a single exceptional the infamous libertine research subject, then ignored any had reformed in his old age and his examination and received a chart that contradictory data that later emerged. skull had changed shape accordingly. Twain reported “did not resemble me Phrenologists also Spurzheim acquired in a single sharply defined detail”. relied heavily on Sade’s skull from this Notably, Twain was found to have a studying plaster A skilled phren- doctor and added cavity in his skull demonstrating a total casts of heads, “ it to his collection, absence of humour. Twain returned which were not ologist would reveal a with plaster casts of several months later, using his own very accurate skull person’s intelligence, the skull later used in name this time, and was given a second representations marriage prospects and phrenological lectures reading that bore no resemblance to for living subjects given to the public. the first chart – in fact, the cavity had unless those criminal history. ” However, it was now become an enormous bump of individuals the Americans who humour. happened to be bald or were willing to really brought phrenology to the shave their head. A bump on a young masses. Orson Squire Fowler and his SCIENCE OR PSEUDOSCIENCE? lady’s head cast could reveal a large brother Lorenzo began their lucrative The Fowlers may have viewed Organ of Poetic Talent or might simply phrenological business in the 1840s, phrenology as a form of popular show where her long hair had been selling phrenological books, ceramic entertainment and a great way to make bunched up when the cast was made. busts and various other paraphernalia. themselves a lot of money, but there Gall stated that there were 27 Phrenological pamphlets on marriage were a number of scientists who took faculties, although his colleague Johann and sex proved especially popular with phrenology very seriously indeed. Sir Spurzheim described 32 faculties in the public. Lorenzo’s wife Lydia also George MacKenzie, a Fellow of the his 1815 book, Physiognomical System. wrote a series of phrenological lessons Royal Society, was an early supporter An Edinburgh lawyer, George Combe, for schoolchildren. of phrenology, as were a number of was inspired by Spurzheim’s lectures Mark Twain, a lifelong skeptic, medical doctors, including an editor on the topic and published his own visited Lorenzo Fowler’s rooms under of The Lancet. Alfred Russell Wallace, bestselling book, The Constitution an assumed name for a phrenological an anthropologist and biologist 0339 ARTICLE Pseudoscience

It’s all in your head! Continued...

whose work on natural selection was published alongside Charles Darwin’s writings, was a lifelong phrenologist. (Admittedly, Wallace was also a spiritualist and anti-vaccinationist.) Hewett Cottrell Watson, renowned botanist and another Darwin collaborator, edited The Phrenological Journal. There was also Darwin’s polymath cousin, Francis Galton, whose early interest in phrenology developed into a passion for eugenics. However, as early as 1843, phrenology had been labelled a “pseudoscience” in at least one medical textbook. Thomas Sewell, a professor of anatomy and physiology at Washington’s Columbia College, was of faculties after studying the “diseased 1825 lithograph by ‘EH’ of a phrenologist and his also scathing about phrenology’s claims, brains” of the inmates of prisons suitably bump-headed clientelle. stating in 1826 that his dissections of and asylums. Phrenology was used the brain had not shown any distinct to argue for (and against) abolishing ‘organs’ within it and that the size slavery, extending the right to vote responsible citizens. of the brain was not directly related and restricting the sale of alcohol. Criminals who had demonstrated to intelligence. It was promoted specific antisocial behaviours were Neuroanatomists By the time Ned through working-class particularly useful subjects for would later disprove “ educational societies reforming phrenologists. The difficulty some of Sewell’s Kelly’s head was being as a self-improvement was that many of these criminals’ conclusions, but examined, phrenology tool. It was taken up skulls were examined after they’d been not for another fifty by the administrators hanged, when there was no further years. was more entertain- of asylums and prisons. chance of the individual’s rehabilitation. Interestingly, ment than science. It is not surprising, In any case, by the time Ned Kelly’s many opponents of ” then, that phrenologists head was being analysed by ‘Professor’ phrenology did not turned their gaze Hamilton, phrenology was regarded argue against it on rational grounds, towards colonial Australia. more as popular entertainment than but for religious or philosophical serious science. Notorious criminals reasons. They were deeply offended by CRIMINAL MINDS often had death masks made and the notion that an individual’s mind or A number of early colonial displayed after their executions, but this soul or moral character was governed administrators were reforming was as much to show that had by material organs, whether in the phrenologists, including Alexander been served and to satisfy the public’s brain or elsewhere. It was especially Maconochie, Superintendent of ghoulish curiosity as for any ‘scientific’ annoying to them that phrenologists Norfolk Island, and Dr Francis purpose. Bushrangers were especially claimed there was an Organ of Campbell at Tarban Creek Lunatic fascinating and the governor of one Theology, when religious faith was Asylum (which later became gaol allegedly ran a profitable business clearly due to Divine Intervention. Gladesville Mental Hospital). These selling their death masks. Yet phrenology, or at least one men believed that phrenological However, there was one branch branch of it, prided itself on being not analysis could identify character flaws, of phrenology that had some official just a science, but a reforming science. which would assist their attempts to recognition, on and off, until well into Gall himself had developed his theory transform ‘undesirables’ into virtuous, the twentieth century. It was this type 40 The Skeptic December 18

and moral potential, if given the right between the skull’s bumps and the opportunities? Or were different races man’s criminal history. Jim Crow’s skull, actually divergent species? Phrenology, donated to the Museum of Victoria with its established systems of by Hamilton’s widow, would finally be measurement and classification, was a returned to the Wonnarua people of the useful tool for studying this. Hunter Valley for reburial in 2015. Charles Darwin supported the theory of a common ancestor for all WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE? humans, but he also described a racial Hamilton was more showman than hierarchy for humans, with white scientist, but is there any evidence that European men at the top and “the phrenology had a scientific basis? negro or Australian” at the bottom. In In the 1860s, Paul Broca published The Descent of Man, he stated that the first anatomical evidence linking “the civilised races of man will almost a particular region of the brain to certainly exterminate and replace a particular behaviour. Broca, a throughout the world the savage races”, French neuroanatomist, had met a which was a view shared by many patient who had progressively lost the authorities – including the government ability to speak but who retained his of phrenology that had led to the arrest of Victoria, which commissioned and understanding of language and most of Hamilton two decades earlier. published A Phrenological Report on other mental functions. Aborigines in 1858. After the patient died, Broca found a ‘SAVAGE’ AND ‘CIVILISED’ RACES Hamilton was acquitted of the lesion in the man’s left frontal lobe. This In July 1860, Archibald Sillars charge of body-snatching, having result was duplicated in a dozen more Hamilton had been arrested by a successfully argued at his trial that a cases, indicating that this particular Maitland police magistrate and phrenologist needed skulls to study, region of the brain was responsible charged with “inciting another to just as a geologist needed rocks. for speech production. Karl Wernicke exhume corpses from a burial ground”. Besides, Hamilton pointed out, he then demonstrated that another area of Hamilton had allegedly offered to had dissected the bodies of many the brain was linked to understanding pay the sexton of St Peter’s Church criminals after their execution, at the language. Meanwhile, David Ferrier’s one pound if he would sneak into official request of authorities. Hamilton animal had shown that the church’s graveyard late at night, somehow managed to obtain the electrical stimulation of certain parts dig up two recently buried executed skull of Jim Crow at some point after of the brain caused specific muscle prisoners and cut off the corpses’ heads. this, because two years later, he was movements. Clearly, there was evidence Hamilton had a particular interest in displaying it during his phrenological in favour of the theory of brain one of the men, Jim Crow, because this lectures, discussing the relationship localisation. But did that mean that executed man was Aboriginal. Hamilton was not alone in his fascination with the remains of Aboriginal Australians. The expansion of the British Empire had brought Europeans into contact with many new plants, animals and people. Naturalists developed taxonomies to classify species of flora and fauna, which led to an interest in comparing the bodies of different racial groups of humans. Had these different races originated from a common ancestor? Did all modern humans have the same intellectual

Top: Illustrations from LA Vaugh’s Practical Character Reader (1902). Right: Ned Kelly and death mask (sans hair and beard) made by Maximilian Keitmeyer. 41 ARTICLE Pseudoscience

(‘Wernicke’s area’) with language the It’s all in Logical Place processing, while the angular gyrus is your head! related to arithmetic skill. It’s also true Preference failure that some medical conditions, such as Continued... ccording to economists, “preference hydrocephalus, can change the shape Afailure” occurs when someone acts of the skull for children and cause contrary to their own interests or inten- changes in behaviour and cognition. tions. It is a consequence of irrationality, The Oxford researchers noted that even where short-term pleasure overrides phrenology’s claims about organs and in a healthy population, improvements long-term welfare. Prime examples are faculties were correct? in childhood nutrition could lead various forms of addiction, where suf- Recently, a team of neuroscientists at to greater growth, larger heads and ferers are usually aware of the harmful the University of Oxford attempted to possibly, changes in intelligence test consequences of their actions, but by answer that question. Using data from scores. definition they are unable to break their the UK Biobank Imaging study, the But phrenology itself was never very bad habits. researchers compared MRI skull and scientific. As American satirist Ambrose Less obvious forms of preference brain data with cognitive tests, lifestyle Bierce stated, phrenology is merely “the failure occur when someone may believe questionnaires and demographic data science of picking the pocket through that they are doing the right thing, but for more than 5000 subjects. the scalp. It consists in locating and their actions are counter-productive to From Gall’s original 27 faculties, the exploiting the organ that one is a dupe their intentions. For example, people Oxford researchers selected 23 faculties with.” . who feed stray cats may think they are that seemed to have some measurable being kind because they know that stray modern-day equivalent. For example, cats suffer from starvation, disease and Gall’s Faculty of Amativeness (Impulse REFERENCES injuries from fights with other cats. Feed- to Propagation) was compared to Parker Jones, Oiwi, Alfaro-Almagro, Fidel ing stray cats provides a short-term ‘feel Biobank data on the subjects’ lifetime & Jbabdi, Saad. (2018). “An empirical, good factor’ that overrides the long-term number of sexual partners. The 21st century evaluation of phrenology.” welfare of the cats. Being a stray cat is not Faculty of Words was measured using Cortex, 106, 26-35. a sustainable lifestyle, with an average a letter fluency task and the Faculty Perrottet, Tony. (February 2015). “Who life-expectancy of only 3 years. So feed- of Arithmetic was linked to careers in was the Marquis de Sade?” Smithsonian ing them actually perpetuates the misery mathematics. Magazine. smithsonianmag.com/history/ of these poor animals (and their kittens), Some of Gall’s faculties proved who-was-marquis-de-sade-180953980/ which on a rational basis should either more difficult to match to available Roginski, Alexandra. (2015). The Hanged be adopted as pets or euthanised. An data and the researchers admitted they Man and the Body Thief: Finding lives in adverse side-effect is that stray cats are made some associations in “a spirit of a museum mystery. Melbourne: Monash also more likely to kill birds, possums and mirth” – for instance, they attempted to University Publishing. other native animals than owned cats, correlate the Faculty of Combativeness University of Sydney. (2014) Reading at least some of which are kept indoors with whether subjects had worked as Heads and Ruling Passions: An exhibition overnight. lawyers, solicitors or barristers. The on phrenology. sydney.edu.au/museums/ A more serious form of preference fail- researchers also tested the veracity of a exhibitions-events/phrenology.shtml ure is where parents refuse to vaccinate second claim of phrenology, that the van Wyhe, John. (2011). The their children, because they have been bumps of the skull were directly related History of Phrenology on the Web. misled by false beliefs that vaccines cause to the underlying shape of the brain. historyofphrenology.org.uk autism, or that other risks from vaccina- And what were their results? The Wilson, Dean. (2002). “Explaining the tion outweigh the benefits. As we know, Oxford study reported no statistically ‘Criminal’ Ned Kelly’s Death Mask. The many children have become seriously ill significant or meaningful link between Latrobe Journal, 69, 51-58. or have died from not being vaccinated. Gall’s described faculties and the shape Thus, the preference of parents to protect of the skull. Furthermore, brain shape their children can fail to be achieved. had no relationship with the bumps of About the author: Preference failure can result from false the overlying skull. Michelle Cooper has a information, invalid inductive reason- Still, Gall had been on the right science degree and writes ing (where the evidence has insufficient track when he proposed that brain books for teenagers. Her strength to justify the conclusion), or regions were related to particular skills latest book, Dr Huxley’s from faulty risk assessment where the and behaviours. For example, modern Bequest, was shortlisted evidence is incorrectly evaluated. neuroimaging has now linked parts for the 2018 Young - by Tim Harding of the inferior frontal gyrus (‘Broca’s People’s History Prize. area’) and superior temporal gyrus michellecooper-writer.com. 42 PUZZLES The Skeptic December 18

ACROSS Brain testers 1. Time for a street in Paris - that’s right. (4) CRYPTIC CROSSWORD no 40 3. Upon their oaths, one and the following one are required to lower the boats. (10) 1 2 3 4O 5 6 7 9. Unite ears around the mouth. (9) 8 10. What’s owing should be coming about now. (3) 9 10 11. Tour upset by a disorderly retreat. (4) C 12. Many write about fibs? But none detect it. (9) N 14. Direction of the genuine ghostly. (8) 11 P 12 O U 15. Strong deeds make for actualities. (5) 13A H 18. Holy beam may wander. (5) 14 16S 15U 20. “One hundred and one, one hundred and one!” 16 20 17 “That is BS,” shot back the male companions. (8) S R 24. Tissues of pine air infused with European Union. (9) 21 18 19 20 21 R E 25. One sun alone, briefly. (4) 22 R 23 24A 27. Conditionally associated with the butless. (3) 2524 25 28. Only a plan to confuse a good time girl. (9) O M Y 29. 26 They’re not real crooks, just whoppers. (10) O 30. The type of deceit that is in the Law Society. (4)) 27 28 E

29 L 30 DOWN 1. Little Theodore would rise badly, or so the suggestions Tim Mendham + Steve Roberts go. (8) DR BOB’S QUIZ 2. Nut hurt badly by a fib. (7) 4. If parlay doesn’t work, then do it by the rules. (4,4) 1. Bible Code: when the UK Daily Mail fell for this very silly idea, 5. Albert in the 15th day of principles. (6) they desperately tried to keep it running despite all the derision. 6. Not quite in a previous performance. (7) Once, they printed all week “Bible Code – The Proof …. evidence that all the major events in world history were encoded 7. Chesty cut down by a haymaker. (6) in the Bible … further details on Monday”. What did they 8. Jackson’s record is not good. (3) print on the Monday? 10. Stickler for the magic dot to be revealed. (8) 13. Imagine the Queen’s idealists. (8) 2. According to political activist and conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche, who heads the world-wide cocaine smuggling 16. Wangled a flange I’d wrangled. (8) conspiracy? 17. Damsel is one who gives a wrong impression. (8) 19. For unimportance, little can rival it. (7) 3. In the famous “alien autopsy” hoax movie, a film technician 21. Silent dig as seen in “Benji”. (7) was one of the two operators shown. What was the special skill that decided the choice of the actor for the second operator? 22. Polish it one more time, or I’ll ignore you. (6) 23. Too much French Italian flower sends you crazy. (6) 4. Of whom was it stated “No marks whatever. Probably third 26. I say yes. (3) class”? (Note: if you key these words into Google or Wikipedia, then you are a cissy.)

5. How many people were killed by the Great Fire of London (1666) and the 4-day smog over London in 1952?

Answers on page 62

0343 ARTICLE Scholarship hitler, dogs & sexism Martin Bridgstock looks at a recent industrial-scale hoax of academic ‘grievance’ journals

oaxing has a long history in However, hoaxes can Johann Beringer (1667-1740) with Hboth academia and skepticism. backfire. Thomas Monteleone, fossils and frontispiece of his Way back in the eighteenth century as a student, phoned into a 1726 book Lithographia a pompous German academic named talkback radio show claiming Wirceburgensis Johann Beringer was excited to to have been abducted by discover fossils – or what he thought aliens (Monteleone 1979). were fossils -- in stones. He wrote a It was a funny prank. Then book about them, but then found a Monteleone started to get ‘fossil’ with his name on it. He had contacted by UFO ‘investigators’ been hoaxed by colleagues, and spent wanting to talk to him. He the rest of his life trying to buy back discovered that his name was being copies of his book (Gould 2000). passed around as someone who had More recently, skeptic and magician important evidence. His prank had became concerned when actually strengthened the movement. a prominent academic received money to research the paranormal (Randi A GIANT HOAX 1983a,b). He wrote to the academic, Recently, news has appeared of a hoax explaining his concerns about cheating, which makes all earlier deceptions and was ignored. Randi unleashed two young magicians upon the project. The magicians’ ‘psychic’ demonstrations stunned the researchers, and the latter presented a paper about their findings. The hoax was revealed and the project collapsed. 44 The Skeptic December 18

look trivial. It consists of writing no world isn’t anything like the way we that ‘physical “reality” (note the scare less than 20 bogus academic papers think it is. Instead the ‘reality’ we see is quotes) ... is at bottom a social and over ten months, and submitting them structured (mostly) by groups of white linguistic construct’. Not our theories to highly-ranked journals in one field male heterosexuals, presumably for of physical reality, mind you, but the of research. The total length of the their advantage. Looked at like this, reality itself. Fair enough. Anyone papers was nearly it becomes a positive who believes that the laws of physics 180,000 words, duty to destroy such a are mere social conventions is invited and, including “ Both Sokal and PLB tissue of falsehood. to try transgressing those conventions drafts and other played fair with the From this from the windows of my apartment. I materials, the total viewpoint, there often live on the twenty-first floor.” (Sokal wordage involved journals, giving hints the seem to be that 2000) was over 300,000. papers were fake. white males cannot The PLB team’s parodies went even Who are these ” fully understand, and further. In one study they claimed hoaxers, and why so the disruptions have they spent so much effort on have to come from the oppressed Alan Sokal, mathematician, physicist, an industrial-scale hoax? The three groups themselves. PLB decided to combinatorialist, and hoaxer authors are Helen Pluckrose, James A. fully understand this Lindsay and . (Let’s worldview, while never call them PLB for short.) Boghossian believing it. But how is an academic, doing philosophy at could they show that they Portland State University; Pluckrose had fully understood it? edits an internet magazine, Areo; and By writing papers which Lindsay, with a PhD in mathematics were published in top- and physics, has written a series of flight journals. However, books leaning toward . the papers in question had You might reasonably ask why three to be badly flawed, so that very clever people would spend an nobody contemplating enormous amount of time and effort them – apart from those producing worthless research papers. ideologically committed The answer is that the hoaxers are to their truth – could setting out to combat an alarming possibly regard them as trend in part of American academia. being contributions to The trend is summarised in the term knowledge. “critical constructivism”, and it isn’t Now there is a easy to describe. forerunner to this sort The authors summarise it as: of hoax, and it is known “An overarching ... belief that many as the Sokal hoax. common features of experience and Alan Sokal, a physicist, society are socially constructed. These concocted a bogus paper constructions are seen as being nearly essentially claiming entirely dependent upon power that science and reality dynamics between groups of people, were linguistic constructs (Sokal often dictated by sex, race, or sexual 1996). He sent it to a leading cultural or gender identification. All kinds studies journal, Social Text. After of things accepted as having a basis some discussion it was accepted and in reality due to evidence are instead published, and a great deal of ridicule believed to have been created by followed when Sokal revealed the hoax. the intentional and unintentional It is worth noting that the journal machinations of powerful groups Social Text still exists, apparently in order to maintain power over unabashed. marginalized ones. This ‘worldview’ In a sense both Sokal and PLB produces a moral imperative to played fair with the journals. They gave dismantle these constructions.” clear hints that the papers were fake. (Pluckrose, Lindsay and Boghossian For example, Sokal points out that: “In 2018) the second paragraph I declare without So, according to this viewpoint, the the slightest evidence or argument, 0345 ARTICLE Scholarship

Hitler, Dogs & Sexism Continued...

to have surreptitiously inspected the genitals of 10,000 dogs while questioning their owners about the animals’ sexual preferences (‘Wilson’ 2018). This paper also argued that men should be trained like dogs, to counter rape culture. In another paper they argued that morbid obesity should be celebrated as a health life- choice – contrary to scientific and medical evidence (‘Baldwin’ 2018) and they also had a paper accepted which contained chunks of Hitler’s Mein Kampf as part of its text (‘Gonzalez and Jones’ 2018). In addition to these RESULTS OF THE HOAXING Conspirators: James Lindsay, Helen Pluckrose, absurdities, PLB made a point of What were the results? Academic and Peter Boghossian. ensuring that the research methods in publishing can be really, really slow. the papers were questionable, and that When a paper is submitted, the editor the conclusions did not follow from sends it to two or more referees, the journal Gender, Place and Culture the evidence. normally international experts in the as one of twelve outstanding papers in The hoaxers sometimes constructed field. On the basis of the referees’ feminist geography. these papers by noting tendencies in reports, the editor can then decide Personally, I found the enthusiasm existing so-called ‘grievance’ papers whether to publish, to ask for changes, of the referees’ comments on these – which they or to reject the paper. hoax papers to be the most mind- have described They ensured the The hoaxing team boggling of all. The comments total as scholarship “ wrote twenty bogus over 30,000 words, so just a few “based less upon research methods papers, and submitted samples are given here. Remember, all finding truth were questionable and them to high-ranking the papers are deliberately constructed more and more journals in the to be shoddy fakes. upon attending to conclusions did not grievance field. In the “This is a wonderful paper – social grievances” follow the evdience. end, seven of the papers incredibly innovative, rich in analysis, (Schuessler 2018) ” were accepted and four and extremely well-written and -- carrying it to a of these published. Six organized given the incredibly diverse grotesque extreme, and then writing were retired as terminally flawed, and literature sets and theoretical questions a paper. In other cases they took a seven were still in play when the hoax brought into conversation.” “nutty or inhumane idea” and ran was ended. By my estimate, leaving “I thoroughly enjoyed reading with it. The authors were not listed as out the uncompleted processes, that this article and believe it has an Pluckrose, Lindsay and Boghossian, looks like a success rate of over 50%, important contribution to make to but either completely bogus identities impressive for humanities journals. the field and this journal. For the or the names of people who had Even more astonishing than the most part, I wholeheartedly agree with agreed to be listed as the author (The acceptance rate, however, are some its argument. It is well written and bogus names appear in quotes here.) of the reactions to the papers. The structured.” In some cases the fake identities bogus authors of these hoax papers “Thank you for this exciting themselves provided a clue. For received four requests to act as research. I enjoyed reading your paper, instance ‘Rachel Wilson’, who wrote referees themselves, which would and I recommend publishing it after the dogs paper mentioned above, was involve commenting upon other significant revisions.” (Pluckrose, reported as working at the Portland papers submitted. Suddenly they were Lindsay and Boghossian 2018) Ungendering Research Initiative, experts! One paper – the ‘dogs’ paper In an ideal world, the hoaxers which does not exist. mentioned above – was selected by would have rewritten papers where 46 The Skeptic December 18

necessary, and finally obtained a oppressors. I have checked through ‘Wilson, Rachel’ . (2018). “Human reactions conclusive acceptance or rejection for some of the journals, months after to rape culture and queer performativity each one. However, this turned out to the hoaxes. None have disappeared, at urban dog parks in Portland, be impossible. First, a website called and it seems to be business as usual Oregon”, Gender, Place & Culture, DOI: Real Peer Review (2018), devoted to for them. Like the creation scientists, 10.1080/0966369X.2018.1475346 exposing shoddy scholarship, expressed though, there may be uncommitted incredulity at some of the hoax papers. people who will see the point of the Journalists began to investigate the hoax, and adjust their viewpoint absurdities, and some of the hoaxed accordingly. . About the author: journals became suspicious of what Martin Bridgstock is a had happened. In view of this, the retired senior lecturer in hoaxers decided to come clean to REFERENCES the School of Biomolecular the Wall Street Journal (Melchior ‘Baldwin, Richard’ (2018). “Who are they and Physical Sciences at 2018) at the beginning of August. to judge? Overcoming anthropometry Griffith University and the It’s interesting that although the through fat bodybuilding”, Fat Studies, author of Beyond Belief. refereeing system did not guard against DOI: 10.1080/21604851.2018.1453622, the hoaxers, other truth-checking published online on 10 April 2018. mechanisms – the Real Peer Review ‘Gonzalez and Jones’ (2018). “Our struggle website and news reporting – did is my struggle: Solidarity feminism as eventually work. an intersectional reply to neoliberal and GET THE FACTS! choice feminism”, accepted by Affilia but Visit our new website THE IMPACT not published. Of course, the revelations led to a Gould, Stephen Jay. (2000). The Lying www.skeptics.com.au storm of controversy. Some of the Stones of Marrakech. London. Jonathan journal editors stated that the hoax Cape. was unethical. A counter-argument Melchior, Jillian Kay. (2018). “Fake news has been put that hoax papers in any comes to academia”, Wall Street Journal, field would have similar success: there October 5. tinyurl.com/ybs6986n was no control group to show this (paywall) could not occur generally. From my Monteleone, Thomas F. (1979). “The own experience I think that although Gullibility Factor”, Omni, 1, 8: 146. the refereeing system is not foolproof, Helen Pluckrose, James A. Lindsay, and most hoax papers would get short Peter Boghossian. (2018). “Academic shrift elsewhere. Perhaps some brave grievance studies and the corruption of soul would like to try hoaxing physics scholarship”, Areo, October 2. journals, for instance. tinyurl.com/yb3fqpay. When I first heard about this hoax, Randi, James. (1983a). “The Project Alpha I was reminded of my experiences experiment: part 1”, with creation scientists back in the 7,4: 24-33. 1980s. Skeptics were able to show, Randi, James. (1983b). “The Project Alpha again and again, that creationists experiment: part 2”, Skeptical Inquirer misrepresented scientists and got 8,1: 36-45 their facts wrong. However, it did not Real Peer Review. (2018). https:// affect the creationists at all. They were realpeerreviewblog.wordpress.com/ fanatics who simply ploughed on with Schuessler, Jennifer. (2018). Hoaxers Slip their campaign. Where the skeptics’ Breastaurants and Dog-Park Sex Into arguments did have an effect was on Journals. New York Times, October 4. uncommitted people. They looked at tinyurl.com/y8qhsjm3. the evidence and were horrified at the Sokal, Alan. (Spring/Summer 1996). creationists’ antics. “Transgressing the boundaries: Towards a The latest news, events, My personal guess is that the transformative of quantum hoaxed academics are strongly gravity”, Social Text, 46/47, pp. 217-252. opinions, back issues committed to their particular Sokal, Alan. (2000). “Revelation: a physicist standpoint. I suspect they are experiments with cultural studies”, in the and good stuff! in an ideological bubble, proof Editors of Lingua Franca (eds), The Sokal against attacks by people they see as Hoax, University of Nebraska Press: 49-53 47 ARTICLE Energy and the Paranormal

the History of EUTS In this Classic Catch article, Sir Jim R. Wallaby investigates energies unknown to science … and those that are.

few weeks ago, I was engaged in old bugger?” You are undecided about Eve Abbey, my eye lighted upon a slim A quiet discourse with our respected Heisenberg, you don’t know whether volume entitled A Physicist’s Guide to Editor on matters pertaining to the Schrodinger’s moggy was Burmese or Skepticism by Milton A. Rothman. production of this journal. “Sir”, he Alley, you think that Planck’s Constant The sub-title was what really attracted said to me, (I like young Mendham, is a carpenter’s rule and you believe that my notice. “Applying laws of physics he is obsequious without being servile) quantum mechanics are the blokes who to faster-than-light travel, psychic “Would you please be so kind as to keep the flying kangaroo flying.” phenomena, telepathy, time travel, write an article, pointing out the Not wishing to dignify this UFOs and other pseudoscientific incompatibility of the paranormal with intemperate outburst with a reply, I claims”, it read. well-tested and fundamental laws of took my leave. Despite all, however, the “Aha”, I mused, “If this Prof physics?” oaf’s vituperation had caused a niggling Rothman knows his stuff, then my Not wishing to disappoint the lad, doubt to fester in my mind. Could I problem is solved.” The appalling I responded “Of course my boy”, possibly carry out my task without first Williams, who was lurking in a ever mindful of my monograph on undergoing a two-week crash course in neighbouring aisle perusing some Heisenstein’s Relatively Uncertain particle physics? I confessed to myself Victorian ‘art’ studies, muttered Principle, which is still discussed, that I was indeed a trifle rusty on the something about “plagiarism is a in hushed tones, whenever Nobel Copenhagen interpretation and that crime”, but, summoning up all the Laureates gather. superstring theory posed some knotty innate dignity with which centuries of At this point, our friendly tete-a-tete problems. On the other hand, could I noble breeding has endowed me, I left was interrupted by the intrusion of the disappoint the trusting Mendham? The him to his own devices. grizzled visage of one Williams, who, horns of a dilemma indeed. I was even The book, as it transpires, fulfils for reasons that completely mystify me, contemplating the only way out for a all of the hopes I had for it. It seems presides over our inquiring little group. man of honour. Drink! that Prof Rothman, a retired physics Fixing me with that benevolent gaze professor from Trenton State College, that has made his name a by word at LIBER EX MACHINA Trenton, New Jersey, does indeed reunions of SS members, he delivered Little did I realise it, but salvation was know his stuff. More importantly, he himself of the following tirade. at hand. expounds his knowledge with a clarity “What do you know about the Sheltering from the rain in the which should enlighten even those fundamental laws of physics, you silly literary emporium of the estimable whose scientific knowledge barely 48 The Skeptic December 18

exceeds the combined output of the an intelligent decision. laws in fact make the claims impossible. creation “science” cult. He examines the four fundamental He does not deny that other forces The book begins by asking the interactions which control all actions at may yet be detected, but shows that questions we frequently hear being the atomic level and shows that, if we if they do indeed exist, then they asked by those who, in the interests test and validate our assumptions about must fall within very clearly defined of democracy, seem to believe that all the laws against the interactions, we parameters which makes it highly propositions are equally valid. “How can make predictions with a remarkable improbable that any such undiscovered do you know that we can’t travel faster degree of confidence and that we forces could account for dubious than light?”, “How do you know then do not have to phenomena. Such telepathy is impossible?” etc. It then test every example. Psychic theory is forces may be goes on to show that, while science does For instance, it has “ found to operate not know the answers to every question, been experimentally inexplicable because in extremely high this does not mean that science does shown that events there is nothing there energy states (which not know the answer to any question. that are mediated by means very hot) such He also challenges the view that the strong nuclear to explain. It’s predictive as those pertaining any is provisional and and electromagnetic ability is zero. nanoseconds after subject to complete overthrow in the interactions obey the ” the . It is future. Rothman points out that it law of conservation unlikely that we took a revolution in thinking for us of energy to within a few parts per will ever be able to simulate these to accept the idea that the Earth is a thousand million million. If our conditions in laboratories and the spheroid and that it revolves around the leaders could determine their forward temperatures required far exceed those sun, but questions whether there is any estimates with that degree of precision, that exist in today’s real world, even in conceivable case for a further revolution they could calculate the budget exactly, the fevered brains of New Agers. which will overturn our present state of to within an accuracy of six decimal Alternatively, other forces may knowledge of this topic. Refinements in places. remain undiscovered, simply because any theory are always possible, perhaps Bring on the quantum politicians, I they are so weak as to get lost in the probable, but the total reversal of many say! background noise and thus have no of our established scientific models is Rothman puts it another way. If you discernible effect on matter. inconceivable. were a typist with a similar standard Now, Rothman gets to the nub of accuracy and you could keep up a of the matter. It is all very well to FORMS OF ENERGY speed of 100 words per minute, you postulate new forces, energies or Rothman examines the various could type for 20 million years without particles; scientists quite often do it, ‘conservation’ laws that lie at the heart making a mistake. [If of nature. Not, I hasten to add, the anyone knows a typist laws conserving trees or buildings, all like that, could they of which are subject to the whims of please contcat me. - Ed] politicians, but those that govern the Rothman shows conservation of energy, momentum and that electromagnetism suchlike. is the only one of the He considers these under two four fundamental headings, “Laws of permission”, which interactions that could, allow, but do not guarantee, certain by the nature of the effects, and “Laws of denial”, which claims made, conceivably absolutely forbid certain events. This be responsible for the is a very useful tool and is the basis majority of claimed upon which we can use the law of paranormal phenomena. conservation of energy to reject the idea He then goes on to show of a perpetual motion machine, without that the fundamental actually having to test every example that is presented. An interesting practical example of this is the blanket Milton Rothman (1919-2001), refusal of the US Patent Office to even a man who knew his physics ... consider perpetual motion machines for and his physicists. the granting of a patent. This may also be one of the few recorded cases of a bureaucracy making 0349 ARTICLE Energy and the Paranormal

The history there is no requirement to explain a Yet quantum theory allows us to phenomenon unless you have evidence predict events with an accuracy almost of EUTS that the phenomenon exists. Or, as unique in our history and is directly Continued... one of our patrons, Dick Smith, was responsible for our entire electronics wont to say, “I don’t need to know how technology. Quantum theory is the Santa’s reindeer fly until I know that most powerful explanation of the Santa’s reindeer do fly.” natural world that we have. as the case of the neutrino exemplifies. It is clear that we On the other hand, we Certain actions which occurred within know enough about the have ‘psychic’ theory, also quantum experiments indicated the real, material world to be inexplicable in ordinary terms need for such a particle to make the confident that no known but for different reasons. maths come out right. It took 20 years forces can produce alleged Psychic theory is before experimental evidence showed ‘psychic’ phenomena. The inexplicable because there that the neutrino actually existed. proposition that is usually is nothing to explain. The Similarly with the intermediate vector advanced to counter this is predictive ability of ‘psychic’ bosons, which were postulated as the some hypothetical non- theory is precisely zero and mediating particles of the weak nuclear material energy which until we have some concrete force and which were not actually exists on some plane evidence that any such observed for many years. In these and other than the material. phenomena exist, that is other cases, theory predicted just what Rothman is aware of this precisely where it will remain. researchers should have looked for, and cop-out and exposes its Reading Prof Rothman’s by looking, they found them. most glaring flaw. You can book should convince any postulate as many paramaterial planes reasonably intelligent individual that it THE DREADED EUTS as you wish, but, at some stage in the would be inadvisable to suspend one’s But what of energies unknown to proceedings there must be an interface respiration while waiting science? What of psychic energy or between the paramaterial force and the for that evidence. . energy or whatever, which, material electrons in the material brain we are told, account for phenomena or nothing will be detected and nothing such as telepathy or ? To will happen. Note: Reprinted from The Skeptic, Vol answer this question, we must first ask, Consider two world views, each 10 No 1, Autumn 1990. “Where is the body of experimental seemingly incomprehensible to the lay evidence that requires us to postulate mind. On one hand, we have quantum About the author: these energies or particles?” “Where are theory which is so counter-intuitive Sir Jim R. Wallaby was the consistent theories that give us an as to be inexplicable by analogy and banned from all psychic indication of what to look for?” thus to be incomprehensible to non- experiments involving The answer is, of course, “There specialists. A theory about which Neils quantum theory, because are none.” All we see are inconsistent Bohr, one of its founders, is reported his body exerted an undue experiments giving inconsistent to have said “If you are not confused effect on sub-atomic and vague results and a whole lot of by Quantum Mechanics, then you particles due to excessive wishful thinking. As Rothman has it, have not understood the proposition.” gravitational force.

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The cycle of life BERTHA’S BIG TRIP Driving, humming, and filling up. In August 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of engineer Karl Benz (both pictured below), drove And so it goes, the almost inevitable her husband’s prototype vehicle from Mannheim to realisation that all knowledge is Pforzheim and back – the first long-distance trip in the history of the automobile. The return journey of close to connected and connectable. 200km was designed to prove to her husband the capability and sustainability of his horseless carriage, which had been patented two years earlier. There were a few minor technical problems en route - the car’s 0.88hp engine was so weak Bertha and her two OCKEL’S OPPORTUNITY sons had to push it up steep hills, Bertha plugged a leaky valve Apart from the discovery of with a garter, used hair pins to clean clogged valves, got leather the hummingbirds, Wiesloch (pop from local shoemakers to line the brakes, and had to buy the 70,000) is known for a few specific events. benzene fuel (also called ligroin) from local pharmacies as It began as a silver mining community in there was no fuel tank. Source: Wikipedia, Wired the 10th century. In 1077, Emperor Henry IV locked more than 100 of his enemies in the early church at Wizinloch (as the place was then known) and burnt the building down. In the 17th century, several battles were fought around the town during two different wars. But Wiesloch might be best known for a small shop run by local chemist Willi Ockel. On August 5, 1888, he sold a tin of ligroin to a woman and her teenage sons. The city pharmacy in Wiesloch is now regarded as the first “filling station” in the world because Bertha Benz stopped there to refill the What goes around ... tank of her automobile, a vehicle never before seen on the road. ITSY-BITSY BIRDS Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring 7.5-13cm long (the bee hummingbird measures only 5cm and weighs less than 2.0g). However, in 2004, Dr Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt am Main identified two 30-million- year-old hummingbird fossils, and named them Eurotrochilus inexpectatus (“unexpected European hummingbird”). They had been unearthed in a clay pit at Wiesloch, south of , and then sat in a museum drawer in Stuttgart. Because it was assumed that hummingbirds never occurred outside the Americas they were not recognised to be hummingbirds until Mayr took a A shop in a small town in Germany, closer look at them. with a statue of Bertha Benz outside. Source: Wikipedia, except where noted

52 The Skeptic December 18

BERTHA AND BENZ BERTHA’S BIG TRIP Bertha Ringer (1849-1944) was born to a wealthy In August 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of family in Pforzheim, Germany. Two years before her engineer Karl Benz (both pictured below), drove marriage to Karl Benz (1844-1929), she used part of her dowry her husband’s prototype vehicle from Mannheim to to invest in his failing iron construction company. As an unmarried Pforzheim and back – the first long-distance trip in the woman, she was able to do so; after she married Benz, according to history of the automobile. The return journey of close to German law, she would lose her legal power to act as an investor. On 20 200km was designed to prove to her husband the capability and July 1872, Bertha Ringer married Karl Benz. As he moved on to a new sustainability of his horseless carriage, which had been patented manufacturing venture, Benz & Cie, he continued to use her dowry as two years earlier. There were a few minor technical problems en financial support. He finished his work on his first horseless carriage route - the car’s 0.88hp engine was so weak Bertha and her two in December 1885. Although Bertha financed the development process, and would hold patent rights under modern law, as sons had to push it up steep hills, Bertha plugged a leaky valve Bertha takes the car for a spin in a married woman she was not allowed to apply for the with a garter, used hair pins to clean clogged valves, got leather this recent re-enactment. from local shoemakers to line the brakes, and had to buy the patent. The vehicle she drove to Pforzheim and benzene fuel (also called ligroin) from local pharmacies as back was the Model III. Her trip there was no fuel tank. Source: Wikipedia, Wired was illegal. BENZ AND MERCEDES The famous Mercedes-Benz brand traces its origins to Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach’s conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine in 1886. The Daimler 35hp automobile was named Mercedes in 1901 after the daughter of Emil Jellinek (both pictured left), an Austrian automobile entrepreneur who worked with DMG. Jellinek was a marketing strategist who promoted Daimler automobiles to high society, including What goes around ... the Rothschilds and Rockefellers. (In 1899, Jellinek drove in a race in Nice under the pseudonym “Monsieur BENZ AND BIRDS Mercédès”.) The first Mercedes-Benz branded There is a curious link between the Daimler- vehicles were produced in 1926, following the Benz company and hummingbirds. Multimedia merger of Benz’s and Daimler’s companies company Blind Hummingbird Productions has into Daimler-Benz. produced promotional videos for the Mercedes, and in 2009 the Munich-based journalist Michael Gleich wrote an article for a Daimler magazine on how automakers were reacting to the global financial crisis, climate change and rising petrol prices. He compared automative technology to both the sloth, which saves energy in times of scant resources by moving slowly and having lots of sleep, and the fast- moving hummingbirds that need to burn many times their own weight in energy to keep flying. “That’s why they’re constantly tanking up.” Hummingbirds have been found outside of Source: Daimler Sustainability Report 2009: 360 Magazine the Americas, albeit millions of years ago. Source: Wikipedia, except where noted

53 REVIEWS Religion + Climate

Confused advocate

God is Good for You A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times his parents. I have no such faith. I have a reasoned By Greg Sheridan judgment. In my possession is my birth certificate, Allen & Unwin, A$32.99 naming my parents. I have my father’s build, but resemble my mother in facial characteristics and temperament. My mother told me about the circumstances of my birth, and my grandparents reg Sheridan is a prominent talked about when I was a baby. Nothing is certain, Gjournalist and editor with but I have a rational, well-evidenced judgement that the Murdoch press. In this book, Roy and Connie Bridgstock were my parents. Faith he examines the near collapse of doesn’t come into it. religion in western nations, and then As for rationality, Sheridan’s pronouncements are suggests some measures to counteract utterly obscure. Here is an example: “Much of the it. Sheridan is apparently a lifelong problem comes from popular misunderstanding of Catholic, and this colours his entire what belief is. Belief involves the will as much as the perspective. intellect, perhaps more. Of course we cannot believe Sheridan accepts that the decline in something which is outrageous to reason, or which organised religion is real, and he is not contradicts itself in fundamentals. But the human trying to deny it, or explain it away. movement to the act of belief normally involves Although he is a Catholic, he is polite more than just reason.” (p38) to Protestants and also to monotheists So if you and I have different ‘wills’, ie different such as Sikhs – he married one. wishes regarding what we want to believe, then Why is Sheridan worried? For we can believe differently and both be rational. one thing, he believes that our We are not allowed to do this, says Sheridan, if we Enlightenment civilisation arose from believe something which is “outrageous to reason”. Christianity. For another thing, he worries that But skeptics know from creation scientists and western nations, bereft of religion, will have to face flat earthers that what is outrageous to one person other nations which still are devout. is perfectly acceptable to another. Deep down, Now all of this is arguable. For every example of Sheridan is terribly muddled. Christianity supporting science and progress, it is Perhaps one more howler will be enough. easy to find one showing the opposite. And there is Sheridan dismisses ’s work on no evidence that nonreligious leaders (like, say, Bob in these terms: “The philosopher David Hume … Hawke) are less effective at dealing with the world attacked Christianity directly in philosophical works than religious leaders (like, say, Tony Abbott). partly because his imagination could not conceive of Sheridan’s errors go deeper. For a start, he miracles.” (p26) is unclear about exactly what the trend against Well, no. Hume argues that “a wise man religion is. He seems to assume that people leaving proportions his belief to the evidence”, that is, religion are moving to atheism. In fact, as many a thinker looks at the evidence for and against a pieces of research show, only a minority of people particular proposition, and weighs them up to leaving major embrace atheism (eg Pew decide how far, and how strongly, to believe. But Research Center 2010). In addition, Sheridan every one of us, every day, verifies the laws of nature. doesn’t seem to understand atheism at all. He For instance, I have a cup of coffee on my desk pronounces that it is a ‘religious faith’ (but not, right now. Gravity holds it in place, verifying that apparently, a religion) without explaining why. law. And the coffee is steadily cooling, verifying the A few minutes listening to, say, Second Law of Thermodynamics. All around us, all (2018) would show him that atheism is simply the time, the laws of science are being verified by the judgment that there is not enough evidence to our experiences. So a , which is a violation support religious belief. It’s that simple. of these laws, must be justified by enough evidence At the deepest level, I have a suspicion that to outweigh this enormous mass of evidence. So in Sheridan does not understand the terms rationality principle, there can never be enough evidence to and faith. He uses both in very weird ways. For support belief in miracles. example, he pronounces that he has a ‘faith’ that So what does Sheridan prescribe? He is much the people he regards as his parents actually are affected by Rod Dreher’s book The Benedict Option, 54 The Skeptic December 18

which argues that Christians should build and arguments of those he opposes means that his book strengthen local faith communities. Sheridan often blunders into error and misrepresentation. describes visits to monasteries and has little but It is glib where it ought to be thoughtful and praise for them. My only reservation is that, dismissive where careful reasoning is needed. judging by the evidence, these little religious Frankly, it’s a mess and I can’t recommend it to communities can become centres of indoctrination fellow skeptics. and abuse of children. For obscure reasons, Sheridan also includes a - Reviewed by Martin Bridgstock chapter of interviews with leading politicians who are religious. His old mate Tony Abbott is there, REFERENCES of course, but there are many others, including Dillahunty, Matt. (2018). The Atheist Experience. Dillahunty Bill Shorten and Penny Wong. Sheridan is brutally appears in many episodes of this YouTube show; for dismissive of critics of religion, but has no criticism example, try www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P-929oSyjk of these fellow-believers. Dreher, Rod. (2017). The Benedict Option. New York, Random. So what can be made of all this? Sheridan is Hume, David. (2018). Of Miracles; for example www3. boldly facing the long-term decline of organised nd.edu/~afreddos/courses/43811/hume-on-miracles.htm religion in western countries, and suggesting Pew Research Centre. (2010). Religion Among the alternatives for committed Christians. However, his Millennials, www.pewforum.org/2010/02/17/religion- failure to understand the long-term trends and the among-the-millennials/ Giving greenies a black eye

Climate change delusion and the great electricity rip-off that is actually coloured green: the mineral named By after him – Plimerite – which he confides is brittle, green, soft and prone to fracturing unevenly. Connor Court Publishing, A$39.99 “Green” is Plimer’s entry level insult for adherents of what he calls a new fundamentalist religion thanks to which “We are wasting resources on “ he global warming scare is the biggest invented issues. A belief in human-induced global Tscientific fraud in the 2,500-year history warming is mired in totalitarianism, self-loathing, of science. And we are paying with taxes and anti-capitalism and hypocrisy. Believers buy ridiculously high electricity bills as a result.” indulgences via subsidised wind and solar electricity The last time I bumped into Ian Plimer was at and force non-believers and the poor to also pay the funeral of mutual friend Barry Williams. As indulgences.” I tottered the furlong or so from the A green may degenerate further and become Chapel to afternoon tea, Plimer glided a “green left environmental activist” or even “a past aboard an electric vehicle. I later good Gaia-fearing decent green left environmental complimented him: “Good to see you activist”. Related epithets include “carpetbaggers”, using the electric car. I hear they save “serial exaggerators” and “climate ‘scientists’ on CO2 which is something a few unemployable outside their ivory castles”. They people are concerned about.” are “authoritarian socialists commonly known as Plimer’s book is intended to be an watermelons (green on the outside, red inside)” eye-opener for the fans of electric cars and thanks to them, “climate change activism is the and other supposedly planet-friendly main weapon of the culture wars to deconstruct . He takes a swipe at the Western civilisation”. subsidy-cocooned promoters of carbon The book comprises two broad themes: the dioxide ameliorating devices and their usefulness or otherwise of the greens’ “New Friends” ‘renewable zealot’ supporters. “Green” (wind, solar, bio power and the use of batteries) and is a term of abuse, used frequently reasons for concluding that human activity does not – roughly 100 times in the first 100 “drive” climate change. pages. These instances are distinct from Plimer contends that compared to coal, oil and the one time he refers to something gas, each New Friend is inefficient and far less green 55 REVIEWS Climate

than popularly supposed. Take wind for example: insults, bold factual claims and footnotes. This “The scenic Australian landscape is littered book has 540 footnotes which are often general with inefficient, unreliable, highly subsidised and hard to check, eg an entire book. Which part bird and bat chomping wind turbines ... Wind of the book did Plimer have in mind when making industrial complexes clearly demonstrate that the footnoted assertion? environmentalism is not about the environment. It As an example, I looked at the complaint that is about control of every minute aspect of our lives a side-effect of wind farms is infrasound “which by unelected thugs. … Wind industrial complexes can have a profound effect on some people” and have the life of a parasite. They freeload themselves which “is used as a military weapon”. The footnote onto existing grids paid by conventional efficient is to a paper entitled: “Responses of the ear to low energy, need subsidies and drain electricity from frequency sounds, infrasound and wind turbines.” the grid when not operating. Wind turbines don’t That paper is cautiously worded. “As people do run on wind, they run on subsidies. From the not become unsteady and the visual field does not taxpaying consumer. These subsidies make your blur when exposed to high level infrasound, it can electricity bill prohibitively expensive.” be concluded that sensitivity is extremely low. In some pathologic conditions, coupling of external WINDFARMS infrasound may be greater. [example given] To When Plimer comes to our knowledge, the sensitivity of such patients provide specific reasons, to controlled levels of infrasound has never been you may find a surprise or evaluated.” two. Wind turbines: The authors combine the possibility of • Are useless when the infrasound consequences with “reports indicating” wind is too slow or too greater annoyance to sensitive individuals, to assert fast. “an urgent need for more research”. • Cost so much to As for using infrasound as a military weapon, construct that investors the paper that Plimer’s footnote refers to states: are not interested unless “Although infrasound at high levels apparently subsidised. does not cause direct mechanical damage to • Often create excess the ear, in animal studies it has been found to power which there is exacerbate functional and hair cell losses resulting no good way to store. from high level exposures of sounds in the audible Batteries are expensive and a fire hazard. Using range.” excess power to elevate water or create hydrogen People living near windfarms do not experience is “hopelessly inefficient”. this combination of high levels of audible sound • Occupy valuable environmental space, often in and infrasound that the authors are considering. scenic areas. They experience high levels of neither. In referring • Slaughter birds and bats. to the animal tests, the authors footnote a • Create flying ice (in winter at high latitudes). 2007 paper entitled “High-intensity acoustics • Are unsightly and injurious to nearby property for military nonlethal applications: a lack of values. useful systems.” It concludes that high-intensity • Create flickering light and infrasound(!) infrasound significantly disrupted animal • Cause increased carbon dioxide emissions due to behaviour in some experiments but “it seems construction, maintenance and the need to have unlikely that high-intensity acoustic energy in the backup coal or gas-powered generators. Large audible, infrasonic, or low-frequency range can turbines require energy to start up. Whether the provide a device suitable for use as a nonlethal turbine is in use or not, it requires energy for weapon.” the controls, lights, communications, sensors, Therefore, in 2007, infrasound was not being metering, data collection, oil heating, pumps, used as a military weapon and these authors saw coolers and gearbox filtering systems. no likely potential even for non-lethal uses. If you • Entail pollution in manufacturing the blades are wondering whether things have changed since which cannot be recycled; and from the 2007, look at your evening news. In places where consequences of mining the required rare-earth the Army or the Wallopers routinely get stuck into minerals. demonstrators, we don’t see sonic or infrasonic The combative approach of this book is typical weapons. of Plimer’s reputation and a style that divides After a couple of hours checking out Plimer’s readers. He delivers saturation bombloads of footnote, I found contradiction of Plimer’s claim 56 The Skeptic December 18

that infrasound is used as a military weapon. • There is no relationship between carbon dioxide Secondly his expression “can have a profound from all sources and temperature increase? effect” should be “might have an effect – more • We cause an extra 3% of carbon dioxide but work needed”. I was not reassured and life is too that can’t be driving anything or having an short to check out the other 539 footnotes. effect that is significant or dangerous? Then there are comments that seem to issue DRIVING SEAT from the ‘Who Cares Anyway?’ department. This On climate change generally, Plimer’s main point could be flippancy for emphasis or attempts to is: “It has never been shown that human emissions provoke the greenies – perhaps both: “By 2020 of carbon dioxide drive global warming.” But what (or earlier) China will be the world’s biggest does he mean by “drive”? emitter of carbon dioxide. This is good news as Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas. it means more and more people in China are If human-produced carbon dioxide is part of a mix escaping poverty and living better lives. We also that comprises other human-produced greenhouse should thank China for putting so much plant gasses plus all naturally-produced greenhouse food into the atmosphere. … Coal is of vegetable gasses, then how much of a role does the human- origin. Therefore it is good. It is organic. Therefore produced carbon dioxide need to play in order to it is better. It is natural. Therefore it is the best. be regarded as ‘the driver’? 51%? Coal is a form of solar power because it is highly Before we get to what Plimer means by concentrated solidified solar energy. Burning coal ‘driving’, there is the question of whether the recycles carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere. climate is changing at all. On this there was a It therefore should be revered by greens. … degree of ‘yeah but no but’. Environmental activists are worried by a 0.7 degree “Climate is changing since Earth formed 4567 Centigrade temperature rise over a century (which million years ago and there’s nothing we can do may be natural anyway) and don’t seem to know about it. … No scientist is sceptical about climate that a temperature rise of 0.7 degree Centigrade change but many of us are sceptical about human- takes place by standing up or walking into another induced climate change.” room.” So the climate changes but how quickly of The prongs of Plimer’s attack on the majority late? Plimer rejects the idea of recent temperature view of climate scientists include: increases: “Over the last two decades, there has • Climate scientists ignore geological evidence. been increased emission of carbon dioxide from • They ignore inconvenient historical evidence. developing countries and Europe yet global “It is absolutely vital for warmists to expunge temperature has not increased. … The reason the Medieval Warming from the record, as why public scepticism is on the rise is the average shown by Mann’s fraudulent hockey stick. If taxpayer has realised that climate ‘science’ is there is no Medieval Warming, then it can be exaggerated, embellished, wrong or fraudulent.” argued that Modern Warming is unprecedented Then the concept of driving. “In the past, there and related to modern industrialisation.” has been no relationship between atmospheric • The degree of consensus is exaggerated and is carbon dioxide and temperature. Why should irrelevant. The is riddled with there be a relationship now? To claim that human flawed consensuses. emissions of carbon dioxide drive global warming • Their “peer review” process is shoddy and leads is fraudulent. The data shows the exact inverse. to published rubbish. When temperature increases after a glaciation, • Models are preoccupied with and distracted by atmospheric carbon dioxide increases at least 800 carbon dioxide levels. Their predictions fail to years later. … Annual human emissions (3% of tally with . the total) of carbon dioxide are meant to drive • Biased terminology. “Global warming” implies global warming. This has never been shown. If more human agency than the more neutral it could be shown, then it would also have to be “climate change”. shown that natural emissions (97%) don’t drive global warming. … Natural climate changes and CLIMATE DATA human-induced change (eg due to land clearing, Plimer’s most serious allegation is that climate the urban heat island effect) take place yet there is scientists fraudulently distort data especially still no data to show that human-induced global modern data through ‘homogenisation’: “Much of warming from human emissions of carbon dioxide the temperature data has been ‘homogenised’ to is significant or dangerous.” obtain a pre-ordained result.” So is it: Plimer uses the term many times before 57 REVIEWS Climate

beginning to explain it, always putting it in double This is not justification. It is obfuscation. The quotes. The Climate Research Unit (CRU) from BoM could not answer why all ‘homogenisations’ the University of East Anglia provides an example. gave a warming trend and why they changed It obtains a monthly temperature time series from cooling trends to warming trends in accordance over 3000 land-based stations. ‘Coverage density’ with ‘homogenised’ warming trend of 1.0 degree varies. The number of stations has increased from Centigrade since 1910 elsewhere in the world. The only a few during the 1850s. Some sea surface climate science scare campaign is that temperature temperatures come from the voluntary observing has increased by 1.0 degree Centigrade since 1920, fleet which tends to focus on the main shipping and if the data does not show such warming, then lanes. Different countries use different methods the primary data must be changed.” to calculate their monthly averages. The CRU Most readers would already have pro explains: “To avoid biases that could or anti Plimer-baggage of some kind result from these problems, monthly when they open the book. Plimer average temperatures are reduced to has an ardent fan club who anomalies from the period with must enjoy seeing Greenie best coverage (1961 – 90)”. foes lambasted by a dignified Plimer’s reaction: “The gent with prominent though CRU data used by the IPCC perhaps narrow qualifications. is not publicly available. Only It is a highly repetitive the ‘homogenised’ gridded book but fans describe it data is available hence for global as brilliantly written. I put temperature date we must trust what this down to a few tempting the CRU at the University of East arguments: “Wind farms proliferate Anglia feeds us. Before Climategate I might and there is talk of more. It’s coal- have been nervous about their ‘homogenised’ out/renewables-in because we must reduce gridded data. But now that the keepers of the raw emissions. But if renewables are so good, why have data have been shown to be frauds, we can only electricity prices gone up so much? There is no conclude that all the data used by the IPCC comes doubt about that; and reliability is disastrous.” under a very big black cloud. … It is a cardinal sin Other readers start with a jaded view of Plimer of science to change raw data. It is universal in the thanks to past efforts. It is widely put about that ‘climate’ industry. Such fraud makes data useless.” he and his mates have been caught fibbing and After details of data problems overseas, never repent. And here he goes again with the “Australia certainly has man-made global typical factoid and footnote frenzy that insults the warming. It has nothing to do with carbon very people who are prepared to make personal dioxide and occurs at the stroke of a pen. … The sacrifices, to give future generations a chance. analysis of the Rutherglen site in rural Victoria is For me, trying to be neutral, an unfortunate a well-documented example where measurements consequence of Plimer’s approach is that he makes have been taken at the same site using the same it hard to see whether he is right or wrong. Plimer equipment since 1912. There were no equipment is keen to attack but it is not an approach likely to failures or breaks in the data. Rutherglen should persuade opponents. There is a pattern of: Plimer provide the best temperature data available flags Greenie assertion X, and responds with Y, because of the lack of the urban heat island leading to online commentary along the lines of: effect and consistency of measurement. The data Plimer assertion Y; commentator response Not-Y. showed a cooling trend over the last century of 0.3 Plimer identifies a target and attacks. Before degrees C in accord with other measuring stations moving to the next target, it would be helpful for nearby. The official temperature record had been him to raise the best arguments against his attack ‘homogenised’ to create a warming trend of 1.7 and to deal with them. For example, Plimer says degrees C over the same period. This was because that there were ice ages when CO2 was much the pre-1974 minimum temperatures had been higher than at present. A response is that the sun reduced by the Bureau of Meteorology. This is was cooler then. And Plimer says what? fraud.” Plimer’s book brought back a memory from 44 Following further detail of the Rutherglen years ago. Following a context that I will leave up history, Plimer continues: “Lloyd (a journalist) to your imagination, my debating coach sedately asked the BoM to justify its ‘homogenisation’. observed “Hadley, your vehemence does not The response was that its methodology had been justify your argument.” published in the peer-reviewed literature and that ‘homogenisation’ was the world’s best practice. - Reviewed by Martin Hadley 58 FORUM Philosophy The Skeptic December 18 No contest In which is discussed the role of science in philosophy, and whether the latter can exist without the former.

have been following the acceleration. I again claimed this relies on many I discussion of science versus hidden premises, such as knowledge that things philosophy in the pages of this always fall downwards, a string will stop objects magazine with great interest. I moving apart, and a compound object’s centre of believe my indirect inputs helped mass moves in a certain way. These might seem shape the debate. obvious, but are all derived from past experience, I am a keen reader of Tim ie prior observations – science plus reasoning. Harding’s writings in The Skeptic, Tim remained adamant that day. It seems but was puzzled by his wish to Gary Bakker also noticed Tim’s strict anti-science exclude science from philosophy. position (The Skeptic, September 2017). So at lunch at the Skeptics But Tim’s stance seems to be slowly turning Convention in Melbourne in around. In The Skeptic (March 2018) he and 2016, I took the chance to ask him co-author James Fodor say “neither of us is a face to face: Should philosophy use Kantian, nor are we defending a rationalist as observations from the real world? distinct from empiricist approach”. His reply was immediate and What a swing! I lecture extensively (eg definite: No, certainly not; if it “Physics and the Big Questions”) showing how used experimental data, it would science, not philosophy, has illuminated where be science, not philosophy. the universe came from, how it works, and where Our robust discussion attracted it is going. a small audience. I proceeded A philosopher at Sydney University once to give several examples of lamented “Philosophers have been debating for Rodin’s friend the one philosophers making good use of scientific 3000 years where ethics come from, and still who thinks too much. findings. Then I challenged Tim and his cohort have no idea.” I replied that actually science has to come up with one example of a meaningful answered that – in fact Darwin explained it. finding of philosophy which did not use Systems of behaviour arose in groups of people observations of the real world. They suggested and animals, due to survival value. They were that pure reasoning gives results in ethics. In handed down the generations through genes and particular the Golden Rule – we should treat memes. others as we would wish ourselves to be treated – I also conducted a survey of The Philosophers comes from philosophy not science. Zone program, and found that nearly all speakers I proceeded to discuss deductive logic, the tool used observations of the real world. Except for most loved by philosophers. Several premises (or one who asked “How many hairs can you have axioms, assumptions etc) are articulated, followed on the head of a bald man, and still call him by a line of reasoning, and finally a conclusion. bald?” If there are no aardvarks in the premises, there If I was running a philosophy department, at can be no aardvarks in the conclusion – they the annual reviews I would ask “What findings cannot just pop out of the reasoning. In order to of science have you used in your philosophy this reach conclusions about the real world, we need year?” premises (observations) in the real world. Thus, to reach conclusions about ethics, we must use Ian Bryce our lifetime’s observations of human behaviour. Tim was categorical that this is not so, and reasoning alone can reach conclusions. A second example he gives is Galileo’s thought experiment (The Skeptic, March 2018) of tying two masses together and hence deducing a law of 59 LETTERS To the Editor

to see if there is a different response. As What you think ... far as I can tell, the majority of people (including geologists) would give a positive response to most of the four questions for Geological thinking the concepts mentioned above. However, when Climate Change is inserted, the group that would standout with more he latest IPCC report concerning I would hazard a guess that there are negative responses would be the group of Tthe effects of 1.5 degrees warming now more papers on climate change professional geologists. has received much publicity and contains published in peer-reviewed journals than I’m at a loss to understand why this is some sobering facts and conclusions – there are papers on say, Plate Tectonics – so. Discussion welcomed! see.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/. The Australian a concept only accepted by the majority Government’s dismissive response to the of geologists in the late 1960s, but now Colin Bembrick report has drawn some scathing criticism, fully embraced and incorporated in all Geologist (coal & petroleum) – retired. not least of which was from American geological thinking. Professor Jeffrey Sachs (ABC’s With this in mind I would like to Q&A, October 15). propose a “thought experiment” or I continue to be mystified by the fact “questionnaire” to gauge the reaction of that the Government’s response is echoed geologists - and others - to the concept Discussing by many (but thankfully not all) of my of climate change: geological colleagues. I hear phrases such • Do you accept that [insert concept religion as “over-reaction”, “scare-mongering”, here] has occurred in the distant past “conspiracy”, “the club of Rome”, etc. As (thousands/millions/billions years nthony Barnett would rather we did a trained scientist, I find it quite bizarre ago)? Anot talk about religion. In his letter that other trained and experienced scien- • Do you accept that this concept titled “Religion Debate” (The Skeptic, tists can dismiss the combined efforts of has been documented by reputable September 2018) Barnett says that the many thousands of scientists in dozens scientists publishing in peer-reviewed discussion of religion should remain off of different disciplines, from multiple journals? limits because it is futile, not needed, different institutions, working over (now) • Do you accept that [insert concept possibly destructive and dangerous. many decades. Many of these scientists here] is occurring at the present time? If we are not to discuss religion how, have spent a large part of their careers • Do you accept that the explanation then, are we to debate, for example, the working on this topic and have published for the present occurrence has been church’s position with respect to gay in many peer-reviewed journals. documented by reputable scientists marriage, faith-based schools wanting publishing in peer-reviewed journals? to discriminate against gay teachers and I would infer – based on my experi- students, the teaching of creationism, ence with colleagues – that if I insert women’s right to terminate their own “Plate Tectonics” as the concept, then pregnancies, stem cell research and I will get a positive response to all four therapy, and the indoctrination of questions. However – again based on my children with bigotry? The church’s experience – I would speculate that if I position on these matters is based on insert “Climate Change” as the concept scriptural passages. then I will get a very different response Barnett’s contention that the minds of from my geological colleagues. Ques- people who believe in something on the tions 1 and 2 will mostly be answered basis of faith cannot be changed is wrong. positively, but question 3 will draw some An example of people changing positive and some negative responses, their view on religion can be seen by while question 4 will receive negative googling the debate between Christopher responses. In the spirit of Julius Sumner Hitchens and Stephen Fry against Anne Miller I ask “Why is it so?” Widdecombe and Archbishop Onaiyekan With a little re-wording of the four on the subject “The Catholic Church is a questions, one could insert various con- force for good”. cepts, such as Evolution, Expansion of the The danger in not discussing religion is Universe, Glaciation, etc. I’m sure many much greater than that in discussing it. more could be brought to mind. Try these out on your friends and colleagues and Michael Meyerson then insert the Climate Change concept McMahons Point, NSW 60 The Skeptic December 18

Indicating a Declining meaning UFOs

n “TGA’s Incredible Indications” he most straight forward I(The Skeptic, March 2018), Tim T explanation is generally correct. Mendham reported on the relaxed The most straight forward regulation of advertising alternative explanation for the decline in UFO medicines. This highlighted the sightings (The Skeptic, Sept 2018) is confusion surrounding the term that UFO arrivals have declined. they can rule our world. “indications”. The most straight forward All the pieces are falling into In everyday life, according to explanation for the decline in UFO place. Oxford, this means a sign or piece arrivals is that most of the aliens who Enjoy your lives Earthlings, of information that indicates wanted to travel to Earth have done so while you still can. something. But in medicine, we see a and are now living among us. proliferation of meanings: If you observe our parliament you Ross Jones • CAM terms unknown to science: can see them struggling for power so Via email Dr Ken Harvey reported that when the TGA invited industry to submit claims, the TCM section came up with hundreds of “indications” including “harmonize middle burner”, “relax meridians”, “balance yin and yang”. A look in a supplements store shows many more. Such nonsense should be rejected by the TGA. • A symptom that suggests certain medical treatment is suitable. This seems to be the meaning of “indications” as used in real medicine (eg heartburn, joint pain) and in CAM (eg yellow tongue, uterine subinvolution). Passing direct from symptom to treatment seems inadequate in view of current scientific knowledge. For example, flu-like symptoms can be caused by a virus, bacterium, or a brain tumour. The key step of diagnosis should be inserted. Then an “indication” would be a diagnosed disease or condition for which a given treatment is warranted (eg insulin for diabetes). I would like to hear experts’ views on this. Perhaps the TGA should firstly define the term “indication”, and enforce the applications for registration accordingly. This would eliminate most of the nonsense.

Ian Bryce Rozelle, NSW 61 QUOTES

What they said ... Richard P Feynman

“ The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” - Cargo Cult Science

“ You know, the most amazing thing happened to me tonight... I saw a car with the license plate ARW 357. Can you imagine? Of all the millions of license plates in the state, what was the chance that I would see that particular one tonight? Amazing!” - Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of physics by its most brilliant teacher

“ So my antagonist said, “Is it impossible that there are flying saucers? Can you prove that it’s impossible?” “No”, I said, “I can’t prove it’s impossible. It’s just very unlikely.” At that he said, “You are very unscientific. If you can’t prove it impossible then how can you say that it’s unlikely?” But that is the way that is scientific. It is scientific only to say what is more likely and what less likely, and not to be proving all the time the possible and impossible.” - The Character of Physical Law

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD SOLUTION DR BOB’S QUIZ SOLUTIONS

S E I L O S D O O H S L A F

E 1. Nothing about the Bible Code, but quite a lot of news about

D J E P E A F

E the car crash in Paris when Princess Diana died, which the

A N N A Y L L O P C S I R U F Bible Code failed to predict.

E E A G O R V

B 2. HRH Queen Elizabeth II L O S I C A A I R U E N I P E

S A C N T M R R 3. Local butcher Roger Baker -odd name for a butcher? - got

I E B S I C I C O A R T S N Y the part, because he could also supply the chicken entrails

necessary for some of the special effects. M R T F Y E S S

O S T C A F T L A E R E T E

H 4. Sidney Leslie Goodwin. (OK, you can Google it now.)

E C M S L D T

I 5. The Great Fire – 3 (although some sources say 6, 8 or 16);

H P A R G Y L O P R T U O R

H the Great Smog – about 4000 above the normal death rate

T X O A R D R

O (nobody noticed until the coffin & flower shops began to

Y E E U D E E N I A U T S E R run out of stock).

C N L D A B N H

S T I V A D I F F A E E U R T

62 The Skeptic December 18

Local Skeptical Groups

QLD SA Queensland Skeptics Association Inc Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie www.qskeptics.org.au 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Email: [email protected] Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Mobile: 0429 143 955 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub Join us for dinner on the last Monday of February - November, Contact: [email protected] Junction Hotel, cnr Ipswich & Annerley Rds, Annerley, from www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the- 6pm, guest speaker at 7.30pm Pub/ calendar/10205558 Brisbane Skeptics in the Pub or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt http://Brisbanesitp.wordpress.com, follow links for Facebook, Meets on the third Friday of every month at The Benjamin on Twitter and email list Franklin pub, 233 Franklin St, Adelaide. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30pm at the Plough Inn, Southbank WA WA Skeptics – Dr Geoffrey Dean Dr Paulie Gold Coast Skeptics – PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 www.gcskeptics.com www.undeceivingourselves.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcskeptics Details of all our meetings and speakers are on our website. Twitter: @gcskeptics Instagram: @gcskeptics Perth Skeptics – Tanya Marwood GC Skeptics in the Pub meet every third Monday at the Angler’s meetup.com/Perth_Skeptics Arms Hotel, 50 Queen Street, Southport. See website and Meetings at Henry on Eighth, 45 Eighth Ave, Maylands Facebook for details.

NT TAS Darwin Skeptics – Michelle Franklin Leyon Parker Hobart Skeptics – PO Box2027 Humpty Doo NT 0836 PO Box 84, Battery Point TAS 7004 Tel: 0408 783 145; www.facebook.com/group/darwinskeptics/ Tel: 03 6225 3988 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] [email protected] Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Monday each month, Meetings to be announced - see Facebook page for details 6.30pm, Ball & Chain restaurant, Salamanca Place Launceston Skeptics – Jin-oh Choi 0408 271 800 [email protected] www.launcestonskeptics.com Launceston: Skeptics in the Pub third Thursday of each month 5.30pm @ The Royal Oak Hotel Launceston: Skeptical Sunday, 2nd Sunday of each month 2.00pm @ Cube Cafe

NOTE: LISTINGS WELCOME We invite listings for any Skeptical groups based on local rather than regional areas. Email us at editor@ skeptics.com.au with details of your organisation’s name, contact details and any regular functions, eg Skeptics in the Pub, with time, day of the month, location etc. Because this is a quarterly journal and most local groups meet monthly, it is unlikely we will be able to include references to specific speakers or events. SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY

Vol. 34, No 1. March 2014 Vol. 34, No 2. June 2014 Vol. 34, No 3. September 2014 Vol. 34, No 4. December 2014

Scared of Science? FAKE! How to get the message Science across Aliens and Religion versus Pseudoscience Phoney Fauna Real Medicine ... & the skeptical response

+Simon Says Dolphins Activism Belief +Animals Gallipoli Mencken Knickers +Pharmacy Pheromones Placebo Paul +Diets Deniers Campers Fairs

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Vol. 35, No 1. March 2015 Vol. 35, No 2. June 2015 Vol. 35, No 3. September 2015 Vol. 35, No 4. December 2015 Courts,Complaints ILLOGICAL! &Confrontations Regulation Round-up How Good are the Enforcers? Judgement The Koran and the Resurrection

+UFOs +Scientists & Soldiers +Chinese Medicine April Fools Monster and the Media Guerrillas Martians & Santa Drugs & Darwin

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

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SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY

Vol. 36, No 1. March 2016 Vol. 36, No 2. June 2016 Vol. 36, No 3. September 2016 Vol. 36, No 4. December 2016 Uncritical Thinking Dangers and Solutions

Risks & Stats History Facts Guardians What Skeptics need to know Dark Ages & The Pharaohs Protecting Consumer Rights + + Problems with +Mediums, Maths & Gum +Science, Booze & Goons Dragons, Brains & Energy Ghost Gear & EuroScary

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

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Vol. 37, No 1. March 2017 Vol. 37, No 2. June 2017 Vol. 37, No 3. September 2017 Vol 37, No 4. December 2017 Attack of Work Together the Skeptic False Facts The End How to Create a vs the Truth of UFOs Skeptical Organisation

Michael Marshall Interview

+Special Report - NICM +Myths, Cons, Legends & +Celebrities for Sale + Stem Cells, Weather Stupid plants &Gullibility Disappearing Homeopathy Science, Snakes & Snake oil Guilty Mums & Quacks

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

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