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Home , Australian Skeptics, Brian Dunning (author), George Hrab, NZ Skeptics, The Amazing Meeting, When Prophecy Fails

. . SOCIETY

Vol. 31, No 2. June 2011

Chiropractors Creationists +AMAZING Encounters

Skeptical ACTIVISM

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

Skeptic_Cover2_Jun11.indd 1 14/06/11 10:16 AM The Skeptic June 11

Skeptical Groups in

Australian Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev Queensland Skeptics Association Inc – Bob Bruce www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 3480, Norman Park QLD 4170 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: (07) 3255 0499 Mob: 0419 778 308 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Hear Bob on 4BC Panel - 9-10pm Tuesdays [email protected] Meeting with guest speaker on the last Monday of every month – 6pm first Thursday of each at the Red Brick Hotel, 81 Annerley Road, South Brisbane. Dinner month at the Macquarie Hotel, corner of Goulburn & Wentworth from 6pm, speaker at 7.30pm. King Streets in the city (meeting upstairs) Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis Next dinner: June 25 - guest speaker food auditor Gary Kennedy. Canberra Skeptics – Michael O’Rourke & Pierre Le Count Bookings online or contact [email protected] PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 http://www.canberraskeptics.org.au Tel: (02) 6275 9699 [email protected] (general inquiries), [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). Hunter Skeptics Inc – John Turner Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] Monthly talks usually take place on the 13th of each month at the Innovations Theatre at the ANU. Dates and topics are subject Meetings are held upstairs at The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks to change. Canberra Skeptics in the Pub gather at 1pm on the Hill (Newcastle) on the first Monday of each even-numbered third Sunday of each month at King O’Malleys Pub in Civic. For month, commencing 7.00pm, with a guest speaker on an up-to-date details, visit our web site at: www.meetup.com/ interesting topic. Visitors welcome. For further information visit our SocialSkepticsCanberra/ website www.hunterskeptics.com.au or contact the secretary at: [email protected] Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Terry Kelly Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] GPO Box 5166, VIC 3001 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub, on the third Friday Tel: 1 800 666 996 [email protected] of every month. Contact [email protected] Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ speaker. La Notte, 140 Lygon St. Meal from 6pm, speaker calendar/10205558 or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt at 8pm sharp. More details on our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic WA Skeptics – Dr John Happs PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected] Borderline Skeptics Inc – Russell Kelly All meetings start at 7:30 pm at Grace Vaughan House, PO Box 17, Mitta Mitta, Victoria 3701 227 Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park Tel: (02) 6072 3632 [email protected] Further details of all our meetings and speakers are on our Meetings are held quarterly on second Tuesday at Albury/ website at www.undeceivingourselves.com Wodonga on pre-announced dates and venues. Australian Skeptics in Tasmania – Leyon Parker Gold Coast Skeptics – Lilian Derrick PO Box 582, North Hobart TAS 7002 PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall, QLD 9726 Tel: 03 6238 2834 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] Tel: (07) 5593 1882; Fax: (07) 5593 2776 Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Monday each month, 6.30pm, Ball and [email protected] Chain restaurant, Salamanca Place, Hobart Contact Lilian to find out news of more events. Darwin Skeptics – Brian de Kretser Tel: (08) 8927 4533 [email protected] Volume 31 • No 2 • June 11 Contents reportS 8 AVN under oath 7 Martin Hadley & Tim Mendham NHMRC on 8 7 FEATURES 10 Campaign! 10 Loretta Marron Friends and woo 14 17 Winding the wingnuts 17 Michael Edmonds 20 Standing up for science 20 Geoff Cowan 24 14 32 art icles Battle of the chiros 24 Mick Vagg Organic, manic 27 28 Steve Roberrts An amazing encounter 28 27 Chris Higgins Easter bunnies 32 36 Mark Lawson The curiosity shock 36 50 Tim Mendham Beyond belief 48 48 Krissy Wilson Looking for Leprechauns 50 Michael Wolloghan Rocks in their heads 52 Stephen Moreton

REGULARS Editorial 4 55 Around the Traps 5 Puzzles page 9 46 column 23 The logical place 35 What goes around 46 Book reviews 55 Letters 61 EDITORIAL From the Editor

Make yourself heard he responses to the Judgement campaigners, and here I’m thinking of TDay debacle – both before and Loretta Marron or the Stop the AVN after – were pretty predictable. The network (both of whom have received non-believers, which means most of the Skeptic of the Year award). There are the world, had a good chuckle, felt many others, of course, who undertake ISSN 0726-9897 sorry for the would-be rapturers, had activism with dignity, a modicum Quarterly Journal of mock celebration parties (in all senses of of mockery, but most importantly Australian Skeptics Inc the word ‘mock’), offered to ‘help’ the persistence and more persistence. (ABN 90 613 095 379) followers by looking after their pets and At the recent TAM Australia conf- Editor taking unwanted worldly goods off their erence, a session devoted to Activism Tim Mendham hands and perhaps make a quick buck 101 covered all of these aspects (except out of it, or just generally were bemused the ‘quiet harrumph and back to your Editorial Board as to why people could be so gullible. newspaper’ approach). While there Steve Roberts The American Atheists hosted rapture was no bomb-throwing suggested, the Eran Segev parties around their country but, as session covered a gamut of approaches Martin Hadley reported by AFP, also warned of the and media and, especially considering Barry Williams danger of following Harold Camping’s the average age of the attendees, the predictions. internet and social media – Facebook, Design Services “We’re going to poke fun at these , Meet-Up, blogs, podcasts, Nova Consulting P/L people, but in the end we need to keep vodcasts etc etc – cropped up regularly All correspondence to: in mind that there are people being hurt as positive and effective ways to get the Australian Skeptics Inc here,” said David Silverman, president message across. PO Box 20 of the US-based group. Do these media only preach to the Beecroft NSW 2119 And isn’t that the dual-edged sword converted? To a certain extent. But Australia of the relation between skeptics and as I can personally attest as the ‘shop ‘them’? front’ of Australian Skeptics Inc and the Contact details What do you do when confronted recipient of much correspondence from Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 with woo? You might just grin and bear skeptics and non-skeptics alike, there Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 it and shake your head at the silliness of is nonetheless still interaction with the Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 the world. Or you might write a letter to broader community through [email protected] the paper or contact a radio/TV station those avenues. www.skeptics.com.au to express your concern and disapproval. Likewise for activism and the activists Or you might try to win friends and themselves, whether it’s debunking, The Skeptic is published four times influence people by correcting their mis- gentle persuasion, mockery, attacks, per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. representations and misunderstandings, going through ‘official channels’ or using Views and opinions expressed in articles but as we all know from various family the media. There are inevitable set-backs, and letters in The Skeptic are those of gatherings and friendly get-togethers but there are also successes, and it’s the the authors, and are not necessarily round the barbecue, that is also often a latter, as occasional or few as they might those of Australian Skeptics Inc. way to lose friends and upset people. be, that raise the spirits and encourage Articles may be reprinted with Or you might go out there into the all of us to continue to be active. permission and with due acknowledge- wider world and fight the good fight. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass ment to The Skeptic. In the previous issue I mentioned in without promoting the TAM Oz DVD, All effort is made to ensure correct this column the need to be active – get which at time of publishing should be acknowledgement of all contributions. off the armchair and do something ... out and available to all (or near as). A We are happy to update credit when so anything. This issue we look at some must for attendees and non-attendees, informed. examples of the application of that fellow-travellers, well-wishers, interested approach – activism – and how this parties and activists. I’m sure you’ll Editorial submission deadline could and can be done. For instance, enjoy it and find it edifying. . for the next issue: you could follow in the footsteps of July 15, 2011 the indomitable but not over-bearing - Tim Mendham, editor 4 News The Skeptic June 11

Around the traps ... WATCH THE SKIES! Skeptics camp out Distributor off balance Australian Skeptics Australia’s first Skepticamp was held on The Australian distributor of the Power One Day Saturday, April 30, and it was generally Balance wristbands has gone into Mini-Convention held to be a total success. receivership. Organised by Jason Brown and As reported by Smart Company Sydney a bevy of keen and hardworking magazine, Tom O’Dowd, the owner of volunteers, Skepticamp was held at the Australia, said that sales Late November 2011 University of Technology Sydney over had “evaporated” following an ACCC Details to be a seven hour period with an audience instruction in December last year to stop released soon of approximately 100 people, who were the company claiming the bands could able to attend the event for free. improve balance, strength and flexibility. Keep your eyes on The concept of a Skepticamp, first The ACCC action followed negative undertaken in the US, features mini- publicity by Australian Skeptics and www.skeptics.com.au presentations running for 10 to 15 Choice magazine. ACCC chair Graeme minutes from speakers working in Samuel had even gone as far as to parallel sessions. Many of the presenters suggest publically that the bands were in the largest outbreak in 15 years, had never given talks in front of an no better than a rubber band. USA Today reports. The disease has audience before. O’Dowd told Smart Company been spread largely by unvaccinated The topics covered a broad “he had been ‘naive’ in thinking his travellers. range of topics, from clinical trials business would not be subject to laws Doctors have reported 118 measles and genetically-modified foods to surrounding the regulation of health cases in the USA since January, nearly skepticism in the Middle East and the products”. Not the only one being twice as many as the total for all of last parallels between the Biblical gospels naive, apparently, as thousands of the year, according to a recent report from and George Lucas’s Star Wars films. useless bands have been sold around the Centers for Disease Control and Many speakers – some of whom the world. Prevention. About 90 per cent of this had only decided to present on the Nonetheless, at $60+ per band, the year’s patients were unvaccinated, and day – took the opportunity to discuss medically-disproven products, junked 40 per cent had to be hospitalised for the development, role and nature of by the ACCC, were obviously too much complications. skepticism, giving the camp a strong for the Australian public. Overseas Most of the patients brought the philosophical thread as much as the distributors, however, continue to sell disease with them from Europe, which more specific discussions of scientific the useless products. is in the throes of a major epidemic, and pseudoscientific topics. the paper says, with more than 10,000 Each presentation was followed by cases and six deaths in France alone, questions from the audience, and the US measles outbreak according to the CDC. Thousands rapid turnover of speakers and sessions of additional measles cases have been contributed to a fast-paced and – from Measles - a disease that was declared reported across Europe, affecting the audience’s point-of-view – seamless eliminated in the USA in 2000 - is 38 countries, the World Health organisation. again breaking out across the country, Organisation says. Australian Skeptics Inc was a major sponsor of the event. Congratulations go to all of those involved, who no doubt worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure a splendid and successful time was had by all. It is anticipated that the next Skepticamp will be held in Melbourne later this year.

Right Jason Brown (centre) and Dave the Happy Singer (far right) front up to Skepticamp. News

Ken Harvey Institute for Obesity. considerable financial expenditure, taken to court In a video on the company’s website in order to defend himself and his (www.sensaslim.com.au/default. complaint. The complaint itself has Dr , adjunct senior lecturer asp?video=1), Capehorn thoroughly been supported by others, some in the School of Public Health, endorsed the product and the research of whom have issued their own La Trobe University, and a regular study that was the basis for the claims complaints on the product. campaigner against non-scientific made. He informed products and services, has been put However, through us on May 31 that under great personal and financial his lawyers, Capehorn “[SensaSlim] have pressure by a ‘SLAPP’ suit (a strategic has now written to now applied (at the lawsuit against public participation) SensaSlim, claiming last minute) to delay over a complaint he has made it has made “totally court proceedings. concerning a slimming product. untrue statements I have instructed my In March 2011 Dr Harvey and allegations” about lawyers to proceed complained to the Therapeutic Goods him. His lawyers on regardless.” Administration (TGA) over promotion add that “SensaSlim Dr Harvey is by SensaSlim Australia for its weight- induced Dr Capehorn a particularly busy loss product that uses a spray to to become involved activist against supposedly ‘desensitise’ taste buds and with its product dubious claims reduce hunger pains. The promotion on the specific by suppliers of claims that a research study of over representation that Ken Harvey self-proclaimed 11,000 people had substantiated the extensive clinical trials ‘therapeutic’ goods, company’s claims for the product. had been undertaken on the SensaSlim in particular those associated with In his statement to the TGA products that conclusively proved weight loss. Over the last few years, Complaints Resolution Panel (CRP), the effectiveness claimed for those all of his complaints to the Therapeutic Dr Harvey provided a number of products. At no time, notwithstanding Goods Administration and assessed by reasons why, “in my opinion, the repeated requests made by Dr the Complaints Resolution Panel have ‘sensational results’ claimed are most Capehorn, have those clinical tests been listed as justified. He is also a self- likely to have been fabricated. In even been made available to him – if, confessed “stubborn bastard”. addition, I do not believe that any of indeed, they exist, or did take place In support of his action, Australian the other claims made for this product and/or gave the results contended for Skeptics has instituted a program for are capable of substantiation.” them by SensaSlim.” individuals to pledge financial support But before the complaint could This implies that Capehorn was for Dr Harvey should it be required. be properly considered by the CRP, citing a product trial that he had never Anyone interested in pledging support SensaSlim issued ‘Statement of seen. should write to supportken@skeptics. claim’ against Dr Harvey in the In fact, he substantiates this view as com.au, with their name, phone NSW Supreme Court, alleging recently as May 28, 2011 in an email number, and how much they are that his complaint was defamatory sent to SensaSlim franchisees in which pledging. and claiming “general and punitive he says: “Despite requests, I have never Australian Skeptics has undertaken damages for libel in the sum of seen evidence of the original clinical this pledge drive because we are $800,000”, plus costs. trial, and it has never been published concerned at the burden put upon one This action had the effect of in a peer reviewed medical journal. who has continually called to account stopping the CRP from hearing Therefore, the White Paper holds no those who promote and sell unproven Harvey’s complaint due to Therapeutic scientific relevance, until that original and disproven products that have no Goods Regulations 1990 42ZCAJ (2), trial is published.” basis in science. The suggestion that “If, after a complaint has been made Dr Harvey’s lawyers have filed a Dr Harvey could be stymied by such to the Panel, a proceeding begins in a notice of motion in the NSW Supreme promoters and sellers’ resorting to legal court about the subject matter of the Court seeking orders to have the action, and thus protecting themselves complaint, the Panel cannot deal with SensaSlim claim struck out and the (if even for a short time) from due the complaint until the proceeding is proceedings dismissed because they process, must be countered at every finally disposed of.” disclose no reasonable cause for the opportunity. SensaSlim heavily promotes a white action. In addition, his lawyers have Meanwhile, the issues raised have paper on the research produced by Dr asked for an order that the plaintiff pay been ventilated by the ABC Health Matthew Capehorn, clinical director the defendants’ costs. These matters are Report; the Croakey Health blog and of the National Obesity Forum (UK) now before the Court. Channel Nine’s A Current Affair. The and clinical manager of the Rotherham However, Dr Harvey is subject to saga continues. . 6 REPORT Vaccination The Skeptic June 11

violated by material available upon your site at the following URL(s): [http://www.scribd.com/ Under Oath doc/51133133/OLGR-Letter-to-AVN- Advising-of-Revocation-14-10-10]; Martin Hadley and Tim Mendham report (the letter from OLGR) “I have a good faith belief that the on the AVN’s tussle with copy right and wrongs. use of this material in such a fashion is not authorized by the copyright holder, he readers of these pages will There it remained for six months, the copyright holder’s agent, or the law; Trecall that on October 14, 2010, without any problem, until April 30 “Under penalty of perjury in a the NSW Office of Liquor Gaming this year. On that day, by Dorey’s United States court of law, I state that and Racing (OLGR) wrote to the own admission, “In two hours, I filed the information contained in this public officer of the Australian [anti] approximately 50 copyright claims notification is accurate, and that I am Vaccination Network, Meryl Dorey, against various Facebook members.”1 authorized to act on the behalf of the advising her that: “Compliance The SAVN member was notified by exclusive rights holder for the material Officers from the Office of Liquor Scribd that a copyright violation notice in question; ...”. Gaming and Racing, a division of had been received about the OLGR Meryl Dorey thus claimed, under Communities NSW, have undertaken letter, and it was taken down. He oath, that the OLGR letter an inquiry into Australian Vaccination protested, and eventually the document was subject to copyright, and Network Inc, an Organisation that she was the copyright authorised to conduct fundraising owner. How on Earth appeals under the Charitable anyone could claim copyright Fundraising Act 1991. over a document authored by a “As a result of the inquiry, NSW government instrumentality is Compliance Officers submitted beyond us, but this sort of thing seems a report recommending that the to be standard operating procedure Organisation be requested to show over at the AVN. cause why its authority to The full to-and-fro has been fundraise should not be saved and posted at Scribd2. What revoked. Accordingly, by an irony. letter dated 29 July 2010, the Readers probably already have Organisation was requested their view about how careful Dorey to provide reasons why this has been with her legal obligations and should not happen. The with the truth in general. Skeptics Organisation’s response was should allow that she may have advice received by the Office of from a US lawyer that her claim to Liquor, Gaming and Racing copyright of the OLGR’s letter, is not on 26 August 2010. Having considered perjury under US law. the report, the matters raised in the was restored. This is where it starts to In Bangalow, the local law for local Department’s letter dated 29 July 2010, get interesting. people defines perjury as making a and the Organisation’s written response He also requested a copy from Scribd deliberate false statement in judicial to those issues, the Minister is satisfied of the copyright violation notice, and proceedings and Dorey has not done that the authority should be revoked.” Scribd obliged. that. However, she should note section The Minister’s revocation of So what do we find in it? 330 of the Crimes Act 1900 which the AVN’s Charitable Fundraising Meryl Dorey begins with the provides: “A person who makes on Authority was published in the NSW standard claim that she is the copyright oath any false statement knowing the Government Gazette on October owner, as required by the US Digital statement to be false or not believing it 14 last year, and Dorey published Millennium Copyright Act: “Pursuant to be true, if it is not perjury, is liable the letter on her Scribd account to 17 USC 512(c)(3)(A), this to imprisonment for 5 years.” immediately after. (Scribd is the communication serves as a statement Careful now ... . equivalent of YouTube for written that: I am the exclusive rights holder for words rather than video and audio.) material held at http://www.avn.org.au References Eagle-eyed members of the group Stop and http://www.facebook.com/pages/ 1. http://avn.org.au/ the AVN spotted this, downloaded Australian-Vaccination-Network/55142 nocompulsoryvaccination/?p=1015 it, and reposted it on one of its own 201924?v=wall&ref=mf; accessed 20 May 2011. Scribd account pages. “These exclusive rights are being 2. http://tinyurl.com/427qhsz 7 REPORT Homeopathy A Government Shake-up? Rachael Dunlop reports on the NHMRC’s draft on homeopathy.

f all the and Samuel Hahnemann. It’s based on the memory is scientifically ridiculous, and Omagical thinking I have concept of ‘like-treats-like’, that is, the also conveniently ignores the fact that come across in my journey through symptoms of an illness can be treated water somehow ‘forgets’ all the sewage, the wonders of the internet, there by minute quantities of the substance mercury, dioxins and other nasty remains a special place in my heart that caused it. For example, it has been in contact with before it for homeopathy. This is because, like a homeopathic preparation for ended up in a jar on the shelf of your ear candles and detox foot pads, it insomnia may include miniscule local pharmacy. remains one of the most preposterous amounts of coffee; or one for hayfever The draft statement from the alternative medicines so far invented. may contain tiny traces of grasses, NHMRC indicates it plans to consult Which was why I was so pleased to pollens or animal hair. several health bodies before making a read a recent draft statement from the Even more bizarre, homeopathic decision on whether this becomes an peak scientific and medical advisory preparations are extremely dilute, official statement, and this will include body in Australia, the National often beyond the point where science the general public. Health and Medical Research Council predicts even one molecule of the Importantly, this will not mean (NHMRC), calling homeopathy original substance remains. For homoeopathy is banned in Australia, “unethical” and “unefficacious” (the example, a common preparation but if it’s officially declared unethical latter simply meaning it doesn’t work). available in your local pharmacy is and useless, there will be pressure This is the first time the Australian known as ‘30C’ and is the equivalent on health funds to cease covering government has made such an of a dilution of 10-60. That’s like it. And maybe, just maybe, we will unequivocal statement about the putting a drop of vodka in a pool the see it disappear from the shelves of pseudoscience of homeopathy and, size of the Solar System and expecting pharmacies where it currently sits according to the draft statement, it you to still get drunk. alongside science-based medicines was motivated to action after a similar Sound crazy enough for you? But, which have withstood rigorous testing. move in the United Kingdom. this is precisely what homeopaths More importantly, the statement In 2010 the UK Science and believe: the more dilute the substance, sends a clear message to the public Technology Committee conducted an the more potent it is. Of course 200 that homeopathy is not medicine exhaustive analysis of the evidence for years ago science was still in its infancy and should not be used instead of and against homeopathy (known as and we didn’t know about limits of conventional treatment. Perhaps an “evidence check”) and concluded dilutions, now described by Avogadro’s the NHMRC also considered two that homeopathy is scientifically number or constant. But we do now, recent tragic deaths in Australia where implausible, it doesn’t work and the and the laws of science predict that if homeopathy was implicated: 45-year- UK National Health Service (NHS) you dilute something to 30C, there’s old Penelope Dingle, who died from should cease funding homeopathy at a pretty good chance there will be bowel cancer treated with homeopathy; all levels, including any clinical trials. nothing of the original substance and 9-month-old Gloria Sam, who Currently, the NHS spends around 4 left behind. died from septicemia contracted from million pounds of taxpayers’ money Which left the homeopaths with severe eczema, also provided with per year on homeopathy. Although the some explaining to do – and this homeopathic care. Australian government doesn’t directly they did. They claim that the water Homeopathy is pseudoscience of fund homeopathy, $3 billion worth of ‘remembers’ or retains a ‘memory’ the highest order. It has no place in public funds is funnelled into private of the original substance. Through a our pharmacies and should certainly health fund rebates every year, so if process known as succussion, a solution not be funded by taxpayers. If the your health fund covers homeopathy, is shaken after each dilution and NHMRC draft statement becomes taxpayers are indirectly covering it too. whacked against a leather-bound item, official, it not only makes for good In case you’re not familiar with (sometimes a Bible). It is this process scientific sense, but will also protect homeopathy it was invented around that somehow instils the “memory”. consumers. And this can only be a 200 years ago, by German physician But the concept of water retaining a good thing. . 8 PUZZLES The Skeptic June 11

Across Brain testers 1. Big idea man has a very small sausage for a cryptic crossword no 10 chiropractor. (6,6) 7. Ex-moon? (2) 1 32 4 5 6 7 8 9. The rule for poor Eastern accommodation. (5) 10. Speaks rubbish on the time for a rocking walk. (7) 12. Tear up your deathly wish. (3) 9 10 11 13. Bovine ails badly having swallowed a type of plant. (6) 14. Basic stuff and back again. (1-1-1) 12 13 14 17. Friendly television system. (3) 15 16 18. Conservative declaration of where I was. (5) 20. A fellow representative. (5) 17 18 19 20 21. Little one found in a topless suture. (5) 22. It’s boredom when one speaks on us. (5) 21 22 23 23. American conglomerate hears of writer’s tool. (3) 24. Scary note of disapproval. (3) 25. Uncomfortably pompous and full of hot air. (6) 24 25 26 27 27. Fairy French sets you back. (3) 28 29 30. In the belly of something as tricky as this. (7) 30 31 31. Mistake is an alternative to a mistake. (5) 32. A negative number. (2) 33. Mythical movements under light oats in 32 33 arrangement. (12)

Tim Mendham + Steve Roberts Down 1. He might have a turn but there’s no way he could Dr Bob’s Trivia Questions be a healer. (10) 2. Work by 3dn stirs up nationalism. (13) 1. What famous opera is said to be about a happy cow? 3. Have some benders when you go in to teashops. (10) 2. The earliest recorded garden gnome was one placed by 4. When witchery is a basket case? (5) Sir Charles Isham in 1847. Why did he do that? 5. Trendy way to learn feelings. (9) 6. Used to be the morning test. (4) 3. What could be measured in units of a “millihelen”? 8. It’s a bad sign to love blokes. (4) 4. When Sir Cliff Richard is driving his car around London, 11. It’s literally hell to confuse, and set negative how does he know that God is looking after him? implication. (6,7) 15. Relatively temporary accommodation. (6,4) 5. Among and his Twelve Apostles, who was the 16. Keep measures of pens. (10) treasurer? 19. The same as an Italic end. (9) 26. Lucky cat found in an X-file. (5) 28. Colloquial opposition caused by drink? (4) Answers on page 62 29. Unusual relic dug up initially, it’s said, in Pakistan. (4)

039 FEATURE Activism Campaign!

Loretta Marron asks that RMIT’s paediatric clinic be shut down.

oretta Marron is undoubtedly one Here in Australia we watched in I soon realised that our ‘chiropractic L of the most committed – and disbelief as he nearly lost that battle, universities’ were clearly implicated. effective – skeptical activists in which would have meant that even our Universities are meant to contribute Australia. In 2007 she was justly scientists and health professionals also to society “through the pursuit of named Skeptic of the Year, and she risked being silenced. It seemed that education, learning and research at has continued her campaigning against they too could be sued in the UK if they the highest international levels of unproven and disproven medical told the truth. excellence”. practices and products ever since. In many countries, people from It is high time that universities The following is an edited version of all walks of life signed petitions and returned to their core principles and her letter of March this year sent to the supported Singh, and in 2010, when the dropped pseudoscientific courses which Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon, BCC dropped its suit - two years after lead to attacks on vaccination and the in which she asked that the Royal the case had begun - the fight was over. promotion of expensive, useless and Melbourne Institute of Technology’s This was not just a win for freedom of potentially harmful treatments. chiropractic paediatric clinic - among speech; this was also a win for evidence- This report claims that RMIT’s others - be closed down pending proper based medicine and scientific debate. chiropractic paediatric clinic is teaching investigation of its practices, particularly With the research now available as to inappropriate and potentially dangerous “for teaching disproven treatments that what chiropractic can and can’t do, it techniques that target pregnant women, target pregnant women, babies, infants also highlighted the false and misleading babies, infants and children, and and children”. claims made by our own chiropractors requests that the clinic be shut down Her report begins: on their websites. until such time as evidence can be In 2008, UK science writer Simon I asked myself why some of our produced that these treatments support Singh was sued for libel by the British chiropractors where actively promoting the claims made by the course lecturers. Chiropractic Council (BCC) after chiropractic as an alternative to Parents of sick children are a giving his correct and honest opinion vaccination and to treat pregnant particularly vulnerable group, easily that many chiropractors were making women, babies, infants and children for exploited by chiropractors. Children are “bogus” claims. a wide range of health conditions. not able to make their own decisions and 10 The Skeptic June 11

parents need good information about Codes of conduct can treat childhood complaints such as the benefits and risks associated with The Code of Conduct of the NSW asthma, colic, otitis media and tunnel the choices they make in their families. Health Care Complaints Commission vision with spinal manipulations are not health care. With the growth in numbers (HCCC), considered by some the backed by evidence-based medicine. of chiropractors promoting chiropractic ‘gold standard’ requires that health The CCC says chiropractors need as a substitute for proven treatments practitioners “provide services in a safe to be “Maintaining adequate knowledge and for vaccination, I believe that a re- and ethical manner”. and skills to provide safe and effective education campaign should be urgently This code is breached by care”. initiated to provide information to both chiropractors who use spinal There is mounting evidence consumers and chiropractors as to what manipulation (which can result in that treatments offered by many they can or cannot claim, based on the adverse events) on children for a wide chiropractors, specifically those not balance of evidence-based medicine. range of self-limiting and serious relating to non-musculoskeletal I believe that these teachings are conditions including asthma. conditions, are now considered as either not restricted to RMIT, and would Chiropractors are not paediatricians negative or inconclusive. Claiming to like to request that other institutions and should not be treating childhood treat serious conditions such as asthma, offering chiropractic courses, including health conditions. allergies and hypertension put patients’ Murdoch and Macquarie Universities, The Code continues, stating that lives at risk. be investigated as well. health practitioners cannot “make The CCC says there is the need I believe that these organisations claims to cure certain serious illnesses”. to “Consider the balance of benefit are graduating students who continue While some chiropractors’ websites do and harm in all clinical management to make false and misleading claims not make direct claims, they imply in decisions”. to patients based on course content their advertising - statements such as Many of the claims relating to and that a re-education campaign be “Why Patients See Us” and “10 reasons health conditions for children, pregnant urgently initiated to provide information parents take their children to see a women and seniors, that spinal manip- to both consumers and chiropractors chiropractor” - that they can cure a ulation can treat a wide range of health as to what chiropractic can or cannot wide range of serious health conditions conditions, such as asthma, allergies and claim, based on evidence-based such as allergies, ADHD, asthma and hypertension, delay proven treatments medicine. depression. and may put patient lives at risk. As AMA president Dr Gino Pecoraro The HCCC code insists that The CCC then cites “Providing put it, “You’re not allowed to mistreat practitioners “require a clinical basis treatment options based on the best animals, but humans can be sold for treatments”. There is no clinical available information” and “Practising worthless promises by charlatans and evidence that chiropractic can treat in accordance with the current nobody does anything about it.” or cure any non-musculoskeletal and accepted evidence base of the condition. chiropractic profession, B ackground information Next, practitioners including clinical In May 2010, the General Chiropractic should “not misinform outcomes.” Council (GCC), a UK-wide statutory their clients”. Again, There is a body with regulatory powers, issued there is no proof of mounting body of a “Guidance on claims made for the efficacy for spinal evidence, including chiropractic verterbral subluxation manipulation in the research listed complex”, in which it said: “The treatment of any non- on international chiropractic vertebral subluxation musculoskeletal health Chiropractic Councils’ complex is an historical concept but condition. websites, that many it remains a theoretical model. It is The Chiropractic treatments offered by not supported by any clinical research Code of Conduct chiropractors are not evidence that would allow claims to be (CCC), on the effective and are linked made that it is the cause of disease or other hand, states to serious adverse events. health concerns.” that chiropractors This document also states that are required to: “recognise and work Vertebral subluxations chiropractors “must provide evidence within their limits of a competence” The fundamental principle of based care, which is clinical practice that and that are required to “seek advice chiropractic, which continues to be incorporates the best available evidence from or refer their patients to a more promoted in Australia, is that all ‘disease’ from research”, and that “any advertised suitably qualified practitioner when is the result of subluxations of the claims for chiropractic care must be it is considered in the patient’s best spine causing pressure on nerves and based only on best research of the interests”. inhibiting the transmission of the signals highest standard (GCC Guidance on Again, chiropractors are not which allow the ‘innate intelligence’ of Advertising issued March 2010).” paediatricians and any claims that they the body to heal itself. 0311 FEATURE Activism

Campaign! • Decreases the risk of post natal gravis, constipation, poor posture, depression cough, seizures, croup, scoliosis, Continued... • More active labour and better deformational plagiocephaly (flat recovery”. spots on the head), stomach ache, There is no evidence that depression, tonsillitis, diarrhoea, vaccine According to Phillip Ebrall, the ‘vertebral subluxations’, that preventable infections, and digestive BAppSc (Chiropractic), PhD, FICC, chiropractors use spinal manipulation to problems. FACC, Assoc Prof of Chiropractic remove, actually exist, nor is there any Other claims include that SM can Education and Discipline Head, RMIT: evidence to support ‘innate intelligence’. prevent, treat or reduce the symptoms “Chiropractic may well be beneficial Manipulation of the following in patients suffering subluxation, does not remove conditions: particularly of the upper neck (cervical ‘irritations’, change “ Certainly in Britain, and anxiety, numbness, spine) that causes altered signals to ‘inflammations’ nor apparently around the arthritis, Perthes reach the brain, resulting in mental can it restore ‘bio- world, the chiropractic pro- Syndrome, discomfort, decreased thinking ability, mechanics’. bronchitis, headache and other symptoms.” [Ebrall There is no fession is unable to police repetitive strain stood down from his position soon after evidence that itself. - Simon Singh injury (RSI), Marron’s letter was sent, though there is misalignments in the ” cancer (anecdote), no indication the two were linked - Ed] spine interfere with sacro-iliac For babies and children, claims your body’s normal function. dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, are made that these ‘subluxations’ are sciatic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, caused by the birth itself. According to RMIT Paediatric Course Content sinusitis, diabetes, skin disorders, chiropractic teachings: “Natural birth In 2005, a newsletter was circulated eczema, smoking and alcohol can cause subluxations, not to mention which announced that “A paediatric addiction, fatigue, stress, fertility, PMS, a more complicated birth. The most clinic has been established at [RMIT’s] fibromyalgia, thyroid issues, gall bladder common area for subluxation in babies Bundoora [teaching] clinic to provide problems, TMJ dysfunction, headaches is the upper cervical (neck) area and assessment and care of children and & migraines, ulcers, hypertension, the base of the skull. The significance infants.” weakness, irritable bowel syndrome, of this area is that the delicate tissues While the specific details of the whiplash and neurogenic claudication. being protected here include the brain paediatric course are not available on There is no evidence that stem, which is the switchboard for the line, one of the lecturers has posted chiropractic works any better than organs. This is the reason that babies information on their website: “My wife, placebo for these health conditions. can experience digestive problems Dr Navine Haworth, is also a board [Note:Loretta Marron reviewed the and breathing difficulties and why the certified Paediatric Chiropractor to help websites of 51 chiropractic practices for immune system can become suppressed. treat children. She is also an instructor this report. She adds, however, that “The “Sometimes it is apparent that there at RMIT Chiropractic College and list of websites was obtained by using is a problem while at other times it isn’t helps run the RMIT paediatric clinic. searches in NSW and is by no means so obvious. The important thing is to Many conditions that we often treat complete. - Ed] have your baby and yourself checked as children for include allergies, asthma, I asked Dr Simon Singh PhD soon as possible after the birth to help ‘growing pains’, headaches, ADD, and MBE, the renowned British science clear subluxations so you can establish ADHD.” writer, for advice. Following the breastfeeding and settle into a good dropping of the libel case brought routine. Practitioner Website Claims against Dr Singh by the British “Regular checkups during Claims made by chiropractors include Chiropractic Association, a “furious pregnancy and after birth are essential that 80% of all ill health is cause backlash” resulted in the filing of formal for the family.” by damage to the back and that complaints of false advertising against Claims are also made that chiropractic spinal manipulation more than 500 individual chiropractors the benefits of pre and post-natal (SM) can prevent, treat or reduce the within one 24 hour period, with one chiropractic care for mother and babies symptoms of the following childhood national chiropractic organisation include: conditions: allergies, earaches, asthma, ordering its members to take down • Normalises hormone function epilepsy, bed-wetting, eye problems their websites, and Nature Medicine • Decreases the duration of labour (including tunnel vision), Bell’s Palsy, noting that the case had gathered wide and the intensity of pain fever, bipolar infection, clumsiness, support for Singh, as well as prompting • Decreases medication use therefore a interrupted sleep, co-ordination calls for the reform of English libel laws. more alert baby problems, irritability, colic, learning In a personal email to me Dr • An alert baby allows easier & behavioural problems (eg ADHD), Singh wrote: “Certainly in Britain, establishment of breastfeeding congenital hip dysplasia, Myasthenia and apparently around the world, 12 The Skeptic June 11

the chiropractic profession is unable claims relating to chiropractic, I would As this is a clear breach of consumer to properly police itself. The good like to recommend that the role of the protection and puts patient health chiropractors and the chiropractic Council on Chiropractic Education at risk, I request that the RMIT societies seem unable or unwilling to Australasia Inc be reviewed to reassess Chiropractic Paediatric clinic be closed highlight and stop the bad chiropractors the competency and standards of down pending an investigation into who make unscientific claims and who chiropractors. its teachings and that other similar unfairly raise the hopes of patients. Despite evidence that now proves universities, such as Murdoch and Moreover, every medical intervention that chiropractic is not effective for Macquarie, be investigated. carries a risk, so those chiropractors non-musculoskeletal health conditions, I would also ask that a re-education who offer treatments that go beyond techniques involving the elimination campaign be initiated to ensure that the evidence are not only hurting of the now discredited concept of the claims made by chiropractors reflect patients in the pocket, but possibly also ‘vertebral subluxation’ - claims that evidence-based medicine and best harming their bodies. chiropractic can, directly or indirectly, practices. “The evidence is inconclusive for treat a wide range of health conditions cervical manipulation/mobilization for pregnant women, babies, infants Yours sincerely alone for neck pain of any duration, and children - continue to be taught Loretta Marron . and for manipulation/mobilisation to students and practised in the RMIT for mid back pain, sciatica, tension- Chiropractic Paediatric clinic and in type headache, coccydynia, other institutions that offer chiropractic About the author: temporomandibular joint disorders, courses. These chiropractors may also be Loretta Marron is a crusader fibromyalgia, premenstrual syndrome, promoting chiropractic as a substitute against , as well as and pneumonia in older adults. for vaccination which may lead to tragic winner of 2007 Australian “Spinal manipulation is not consequences. Skeptic of the Year award. effective for asthma and dysmenorrhea when compared to sham manipulation, or for Stage 1 hypertension when added to an antihypertensive diet. Marron’s medical consultations “In children, the evidence is incon- In the course of research for her report Health and Medicine, Pro Vice clusive regarding the effectiveness for on RMIT and other institutions’ Chancellor (Research), Faculty of Health otitis media and enuresis, and it is not chiropractic clinics, Loretta Marron Sciences and Medicine, Bond University effective for infantile colic and asthma consulted: Prof Nikolai Bogduk, when compared to sham manipulation. Prof , AO, FRACP, BSc(Med), MB, BS, PhD, MD, DSc, The evidence is inconclusive for knee FRCPI, PhD, Doc ACU, Emeritus MMed, FAFRM, FFPM(ANZCA), osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, myofascial Professor of Medicine University of NSW, Conjoint Professor of Pain Medicine, pain syndrome, migraine headache, and Chair of the Australian Healthcare Reform University of Newcastle premenstrual syndrome. In children, Alliance Prof Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, the evidence is inconclusive for asthma Prof Jenny Couper, MB, ChB, FMed Sci, FSB, FRCP, FRCP (Edin) and infantile colic.” MD, FRACP, Head of Discipline of Professor of Complementary Medicine, Paediatrics, The University of , Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK (and Conclusion Dept of Endocrine and Paediatrics, co-author with Dr Simon Singh of the Chiropractor websites are making claims Women’s and Children’s Hospital book Trick or Treatment) that spinal manipulation can prevent Prof Ian Frazer, MB, ChB Edin, Assoc Prof John Eden, MB and/or treat or reduce the symptoms MD Melb, Director, Diamantina Institute, BS, MD, FRCOG, FRANZCOG, CREI, of a wide variety of both self-limiting Research Leader, Epithelial Cancer Division Assoc Prof of Reproductive Endocrinology and serious health conditions such as Prof David Colquhoun, FRS, UNSW, Director Barbara Gross Research allergies, asthma, ADHD and colic and Professor of Pharmacology, University Unit RHW, Director Sydney Menopause that it can be used as a substitute for College London, Fellow of the Royal Centre RHW Director Women’s Health vaccination. Society, UK and Research Institute of Australia Of great concern is that they are Prof Alastair H. Maclennan, Dr Robert H Loblay, MB, targeting pregnant women, babies, Head of Discipline of Obstetrics & BS, PhD, FRACP, Senior Lecturer in infants and children, making claims Gynaecology, School of Paediatrics & Immunology, Department of Medicine, that have now been disproven, using Reproductive Health, The Women’s and University of Sydney, Director, Allergy techniques that have been demonstrated Children’s Hospital, The University of Unit, Department of Clinical Immunology, to have potentially serious adverse effects Adelaide Royal Prince Alfred Hospital to both mother and child. Prof Chris B Del Mar, MA MB Prof Joseph Forgas, DPhil, As the majority of chiropractors BChir MD FRACGP FAFPHM Professor DSc. (Oxon), Scientia Professor of continue to make false and misleading of Primary Care Research, Faculty of , FASSA, University of NSW 13 FEATURE Activism What to do when a friend loves Brian Dunning lets us in on a problem: you’re a skeptic and they’re not.

t’s the #1 most common question I Imagine if someone came to you and weird comes down the line. Your friend Iget: My wife, my friend, my mum, flashed a magazine article that said it’s likely knows that you’re a skeptical my boss is investing their health or their best to turn your children out into the person, and eventually he’ll recognise money in some magical or fraudulent street and never talk to them again. It’s that you’ve been putting up with his product/scheme/belief. What can I do not only unconvincing, it’s laughable. weird belief and saying nothing. In fact about it? Your effort to talk someone out of their he may someday ask you, “Hey, you This is a tough situation to be in. belief in their sacred cow is likely to be know I believe in this weird thing, how Whether it’s a loved one who’s ill and is just as laughable. come Mr Cynical Skeptic has never being taken advantage of by a charlatan So what should you do, give up? tried to talk me out of it?” selling a magical cure with no hope of You may be surprised to hear it from Ask “Is it important to you?” treating the illness, or a friend who’s me, but I advise you to do just that, “Yes.” out of work and is going into deeper in many cases. Know which battles to “You’re important to me.” debt to buy into a hopeless multilevel fight. Weigh the risks. Consider the Think what a powerful message that marketing plan, it’s really hard to context of your friend’s belief: Is he in sends. It may sound corny, but it’s a watch. The hardest is when they have imminent danger of harming himself statement that your friend will always a real problem and are expending their or others? Probably not, and if not, this remember. You’ve just communicated limited resources trying to solve it may not be the time to take what might that your friendship is more important with a medieval, magic-based system be your only shot. So I want to make than your “evil debunking hobby”. that you know can’t possibly help. But this a rule: Before you decide what to You’ve made it clear, unequivocally, all too often, they think it’s helping. do, consider the risks and the context. Cognitive biases, anecdotal thinking, How terrible are the consequences of placebo effects and your friend’s belief? Think that through combine to build a powerful illusion comprehensively. Make sure you have a that our brains are hardwired to believe good understanding of the risks to your in. At some point, it falls to a caring friend if you do nothing, and the risks friend to try and rescue them with a to your relationship if you attack their candle of reason. beliefs and (in all probability) fail to You’re up against a foe who’s far convince them. It may well be that this more formidable than you might first strategy I’m going to present is the think. This isn’t like settling a bet with safest. a friend where you can look up the answer on Wikipedia, see who’s right, Strategy #1: Do Nothing and then buy each other a beer. You’re Doing nothing now doesn’t mean going after someone’s religion. You’re giving up. When you choose not to setting out to talk someone out of confront your friend’s current weird believing something that they know to belief, there’s still an effective strategy be true, for a fact, from their personal for helping him out that you can experience. That right there makes your follow. By accepting and tolerating your task nearly impossible, but it’s worse. friend’s weird belief, you’re actually Their belief has spiritual underpinnings setting yourself up to be in a position of that make it deeply moral and virtuous. great influence the next time something 14 The Skeptic June 11

that you don’t want such differences to Strategy #2: The Intervention alternative path - one that is proven come between you. Sometimes the situation is urgent to provide the kind of help needed And now look at the position you’re and you don’t have time to do things - to suggest to your friend. Make in. You’re trusted. You’re an ally at the the easy way. There might be a sure everyone’s in agreement that an most important and fundamental level. medical crisis, an emotional crisis, or intervention is warranted, and that This is exactly where you need to be if a financial crisis, and an immediate a better alternative path is needed. If you want to be influential on someone. intervention is needed. Sometimes a they’re not, only invite those who are You can now begin to introduce critical friend’s situation is dire enough that to proceed. thinking using topics that are more helping them is worth the loss of the The main criticism of counselling about exploration than confrontation, personal relationship. In these cases, interventions is that they are and this is a journey you should take and probably only in these cases, ambushes. Not only is it just plain together. Next time you’re in the car would I suggest a confrontational wrong to ambush someone, it creates together, play a few Skeptoid episodes. approach. And to do this effectively, the practical problem of putting your Play episodes like The Baigong Pipes, Is draw on the established principals of friend on the defensive. So I don’t He Real or Is He Fictional, The Missing the counselling intervention. propose making it an ambush. My Cosmonauts, and When People Talk First you want to gather a group recommendation, which you may or Backwards. Topics such as these do of friends or family, and you need to may not choose to follow, is to call not attack or challenge anyone, they meet with them separately. Try to get your friend up and say “Hey, Jim-Bob instil an appreciation and a passion a group, but even if there are only and Bubba and Sally-Sue and I want for the value of critical thinking. Once two of you, it’s worlds better than to come over and talk to you about introduced, I find that most people just you by yourself. Your next task your cancer,” or your new business, or want more. is to present your evidence to the your friend, or whatever the Gather every bit of skeptical material group that the magical system your problem is. you can find that you know will friend is relying on is pseudoscientific Now, of course, conducting the interest your friend, and that does not and cannot help him. Do not expect intervention is up to you. I feel attack or challenge his belief. So long them to accept what you say at face that trusted friends who can speak as you remain a trustworthy friend value, and do expect that some of knowledgeably about the subject and not an irrational adversary, you’re them might buy into the magical carry more weight than showing the in a position to introduce them to the system as well. Be prepared. Show printed-out articles from the web, fundamentals of critical thinking, and your work. Print out pages from the but leave them for your friend to to the value and tangible rewards of web. Use the Science Based Medicine read. Anyway, it’s going to be a really reality. Don’t underestimate the value blog, use Skeptoid, use Quackwatch, crappy hour, it’s not going to be fun of seeds that are well-planted in a good use Swift. Search the best sources for anyone, but with some luck you environment. If your friend comes and have all your ducks in a row. The may just make a big difference in your around on their own, their growth most important thing you need to friend’s life. He may not love you for is far more complete than any that’s do at this stage is to be certain that forced upon them. everyone in the group is united in Always remember the story of the their understanding of the useless, little boy who couldn’t get his pet turtle pseudoscientific nature of the magical to poke its head out of his shell. He sacred cow. tried to pull on its head, he shook it, Tell the group why you’re he squirted water, he did everything he concerned about your friend and could think of. But the turtle wouldn’t why the help is urgently needed. Be come out. Then his grandfather took prepared to explain why you feel an the turtle and placed it on the warm intervention is warranted. And this is hearth, and within a minute the turtle important: Don’t merely be prepared was out of his shell. The little boy never to show that the magical sacred cow forgot that lesson. is useless, you must also have an

15 FEATURE Activism

Continued...

it, but the idea’s to help him, not to win brownie points for yourself. Strategy #3: Be There In some cases, doing nothing may seem too slow, and an intervention may be too harsh and unwarranted. In these situations I often recommend that you just “be there” for your friend. Your skeptical cat is probably already out of the bag to some degree, so your friend’s radar is probably already up just waiting for you to launch into him about his If you ever want to talk about it, I’m a conflict myself. sacred cow. happy to; but I don’t want it to be It’s perhaps ironic that those of us What you may have is an awkward a problem, and I’m fine with just who want to provide actual help, instead imbalance of a close personal acknowledging we have a disagreement of magical or imaginary help, are usually relationship and an ideological divide. and leaving it at that.” The wording considered the bad guys, and we’re the This situation gets thrown on me all that’s hard is declaring your own ones who have to tread lightly. But the time, when I meet someone, or position. Consumer protection, critical that’s the reality of the situation, and we someone introduces me and has told thinking, things that are proven; you should take extra care to insure that our them what I do, I’ll sometimes get “Oh, want to make your point but you influence is a positive one. . you’re that cynical person I’ve heard don’t want to choose weasel words that about.” This is, of course, both wrong sound insulting. and insulting. I’ve gotten this so many From that point, you can follow the Note: This article is a transcript times that I’ve learned to just swallow Do Nothing strategy and introduce of an episode of Skeptoid (episode it. But nevertheless, the awkward divide articles that you know you’ll both #187, January 5, 2010). It is used exists, and the best way to handle appreciate. This method just fast- with permission and is copyrighted an awkward situation is to openly tracks it somewhat, in that the to the author. acknowledge it. door is wide open to discuss The wording here is difficult to get your friend’s particular sacred right, but at an opportune moment you cow at any time. But unless About the interviewer: might want to say something like “Hey, there’s an imminent risk of Brian Dunning is a computer scientist, and I know you’re really into your thing, harm, I tend to always let the host and producer of the award-winning you know I’m really into consumer friend bring it up, and I never podcast, Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop protection, so we have a disagreement. try to drive the wedge or create Phenomena (www.skeptoid.com).

The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe is a weekly Science podcast talkshow discussing the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view.

www.the skepticsguide.org 16 FEATURE Activism The Skeptic June 11

Turning the Wingnuts

It’s not a hopeless cause to engage with proponents of the irrational, but Michael Edmonds says some ways of doing this are more effective than others.

here has never been a time partisans and the unhinged activists, For myself, I see the first approach Tin history when the public the hardcore haters and the paranoid as dangerous in that it muddies the understanding of science and rational conspiracy theorists”. waters – one only has to look at the thinking has been so important. This is probably a fair summation of mess that has resulted in the climate Science has revealed new challenges for the groups that skeptics often confront. change debate. Personal attacks from humankind, such as climate change Specific examples include Jenny McCarthy both sides of the debate – accusations and depletion of resources, while new for her misinformed and vehement of conspiracy, impropriety, etc – have technologies are often accompanied by opposition to vaccines, Suzanne Somers confused the public and risk having ethical and social implications that need for her advocacy of dodgy and dangerous climate change dismissed as ‘too hard’ to to be carefully considered. In response to ‘natural’ therapies, Peter Duesberg with deal with. On the other hand, taking a these challenges, science communicators his HIV denialism, and Christopher purely rational approach overlooks the spend more time trying to carefully Monckton for his use of misinformation fact that human behaviour is not always explain science and related issues to in opposing global warming. rational and prone to being swayed by the public. However, these efforts to With wingnuts attacking many areas emotive arguments. make science more understandable are of science and undermining attempts In trying to sort out the best way being confounded by ‘wingnuts’ who to educate the public, the question for me to respond to wingnuts, I have use misinformation to confuse public has to be asked – How should we deal developed a list of 10 rules as a guide. understanding of science. with these purveyors of irrationality? The term wingnuts has been used by a Some skeptics advocate an aggressive Know what you are number of people to describe those who counterattack – personally attacking talking about propagate misinformation for a variety of the wingnuts in the same way that Many wingnuts are well versed reasons. In his book Wingnuts: how the they have attacked science and science in their area of ‘expertise’. lunatic fringe is hijacking America, John communicators. Others suggest a purely Debating them without Avlon describes a wingnut as “someone educational and rational approach, adequate knowledge of the on the far-right wing or far-left wing of relying on the ideal that the truth will subject as well as an understanding of the political spectrum – the professional win out in the end. the typical wingnut ploys is risky. It is 17 FEATURE Activism

Leave your ego Turning the It is also worth remembering that it is at the door difficult for someone to continue being Wingnuts rude if you do not reply in kind. If you In my experience, can maintain being polite to someone once you start taking comments Continued... who is being rude, in most cases the rudeness will dissipate and one can personally, rationality goes out the return to a calm exchange of ideas. window. There are times when the worth noting, however, that exchanging comments of some wingnuts make me views with a wingnut via blog comments Remember – wingnuts furious. At such times the best option does give one the opportunity to do are people too is to take time to calm down before research between exchanges. No one is completely responding. Linus Pauling said: “Science rational. We all have our own is the search for truth - it is not a game Use precise, simple and biases which may result in in which one tries to beat his opponent, neutral language irrational behaviour. Whether to do harm to others.” It is easy to be misunderstood, it is a result of our environment or especially via written language. our biology, many of us engage in Expect mis- So, one should keep the irrational behaviour without even understandings language as precise and simple recognising it. So while we may No matter how as possible. A choice of neutral language often assume that a wingnut is being carefully we think helps maintain a calm exchange of purposely irrational, it is usually we have phrased ideas. Emotive language can readily the case that they consider their something, those hearing or reading us escalate an exchange of ideas into an actions to be completely rational. In will often misunderstand at least part irrational argument. We have over his book Why We Believe, Michael of what we have said. So one always 600,000 words in the English language Shermer describes such behaviour as needs to be ready to rephrase. In order to choose from, so why not take some “intellectual attribution bias” – where to clarify what we are saying a number care in deciding how we explain things those with opposing views typically of techniques can be used: to others. consider their own actions as being • Counter anecdotes with anecdotes. rationally motivated, whereas they Follow up by explaining this is why Respond to rudeness in a see those of their opponents as more anecdotes are not particularly good calm manner emotionally driven. as evidence. Some people, including A simple rule to remember – • Use analogies to explain difficult skeptics, see debating ideas as challenge the ideas, not the person concepts. an opportunity to insult others. • Apologise when you make a In my opinion, snide remarks, Ask questions ... mistake. While some may view personal attacks and swearing detract and listen to the apologising as a loss of face, it can from any rational exchange and serve to answers actually establish a better rapport. both escalate any exchange of thoughts When someone appears It is far more honest and trust- into irrationality as well as hardening the to express a view counter to inspiring than trying to cover views on both sides of the debate. what we believe it is easy to respond up or justify a mistake you have When confronted with rudeness, by bombarding them with counter made. There is nothing wrong with I try to focus on repeating factual arguments. However, this acknowledging that we all make information. There is also value in will not only put them on the mistakes. pointing out the rude behaviour. This defensive, it also requires that • Acknowledge points of agreement. can be done in an assertive, non- you have understood their point In any argument, there are often threatening way by making comments of view correctly (see “Expect points that both parties agree on. about the wingnut’s behaviour and not Misunderstandings” below). If one If we can identify these up front about them personally. takes the time to explore their beliefs and acknowledge them, it not only For example by saying “I find it further by asking questions, makes it easier to explore the points offensive when you claim that scientists it gives you time to assess the extent of of difference, it again establishes are shills for big pharma”, followed by a their beliefs, and if done in a friendly some rapport by saying “Look, list of supporting facts, instead of “you manner it also helps establish rapport, there are some points on which we are a rude and obnoxious #$@&”. Most allowing for a more rational exchange can agree.” people will accept criticism of their of ideas. If we leap into an argument behaviour far more readily than what with a limited understanding of the they feel is a personal attack, particularly other person’s position we can find when the person making the comment ourselves trying to convince them of ‘owns’ the effect of the behaviour. something they already agree with. 18 The Skeptic June 11

Don’t make marketers and salespeople to get us to educate the public about homeopathy. the same mistakes buy things we don’t need or want. If the The public ‘overdose’ on homeopathic we criticise Journal of Marketing Research refers to remedies by skeptics was a creative way them for books like Robert Cialdini’s Influence: to draw the attention of the media There is nothing the Psychology of Persuasion as “the most and the public to the irrationality more frustrating than seeing other important book written in the last 10 of homeopathy. Clever sound bites ‘skeptics’ debate a wingnut by erecting years” then perhaps we should also be such as “ten dollars for a teaspoon of their own strawmen, using ad hominem reading it, not only to help us work water” were not only memorable but attacks or other irrational arguments. out appropriate ways to better present focused on financial self interest. The An experienced wingnut will quickly a skeptical viewpoint, but to also event also caused several homeopaths turn these mistakes to his or her own immunise us against some of the less or homeopathic organisations to state advantage. It always pays to carefully scrupulous methods of persuasion. outright that they don’t know how think through all of your own Some persuasive techniques directly homeopathy works, a remarkable and arguments before using them. applicable to debating with wingnuts useful soundbite (for skeptics) in itself. include: Be persistent • Appealing to self interest. Everyone Conclusion and don’t expect naturally looks at how anything This 10-point list outlines my own to change their benefits themselves. So when we approach to wingnuts. Others may views overnight advocate for vaccination use, rejection have different, possibly even contrary Most wingnuts have of dangerous or ineffective ‘alternative rules. I believe it is important that we, spent years developing and reinforcing medicines’ and other wingnut ideas, as skeptics, share and discuss these ideas their positions. Some probably have the we need to focus on the benefits of rationally and with the view of what will psychological equivalent of Fort Knox our positions. best encourage better and more rational built around their ideological positions. • Creativity. In a world where we are thinking by the general public. So if we can’t easily change their minds, bombarded with many demands Whether you agree with all of my rules what is the point in debating with them? for our attention, the creative ideas or not, there is hopefully one thing we Debates with wingnuts seldom take stand out. One only has to consider can agree on. We cannot afford to ignore place in a vacuum. Whether they are the incredible amounts of money the wingnuts. . arguing their point via a letter to the companies spend on novel advertising editor, on a blog or among a group campaigns to understand this. This article is based on a presentation of friends or workmates, there is • Repetition. Many wingnuts rely on given at the 2010 NZ Skeptics always an audience. If their points go the idea that if you repeat a lie often conference, and originally published unchallenged, some of the audience enough it will be believed. If this is in the NZ Skeptic magazine. (www. will be swayed by their arguments. So the case, then surely if you repeat skeptics.org.nz) challenging the arguments of a wingnut the truth often enough it will also be is less about changing their point of believed. About the author: view, and more about educating any • Soundbites. Many science Michael Edmonds has audience they have about the flaws and communicators are now recognising been a chemistry lecturer, fallacies of their argument. One should the value of sound bites – short researcher and more recently aim to win over any such audience memorable statements outlining manager of programs at with superior knowledge, civility and key points. Most people are more Polytechnic by pointing out how your position likely to remember sound bites than Institute of Technology (CPIT). benefits them. the long and complex (albeit more accurate) explanations preferred by Learn more many scientists. about • Be positive. It has been demonstrated persuasion that most people remember positive Many skeptics messages more accurately. Thus it is have a great more effective to say that “vaccines respect for facts save millions of lives each year” and rational debate. However, when as opposed to “vaccines are not it comes to making decisions, human dangerous”. Over time, a negative beings tend to be more readily swayed message can become confused and by their emotions. Psychologists have may be remembered instead as spent decades researching how people “vaccines are dangerous”. make decisions. Such research has A good example of clever use of such been embraced and effectively used by techniques was the 10:23 campaign to 19 FEATURE Activism

Standing up for Science A teenager in the United States decided that he did not want to be taught religion in science classes, so he took on the might of the local Education Board. Geoff Cowan interviews high school activist, Zack Kopplin

ome readers may have heard about sounds nice, but under the covers the Act book (or two) with non-peer reviewed SZack Kopplin, a senior high school allows for the teaching of , material on and student who recently decided that he intelligent design and other non-scientific creationism. We can infer that the law wanted to be taught science, and not theories and related garbage. was enacted by political forces attached creationism. In Australia, if you were at a Specifically, the Act allows for the to Christian evangelists. In the case of private religious school, this would not be provision of supplementary textbooks the State Education Board of Louisiana, an issue, but Zack goes to a public school and materials to support the current the link was with the Louisiana Family in the state of Louisiana. In 2008, that approved textbooks. This means that Forum (LFF). state passed a law known as the Science biology textbooks that discuss evolution Let’s put this into perspective. If such Education Act. On the surface, that may well be accompanied by another a law were passed in a state of Australia, 20 The Skeptic June 11

every time your child in a public school regularly sees the effects on young adults So why did you make a submission opened a book on biology and read the who have not only been through the high to the Board? Did you feel that the section on evolution, they would have school system but also tertiary education teaching of science is that important to be taught a supplementary lesson or with little if any critical thinking skills, that you needed to ensure that it was section on intelligent design. This could initiative and problem-solving ability. done correctly, without religion, or do also be applied to a geology text book Science can assist with these, coupled you have another reason? that states the Earth is 4 billion years with a well-rounded education and old, but then your child would have to interests. For me personally, there are two be taught that another theory is that the The Board voted in favour of Zack, reasons. I really wanted to get involved Earth is only 6000 to 10,000 years old. and did not approve additional textbooks, and start building a coalition for the At this time, such theories are confined to as required under the Act. Subsequently, repeal. I also wanted to try to stop scripture classes. But it has already been many professional organisations have the downward tumble that our state reported that chaplains in public schools supported the decision of the Board in has seen since the Louisiana Science in Queensland are teaching that man repealing the Act which may be seen in Education Act was passed. walked with dinosaurs and that ‘god’ put coming months. the fossils in the stone. Such statements I interviewed Zack Kopplin via You must be happy with the initial that fly in the face of scientific fact not email. result from the Textbook Board in only cause issues for students but can be your favour. Did anyone else make any impressionable to the point of destroying For the sake of our readers in Austra- submissions that were in line with your a student’s interest and ‘faith’ in science. lia, what exactly is the Louisiana Science submission? The Louisiana State Textbook Board Education Act and how does it work? meets every seven years to decide the I know the board was bombarded type of texts that would be allowed and It is a stealth creationism law with emails asking them to endorse purchased for all the students in that that allows creationism into public accurate and evidence-based science. The state. Named the Textbook Advisory school science classes under the guise Louisiana Science Coalition also came Council of the Louisiana Board of of “supplemental materials”. These out and testified in support of science. Elementary and Secondary Education materials don’t need to be approved (BESE), in December 2010 the board by anyone, unlike our textbooks, Has your life changed since your took submissions from many members which had to be approved four times appearance before the Board? of the community, including religious by educators and the Louisiana State ministers and a varied cast of characters. Board of Education. I know that I’m going to keep One minister, Rev Gene Mills, president leading campaigns like this and fight for of the LFF, stated that the textbooks were This allows for the use of non-peer what I believe in for the rest of my life. biased toward evolution. While it would reviewed books. But, in your opinion, be reasonable to expect that a textbook why does the Act need to be repealed? We need young people to continue teaching biology would be biased towards the fight that people like Richard evolution and other peer-reviewed, Basically, jobs. Louisiana students Dawkins and Eugenie Scott, CEO researched and proven science, but it will not get good science-based jobs of the National Center for Science appears that many people in the United and be competitive in today’s global Education, have undertaken. What is States want superstition and unproven economy if we are taught pseudoscience your plan now in regards to the repeal religious dogma taught as an alternative. in science classes. of the Act? Zack Kopplin, a senior student from Baton Rouge Magnet School, used the opportunity to appear before the Board to state that he disagreed with the submission from the religious right. In fact he stated the following: “All the Louisiana Science Education Act does is create an unconstitutional loophole to sneak the teaching of creationism or intelligent design in public school science classes.” He also stated that the effect of the Act would “embarrass our state” and said the Board should “teach real science rather than undermine it”. As a Zack Kopplin addresses the Louisiana education board professional adult educator, the writer 0321 FEATURE Activism

Standing up people like you. Eugenie Scott has I would encourage everyone supported you and the National to visit the repeal’s website, www. for Science Biology Teachers Association. Even a repealcreationism.com, and sign up State senator, Karen Carter Peterson, on our Facebook and Twitter which Continued... has come out in full support of you. can be found on the website. Also, Has anyone come out against you?. please network and share this with We’re in the final stretch, and I’m your friends and family. It will make a working on educating and organising In Lauri Lebo’s recent Scientific difference. as many people as possible before the American article, Gene Mills, the This law won’t last too much longer. vote. I’m also lobbying legislators. president of the Louisiana Family I believe we will repeal it this year, but Forum, attempted to dismiss the if we don’t, we’ll keep trying. . Are you aware of other states in the repeal effort. He seems to think he United States that have similar Acts? owns the Louisiana Legislature, but I For more information, go think the legislature may disagree with to Senator Carter’s website: No other state has passed a similar him. http://karencarterpeterson. act, although nine states have tried this com/2011/03/15/senator-peterson- year. We’re particularly worried about So, having finished high school, backs-bill-to-repeal-louisiana-science- Tennessee, whose act, which is inspired what now? College? What do you want education-act/ and based on the Louisiana Science to do ? Education Act, has a chance to pass. I’m still deciding on a Sometimes when these events college; it is not an easy choice. occur, such as arguments over About the author: textbooks and teaching of creationism, Is there anything you wish Geoff Cowan is a member of the certain celebrities come out to either to say to others in regard to the Australian Skeptics and the Western support or make statements against campaign? Sydney Freethinkers.

22 regulars Horoscope The Skeptic June 11 Your Stars: june 2011 With our Astrologer Eve Rotters, BS

Aries: 19 April-13 May Ophiuchus: 30 November -17 Dec In commemoration of your I don’t know if you have realised star sign, you decide to this yet, but your star sign has upgrade your computer been deleted. from 32k of RAM to 128k of RAM. Your Sagittarius: computer may be out of date, but nowhere 18 Dec-18 January near as out of date Just as you think as astrology. you have gotten all your affairs in order, written the reports Taurus: for work, done all 14 May-19 June the housework, got Under the sign of the car serviced, the Bull, you’ll mull tidied up your desk, over whether to pull made the phone a full hull, cull dull calls, wormed the cat, gulls, or have a dull brushed the gerbil, null lull. done the gardening and the crossword, prepared Gemini: 20 June-20 July and eaten lunch, filled the Ah, a split personality. Roses dishwasher, and written letters are red, violets are blue, I’m of complaint to the newspaper, and schizophrenic, and so am I. you are relaxing with a good book and cup of coffee, you suddenly recall that Cancer: 21 July-9 August the bloody astrologer said he could Your constellation does not resemble a Scorpio: 23 November- 29 November not do the horoscopes this issue and crab (Latin: cancer) at all; it resembles you said you’d stand in. Damn, I wish On the 23rd of the month you set off the letter Y with a fuzzy patch near the I had another star sign. crotch. Well actually, it’s not only your from your home to visit a friend, but constellation that resembles that. you are mysteriously and wonderfully abducted by space aliens who have Capricorn: 19 January -15 Febuary On a European holiday, you visit a Leo: 10 August-15 September forgotten to perform the customary probing but nonetheless take you nice island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off You’re always sticking your foot in your on a tour of the Solar System. You the coast of Italy. You visit the Blue mouth, or that might be your tamer. witness at first hand the craters and Grotto and the Villa San Michele Something’s there, anyway. maria of the Moon, the mighty extinct and get the view over the town. Tired volcanoes of Mars, the variegated and thirsty by the evening you enter Virgo: 16 September-30 October scattered rocks of the asteroid belt, the a pub, where there is a bad stand-up In your wanderings you come to a vicious weather and cloud bands of comedian. Yes! It’s Capri Corn. flooded part of the road, and as you Jupiter, the cracked and icy surfaces stand there wondering how to cross, a of its satellites, the incredible active Aquarius: 16 Febuary-11 March homeopath comes up and offers to carry volcanoes and electrical current Your friend has the same star sign as you over on his shoulders. But you say loop of Io; and of course the rings you - making him or her identical in “No thanks - that would be virgin on and shepherd moons of Saturn and all respects, of course - but you cannot the ridiculous.” the pocked surface of mighty Titan. decide whether that makes you two Then we come to Uranus and it all Quariuses or two Quarii. Libra: 31 October-22 November comes back to the aliens what they’re supposed to do. The scales. Fish have scales - see under Pisces: 12 March-18 April Pisces. You are very well balanced; see under Libra. . 23 ARTICLE

Battle of the Chiropractors

Mick Vagg observes from the sidelines as one professional body takes on another.

was prompted by the excellent effort the step of publishing the submissions in section 1.2, 3rd paragraph that Iby Loretta Marron which made both by organisations and individuals which chiropractors have a role to not only the mainstream (http://bit.ly/eW8l6J ) informed its development. The Code promote health but to protect the health and medical press [see separate article and submissions can be found at http:// of the community. We would seek some this issue]. For those caught napping, www.chiropracticboard.gov.au/Codes- clarification from the CBA as to how it Loretta submitted a letter to the Health and-Guidelines.aspx understands that Chiropractors could Minister Nicola Roxon demanding that While there are the obvious typo protect the community’s health.” RMIT University close its paediatric corrections and suggestions for re- chiropractic clinic as it perpetuates wording the bureaucratic language The immunisation issue the myth that there is a reason for of the Code, there are also some The SA branch of CAA (CAASA) chiropractors to even be touching indications in the submissions of submission recommends removing children and babies. For me it also raised deep division between the CBA and a clause about chiropractors the question of what sort of more general the major chiropractic professional “understanding the principles of child health advice might be given out to organisations, particularly in the areas immunisation against communicable parents at such a clinic. of public health, informed financial diseases” because: “Understanding the As part of the transition to the new consent and the use of x-rays. principles of a singled out particular Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory With regards to public health issues, public health procedure is inappropriate Agency (AHPRA), the regulated there appears to be reluctance on the and certainly incomplete. There are professions have been asked to sign up part of the Chiropractic Association many other public health procedures, eg to Codes of Conduct proposed by the of Australia (National) (CAAN) and hand washing or equipment cleaning, new Boards which have been created. A its state bodies to embrace the fairly that are not listed; it is incomplete to split appears to be looming between the uncontroversial proposition that health single one out.” Chiropractic Board of Australia (CBA) professionals of any stripe have public The NSW Branch agrees: “CAANSW and a number of the major professional health responsibilities with regard to the questions why chiropractors need organisations over the Code of Conduct spread of communicable diseases. to understand the principles of for registered chiropractors. The CAA Victorian Branch immunization. This is not within the The CBA website shows the Code submission specifically disclaims such scope of chiropractic.” of Conduct, and they have also taken a responsibility: “We note a statement The Gonstead Chiropractic Society 24 The Skeptic June 11

is more forthright: “Immunisation (COCA) is the lone submission from example, insurers will routinely require has nothing to do with Chiropractic a peak body which supports the Code reassessment against stated treatment and should not be included in this in this respect, and indeed calls for it goals to be done every few months document. Chiropractors as part to be more explicit in stating that mass to ensure that the prognosis is on of their education are taught about vaccination is a well-established public target, and to make adjustments when communicable diseases and immune health tool: “The College can only circumstances change. function, they also learn about spinal restate its view, that the Board include The COCA submission is the only biomechanics. I see no specific reference in its code of conduct, reference to the one of the major submissions which to spinal biomechanics in this document need for chiropractors to set aside any seems to explicitly acknowledge this, yet it has far greater relevance to the anti-vaccination beliefs they have, in making the recommendation that a practice of Chiropractic than immu- favour of the promotion of health and validated outcome measure of some nisation. This clause does not belong in disease prevention through vaccination type should be included as part of such this document and must be removed. and to be immunised against relevant treatment courses. Reference to this topic was made in the communicable diseases.” The CAAN submission recommends first draft and it is still inappropriate.” To summarise, the Board is trying that the entire section of the Code (3.6), The final CAAN submission contains to get chiropractors to accept that they which deals with informed financial overtones of some of the misrepresen- should be immunised to promote herd consent, be dropped, because “CAAN is tations that the anti-vaccine movement is immunity and as part of their ethical unaware of ANY peer-reviewed evidence fond of promoting. Judge for yourself. commitment to their profession’s public to suggest that care plans and financial “Immunisation is not a central aspect health responsibilities. The CAA and arrangements between practitioners and of chiropractic practice. Vaccination does its derivatives as well as the Gonstead their clients should not exceed 3 months. not guarantee immunisation. faction (splitters) vehemently disagree Without a compelling, evidence- “Mandating an ‘understanding’ of that any such duty of care exists, or that informed reason to limit the time frames the ‘principles of immunisation against they should even be immunised at all, for financial arrangements as suggested communicable diseases’ is a simplistic let alone compulsorily, as is the case for in section 3.6 (g), CAAN is concerned requirement that will be considered by many hospital workers such as ICU staff. that section 3.6 may limit access to most of the chiropractic profession as a care and freedom of health care choice direct insult towards the right of free will The pre-paid problem for Australians. CAAN suggests that and informed choice. A second issue of major contention is the chiropractors and their patients be free to “In light of recent safety concerns, requirement under the Code of Conduct make reasonable financial arrangements, hospitalisations and deaths from for informed financial consent to be as long as those arrangements are influenza vaccination, a government obtained for pre-paid courses of treatment. conducted in line with the above sections regulatory body may wish to consider A particular bone of contention is that of the draft Code of Conduct.” the wisdom of this subsection. the Code advises that “agreements should They could perhaps consider the “The issue of vaccination requires not extend beyond 3 months or 12 visits moral, legal and ethical reasons to consideration of complicated variables, whichever is the greatest, unless there is limit such arrangements instead of including the virulence of the disease in clear and appropriate clinical justification disingenuously demanding clinical question, the evidence (or lack thereof) to support a renewed period of agreement reasons to alter such widespread business of safety and efficacy of the vaccine in and care”. practices. They want the respectability question, the individual health status It seems not unreasonable to and gravitas that science of the patient and the environmental/ justify ongoing treatment beyond provides without having geomedical context in which the vaccine three months, if the fees are to to adjust their view of is being considered.” be pre-paid, regardless of the reality when it conflicts It may be worth pointing out that condition being treated, simply with the findings of while immunisation is not a central because it is hard to predict science. Business ethics aspect of optometry, osteopathy, virtually any health outcome that and consumer protection physiotherapy or podiatry, these Boards far into the future, and consumers are not inherently scientific have included the exact same phrases should be protected from honest errors fields, but a combination of moral, legal in their respective Codes of Conduct of prognosis on the part of the health and economic considerations. I would without this degree of controversy from practitioner. be fascinated to see the ACCC’s attitude a peak professional body. Professionals in If six months of treatment have been to such an arrangement. these disciplines are presumably content prepaid and the condition has resolved to accept that public health experts know after three months, there should be a The X-ray files what they are talking about when they mechanism by which the payment could Chiropractors have used x-rays as part make their recommendations. be reviewed, instead of the practitioners of their clinical assessment for decades, The submission from the Chiropractic just keeping the money. In prolonged including asymptomatic monitoring and Osteopathic College of Australasia rehabilitation from severe injury, for of healthy individuals. The Code 0325 ARTICLE Alternative Medicine

of the The diversity of opinion within the realviewtechnologies.com/, does not Battle chiropractic profession, and particularly inspire confidence, as the president of Chiropractors between the CBA and the CAA, appears CAA Simon Floreani calls those who more than trivial. At stake is the potential oppose the CAA on vaccination “geese” Continued... inclusion within AHPRA of one and warns in vaguely menacing terms that profession with a dramatically different they are somehow in league against the and even opposing Code of Conduct to CAA and chiropractors generally. It is also of Conduct includes an Appendix the others. of interest to skeptics that the president of specifically addressing the appropriate I have discussed only the three most the CAA feels that chiropractors are better use of ionising radiation as part of obvious and substantive issues at play, but positioned politically now than they have chiropractic practice. It refers to two there are others as well where the CBA been in 20 years. existing guidelines on chiropractic uses and the professional organisations appear Sounds to me like there are some of ionising radiation and the CBA has to be poles apart (the role of scientific major offensives coming for which we also felt the need to specifically affirm, evidence in the chiropractic profession, will need to be motivated. . in addition to the quoted guidelines, and public spinal screening being other that any exposure to ionising radiation examples). It will make for an interesting About the author: must be justifiable clinically and must and no doubt challenging few months as Dr Mick Vagg is a practising be judged to be of greater benefit to the the chiropractic profession attempts to specialist physician in individual than the small but definite unite behind a Code of Conduct which Geelong, Victoria. He is a increased risk of cancer produced by accords even in general terms with the founding member of the such exposure. other AHPRA Boards. Great Ocean Road Skeptics The COCA submission goes further, The Annual Report of the CAA, and blogs at skepticbros.com specifically recommending that the available online at http://caaannualreport. and tweets as @mickvagg. Code advise that: “Routine x-ray screening of consumers, including the routine evaluation or re-evaluation of biomechanical/postural disorders Chiro practices other than for progressive scoliosis or Practice #1 – maximise your patient attendance: other exceptional circumstances, is not Acknowledging Our Great Clients supported by the scientific literature and Over the last five years, Powerful Practices coach and mentor Matt Hodgson may be inappropriate.” has acknowledged someone in his practice for their dedication to their health by COCA also recommends that the rewarding them as Patient of the Month. Code restricts use of x-rays in children to He has a small, entertaining questionnaire about how they came into “conditions such as fracture, dislocation, chiropractic, and the changes they have noticed since being under care. He also bone pathology, unresolved skeletal/spinal asks them some random questions about what their favourite indulgence is, their pain, scoliosis and to exclude or confirm a favourite quote, if they were famous who would they be and other questions that clinical suspicion of conditions which may give him more personal information. be a contra-indication to proposed care”. He then gets a photo of them and puts it together with some of the questions This is because of the higher risk to and answers on a laminated page that goes up in the reception area. growing bodies of ionising radiation ex- This is great as people generally ask what they have to do to become the posure. None of the other submissions Patient of the Month! drew attention to this specific require- He gets to acknowledge someone for their dedication to their health and he ment for children, which is not has a wall full of great reasons why someone should be under chiropractic care. mentioned in the Code, even though - Powerful Practices – Practice Pointers newsletter, April 14, 2011. it does devote a section to the needs of children (Section 3.7). Practice #2 – maximise your young patients: Submissions from CAANSW, The 2011 Building a Family Wellness Practice seminar will take you step by step Gonstead Chiropractic Society and through ... CAAN appear to see no special reason • How to create that “It’s normal for children to be adjusted” mindset why children should be treated any • How to have the majority of your patients as children differently to other patients, despite • How to convert your local MD into a ‘serial referrer’ of chiropractic patients COCA warning that treatments, (both adults and children) assessments and examination procedures • How to generate child new patient referrals from hospitals, midwives, health for children require far more extensive centres, kindergartens, schools, medical clinics ... every single day! training and experience than provided in - “Build your Practice ... with Children and Families!! – spend a weekend with Dr some undergraduate chiropractic teaching Glenn Maginness” brochure (seminars running in Adelaide, , Melbourne and institutions. Sydney from April 2 through October 16, 2011). 26 ARTICLE Chemistry The Skeptic June 11 Organic, manic, and biodynamic Steve Roberts blends chemistry, hens, plastic bags, cars, beer and standards.

o many things these days are Ironically, free-range hens are able to from Israel’s Dead Sea, where they Svacuously labelled “organic”. eat gravel to help churn food in their (or anyone else) can harvest it with a It’s going to be one of those words innards, and this inorganic material front-end loader. The food additive that will be lost to the language - its is notoriously denied to cage birds. nigari is often described as “Japanese original meaning already has been lost. All teeth and bones are inorganic magnesium chloride”, because the

At least it is not as bad or silly - yet - as (CaCO3 does contain carbon, but only Japanese get it from the sludge left over “chemical free” and “nuclear free”. within the carbonate ions), but from extracting salt from seawater, in Organic chemistry, as hair, fingernails, and shit are a heavy industrial process. So what I should know because organic. comes from the Dead Sea could be I wasted many years “Organic” has come billed as Jewish magnesium chloride? pursuing it, is the to mean something like A year ago, in order to attempt chemistry of the “friendly towards the to resolve the widespread abuse of compounds of carbon. environment”, or more the word “organic”, and for that Benzene, carbon accurately, “believed matter “biodynamic” - and I won’t tetrachloride, the by some noisy people specifically outline what that latter CFCs that drive who haven’t worked word describes, because you will refrigerators and through the science to be not believe me - Standards Australia aerosols, cholesterol, friendly towards those parts published an heroic 92-page standard, fat, nicotine, of the environment that they AS6000:2009, which “Sets out the strychnine, heroin, care about”. Plastic bags, minimum criteria to be met by the AIDS virus - despite being made of carbon operators before products can be all these are organic compounds, are not said to be labelled as ‘organic’, ‘biodynamic’ and compounds. As is carbon “organic” because it is believed ‘in-conversion’ or any of these ...”. I dioxide, strictly speaking, that they occupy space in landfill remark that addressing biodynamicity and coal. In contrast, inorganic (they don’t); whereas those woven must have required an understanding chemistry deals with the compounds green shopping bags do not degrade of the thought patterns of the late of metals; that is, of most of the and do take up some landfill space. Rudolf Steiner - quite a feat. rest of the periodic table. The major Cars, or at least parts of cars, are now AS6000 comes complete with difference is that organic compounds said to be “organic” if they can be a workbook for helping readers to have covalent bonds (with clouds of recycled, as are parts of computers and understand it, and with a set of formal electrons hovering in the space among printers, etc. procedures for getting a certification. the atomic nuclei) whereas inorganic You can buy organic beer, and you So now, anything claiming to be compounds have ionic bonds (with can even buy organic magnesium ‘organic’ or ‘biodynamic’ is supposed positively and negatively charged chloride! As Bishop Wilberforce to address and fulfil the requirements atoms attracting each other across might have said in this context, is it of AS6000:2009, but I haven’t empty space). the magnesium or is it the chlorine seen much progress in establishing Now as for food that is ‘organically that is organic? One source claims conformity. . grown’ - well, all of it is. Only things that their MgCl2 is organic because it like pure-silicon crystals for VLSI comes from the Zechstein Sea (look chips, and exotic metal rods for lasers, it up). Now it is perfectly possible Steve Roberts is a are grown inorganically; chew on (and economic) to take MgCl2 one of those and you’d never play the from seawater, but their stuff must chemistry graduate who guitar again. Likewise all animals are have been dug up by a deep mining says he had a choice of truly ‘organically’ kept and nurtured, operation in Germany or Poland. unemployment or doing however miserable their circumstances. Another crowd are getting theirs something else. 27 article TAM Convention An Amaz ng Chris Higgins experienced TAM Australia from a unique with TAM 8 keynote perspective, and one that many would covet. speaker (although as we were the only two people in the elevator, he politely n 2003, invited 150 Alba”), so in March I bought a flight, asked me not to stand so close to him). skeptics to Florida for the inaugural booked a room at the South Point hotel Though,! as you can imagine, there is I Amazing Meeting. The conference and begged my bank to increase my one person at TAM that everyone wants Windfarm in SouthPoint Ka Lae-Ka’u, Hawaii featured speakers such as Hal Bidlack, credit card limit. They obliged, and to meet. The man who started it all - Photo by Donnie MacGowan Jose Alvarez and , and was an a couple of months later I was sitting James “The Amazing” Randi. unprecedented success. aboard a Boeing 777 with a small wad I find the notion of approaching one Eight years later, TAM has become of unfamiliar looking currency in my of my heroes spectacularly terrifying. I a truly international event, having pocket and about 40 packets of Tim wondered what I might actually say to expanded to three continents (for Tams in my checked luggage. Randi once I got past “Hi, I’m that guy now), and attracting some 1500 people TAM truly is that e-mailed you to the annual TAM in Las Vegas. I amazing, and there Like a modern day that time”. What if was fortunate enough to experience are a number of “ he was in a rush to the recent TAM Australia from a experiences from Moses, the 200-strong be somewhere, and particularly unique perspective, and I the event that I crowd parted before him didn’t have time to hope you’ll allow me a somewhat self- will never forget. I ” stop? Would I say indulgent 2000 words to describe the stood in the middle something to make event to you. of the Vegas desert next to Phil Plait, myself look like a bit of a tit? A previous My first “amazing encounter” was at as he pointed out planets and stars to encounter with another of my heroes, TAM 8 in July 2010. Attending a Vegas myself, Rachael Dunlop and Richard Derren Brown, had me rambling TAM had been on my ‘bucket list’ for Saunders. I got to attend the inaugural about airline weight restrictions and a number of years (at number four, TAM ‘Skeptics In The Tub’ (subtract my girlfriend’s obsession with shoe immediately below “go skinny dipping the traditional pub and add a Vegas size shopping while on holiday. I certainly with Scarlett Johansson and Jessica hot-tub). I even got to rub shoulders wasn’t in a hurry to make myself look that daft a second time. Despite encouragement from a number of my new friends, I never once got up the courage to wander over and say hi to Randi, eventually giving up and assuring myself that I would do it “next year”. Come the Monday, TAM was all over and I was sitting in the hotel restaurant with some other attendees when Randi happened to wander past. He stopped for a quick chat, and I finally got the opportunity to shake his

Randi was called upon at every opportunity to add his views and comments, including the SGU dinner, where Chris Higgins listens 28 intently and admires the view. The Skeptic June 11

hotel). As we exited the airport, Randi enquired as to what horrific crime I had committed to deserve the punishment of spending an entire week dealing with a cantankerous curmudgeon such as him, before we hopped into a car that took us back to the hotel. Randi is unlike any 82-year-old I’ve ever met. After flying from Florida to Los Angeles and then on to Sydney, maz ng he agreed to accompany us on a stroll An A encounter through Sydney and the botanic gardens. We stopped along the way to collect a cavalcade of skeptical celebrities including Team Novella, , and Brian Dunning. I wondered what kind of effect this herd of critical thinkers Windfarm in SouthPoint Ka Lae-Ka’u, Hawaii could potentially have on the city Photo by Donnie MacGowan of Sydney. My mind was filled with visions of pharmacies slamming their doors shut as we passed, and shopping mall reflexologists cowering in fear behind drawn curtains. Sadly, none of these events actually occurred, but we stopped for a brief bite to eat and then continued on through the city. Following the gardens, Randi retired to the hotel for the remainder of the evening, and I jumped at the opportunity to have dinner with George Hrab, Jay Novella and Rebecca Watson, well aware by this stage that my job certainly came with a few awesome perks. Randi on ABC radio, with essential research material. The following day saw us up early to attend a couple of radio interviews at hand and say hello. We chatted for the committee needed someone to the ABC, which occupied a significant a few minutes about the upcoming volunteer as James Randi’s personal part of the day. Following lunch, TAM Australia, and Randi revealed assistant for the duration of the event, I suggested Randi take a couple of some secret details about the event and that they wanted me to do it. hours to relax prior to his evening TV that I was later begged not to mention You’ll need to check with Eran to find appearance and the Skeptics In The Pub to anyone. I left the hotel on a massive out exactly which expletives I used event. He disagreed, suggesting instead high, promising myself I’d return to and in what order I used them in, as that we visit the TAM venue to see how TAM as soon as I possibly could. the remainder of the conversation is the preparations were coming along. a bit of a blur. I must have agreed, Having worked on the registration desk The Oz factor because a little over three weeks later at TAM Vegas, I knew that the venue A few months later I received a phone I was standing at the Sydney airport was going to be teeming with attendees call from Eran Segev, president of international arrivals gate alongside registering, and organisers charging Australian Skeptics, reminding me Richard Saunders. around at mad pace. Randi refused to that while we were in Vegas I had Surprisingly, I don’t remember being take no for an answer, and soon we offered to help out with “anything star struck. As I shook Randi’s hand were strolling up to the Sydney Masonic that I could” during TAM Australia. and said hello, my mind flashed back to Centre – fortunately not far from the He told me that he had a job for Vegas and the nervous, chubby guy who hotel – where he spent several hours me that meant I would potentially couldn’t summon the courage to stroll chatting to the few lucky attendees who miss some of TAM. This sounded up to him and have a chat (that, and to happened to be in the right spot at the a bit of a shame, but he added that the awesome seafood bar at the TAM right time. 2903 article TAM Convention

NOW AVAILABLE An Amaz!ng THE AMAZ !NG encounter TAM OZ DVD! Continued...

Thefun , frolic and fascination of Pubbing and TAMming Randi’s official introduction to the TAM TAM Australia 2010 attendees at the City Hotel later that evening was truly remarkable. Randi, the largest Skeptical event ever held in Australia along with myself and Tim Mendham, were among the last to arrive, following a trip to the ABC for Randi’s appearance on The Drum. As Randi reached the top of the stairs, almost every person in the room turned to look, bursting into a discs spontaneous round of applause. Like a modern-day Moses standing before the 8 Red Sea (minus the sandals, but with a much nicer beard), the 200-strong crowd parted before him to form a sort of guard of honour. (As I write this, I’m kicking Morethan myself for not asking him to walk in 24 front of me every time I went to the bar.) Randi took a seat on a couch, ordered hours! a drink and got down to the job he came to Australia to do – to meet every person who wanted to meet him, to sign autographs, answer questions and pose It’s just like you were there for photos. Just prior to 6am the following (and even if you were there, you’ll still want a copy) morning my phone rang. On answering, a familiar voice greeted me at the other Available now from the Skeptics shop end of the line. “Hello Chris, this is James Randi. Are you awake?” As it turns priced + $7p+h out I wasn’t, but a few minutes later I $80 was staggering down the hallway toward Randi’s room, wondering what he could ... plus a stunning array of skeptical T-shirts possibly need from me at such a hideous – all available through the Skeptics shop hour of the morning. The door opened before I had the opportunity to knock, and Randi gave me a wink and told me that “he knew I was coming”. We agreed that this could only be the result of his finely tuned psychic ability, and began making plans for the day. Suffering from a severe case of jetlag, Skeptics Logo (Unisex) TAM Australia (Ladies) SGU Down Under Logo Skeptics Logo (Ladies) Randi had been up since the early hours Note: Unfortunately, for copyright reasons, Dr ’s of the morning working on his next presentation could not be included on the DVD. book and on his talk for the conference. Somewhere around 4am he had made a list of well-known American terms www.skeptics.com.au/shop that he was concerned would get lost in 30 The Skeptic June 11

translation, and we discussed possible The Post-TAM experience their friends or horrifying their families. alternatives. Randi, if you’re reading this, Randi remained in Australia for a If you can get to Vegas this July for I’d like to once again sincerely apologise couple of days following TAM, taking 9, do not hesitate for my initial reaction when you asked time to catch up with old friends. If to walk up to Randi and say hello. me if I had “laundry balls”. you happened to notice a helicopter It’s exactly what he’s there for, and he I helped him with some issues he was hovering above the Sydney CBD the day is telling the absolute truth when he having with his computer - I was pleased after TAM, that was very likely Randi says that he wants to meet every single to learn that Randi is a Mac, not a PC - and Dick Smith. The night before he person who wishes to meet him. And do and eventually it was time to head off to left Australia, Randi joined a group of tell him I said hello. day one of TAM Australia. remaining speakers and TAM attendees Oh, and Eran. Much has already been written about for a chat and a drink in my hotel room. If you ever need the events of TAM, so He told us a number someone to do you I need not repeat what The role gave me a of stories, many of another ‘favour’, others have already “ which we’d heard please let me know. . said, except to say that unique opportunity to before, but nobody we looked upon it, meet my heroes. seemed to care. About the author: and it was good. ” We were all aware Chris Higgins is a web Randi took part in a number of talks that Randi hadn’t come all the way to designer and the founder of the Melbourne Skeptics. and panels, and as I’m sure you’re aware Australia to give talks or sell books. He was very well received. The event featured came to meet the people who look up to some truly incredible speakers, many him, to make new friends and to catch of whom I had never seen before, but up with old ones, and to inspire the next spending the duration of TAM Australia generation of skeptics. And he succeeded alongside Randi was without a doubt admirably. the highlight. The role gave me a unique The next day I accompanied Randi opportunity to meet a number of my to the airport, surprised at how quickly heroes, people who I would normally the week had passed. As we waited at never have encountered, and to spend the check-in desk, we noticed that the time with a man who I have admired woman processing Randi’s passport was for years. We spent hours discussing our sporting a Power Balance bracelet. Randi common interest in conjuring (Randi winked at me and whispered, “I don’t prefers to be known as a conjurer rather think we’ll mention it.” We walked to the than a magician), and he was kind passenger gate, Randi shook my hand and enough to teach me a number of his own thanked me again, and then he was gone. routines. We discussed the contents of If you’ve got any photos of Randi his forthcoming book, A Magician In The from TAM Australia, there’s a good Laboratory. He told me where he finds his chance I’m in them, standing in the favourite lock picks. (I won’t spoil the fun background looking awkward, or for anyone else, except to say that you can pouring him a cup of tea. I missed out find them in cities all over the world, and on some of the talks and most of the should you ever be walking along a street social activities of TAM, but well and with Randi, he’s likely to dash into the truly made up for it by spending a week path of oncoming traffic to collect one.) working with one of my heroes, who I During his closing address, Randi now consider to be one of my friends. stood in front of the audience and Randi is a remarkable man, and it’s thanked them for coming. He thanked thanks to him and his organisation the organisers for their tremendous that we have the chance to dedication and hard work, and he thanked attend TAM. It is a unique and me for spending the week working with wonderful opportunity to him. It’s a spectacularly odd experience, spend a few, short days with having one of your biggest heroes stand on like-minded people, and it’s a stage and mention you by name. I felt one of the few places in the my face go red, and I slowly sank into my world where skeptics can feel seat, all the while hoping that the footage completely free to speak would end up on the DVD so I could their mind without fear annoy my friends and family with it for of potentially years to come. offending 31 ARTICLE Climate Easter bunnies

Have the Easter Islanders been unfairly pilloried as climate destroyers? Mark Lawson reckons there has been a rewriting of Easter Island’s history.

roponents of global warming University of California, and those likes the place. Despite the title of the Psometimes point to remote Easter ideas should properly be seen more book he does not think we are about Island as a society that deliberately as contested speculation, with recent to collapse but believes we are doing destroyed its environment. Unless we discoveries making them look shaky various things wrong. However, while lifted our game, we will devastate this indeed. This is not to say that Diamond his observations on soil and agriculture world, just like the Easter Islanders is wrong. As I’m not an archeologist have some value, some of his comments devastated their island – in particular, by and have never been to the island, I am on politics and history in that chapter cutting down all the trees as part of the not in a position to pronounce on any can only be described as nutty. effort to carve, transport and erect the theory concerning it. But I am entitled To examine that chapter briefly, at one statues that are a feature of the island. to complain about the way Diamond point he says that Australia’s agricultural After this short sighted exploitation, has presented his theories - as if they productivity was so poor that it had to the islanders fought a series of civil wars are established fact, rather than his own subsist on “regular food subsidies” sent in medieval times over what resources ideas which require a lot more evidence from Britain which did not cease until remained, with those wars and their before being allowed into the text books. the 1840s. What?! aftermath eventually destroying the I was certainly fooled when I culture that built the statues. encountered them in Diamond’s HISTORICAL HOWLERS This rather grim story is colorful and, popular book Collapse: How Societies A quick check of any history text shows for those pre-disposed to believe in the Choose to Fail or Survive (Viking Press, that the first governor, Captain Arthur evils of industrial development, it has 2005). In this book, a follow on from Phillip, did face immense difficulties the ring of truth. As a cautionary tale his best selling Guns, Germs and Steel, in getting agriculture established in a it has the additional advantage that the (Vintage, 1997). Diamond presents a different climate and different continent general public are aware of the Easter number of examples of known collapses and with an understandably sullen Island statues, but only a handful of of civilisations, including the Norse workforce. He hoped that the first and scholars know anything much else about colonies on Greenland, the Mayas in second fleets would have more food the island, let alone anything about the Central America, the Anasazi in what is instead of, as it turned out, sick convicts. theories concerning the statues. So this now the American South West, and the He had to send out twice for supply version of events was seldom questioned. society on Easter Island. ships – once from what is now South What happened on Easter Island will There is a lot more in the book, Africa and another from India – before happen to us all. including some material on Australia the stituation stabilised. The trouble with this argument is that which is there mostly because Diamond Diamond seems to have confused the above scenario depends heavily on has spent some time in Australia, all subsequent shipments of convicts, the ideas of Jared Diamond, a professor including a sabbatical at the Australian which did end in the 1840s, with food of geography and physiology at the National University. He says that he shipments. The suggestion that the 32 The Skeptic June 11

British authorities regularly exported colonies on Greenland accorded with and the Inuit lifestyle was no bed of food in any quantities all the way to what I understood to be the orthodoxy. roses, the Norse may simply have Australia in that period is absurd. The Norse settled Greenland during moved to Greenland’s near neighbour, At another point, he says that what is now known as the Medieval Iceland. In those days, of course, the “Australian constitution gives a Warm Period (temperatures around emigrants did not fill out visa forms disproportionate vote to rural areas”. those of present times), but then would or postal change of address cards, they Again, what? The Federal rural not or could not adapt to the much simply left. A point in favour of the gerrymander, which was swept away by colder conditions of the Little Ice Age, argument is that only bodies found the newly-elected Whitlam government including adapting the clothing and in excavated Norse settlements have in the early 1970s, never had anything hunting techniques of the Inuits. been deliberately buried and there is directly to do with the constitution. no sign of a final collapse. Diamond It was arranged through government DUBIOUS CLAIMS insists that they had no boats so they instructions to the Australian Electoral But a look at other sources indicates could not move, whereas scholars think Office. Perhaps Diamond is confusing that the orthodoxy had changed, and they did have boats, and he explains the West Austalian state constitution, that some of Diamond’s assertions are away the absence of starved corpses which still deliberately gerrymanders the doubtful. For example, he insists that the by one means or another. Another state upper house towards rural interests, Greenland Norse did not eat fish, citing strand to the emigration argument is with the Federal constitution. as evidence a lack of fish bones in what that, at the time, ivory from African There is a great deal more I could amounts to Norse rubbish heaps carefully elephants was displacing the more say. Diamond does not seem aware analysed by scholars. He supposes that expensive ivory from walrus tusks, of the detailed rural production and there was a previously unknown cultural which was Greenland’s main source of farm income statistics kept by the taboo against eating fish. trade at the time. (Scholarly papers have Australian Bureau of Agriculture No other scholar seems to agree with been published in the journal Arctic Resources Economics and Sciences, or him and, in any case, isotopic analysis Anthropology.) international comparisons of agricultural of the bones found in Norse graveyards None of this is definitive, of course. subisidies, or of the agriculture trade indicate that they did. Further, the The mystery of the vanishing Norse figures collected by the Australian analysis shows that more of the Norse colonies will be kicked around for many Bureau of Statistics. Nor does he food came from the ocean, over time, years yet, but it does make more sense understand that agricultural economics and less from their farms, as the climate than the failure-to-adapt scenario. This often dictates that certain products (such changed, until 80 per cent of their was all known before Diamond wrote as orange juice, which he mentions) are diet was from the sea. In other words, Collapse, but he does not trouble his best produced in different countries. they did adapt. (“C-14 dating and readers with the information. If he had taken time to study any of the disappearance of Norsemen from After all that we have finally arrived those sources, the reader might have Greenland”, Europhysics News, May/June at the chapter on Easter Island, which is been spared some of his lectures on how 2002.) the main source of the sensational theory agriculture in Australia is too costly to In addition, although there is outlined at the beginning of the article. be economic, and that really we should evidence of individuals being driven Magazine articles preceded the book not bother with it. to desperation in one excavated farm, and other scholars – notably academics The problems cited above are not just in another, scholars, led by Dr Jette John R Flenley and Paul G. Bahn who slips, they are howlers. As a journalist Arneborg of the Danish Museum wrote Easter Island, Earth Island – have who has written on agribusiness from in Copenhagen, suspect that the speculated about a collapse in the time to time over the years, I was inhabitents simply packed up what they Eastern Island culture predating western unimpressed. And this is a best seller? could take with them and left. (New contact. [There was even a Hollywood The chapter on Australia dissuaded York Times, May 8, 2001. In Kevin Costner-produced film, Rapa Nui me from reading parts of the book online comments Arneborg (1994), which proposed the dealing with present-day matters, or is scathing of Diamond, It same ecological disaster theory – from reading his popular Guns, Germs although Diamond wasn’t Ed]. But most references for the and Steel, but I did look at the chapters quotes her extensively.) me!!! collapse story are to the chapter in Collapse on Greenland, Easter Island, The black plague on Easter Island in Collapse. In the Anasazi and the Maya civilisations in Europe in the any case, it is by far the most believing, like all his other readers, that 14th century detailed. Diamond was simply retelling what wiped out one Diamond seems to have is generally understood about those third of Europe’s spent some time on the island, collapsed civilisations. As he is also an population and which is indeed isolated. South engaging writer, this was no great task. offered new economic America is 3000 kilometres At first glance his summary of the opportunities, so to the East and Pitcairn, the rise and then extinction of the Norse rather than go native, closest habitable island, 2000 33 ARTICLE Climate

have been covered by trees for thousands Right Europeans first Easter bunnies of years, but had lost at least a large part arrived on Easter Island in of that cover by the time of European the early 1700s, bringing Continued... contact (the very early accounts are disease and slave raiders. contradictory). It’s known that the At this time, at least part of kilometres to the West. Despite this islanders started to live in caves. The the island still had trees ... isolation, quite a parade of scholars island is littered with spear points and and a lot of statues. have found their way to the island, a human bone, cracked to extract the including others less distinguished than marrow, Diamond says, was found Diamond but with their own theories. among a number of other bones. Island suggestion that the Thor Heyerdahl of Kon-Tiki expedition folk tales also talk of fighting long ago. islanders practised fame in the 1940s claimed that Eastern A closer look at the material he cannibalism as Polynesia, which includes Easter Island, presents, however, suggests that much “absurd” given that was first inhabited by white skinned of what he puts forward is speculative. they were still well people fleeing from South America Thus: “The increase in statue size with able to fish. who built the statues. That race was time suggests competition with rival As Peisner is now conquered by stone age North Western chiefs commissioning the statues to executive head of the American Indians. Scholars paid very outdo each other”. He draws parallels very sceptical Global little attention to Heyerdahl at the time, between their behaviour and the Warming Policy and DNA testing has since conclusively apparent urge of major Hollywood Foundation, some disproved his ideas. In the 1960s Erich players to build ever bigger mansions. have dismissed his von Daniken claimed that the statues criticism as politically were the work of an advanced alien race. CRITICAL VIEWS motivated – as part Diamond says that after arriving in Diamond’s theories are also very of an orchestrated 900 AD (or CE in the new style) the strongly disputed by academics in sceptical attack on Polynesian settlers started cutting down that field, notably Benny Peiser an Diamond’s theories. the island’s trees in part to make the anthropologist from Liverpool John However, there is ropes, rollers and levers needed to move Moores University. Peiser says that the no such reason for dismissing another the monstrous statues that are a feature Easter Islanders adapted well to their of Diamond’s major critics, Terry L. of the island. This was done, he says, at environment, making statues every Hunt, a professor of archaeology at the behest of their priests and chiefs who few years. The reason they stopped the University of Hawaii, who has wanted to the statues to demonstrate making the statues is the obvious one, conducted several digs on the island. their own power. the onslaught of European diseases and He says archaeological evidence When all this destruction caused mass abductions by slave traders which clearly points to the main cause of the the island’s ecosystem to collapse, the destroyed the society. (From Genocide to demise of the island’s tree cover as rats, connection the chiefs claimed with the Ecocide, The Rape of Rapa Nui, introduced by the islanders, eating gods was shown to be false, Diamond & Environment, 2005.) He says that the seeds of trees before they could says, and they the islander tales germinate. Further, at least a part of the were overthrown A closer look at the of fights in the island still had trees by the time of first by military leaders “ distant past relied European contact. (American Scientist, called Matatoa. material suggests that much on by Diamond October 2006.) The island’s society is speculative. for his theories This does not mean the islanders degenerated ” have been shown were angels who dared not touch a tree. into civil war. to be confused They certainly helped the deforestation The islanders started to live in caves communal tales of far more recent process by cutting down trees There just for protection and even practised fights with the slave trader gangs. does not seem to be any real evidence cannibalism, so that there was only a The original culture was all but that they blindly cut down everything at remnant by the time a Dutch explorer destroyed by diseases and slave raids, the behest of their chiefs, as Diamond made the first European contact in Peiser says, and by the time the folk alleges. As noted, the island’s culture 1722. As is widely acknowledged the tales were written down by missionaries was all but destroyed, so there is no subsequent history of Easter Island is they had been heavily influenced by direct evidence on why the statues were very sad. European contact introduced an influx of Polynesian settlers from built or over what period, and there are diseases, and slave raiders took away other islands. The spear points and cave difficulties in carbon dating them. Hunt most of the population that was left. living period can all be dated to after adds that the island’s population grew That is the dramatic tale that European contact, when the islanders to about 3000 and remained stable, Diamond has to tell and there are points were defending themselves against slave without any sign of a collapse triggered in its favour. The island is known to raids. He also describes Diamond’s by deforestation. 34 that theworldhaspaidfartoo much say thatDiamond iswrong, butonly exploitation. short-sighted destroyed theirenvironment through but theoriginalthesiswasthatthey affected theirenvironment. Perhaps, that there isevidencethattheislanders pointing out,amongotherthings, various islands. introduced, withthe environment on between humansand theanimalsthey abouttheinteraction they knew completely revise whattheythought accepted, scientistswillhave to February 1,2011). of theNational Academy ofSciences, Terry LHunt andothers,Proceedings East Polynesia”, Janet M Wilmshurst, rapid initialhumancolonisationof radiocarbon datingshows recent and which Diamond uses(“High-precision or muchlaterthan900ADdate AD, century arrived inthethirteenth in thattheynow believe thefirstsettlers about theislandsofEasternPolynesia major overhaul ofscholarlythinking Again, pleasenote,thisisnot to Diamond hassincebittenback, Should thatmuchlaterdatebe Hunt’s ofa work is,inturn,part

the man. the dedicated toattacking would have spawned whole web sites howlers inthechapteronAustralia any oneofthepreviously mentioned side oftheglobalwarmingdebate, the least.Had hebeen ontheother chapters inCollapseismixed, tosay Diamond’s trackrecord inother confirm themeither. those notions,butnotmuchto There isnothingto really contradict Arc oftheCovenant is inEthiopia. really occured inEngland, orthatthe suggestions thattheseigeof Troy attention tothesetheoriesthan,say, there isnoreason topayanymore society pre-dating western contact, evidence ofacollapsetheisland scholar whichshows substantial archeological digby anindependent can pointtohard proof, suchasan attention tohistheories.Until he Financial Review. journalist attheAustralian Mark Lawsonisasenior About theauthor: In anycase,aswe have seen, . of thisargumentis: authoritative. Themostgeneralstructure regarded asauthoritativeornot by apersonorsourcethatiscommonly false becausethestatementismade it isarguedthatastatementtrueor “fallacies ofdefectiveinduction”,where factual premisesoftheargument. character ofthearguerratherthan – theybothdrawconclusionsfromthe fallacies makethesameerroroflogic of theadhominemargument: theories liketheseareoftenaspecialcase so-called Moonlandinghoax.Conspiracy sceptical ofconspiracytheories,suchasthe Conclusion: Therefore,statementpisfalse. Conclusion: Therefore,statementpistrue. virtue oftheargument’slogicalstructure.) true, thentheconclusionmustbe trueby argument isonewhereifthepremises are is logicallyinvalid.(Avalid conclusion canbefalse,thentheargument false). Ifthepremisescanbetrue,but authoritative claimcanturnouttobe can betrue,andtheconclusionfalse(an of theclaimant,andbecausepremises necessarily relatedtothepersonalqualities the truthorfalsityofclaimisnot 2. 1. two well-knownlogicalfallacies: Seasoned skepticsmaybefamiliarwith Two fallacies twin Conclusion: Conclusion: Premise 3: Premise 2: Premise 1: Premise 2: Premise 1: Conversely Premise 2: Premise 1: men ontheMoon; statement pistrue; statement pistrue;

the adhominem

In informallogic,theseareknownas When youthinkaboutit,these For example, we skeptics are often For example,weskepticsareoften These arguments are fallacious because These argumentsarefallaciousbecause Appeal toAuthority. The ArgumentfromAuthorityor The ArgumentfromPersonalAbuseor

theLogical Place The Skeptic NASA claims to have landed NASAclaimstohavelanded NASAisagovernmentagency; : Governmentscan’tbetrusted; Therefore, NASA’s claim is false. Therefore, NASA’sclaimisfalse. Source Bsaysthat Source Asaysthat Source Bisa‘bloodyidiot’; Source Aisauthoritative; argument;and June 11 June - by Tim Harding 35 FEATURE Education The Curiosity Shock Clean bills of health, or a lucky-dip of the strange and stranger? In part two of the study of pseudoscience within Australian universities, Tim Mendham investigates the remaining institutions, and finds some interesting results.

uriouser and curiouser might • University C be the only way to describe the of Western results of our investigation of the Australia Australian universities not covered in • University of our previous study (Degrees of Woo, Wollongong The Skeptic, 31:1, p20). • Victoria In this part of the investigation, we University. looked at the course descriptions of the Things we following universities (all members of found? Well, some Universities Australia): were positive, some • Australian Catholic University intriguing, some a • Australian National University concern, and some • Bond University downright weird. • Central Queensland University Several of the • Charles Darwin University institutions we • Deakin University investigated are not included in the • Flinders University following descriptions. This indicates • Griffith University that there were no obvious cases of • James Cook University pseudoscience – it does not, however, Adelaide CAM • La Trobe University mean they do not have any. In Part 1, • Queensland University of some instances were missed; see the and vets Technology item at the end of this article for an • Swinburne University of Technology update on additional woo at RMIT The University of Adelaide’s • University of Adelaide - strange energies and wellness at a Bachelor of Nursing’s academic • University of Ballarat former institute of technology. program includes: “Preparation for • University of Canberra But listing here does not necessarily evidence-based practice the statement • University of Melbourne mean we are critical of the institution that ‘All teaching and learning will • University of New England or the course described. Quite the be strongly research-orientated and • University of opposite. Individuals may include clinical decision-making skills will be • University of Notre Dame Australia less-than-proven subjects in their lists evidence-based”. This attitude seems • University of South Australia of areas of interest as part of a justified to be borne out in one suggested • University of Southern Queensland and dispassionate researching of the study program which includes a • University of Tasmania field, which is to be applauded. two-level course on Pharmacology • University of the Sunshine Coast Then again ... & Complementary Therapies. This 36 The Skeptic March 11

covers “the pharmacological treatment historical, theoretical and practical of diseases using an evidence based, perspectives.” So far, so good – an CAM codes systems approach. There will also appraisal of CAM theory and history be content on natural remedies and – nothing wrong with that as an ust for the record, the Australian therapies for common conditions” academic pursuit. Except ... “The JBureau of Statistics lists the (first level) and “will facilitate student unit will provide the opportunity for following fields of research codes: learning of the pharmacology treatment students to develop beginning skills of disease for common pathological for the utilisation of complementary 1104 - Complementary and conditions using evidence based, therapies – theory and practice – in Alternative Medicine systems approach. Natural remedies nursing practice.” Darn. • 110401 - Chiropractic and complementary therapies for • 110402 - Naturopathy pathophysiological conditions will also • 110403 - Traditional Aboriginal be considered” (second level). and Torres Strait Islander The university library’s online Medicine and Treatments facility includes links to information • 110404 - Traditional Chinese on complementary medicine and ANU silliness Medicine and Treatments alternative therapies, primarily • 110405 - Traditional Maori journal articles. The veterinary Medicine and Treatments stream of alternative treatments is The Australian National University • 110499 - Complementary interesting, having links to “AltVetMed must surely have an alternative function and Alternative Medicine not Complementary and alternative that ranks among the strangest offerings elsewhere classified veterinary medicine”, and “Veterinary in this whole investigation. Useful to know that CAM has Acupuncture - Phil Rogers, Ireland. The ANU School of Music had among numbers, somewhere. Includes directory of societies and its visiting fellows for 2010 Dr Hazel But on the broader picture, and practitioners”. The first of these is Hall, BA PhD (Monash), TPTC (Toorak drawing on the 2004-5 National in Georgia, USA, and the other in Teachers’ College), and Advanced Dip Health Survey, the ABS includes Dublin, Ireland. There are no other Naturopath Cert 4 Massage (CIT). the following result: veterinary alt med links. What exactly a naturopath has “Did they also visit doctors? Another link is to an honours to do with music is moot, but she One of the concerns regarding thesis on “complementary therapies is no newcomer to ANU. On the complementary therapies is for improving lactation and treatment School of Music Open Day in August that people may undergo risky of insomnia during pregnancy - what 2008, she offered two events – a treatments, or fail to access remedies are successful?”, undertaken gamelan performance, and lecture on proven treatments from the in the School of Paediatrics and “performance wellness”. mainstream health system. Reproductive Health, Faculty of Health A curious example of university It is therefore of interest to Sciences. wooishness was a paper published in the know whether people used Asia-Pacific Magazine (No. 2 May 1996, complementary therapists pp. 23-24). The magazine (now defunct) together with, or as an alternative was published by ANU’s Research School to, the health care offered of Pacific and Asian Studies. by general practitioners or CAM and the The article in question was by Peter specialists. Just under one-third Raftos, who looked at in (32%) of people who had visited a Catholics the Philippines, under the title “Clever complementary health therapist Hoax or Natural Healing?”. had also visited a doctor in the The Australian Catholic University “Is psychic surgery a clever hoax, or is previous two weeks, rising to 63% offers a course on Introduction to it real? The healers and their apologists who had visited a doctor in the Complementary Nursing Therapy. do not make any claims for miracle cures: previous three months. Of people There are no prerequisites, and it while there have been some apparent who had visited an acupuncturist involves 150 hours of “focused learning”. complete remissions of cancer or polio, during the last two weeks, 45% The course “explores the history, any improvement in a patient’s condition reported that they had also seen philosophy, theory and practices will, they say, generally come only a doctor during this time. While of complementary therapy gradually, after repeated treatment. Also, these people may have discussed modalities, analyses the significance there are no accurate records available either the same or different of complementary therapies in on the results of the treatments offered conditions with their doctor and modern health care and examines by the high-profile healers, so it cannot complementary therapist, they the relationship between nursing be claimed with any accuracy whether were nevertheless in touch with and complementary therapies from they have managed to cure, alleviate or mainstream medicine.” 37 FEATURE Education

The the healer may also be an aid here.” and misdeeds of the suicidal Shipton and He goes on to describe the placebo the ghost who has saved his life, and who Curiosity effect, and then continues: “Many of the demands a favour in return. Shipton’s patients claim that the treatments do help experiences within the university are played Shock alleviate the symptoms, or even provide a out on the fringes of an administration partial cure. If it is effective, then it may not that destroys lives with paperwork, rioting Continued... be the actual techniques employed by the librarians who hunt for students, and psychic surgeons that induce some degree academics who dwell in the half-light worsen the health of their patients to any of recovery but rather the atmosphere of scholarly delusions. Lurking in these significant degree. within which the whole procedure takes crumbling halls of esoteric learning is a “Then there is the question of whether place which makes that procedure effective. creature whose monstrous malevolence or not the healers can literally open a And this may shed light on the practices of is fed by the corpses of the unworthy. body with their bare hands, stimulate some Christian faith healers, particularly Ultimately, Shipton’s salvation lies in the healing or excise diseased parts, and then evangelists: perhaps there is something to choice between assimilation or rejection seal the body without leaving a wound. it, after all.” Gosh golly, no comment. And of his surroundings. In this fantastic The converted say ‘yes’, while the sceptical this published in the official journal of a work of fairy tales turned sour and grown remain unconvinced. [This has to rank school in one of Australia’s leading places of malevolent with age, the monsters are less among the most naive statements ever learning. dangerous than the humans who feed put forward by an academic at any level.] But one question remains. Is the Peter them.” Even if the whole surgical procedure is Raftos of psychic surgery fame the same On a more serious note, Dr Lisa Alleva a clever case of sleight-of-hand (material Peter Raftos who wrote a book titled of ANU’s College of Medicine, Biology removed from patients often turns out to The Stone Ship (published by Pandanus and Environment has undertaken be pigs’ blood or chicken entrails under Books, 2005)? We hope so, because research on “Using complementary and laboratory scrutiny), it is possible that the the synopsis from Amazon sounds like alternative medicines to target the host theatrically-satisfying nature of the whole a perfect summation of the academic response during severe influenza”. event (it is, after all, a good show) serves environment: “Set in a university managed Alleva works as her own post-doctoral to trigger healing mechanisms within the by a Kafkaesque bureaucracy, The Stone fellow on two NHMRC-funded projects. patient. The stage presence or charisma of Ship follows the adventures, misalliances The first examines how traditional Chinese

The name’s Bond ... anti-woo Bond n perhaps the most positive news expenditure in excess of $6 billion in emphasis] Where relevant the models Iwe’ve come across in any of our Australia. This form of healthcare that of regulation applied internationally will searches, the course description for includes chiropractic; osteopathy; TCM; be covered.” Bond University’s Bachelor of Biomedical acupuncture; naturopathy; therapeutic And the espoused learning Science has the following: “Biomedical massage and homoeopathy lacks broad outcome? “To be able to argue the Science is the study of the human body, legislative acknowledgement and the issues relevant to the legal and ethical and its structure and function in health support of orthodox medicine. In recent dilemmas created by the application of and disease. This structured program years the legislative obstacles to the complementary medicine by orthodox develops student knowledge in the provision of this form of therapy have medicine practitioners both in Australia molecular, cellular, anatomical and been moderated. This course will approach and internationally.” physiological processes of the human this subject from an industry regulation While many universities offers body. There is a strong emphasis on perspective. The discussion of CAM will courses that give a professional developing scientific communication, necessarily involve an appreciation of grounding in fringe medical practices, research and writing skills, high level government regulation to the health with the aim of putting practitioners out analytical reasoning and critical thinking.” sector as a whole so that students can into the health marketplace, there are [Our emphasis] understand the role played by this form no such courses at Bond University. And But wait, there’s more: of health care. The legal framework within of all the universities we’ve investigated The Faculty of Law includes a course which both registered and unregistered – and we’ve now investigated all of on “Complementary Medicine: Law, CAM practitioners operate will be dealt them within Universities Australia’s Policy and Ethics Prerequisites”. The with including health registration statutes; coverage – this is the only one which course description, and we publish it the Therapeutic Goods Act (Cmth); the specifically looks at the ethical, legal in full, is as follows: “Complementary common law and civil liability legislation and philosophical ramifications of and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is will be surveyed. The application of CAM CAM, and should thus be applauded consumed or used by a large percentage raises unique ethical and philosophical for its application of rational and critical of population (25%) and involves dilemmas that will be explored. [Again, our thinking. 38 The Skeptic June 11

medicines, for example glycyrrhizic practical applications of communications University’s Mackay Campus has been acid from licorice root, might be used technologies to enable appropriate access asking for expressions of interest for to treat immune pathology during to healthcare information by healthcare the continuing/full time position of severe influenza. The second, now providers.” Associate Professor/Professor, Program completed, project was a 12-month “HIL can provide expertise in the areas Leader in Chiropractic Science (vacancy “highly focused” examination of the of electronic decision support systems and Reference Number: 29518). use of immunomodulatory agents as data mining in health, health data and This vacancy falls within the Faculty treatments during severe influenza, and knowledge management, health education, of Sciences, Engineering and Health. how these might increase resistance to interoperability of healthcare information For those interested, the Associate secondary infection. Grant funding from systems, and complementary medicine.” Professor position has a total the National Health and Medical Research There it is again! remuneration range from $128,565 Council began in 2008 and totalled close Yes, in among data mining, computer to $141,423 per annum (salary from to $300,000 over three grants. games and simulation development $109,885 to $120,874 per annum and None of Alleva’s cited areas of interest for people who stutter, computational employer superannuation plus annual seem to be along CAM lines. intelligence and decision support and, leave loading). The Professorial position importantly, analysis of polysomnographic has total remuneration of $164,997 per An unusual juxtaposition is found data for sleep apnoea analysis, there is: annum (salary of $141,023 per annum “Complementary Medicine - health and employer superannuation plus informatics for an integration of annual leave loading). Ballarat’s complementary and Western medical The Role is designed to establish new systems, and mathematical model of TCM chiropractic programs at the Mackay health info (traditional Chinese medicine).” campus from 2012. The programs cover And we thought IT people were so Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) An unusual juxtaposition is found firmly planted in rationality and real- and Master of Chiropractic Science the University of Ballarat’s Centre for world functionality (World of Warcraft programs. Informatics and Applied Optimization notwithstanding). The position calls for: expertise in (CIAO), a “unique research centre, Nonetheless, we would welcome seeing spinal health care; work well within the established in 2001 and located within HIL’s results on integrating complementary profession and have membership of the the Graduate School of Information and Western medical systems. We have Chiropractic Association of Australia; be Technology & Mathematical Sciences at asked, and will keep you informed. a registered chiropractor; experience in the University of Ballarat”. program and curriculum development; In an amusingly-titled section “CIAO have a PhD or near completion; have a team climbs the HIL (Health Informatics research focus and ability to foster the Laboratory) of health care”, the Centre’s development of chiropractic research; website declares that “Providing adequate Canberra and be an adaptable team worker. health care for all is a significant global As the ad says, “As program leader, issue that is stretching every nation’s modelling this is a unique opportunity for you resources. There is no doubt that to lead the development of well information technologies will be at the The University of Canberra has an rounded programs incorporating a centre of any progress. Researchers at UB’s interesting paper published under its central wellness paradigm along with Health Informatics Laboratory (HIL), aegis: “Econometric modelling of the the science, art and philosophy of a group within CIAO, believe we must impact of the use of complementary chiropractic science.” adopt new ways of thinking about health and alternative medicines on the PBS” The “art” of chiropractic is a picture care. This involves new ways to apply by Sophie Thiebaut, published in June we’d rather not view. information technologies.” 2008. Thiebaut was a Visiting Research More on “new ways” later. Associate of the National Centre for The information continues: HIL Social and Economic Modelling. focuses on “research and development in Informatics to improve health outcomes Darwin’s nationally and globally. It undertakes research using innovative technologies to heritage solve problems in health, with an emphasis Central QLD’s on system interoperability, complementary We’re pleased to report that Charles medicine and decision support.” chiropractor Darwin University in the Northern Complementary medicine and system Territory lists medical courses which draw interoperability? Interesting. Just for the record, it should be directly on critical thinking. While the “It is particularly concerned with the noted that the Central Queensland university’s name is linked more closely to 39 FEATURE Education

The nursing representative on the Federal retest reliability and Cronbach’s alpha Dept of Health’s National Medicines correlation coefficient. The exploratory Curiosity Policy Committee in recognition of her factor analysis revealed four factors: self- expertise in the field. awareness, the importance of spiritual Shock (For the record, Prof Alan Bensoussan, beliefs, spiritual practices, and spiritual executive director of the National needs.” Continued... Institute of Complementary Medicine Dunning is also a member of and previous Foundation Director the Australian Aromatic Medicine the city than the person, we would hate of the Centre for Complementary Association, the peak to think it would do anything other than Medicine Research at the University of association in Australia, and the apply some sort of scientific method. Western Sydney (2001-2008), is the Complementary Therapies in Nursing The School of Health’s Bachelor of complementary medicines expert on the Special Interest Group, part of the Health Science has a course on Research National Medicines Policy Committee. Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian and Evidence-based Health, which He has been in clinical practice in Branch). The CTNSIG “recognises “provides a foundation for the critique of Chinese medicine for over 25 years and the importance of treating the patient the research literature and the application “an active researcher”. He is a member as a whole person, encompassing of theory to practice. The unit provides of the Complementary Medicines physical, mental, emotional and spiritual students with a solid knowledge base that Evaluation Committee of the Therapeutic needs. This SIG provides professional familiarises them with the foundations Goods Administration, and has served development opportunities and a forum of inquiry-based learning so they are as a short-term consultant to the World for nurses to exchange ideas.” better placed to become confident and Health Organisation.) She is also a member of the competent nurses whose practice is Dunning is also a vice-president of the International Society of Complementary informed by evidence. The evidence- International Diabetes Federation. Medicine Research, an “international based application of research findings Diabetes is a priority in Dunning’s scientific organisation of researchers, to clinical practice is critically reviewed research interests, which include the practitioners and policy makers that and students are introduced to a range of effects of beliefs and attitudes (people fosters complementary and integrative research designs and methodologies.” with diabetes, their families, and health medicine research and provides a platform In addition, the Master of Public professionals) on diabetes self-care and for knowledge and information exchange Health degree looks at qualitative health outcomes; nursing management to enhance international communication research methods: “The unit introduces of people with diabetes across the care and collaboration.” The ISCMR’s 6th students to the principles and practical continuum; medicine self-management, International Congress took place in skills entailed in qualitative research, and quality use of medicines, and attitudes May this year in Chengdu, China, and should equip students either to plan and and beliefs about medicines and how its program covered “evidence-based carry out qualitative research projects, they impact on health outcomes; and investigations, risk of bias assessment or to integrate a qualitative component complementary therapies and their safe and quality of evidence” plus, perhaps into projects involving quantitative use with a particular focus on diabetes. understandably considering the location, research. Topics covered include: She is co-author of the 2010 paper a number of sessions on acupuncture and the distinguishing characteristics of Complementary medicines and other traditional Chinese medicine. qualitative research; ethical issues; main therapies : a balanced perspective, methods of collecting data; sampling in in Conquest, Australian Diabetes qualitative research; sorting, indexing Foundation, Melbourne, Vic, as and analysing qualitative data; use of well as Developing and validating a computers, and writing.” questionnaire to measure spirituality : Flinders’ woo a psychometric process, published in the Global Journal of Health Science, and molluscs Canadian Center of Science and Education. The purpose of this latter Flinders University’s Office of Deakin’s paper “is to describe the processes Research lists the Australian Spinal undertaken to evaluate the psychometric Research Foundation’s invitation for top nurse properties of a questionnaire developed expressions of interest for grants to to measure spirituality and examine the support research initiatives. Prof Trisha Dunning, who holds a relationship between spirituality and “Funding will favour those grant chair in nursing at Deakin University’s coping in young adults with diabetes. applications that contribute to the School of Nursing, has received The specific validation processes used development of chiropractic in key numerous highly-regarded awards and were: content and face validity, construct priority areas. For the 2010 round recognitions. In 2004 she was awarded validity using factor analysis, reliability Research Priorities include: the Order of Australia. She is the and internal consistency using test- “Fundamental Research - The 40 The Skeptic June 11

Foundation is interested in supporting project aims to screen the bioactive practitioners with vocational section research that expands our knowledge compounds from the marine mollusc qualifications - including naturopaths, and understanding of the vertebral D.orbita on primary-derived human herbalists, aromatherapists, beauty subluxation complex. granulosa cells and compare with therapists[?], massage therapists, “Clinical Research - The Foundation human reproductive cancer cell lines.” reflexologists, poliatrists [sic], paramedics, is interested in clinically oriented studies But not all is lost. Past Skeptic ambulance officers - have the opportunity that contribute to and expand our contributor and Centre for to use their qualifications and knowledge and understanding of the Neuroscience life member Prof professional experience to gain entry into impact of chiropractic adjustments on Marcello Costa has had an article the Bachelor of Applied Health [which, the spine, nervous system, global health published online (29 March) by The curiously, at time of writing, there is no and quality of life.” Conversation entitled “A neuroscientist’s information about]. Fields of study are It’s too late to apply, though, as view: spare children the manipulations designed to encourage the practitioner to applications closed on May 7, 2010. of chiropractic quackery”. Thank you, develop a critical and informed awareness But we look forward with great Marcello. of their own professional practice, and anticipation to the grant winner’s include current health research; advanced findings on chiropractic’s impact on applied physiology in areas such as stress, global health. nutrition and ageing; counselling and At the same time, Flinders communication skills; and exploration of announced a clinical placement Griffith gets issues such as the role of complementary scholarship, offered by Services and allied [...?] in ageing and chronic for Australian Rural and Remote needled illness.” Allied Health (SARRAH), which Apart from the non-existent Bachelor receives funding from the Australian Among the offerings of the Griffith of Applied Health, the university also Government Department of Health and University Health Service are emergency offers a Masters of Health Science, which Ageing to administer the allied health and first aid, immunisations and covers epidemiology and biostatistics, but component of the Nursing and Allied overseas travel vaccinations and advice, no apparent CAM. Health Scholarship and Support Scheme a confidential needle exchange, and It gets down to brass tacks with the (NAHSSS). acupuncture. Hopefully they don’t get Graduate Diploma and Masters level The scholarship “supports allied them mixed up qualifications in Health Science (Herbal health and oral health students to Medicine). undertake a clinical placement in a These are “specialist courses designed rural or remote Australian community for graduate health professionals, during their degree”. Among topics including naturopaths, doctors, nurses, such as physiology, medical imaging, New England’s pharmacists, herbalists, homeopaths podiatry and psychology, the NAHSSS and dieticians. ... A framework for Allied Health Clinical Placement is mixed message professional practice is based on perceived open to individuals studying a degree in individual patient needs, current scientific chiropractic, and osteopathy. The University of New England research, acknowledgement of herbal No homeopathy, but that is alluded confidently states that: “With the medicine traditions and principals of to in a past medical biotechnology, increasing global trend towards the evidence-based practice.” Which may be School of Medicine honours project provision of a more integrated and a contradiction in terms. on “The Australian Muricidae mollusc, interdisciplinary approach to health care This set of courses does not come Dicathais orbita [which] produces [is there? - Ed], there is a growing need to unnaturally to UNE. The university’s a range of bioactive compounds. develop broad based health awards which former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Two of these, tyrindoleninone and combine a high standard of practitioner John L. Dillon, an agricultural economist 6-bromoisatin have shown antibacterial training with a solid foundation for who died in 2001, was an “esteemed and anticancer effects in vitro. understanding the biopsychosocial and colourful academic, who translated Muricidae molluscs are also the source aspects of health and illness. the insights of specialised research into of a homeopathy remedy used for the “The University of New England’s practical solutions for the developing treatment of gynaecological disorders Complementary & Allied Health program world”, according to a university obituary including chronic endometriosis, addresses this need by offering integrated, published in the year of his death. polycystic ovary syndrome and cancer of practitioner-based awards, at both While agricultural science might the uterus. To date the compounds from undergraduate and postgraduate levels.” have been his forte (“an agricultural D.orbita have only been assessed against To the self-asked question, Why Study economist of international stature”), human lymphoma, colon and breast Complementary and Allied Health the university praises “Dillon’s span cancer cell lines, but the reproductive at UNE?, the promotion continues: of interests [which] went well beyond toxicity has not been assessed. The “Complementary and allied health his chosen profession. His willingness 41 FEATURE Education

The recognise all organisms move in and out of “The majority of students also had no peak performance; concentrate on balance. opinion about the potential for harm of Curiosity “Self-care and self-healing: must come a total of eight therapies. Nine percent from the individual. Application to of the students who responded to the Shock organisation vis-à-vis role of consultants: survey had consulted a CAM practitioner consultants can only facilitate the themselves, most commonly Chinese Continued... process, cannot heal the problem – this herbalists and acupuncturists.” comes from within the organisation that Further on the development of to stretch the borders of accepted must conduct its own strategic analysis, UNSW’s medical students is the fact that wisdom was reflected in his efforts to planning and problem-solving.” three such students, Gabrielle Sidaway, secure accreditation and professional A secret homeopath inculcating Peter Cattley and Christina Piper, recognition for chiropractors.” Australia’s next generation of business were winners of the 2000 Masters of The noted agriculturalist was also a leaders? Well, at least they’ll be totally Chiropractic Best Poster Presentation for foundation member of the Australasian ineffective. “Cystic Fibrosis - Complications Ahead”. Council on Chiropractic Education Perhaps this is influenced by a survey from 1976 to 1988. of UNSW medical students in 2004, and summarised in an article by Louise Wright in the July 2004 edition of the university’s Uniken magazine. Sth Australia’s Wright says that: “The majority of medical students would like to receive integration New South Woo information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in their Dr Matthew Leach, a Research Fellow undergraduate training, so that they can in the Division of Health Sciences of the The University of NSW has one of the respond to questions from future patients School of Nursing and Midwifery, lists strangest additions to the growth of woo and to understand the treatments some the following teaching interests: in universities. patients may be using. • Evidence-based practice The Australian Graduate School “This is the finding of a survey of • Naturopathic medicine of Management is one of the leading UNSW medical students by the School • Nursing practice providers of MBA qualifications in of Public Health and Community • Complementary & alternative Australia. You would think its ‘we mean Medicine. Lead author, conjoint senior medicine business’ approach was also indicative of a lecturer Dr Susan Furber, said that the • Integrative health care ‘no nonsense’ attitude. But strangely, the 374 students who responded to the He has published a book, Clinical AGSM’s Managing Your Learning 2010 survey showed little knowledge of the Decision Making in Complementary program, Appendix 5, includes guidelines effectiveness or potential harm of many & Alternative Medicine, which “differs on how students should present summary of the CAM therapies. from other medical texts by introducing examples: “ ‘With community use of CAM on a systematic clinical framework for “There is not one right way of the increase, the limited knowledge of the practice of complementary and representing your summary. It is medical students raises important issues,’ alternative medicine. While comparable important to do what works best for you. Dr Furber said. titles may explore the use or efficacy of Here we have represented three ways in “ ‘These medical students will go on specific complementary and alternative which the article on Holism could be to treat patients who use CAM and they medicine interventions, this indispensible represented. Each organises its material need the tools to evaluate those therapies.’ textbook highlights evidence-based differently and selects differing amounts “In this survey, the twelve interventions, while helping practitioners of information to record. complementary and alternative therapies apply them within a clinical decision “Organisational intervention raised were acupuncture, chiropractic, making framework.” “Health analogy: homeopathy – hypnosis, meditation, osteopathy, herbal His LinkedIn page says that he “has a treating body, mind and spirit not the medicine, naturopathy, spiritual healing background in nursing, naturopathy and symptom. Application to business (), homeopathy, aromatherapy, clinical research, and holds a Bachelor of organisation: identify and address the and vitamin and mineral Nursing (honours) degree, a Diploma core organisational issues not the quick therapy. of Applied Science (Naturopathy), a fix solutions for the symptom (eg. “The majority of students rated Diploma of Clinical Nutrition, and a absenteeism, turnover etc). acupuncture as being effective, followed Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). He “Further analogy: health and by meditation, chiropractic and herbal has expertise in naturopathy, herbal illness coexist, not mutually exclusive. medicine. More than half did not have medicine, and complementary and Application to leadership: not expect to an opinion about the effectiveness of the alternative medicine.” keep organisation operating perfectly, other eight therapies. Throughout his university CV and 42 The Skeptic June 11

elsewhere, he stresses his evidence-based approach, and has publications that Macquarie’s return underpin that attitude. slowly and permanently back into But his address on Acupuncture and or the record, Professor shape. Children who have Complementary Medicine to a Successful F Stephen Thurgate, chiropractic care respond Ageing Seminar in September 2005, Executive Dean, Faculty best when that care is given run by the university (http://www.unisa. of Science at Macquarie early in life, preferably before edu.au/giving/news/successfulageing/ University, did respond to our they are four months old.” The archive/2005archive.asp), seems to earlier request for comment clinic’s name is attached to the endorse naturopathic treatments across on that university’s chiropractic information sheet. a very broad range of conditions. He courses, but too late for it to be Chiropractic assistant position suggests the following might benefit from included in the first part of this at the Back to Balance chiropractic a naturopathic consultation: investigation (see Degrees of Woo, The clinic in West Hoxton, Sydney, which • Chronic conditions: arthritis, irritable Skeptic, 31:1). in addition to chiropractic offers bowel syndrome, osteoporosis, eczema, He writes: “Thank you for your letter acupuncture and psychology services. period pain, hypertension, oesophageal and for the opportunity to respond. The latter covers “Maternal Minds reflux, asthma As a University at the forefront of pregnancy support counselling • Acute conditions: colds, influenza, research and teaching in Australia, we services. Maternal Minds is committed sinusitis, ear infections, urinary tract offer rigorous, high quality courses. to providing specialized counseling infections Our chiropractic science students support to women that have concerns • Prevention: preconception care, stress/ are well trained in the fundamental about their current pregnancy or a lifestyle/diet management relevant sciences (physiology, pregnancy that has occurred in the last • General wellbeing anatomy, biochemistry, biophysics, 12 months.” • When orthodox medicine fails. radiology, etc) together with units Last year, it advertised an associate With the reference to “orthodox in chiropractic methods and clinical position at the Pure Wisdom medicine” he offers a clear differentiation practice. Our students are taught to Chiropractic & Lifestyle clinic in with naturopathy. He includes understand that science proceeds only Wonthaggi, Victoria. “Our principal several sources of information about on the basis of evidence. While we chiropractor, Dr Sarah Pearce (formerly naturopathy, including the Australian understand the questions you raise in Martin), is fully booked with a waiting Naturopathic Network, hardly an relation to the history of chiropractic, list of new patients, and ... is looking impartial source, and the MyDr sections we are confident that our graduates to reduce her hours and physical of MIMS (http://www.mydr.com.au/ have been taught those techniques workload and bring another inspired, complementary-medicine/naturopathy), that are known through science to be passionate family chiropractor on where the coverage of naturopathy is beneficial.” board to serve this hungry-for-health uncritical, to say the least. Curious then that the university’s community. We utilize a variety of He also includes links to where the Department of Chiropractic, with techniques, including diversified, SOT, audience – aged people – can find a its emphasis on “techniques that TRT and CBP. The centre currently naturopath. are known through science to holds weekly workshops, seasonal While this review of his presentation be beneficial”, includes on its food cleanses, offers homeopathy and is based on the slides alone, and not any employment vacancies list (at time of accompanying notes or comments, the writing), the following advertisements massage, and is constantly evolving.” information that is available appears to (http://www.chiro.mq.edu.au/ (www.chiro.mq.edu.au/AboutUs/ be a ringing endorsement of naturopathy, AboutUs/employment/): employment/Associate_Wonthaggi_ without any caveats or critical appraisals Associate position at the Victoria_29.9.10.docx) at all. Chiropractic Domain Mount Gambier, The department’s employment SA. This clinic runs a range of “Kiro for opportunities page does have a Kids” services and publishes a number caveat: “The Department does not of information sheets, including one endorse or ratify the following for treatment for ‘Heads out of shape”, advertisements. It is the responsibility Swinburne’s the condition experienced with of the applicant to carry out their own some infants apparently following research as to the bonafides of the loss extended periods of sleeping on their below employers.” Publication on its backs: “When a child is put back into site, however, does imply some sort of Sadly for CAM proponents, structural balance with gentle, safe, endorsement, or at least it publicises Swinburne University’s Graduate chiropractic adjustments the natural operations that are not diametrically Diploma of Applied Science in growth of the brain will push the head opposed to its own. Integrative Medicine was cancelled 43 FEATURE Education

The Science, Engineering & Technology, they have started to speak, convey seems to be a little hotbed of research paranormal information about persons Curiosity into the paranormal. who had died before these children Scattered references allude to were born. ‘Paranormal information’ Shock an interest in parapsychology, implies that these children had no including investigations of psi powers, normal access to the information that Continued... precognition and reincarnation. they revealed.” A Masters thesis lodged in Another supervisor for Garton was as of December 2006. The course November 2010 by Roderick Garton Dr John A Davison, who is listed as had interesting aspects, including (BA Macquarie Uni, BA Hons Uni of coordinator for “The Social Processes “opportunities for students to conduct Tasmania) covers “Precognition priming group ... engaged in research on research projects within a Masters course and sequential effects on visual work conflict resolution and utilises the or at a PhD level. The selection of recognition”. school’s audio‐visual facilities to record complementary therapy research will be In this thesis, Garton opens with “Psi outcomes in test situations. Research based on intensive examination of the research (encompassing parapsychology is carried out in other areas related to scientific evidence in each area in order and psychical research) increasingly peace psychology, families, dreaming to identify promising lines of inquiry. offers the following proposition: Future and parapsychology.” The guarantee of scientific validity of the information that persons have not or If these investigations follow strict Graduate School’s research comes from could not have inferred or incurred on scientific method and have found a commitment to rigorous scientific the basis of past information can inform evidence of paranormal abilities, then method at all times.” their present experience and behaviour. we would obviously love to hear about The aims included: ... The hypothesis that is being them. • Having an overview of current increasingly offered, in psi research, is For the record, Dr Krissy Wilson, evidence-base in complementary that precognition normatively functions who has regularly written for this medicine and enhance ability to in perception and cognition as it is magazine and presented to Skeptical critically appraise medical and scientific classically conceived – not in anomalous audiences, is listed on the university’s literature. experiences, not as supernatural “find an expert” service as having • Graduates will develop skills to or paranormal happenings, but as expertise in parapsychology. Wilson determine which patients will require information that ordinary perception says she is not a parapsychologist, has a particular type of complementary and cognition utilises if not depends informed the university of this, and therapy and to integrate this with on. It is this normative frameworking in fact left the university 18 months orthodox medicine. of precognition in particular, and psi ago (see her article in this issue on her • Provide limited clinical training which hypotheses in general, that is pursued experiences there). She also says she will emphasise the importance of in this thesis, and specifically as it is knows nothing of the Social Processes health promotion. operative in recognition. group. • Teach basic skills in various clinical After a criticism that “Responding While on the subject of University techniques involved in complementary to such reports [of psi results] has of Tasmania, its School of Pharmacy medicine which can be applied in the involved many unscientific but lists information on various alternative community. abiding approaches” - referring to what medicine areas (http://www.pharmacy. That second and fourth aims imply might be called ‘establishment’ non- utas.edu.au/cmed/topics.htm). Some of that a decision on the complementary parapsychology researchers - he says these are highly critical, including the techniques covered has already been that ”The offer of precognition as a section on chiropractic and osteopathy made, despite the “commitment to normative operation opens up a new which includes comments such as rigorous scientific method at all times”, and more scientifically worthy approach “There is no evidence that subluxations and that CAM methodologies are to the question of what to do about actually occur or that impairment of accredited and endorsed by the course ESP, and how to decide about it.” nerve outflow is a major contributor to providers. One of Garton’s supervisors on common illnesses or that chiropractic his thesis was Dr Jurgen Keil. Keil treatment alters the position of any himself has had a paper published in vertebrae and thus change nerve the Journal of Scientific Exploration, outflow.” In what could be described 24:1, pp67-73, 2010) on “A case of the a balanced report on results gathered, Tasmanian reincarnation type in Turkey suggesting the section says “The best evidence for strong paranormal information chiropractic and osteopathy is in the paranormality involvements”. The introduction to treatment of low back pain. Overall, this paper begins with: “Cases of the it can be described as\moderately The University of Tasmania’s School reincarnation type (CORTS) indicate conclusive in favour of manipulation. of Psychology, within the Faculty of that some children, shortly after The extent of benefit is probably the 44 The Skeptic June 11

same or small compared to traditional care.” RMIT’s Wonky Wellness On homeopathy, the section says: “There is no good evidence of efficacy Tim Mendham reports on RMIT’s wellness courses. in spite of a large number of trials and meta-analyses. ... In general, the older, n the last issue of The Skeptic (31:1, and certainly no better than placebo. and less rigorous meta-analyses were Ip22) we reported on the response to • Introduction to Mindbody Wellness, more likely to show some benefit for our queries on chiropractic courses at which includes elements of “the power homeopathy. Cucherat et al. considered the RMIT University. of intention and love in mindbody that some homeopathic treatments were Professor Margaret Gardner AO, wellness” – hardly a topic prone to more effective than placebo but the Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT scientific rigour. strength of evidence is poor because of University wrote to us stating that: • Introduction to Wellness and the poor quality of the trials. They also “As a global university of technology Complementary and Alternative found that the better quality trials were and design, RMIT is committed to an Medicine (CAM) – the specific more likely to give negative results.” ethic of rigorous scientific enquiry. Our forms of CAM are not mentioned On aromatherapy: “Evidence - There academic staff, whether conducting on the website, but considering the is little objective evidence to support research or learning and teaching, aromatherapy course above we would the usefulness of aromatherapy for any operate within a methodology that is assume that many are on the fringe of condition”. evidence-based.” accepted science. With these comments in mind, it • Introduction to Happiness and Positive is a concern therefore to find some Psychology, which refers to “the additional courses currently carried at emerging science of happiness and RMIT - not mentioned in our earlier positive psychology”, which sounds like Wollongong’s article - which seem to involve areas that motivational courses, many are less than “rigorous” or “evidence- of which lead to cases of disastrous bedtime reading based”: ‘Wellness’ courses offered within emotional instability in subjects. RMIT’s School of Health. (http://rmit. • Health Enhancement and Lifestyle The recommended reading list for the edu.au/wellness). Management, which includes reference ’s Master of The Wellness section “aims to be a to “personal interventions that enhance Science (Midwifery) 2009 curriculum world leader in the wellness field offering and complement health in areas such (still on the university’s website) includes a postgraduate degree, undergraduate as ... spiritual ...”. This particular aspect one of the most worrisome volumes on elective courses, single courses and would sound more appropriate to a any academic list: Geraghty, B 1997, short courses in the wellness areas. ... theology course than a school of health. Homeopathy for midwives, Churchill with graduates gaining professional In addition, there are other courses which Livingstone, New York. qualifications as well as personal were apparently last offered in 2010: At the same time, the university’s wellness skills. ... Wellness graduates • Applied Eastern Anatomy, which refers healthcare clinic recently offered “health are employed in a variety of sectors to the “acupuncture meridian system” and medical services provided including including the spa and wellness industry, and “chakras”. optometry, dentistry, naturopathy and mainstream healthcare, complementary • Introduction to Energy Medicine – homeopathy”. It is pleasing to tell you healthcare, the corporate sector and in this reeks of every form of new age that the homeopathy services are no private practice.” pseudoscientific nonsense: “To explore longer offered. We asked Prof Gardner for a ‘energy medicine’ one must utilises We’re not sure if the science reading comment on these courses, all of which [sic] scientific exploration carried list still includes the homeopathy guide, are offered online. At time of writing, we out across a multifaceted scientific but surely there is something here about had not received a reply. The following bandwidth including detailed work the sharing of information between the is the substance of our query to Prof from the fields of mathematics, left hand and right hand. . Gardner, including our comments on biology, chemistry, psychology and some of the courses: physics and quantum physics. Study Some elements of the courses in this field requires a truly holistic offered in the Wellness category seem scientific exploration where laws to verge dangerously close to the of nature are integrated at a deeply pseudoscientific, if they don’t topple fundamental level ... they seem to completely into it. operate under hence [sic] unknown About the author: The following courses are offered in 2011: principles governing quantum Tim Mendham is • Introduction to Aromatherapy - a mechanics and non local Universe executive officer and editor ‘medical’ modality which features principles.” with Australian Skeptics Inc. unsupported claims with little efficacy, We await Prof Gardner’s reply. . 45 regulars

THE END OF THE The cycle of life WORLD AS WE KNOW IT Doomsday – dissonance – fables There are various definitions for ‘end of the world’ predictions. The Harold Camping/ – floods. And so it goes, the almost Family Radio campaign regarding Judgement inevitable realisation that all knowledge Day is just the most recent example of religion-based ‘’, a term which originally referred to a is connected and connectable. revelation of God’s will, but now often refers to belief that the world will come to an end some time soon. This belief is usually accompanied by the idea that civilisation will come WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN to a tumultuous end through a catastrophic global event. “Millenarianism” is the belief by a religious, social, or political Later mythographers filled in group in a coming major transformation of society. The details or added postscripts to the various ancient flood stories – Gilgamesh, Noah and the original account by Hesiod. For example, Ancient Greek version Deucalion – are examples Apollodorus and Hyginus each make of millenarianism. explicit what might be latent in the Hesiodic text: Epimetheus married Pandora, the couple had a daughter, Pyrrha, who married Deucalion. However, the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women had made Pandora one of the daughters of Deucalion. The 15th century monk Annio da Viterbo credited a manuscript he had found to the Chaldean historian of the 3rd century BC, Berossus, where Pandora was also named as a daughter-in-law of Noah; this attempt to conjoin pagan and scriptural narrative is recognized as a forgery. Deucalion and Noah were both What goes around ... mythical figures associated with a devastating flood. DEVIL WOMAN In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, a champion of mankind who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals - twice. Zeus first punished him by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. The second time, Zeus sent Pandora, the first woman, to live with men. She was fashioned by Hephaestus out “Rats and of clay. Fearing further reprisals, Prometheus had warned his people come brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. But to love things Epimetheus did not listen; he accepted Pandora, who promptly scattered the contents of her jar (or a for which they box in some versions) which contained have suffered.” all the evils of the world. -

46 The Skeptic June 11

CALLING OCCUPANTS OF INTERPLANETARY CRAFT A classic study of a group with cataclysmic predictions was published in the book When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World, by Leon Festinger and others. Festinger and his associates read an item in a local newspaper headlined “Prophecy from planet Clarion call to city: flee that flood.” A housewife from Chicago, given the name Marian Keech (real name: Dorothy Martin, later known as Sister Thedra), had mysteriously been “I’m not a genius, and given messages from alien beings on the planet Clarion. These messages revealed that the world would end in a great flood I pray all the time for before dawn on December 21, 1954. Mrs. Keech wisdom.” had previously been involved with L. Ron - Harold Camping Hubbard’s Dianetics movement.

DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND From his work with this group, Festinger (1919-1989) developed the theory of cognitive dissonance, an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding conflicting ideas simultaneously. The theory proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and actions. Dissonance is also reduced by justifying, blaming, and denying. A related term, cognitive disequilibrium, was goes around ... coined by Jean Piaget to refer to the experience of a What discrepancy between something new and something already known or believed. A classical example of TELL ME A STORY cognitive disequilibrium (and the origin of the The Greek Aesop or Esop was, by tradition, expression ‘sour grapes’) is the fable born a slave. Although known for the fables ascribed The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop to him, Aesop’s existence remains uncertain and no (ca. 620–564 BCE). writings by him survive. Numerous fables appearing under his name were gathered across the centuries and in many languages. In many of these tales animals speak and have human characteristics. The anonymously authored Aesop Romance (usually dated to the 1st or 2nd century CE) begins with a vivid description of Aesop’s appearance, saying he was “Destroy the seed of evil, or it “of loathsome aspect ... potbellied, misshapen of head, will grow up to your ruin.” snub-nosed, swarthy, dwarfish, bandy-legged, short- - Aesop armed, squint-eyed, liver-lipped - a portentous monstrosity” or, as another translation has it, “a faulty creation of Prometheus when half-asleep”. Source: Wikipedia, bbc.co.uk/news (Camping quote), brainyquote.com (Aesop quote), M. Deutsch The Resolution of Conflict (Festinger quote)

47 ARTICLE Belief Beyond Belief Dr Krissy Wilson notes how perfect the Apple Isle is for a psychologist’s research.

wo and a half years ago I arrived in TTasmania from the UK to take up a position of lecturer in Psychology at the University of Tasmania. Emigration to Oz had been a major goal for some time and as soon as I got my PhD I applied for jobs. Within a year of being doctored, as it were, I was settling into my new office on the Launceston campus of UTas. My field of expertise is in the psychology of belief: why we believe in weird and wonderful things - ghosts, psychic powers, talking to the dead, conspiracy theories and other assorted pseudoscientific claims. As it turned out, Tassie was the perfect location for my particular area of interest. To most mainland Australians, Tasmania is a weird, slightly unsettling and rather backward, freezing cold lump of rock at the bottom end of the good bit. Well, yes. That pretty much sums it up. However, this odd little island Londoner, I is a psychologist’s dream. When I first immediately arrived I thought I had landed in belief assumed she heaven. Every day since, I have ridden was about to stab through the valley of the beguiled, I me in the eye but studies has have danced in the fields of delusion soon realised she was looked at the and dallied with the mentally alienated - just trying to give directions range of religious and that was just the UTas staff room. to a hapless Pommie who clearly didn’t beliefs and denominations in Tasmania. As someone who spends her know where she was. Then there was the After extensive scientific research my professional life investigating and truly miraculous moment when a strange conclusions are that there’s a lot of it commenting on bizarre claims of the man approached me as I struggled to about. Over 500 Tasmania residents paranormal, psychic powers and other pump up my tyres at a petrol station. took part in a series of studies that I ran hokum, you would think that little would Within what seemed mere seconds he where residents were asked a variety of surprise me. However, I have had some of had pumped up three tyres, and replaced questions concerning their beliefs in the strangest experiences and encounters another that was near flat with my spare. psychic powers and related paranormal of my life over the last two years. As I watched, it occurred to me that phenomena. If I may use some professional jargon, he might actually work for the petrol A separate study required respondents Tasmanians are, well, a funny bunch. station but while I searched my bag for to answer questions about their The first thing you notice that is frankly payment he bid me a cheery see you later religious beliefs and practices and the deeply disturbing for an English girl is and sped off. This single act of altruism results were most interesting. Not how friendly and helpful everyone is. impressed me hugely. only is the state surprisingly religious I recall the first time I walked down a One explanation for such wanton but the range of denominations is street in Launceston during my early acts of kindness might be explained ‘impressive’. Respondents variously weeks in Tassie and a girl approached by the fact that Tasmania is quite a described themselves (to name but a me and asked if she could help. As a religious place. Indeed, one of my recent few) as Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, 48 The Skeptic June 11

Satanists, Anglicans, Atheists and Wiccas. without bumping into a psychic! things paranormal. Until I began this research I didn’t Then there is the equally mysterious To a large extent I blame the media. actually know what a was. politics of the place. No, I am not On any given evening on TV in the However, I discovered the intricacies referring to the shenanigans of Messrs UK, the USA and here in Oz, there Beyond Belief of the Wicca way of life during one Giddings, Brown and Hodgman et al, will be some program that portrays a excruciating evening spent with the but the office politics that pervades all sympathetic view of psychic powers, Pagan Society. It was one of the areas of human spiritualism or similar strangest evenings of my life. professional life, Every house, bush, psychic nonsense. but nowhere (in “ Even current affair Encounters with aliens my experience) is it church, bridge, pub programs are under The Pagan Society meet in Launceston more overt than in and lawnmower seems its spell. I was in a British pub called The Cock and a certain academic to be haunted. recently wheeled Bull. That alone is material enough. Not institution in ” on as the voice of surprisingly, my talk did not go down Tasmania. When reason on an episode too well. Being told by an academic it comes to office politics within this of Today Tonight to pass judgement on Pommie smarty pants that you are bastion of academic excellence, it is a 6-year-old ‘psychic’ who had clearly suffering from delusion and dependence really quite simple. Everyone in Hobart been coached by her deluded mother. I on prescription and non-prescription hates everyone in Launceston and described said brat as the “Bindi Irwin drugs is not what you want to hear, so everyone in Hobart also hates everyone of the paranormal”. Fortunately I quite I could understand their antipathy. The else in Hobart. enjoy reading hate mail. only thing that impressed them was The main problem is the prevalence Now I have lived here long enough to when I told them that in a ‘previous of academic dinosaurs who have know that for most mainlanders Tassie is life’ I had been a professional actress rarely left the state, never mind seen a bit of a joke. But don’t listen to them. and my one claim to fame being that anything of the rest of the world, who Most of those with such negative views I once played a prostitute on The Bill. use the same lecture notes that they won’t actually have been there. Go for Somewhat bizarrely, at this they broke used in 1974, tolerate no-one under yourself. If the supernatural isn’t your out into spontaneous applause. the age of 104 and for whom the term thing, then let the natural wonders of I was as disappointed as I was “flexibility” is an incomprehensible this unique island lure you into a visit. It surprised. I thought that Pagans would and unacceptable suggestion. In 10 truly is a beautiful place. be rather a fun bunch, up all night, years or so in this business, the only Yes, it is cold and what would truly cavorting about in the moonlight, ghosts, spooks and psychic powers I be ‘spooky’ is if some bright Tasmanian ravishing each other at dawn. have encountered have only been in spark introduced central heating! Double Apparently not. They are in fact at the minds of the believers and the only glazing, alas, is still science fiction in home most nights watching re runs of truly scary things in the universe are Tassie. However, Tasmania is beautiful. The Bill!At another point in my talk fellow academics. The mystical nature of the light as it one particularly enthusiastic member of changes over the hills and skyline are as the audience stood up, pointed at me The lows and highs of Tasmanians close to any god that humankind might and declared, “You’re an alien elemental So, back to my research interest - why worship. The wonders of the real world from another planet!”. do we believe? Why do people believe in are more mysterious, beautiful and awe- Belief in the paranormal was shown ghosts? Alien abductions? Talking to the inspiring than any imagined paranormal to be as ubiquitous as religious belief. dead? This is a complex question and, in nonsense that we can dream up. Of the respondents who completed the my view, probably the wrong one. What Alas, humankind is not so beautiful questionnaires, 40% reported that they we should be asking is why it is that or easy to live with, and after two years believed the paranormal is real, 22% some of us doubt? How is that some of of good behaviour I was let out of claimed to have seen a ghost, 8% have us do not believe? Jurassic Park and am now lecturing and seen a UFO, 23% have had a psychic There are of course a plethora of working on writing projects in the balmy experience, 7% can communicate with complex reasons both psychological warmth of the big island. But I have an the dead (whether or not the dead reply and in some cases physiological but enduring affection for Tassie, and would was not specified), 16% visit fortune environmental factors are of recommend a visit to anyone. tellers, tarot readers etc, 7% claim to note. Tasmania’s geography Just please, save your money be psychic, and my favourite statistic and history make it a unique and don’t do the ghost tours. . ever, 2% of respondents claim to have environment and one actually met an extraterrestrial. Every especially likely to induce all house, bush, church, bridge, pub and kinds of superstitions and About the author: lawnmower seems to be haunted. beliefs. What is certain is Dr Krissy Wilson is a lecturer and Alien invaders are everywhere it seems, that there continues to be an psychologist, now working at Charles Sturt and you can’t step out of your house unending fascination for all University. 49 articles Mythology looking for Leprechauns

Michael Wolloghan finds the little people in Ireland, recreates experiences typically associated with leprechauns”. Naturally, this is a not to be sure to be sure. pintful of marketing hype, but isn’t too far from the truth. After perusing the tacky memorabilia ublin is one of Europe’s most enough, it is the first ever tourist in the museum foyer – which included a Dfascinating and impressive cities. attraction completely dedicated to Irish Homer Simpson leprechaun and a mock It’s full of beautiful sights, wonderful mythology and folklore. leprechaun uniform - our young, spirited people, and, of course, brilliant dark, full Tom O’Rahilly, director of the guide welcomed us to the museum. He bodied stouts. Locals claim it’s “a place museum, explained to me how the explained that the wily leprechaun was a that makes virtue out of vice”. museum came about. rarely discussed character in Irish folklore After embarking on a pub crawl, “I had the idea in 2003; it came in until it was exported to America. touring the Guinness Storehouse and a flash early one morning. I had just Apparently, the leprechaun image viewing the Book of Kells at Trinity celebrated the opening of a design was heavily distorted by advertisers and College, I decided to do something show in London and was taking stock Hollywood producers in the 1950s into different while in Ireland’s capital city. of all the work and effort that had gone a jolly, pipe-smoking red bearded man, The National Leprechaun Museum in to making it happen. At this time sitting on his pot of gold at the end of is situated in the cosmopolitan heart of I was working on a series of projects a rainbow, clad in a green coat and hat, Dublin. It’s a surreal Disneyland for about how people react to objects chortling “to be sure, to be sure”. leprechaun lovers. Interesting and context. Suddenly leprechauns We were told that when Walt Disney hopped into my head! Two ideas about visited Ireland in the 1940s, he bizarrely Leprechauns and people were quickly aspired to capture a leprechaun but wasn’t formulated - I wondered how they successful. However, he did later make came to be in Ireland and what the children’s film Darby O’Gill and the they were all about. Little People in Belfast. “Of course, it Our guide sadly explained we wouldn’t took a lot of work see any real leprechauns romping around to realise the idea of the museum. The tour group mildly the museum but the chuckled before entering through a concept was formed long widening tunnel which acted like at that point.” a remarkable optical illusion. The idea The museum was to give you the illusion of gradually is described as “a shrinking to the size of a leprechaun as we story of 12 chapters entered into the ‘fairy world’. taking you to This led us into the first of a series of the heart of Irish rooms winding through the museum. cultural identity One contained massive over-sized and imagination. furniture representing a giant’s house. Each chapter reflects Another room contained a slightly eerie Irish mythology, or but informative audio-visual display about 50 The Skeptic June 11

Irish mythology. This room dovetailed had images from Irish myths brightly Critics of the museum claim it into a passageway with a ceiling of projected round its walls and listened promotes a negative Irish stereotype. upside down umbrellas before reaching to a tale being spun by a narrator. I read Director Tom O’Rahilly responds to these a whimsical set of sheer, transparent the story of Tom Fitzpatrick who thinks allegations - “The Leprechaun was seen rainbow patterned string curtains. his fortune is made when he captures a as an easy way to characterise Ireland and Pushing through the curtains I arrived leprechaun and pressures him to reveal the Irish. I believe the leprechaun is a into a circular room with a small pot of the hiding place of his gold, but the more complex character than is popularly gold in the centre of it. I smiled wryly leprechaun cleverly dupes him. represented. It is easy to be offended when and had my picture taken. Overall, I enjoyed the museum but a character is taken out of context. The Short, simple museum text displays was a bit perplexed by the experience. I museum is an attempt to resolve this.” explained how the word leprechaun was expecting a bland provincial museum Regardless of these debates, the comes from the Irish Lú Chorpain, but was surprised to discover it was high leprechaun, in whatever form it may meaning small body, and that tech and sophisticated. Of course, the take, will still continue to be loved. As leprechauns live in secluded spots, museum milks the appeal of leprechauns O’Rahilly succinctly put it: “Leprechauns usually small holes in the ground. I learnt for all it’s worth but it’s an impressive little remain popular for a number of reasons. that female leprechauns exist but are enterprise. A small creature, they have a curiosity seemingly more elusive and harder to Naturally, museums can be infinitely value they are always connected with catch than the males. diverse in the way they can make unique a story and usually a treasure. They are Other displays informed us that contributions to the public by collecting adept at exploiting the foibles of humans leprechauns originally came from a and preserving bits of cultural heritage. who try to capture their prize. So in mythical land under the sea and that the However, this museum is more of an essence small, clever, rich and magical first recorded sighting of a leprechaun aesthetic experience than an exhibition - what’s not to like?” . was in the 8th Century. and it abstractly shows how mythology Wandering through the rest of the can be used to keep people in touch with About the author unconventional museum didn’t take long. their culture and teach the values of that When not investigating cults, Michael Wolloghan I sat in the ‘storytelling room’ which culture. likes to study other curious beliefs.

0351 Article Creationism Rocks in their heads As Stephen Moreton explains, Scotland’s Siccar Point is an icon of geology, and a creationist’s folly.

eep time is so fundamental upright, elevated and eroded to create a Dto the earth sciences that it land surface. Onto this eroded surface is unsurprising that one of the first was deposited another generation of evidences of it has an iconic status sediments, creating the beds of red sand- among geologists. stone. These too hardened into rock, were The evidence is the angular tilted slightly and eroded to expose them, unconformity at Siccar Point, on and the underlying rocks, once more. Scotland’s south east coast, found by 18th century gentleman farmer and amateur If it doesn’t fit, deny it geologist, James Hutton. Unconformities As this challenges a young earth, are common, and the one at Siccar creationists must deny it. Enter Tasman Point quite ordinary, but its historical Walker, an Australian engineer with a significance has made it one of the world’s geology degree, and employee of Creation Figure 1. The most photographed part of Siccar Point, showing the most celebrated geological formations. Ministries International, with his critique, juxtaposition of the two rock groups. “Unmasking a long-age icon”2. continuously while the whole rock Figure 2. Ribs of hard greywacke poke up through the overlying breccia. An abyss of time Walker’s article postdates one by deposit was formed”. Something Walker and Tyler deny. Hutton’s friends were impressed. John David Tyler3 and is more detailed. Figure 3. Does this junction look “straight” to you? Playfair wrote of their visit in 17881: Walker’s article is dealt with here, Do the sums “What clearer evidence could we although some of what follows applies Greywackes are turbidites, formed by have had of the different formation of also to Tyler’s. Walker attempts to explain the accumulation of sediments on the these rocks, and of the long interval the feature in terms of a year-long Noah’s edge of an underwater slope. Eventually which separated their formation, had flood, while Tyler views the flood as an they become unstable, avalanche down we actually seen them emerging from earlier event with subsequent layers a the slope and fan out across the ocean the bosom of the deep? …. The mind record of recolonisation. Both are young floor below. As they settle, the coarsest seemed to grow giddy by looking so far earth creationists. particles deposit first, the finest ones last. into the abyss of time.” After a preamble about Hutton, Turbidite formation is rapid. For Figure 1 shows what they found. The and his “faulty assumptions” (ie example, a 0.27 metre thick Californian upright beds are Silurian greywackes and Hutton followed the evidence, not the turbidite could have formed in as little shales. Hutton knew these must have Bible), Walker’s technical discussion as 20 to 52 minutes4. Turbidites are been deposited originally as horizontal begins with “The lower rocks”. He deposited quickly, but with lengthy time layers. Overlying them at almost a right correctly identifies them as alternating intervals between them, which Walker angle are gently dipping red Devonian greywacke and shale, but asserts denies. No sooner had one turbidite sandstones. The bottom layer of these that in greywackes the sediment was settled than the next one arrived, and so is a breccia full of broken fragments of “deposited so rapidly that it did not on in rapid succession, until the entire the underlying Silurian rocks in a red have time to sort into different sizes”, sequence was built up, he thinks. sandy matrix. This, Hutton realised, was but then says it is sorted into different It is a thick sequence. The turbidites at an ancient land surface where once the sizes, with the coarsest particles at the Siccar Point are part of the Gala Group. upright Silurian strata had been exposed bottom (graded bedding). This, the Hawick Group to the south, and eroded, and onto which the red He claims the greywacke beds sit and Ordovician turbidites to the north, sandstones were deposited. “one on top of the other – without any straddle southern Scotland. The Hawick These rocks indicated a sequence of sign of a break in deposition”. What Rocks alone are over 3km thick5. events far longer than the Biblical 6000 does he think the shale beds are? After Using the faster rate of deposition years. Firstly, rocks had to be eroded to contradicting himself about graded above (20 minutes for 0.27m), with no generate the sediments depositedonan bedding, and forgetting about the breaks, depositing the Hawick Rocks ancient sea floor. These were then hard- shales, he triumphantly concludes that alone would take 154 days. How long ened into rock, folded until the bedswere “the fast deposition processes operated for the entire Ordovician and Silurian 52 The Skeptic June 11 Rocks in their heads

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Figure 1. The most photographed part of Siccar Point, showing the juxtaposition of the two rock groups. Figure 2. Ribs of hard greywacke poke up through the overlying breccia. Something Walker and Tyler deny. Figure 3. Does this junction look “straight” to you? Fig. 3

sequences combined? Piling up the lower animals formed delicate branching “The beds do not indicate evidence of rocks alone could occupy more than structures that sank to the bottom on brittle fracture. So they must have been Walker’s one-year time scale. death. The Southern Uplands have folded while still plastic.” But rocks also an abundance of graptolites, and the deform plastically under pressure and Pesky fossils Gala Group contains four species of temperature; they don’t have to be soft Walker ignores the fossils. The top Monograptus distinctive of it5. and wet. Even so, the Gala beds contain surfaces of the greywackes commonly If turbidite deposition was faults in the axial regions of the folds, so show trails and burrows of sea-floor continuous, then it is odd that brittle fracture did occur where bending animals. There is an example just 500m graptolites occur throughout the entire was most intense5. Walker’s claim is both from Siccar Point6. Ordovician and Silurian sequences false and irrelevant. The first turbidite avalanche would instead of being carried to the bottom When he comes to the junction have buried these critters, leaving none and buried early on. It must have been between the Silurian and Devonian rocks, to make their marks on subsequent raining graptolites throughout the entire Walker declares that the contact is “clean” flows. Yet they are as common in the period. Where did they all come from? and “straight”, with no differential erosion upper parts of the sequence as the And why only particular graptolites resulting in raised ribs of harder greywacke lower. Creationist John Woodmorappe in particular rocks? Silurian graptolites protruding into the overlying beds. Tyler imagines them burrowing upwards to are only found in Silurian rocks, not says the same, and both make a great play escape each layer deposited on top of Ordovician ones, or Devonian ones, on this, thinking that it rules out slow them8. After months of continuous and so on. How were they so efficiently weathering of the underlying rocks on an upward burrowing to keep pace with segregated, without a single one out of ancient land surface. the endless succession of new layers, place anywhere in the world? Playfair was a better observer: “The the poor things must have been worn rugged tops of the schistus are seen out. How they managed to find time to Errors one on top of the other penetrating into the horizontal beds of make horizontal marks on the tops of the Walker’s errors pile up faster than a sandstone …”1. Modern geologists agree8. layers, while hiding their upward escape creationist’s turbidite. His next victim See figures 2 and 3. tunnels, is a mystery. is folding. The rocks “were folded Turning to the upper rocks, Walker Graptolites also prove lengthy breaks while they were still soft and contained describes the breccia immediately in deposition. These floating colonial abundant water”, he says, because overlying the lower rocks as containing 53 Article Creationism

Walker’s comedy continues with the 2. Walker, T. (2004) Unmasking a long-age Rocks in assertion that animal tracks in the ORS icon. Creation, 27(1), 50-55. On-line: http:// prove rapid deposition. So, a great flood biblicalgeology.net/Geological-Histories/ their heads has obliterated everything for hundreds Icon-Unmasked.html of kilometres around, dumped kilometres 3. Tyler, D.J. (2002) Revisiting Hutton’s Continued... of turbidites over a huge area, and is now Unconformities. Internet article. http:// depositing the ORS, and land suddenly www.biblicalcreation.org.uk/scientific_ numerous angular fragments of the lower pops up, animals appear out of nowhere in issues/bcs100.html ones orientated by strong water currents. this muddy wilderness, go for a stroll, then 4. Allen, J.R.L. (1991) The Bouma division and Correct. The breccia was probably formed their tracks are buried. This repeats for the possible duration of turbidity currents. by flash floods in a semi-arid environment. however many footprint-bearing beds there Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 61(2), 291- “The breccia covers a huge are before this land submerges again, and 295. geographical area”, he says of this basal the flood resumes. It is hard not to laugh. 5. Greig, D.C. (1971), “The South of Scotland”, member of the local Redheugh Mudstone The stupidity continues with: “There British Regional Geology, 3rd ed. Institute of Formation, known from three outcrops are no canyons or valleys cutting across the Geological Sciences, HMSO, Edinburgh. a few kilometres apart9. The Old Red beds.” There’s a very nice valley at Crooked 6. Benton, M.J. (1982) Trace fossils from the Sandstone (ORS), as the Devonian Haven, NE of Milton Ness9. Indeed, Lower Palaeozoic ocean-floor sediments sediments of Britain are called, contains there are entire topographies buried under of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. beds “so amazingly uniform and parallel further unconformities within the ORS, Transactions of the Royal Society of that they can be visually traced for huge complete with calcretes12. Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 73, 67-87. distances”, he claims without stating I could continue with the 7. Woodmorappe, J. (2006) Are soft-sediment his source. Its “physical characteristics Carboniferous rocks, which overlie the trace fossils (ichnofossils) a time problem for … point to exceptional depositional Devonian, and the many problems they the Flood? Journal of Creation, 20(2), 113- processes, quite different from the sorts present, but that would be cruel. 122. On-line: http://creation.com/images/ of processes that we see happening on the pdfs/tj/j20_2/j20_2_113-122.pdf earth today”, he gushes. Conclusion 8. Greig, D.C. (1988) Geology of the Eyemouth What is exceptional about deposition Walker’s article on Siccar Point is sloppy, District. Memoirs of the British Geological in rivers, lakes and dunes? He then superficial and incompetent. In an Survey, Sheet 34 (Scotland). resumes the fantasy that the beds “were email he told me he has not visited the 9. Browne, M.A.E., Smith, R.A. and Aitken, deposited one after the other without site. Instead he relied on photographs, A.M. (2002) Stratigraphical Framework for significant time breaks between them”. correspondence with people who the Devonian (Old Red Sandstone) rocks of His ‘evidence’ is some beds and fossils that had visited, and a tiny fraction of the Scotland south of a line from Fort William to possibly were deposited quickly. We saw literature. The rest appears to be made Aberdeen. British Geological Survey Research earlier that episodic deposition, with long up. I found the same when I investigated Report, RR/01/04. time intervals between each episode, is his writings on another famous geological 10. Saigal, G.C. and Walton, E.K. (1988) On the common. He obligingly tells us that the icon, Northern Ireland’s Giant’s occurrence of displacive calcite in Lower ORS sequence is 7km thick. Do the sums. Causeway. Although he has been there, he Old Red Sandstone of Carnoustie, Eastern There “is no evidence of ancient soil still wrote a load of error-riddled rubbish Scotland. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, layers, or of organic matter incorporated about it13. 58(1), 131-135. into a soil or of plant roots”, he insists. Every branch of science that touches 11. Balin, D.F. (2000) Calcrete morphology At Siccar Point, patches of calcrete, a on the subject indicates deep time – and karst development in the Upper Old calcareous soil horizon typical of arid biology, astronomy, geology, physics, Red Sandstone at Milton Ness, Scotland. environments, are present. Walker knows chemistry, and more. We are indebted to Geological Society, London, Special this but, without offering evidence, James Hutton for his brilliant insight. An Publications, 180, 485-501. attributes it to groundwater. insight founded on reason and evidence, 12. Trewin, N.H. (ed.) (2002) The Geology Calcretes are common in the ORS. not a load of bogus assertions based on a of Scotland, 4th edition. The Geological Examination of the calcite component few photographs, inadequate homework, Society. proves the surface origin of one at and a dogmatic commitment to a Bronze 13. Moreton, S. (2009) Facts meet fantasies Carnoustie, near Dundee10. Another, Age myth. Siccar Point remains an icon, at the Giant’s Causeway. Earth Science at Milton Ness, further north, contains not just of geology, nor even of Ireland, Issue 6, 37-39. On-line: http:// roots12. Another, just 12km SE of Siccar long ages, but of all of science. . www.habitas.org.uk/es2k/ (select Point, is full of plant fragments8. Calcrete “Magazine”). at Siccar Point is fatal to Walker’s account References of the Silurian rocks being planed off 1. Playfair, J. (1805) Biographical About the author: then immediately buried again. Calcretes Account of the late Dr. James Dr Stephen Moreton is a Scotsman and a throughout the ORS destroy his notion of Hutton, Transactions of the Royal chemist, but managed to fit in two years of continuous deposition. Society of Edinburgh, V(III), 39-99. geology at Edinburgh University. 54 REVIEWS Religion The Skeptic June 11

divine. The text of the Bible did not materialise Once upon a time by His hand. Instead of, say, blasting it into a cliff-face, it was entrusted to various humans. One after another raised a hand and said, in The Genesis Enigma effect: “God has just told me this”. Christians By Andrew Parker reject the idea that Mohammad heard from God Vintage Books, A$21.95 (or one of his representatives) so why believe other human authors, notably Moses when he claims he’d been told how it all began? ow active should an atheist be in A common reply is along these lines: “Many Hurging believers to reconsider? Biblical prophecies can only be explained as Through a combination of shyness and divinely sourced. If at least those parts of the Bible apathy, I have become a small ‘a’ atheist. came from God, then you can accept that the I don’t crusade, but I’ll explain my others did too.” Believers claim that thousands beliefs if someone raises the subject. of prophecies have either been fulfilled in a way Over the years I have gotten to consistent only with divine intervention; or are yet know many worthy Christians. The to be fulfilled. Not a single failure is conceded. professional ones and many of the When we have that bold assertion and we amateurs are driven to minister. When need only one decisive fulfilment, how can there they minister unto me, I regard them be so many atheists? One prophecy, explicable only as fair game for polite questions about by divine hand, would give us a world filled with how they see it all stacking up. believers. We could account for atheists by using Maybe I do not understand some Richard Dawkins’ branding of those who reject the of the more sophisticated parts of basic tenets of evolution – ignorant or insane. the answers. If I allow for that, I can The answer is that there has never been a still assure you that it is fascinating to clear enough fulfilment and the area is riddled hear how believers give quite different with difficulties. To mention a few: answers on even the most basic issues. • The making of accurate predictions is Despite centuries of dogma intended to unite something we all do occasionally. It is the them, stances are as diverse as reactions to a full time job of many to make predictions provocative work of art. with far greater specificity than what was As a relationship develops between me considered good enough to be included in the and a believer, sooner or later my is Bible by the human editorial team. discovered. The unspoken reaction that I often • For some reason God refrained from a plain detect is positive and friendly; along the lines of: language policy. The alleged predictions “Thank you Jesus, for this opportunity to bring are usually opaquely worded and permit a this ignorant person closer to you.” Then they proliferation of interpretations, as with the discover that my atheism follows years of sincere works of . belief. That is greeted with less enthusiasm. Can • There is often no timeframe. Such prophecies the soufflé of conversion rise twice? There are then cannot fail; they remain unfulfilled. tactful explorations of whether I was the victim • When the prophecy is about a general change of a bad priest. No problems there! So then I get and has no timeframe, then eventual fulfilment the blame in that I must have suffered some bad is certain. More floods, more pestilence. experience that has made me angry at God. • The ‘bleeding obvious’ is not excluded. What A subject that often comes up is the factual generation has been free from “wars and accuracy of the Bible, especially the creation stories. rumours of wars”? On this, many believers take the creation stories • The timing and authenticity of predictions as allegorical; others preclude any wriggle-room and the fulfilments are often problematic. It and insist literally on a real Adam, Eve, beguiling hardly helps when you need faith to accept serpent etc. “If it is written as having happened, that the events even occurred, before you get then that is exactly how it happened.” God is not to consider their significance. permitted to be allegorical, though when his son • Aware of Old Testament prophecies, Jesus was among us, he often spoke in riddles and aptly was in a position to engineer fulfilment of used fiction to make his points. Who cares whether some of them, perhaps assisted by gospel there really was a Good Samaritan? writers tweaking the text “that it might be God has avoided many opportunities to give fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the us a message that required no faith to accept as prophet”. 55 REVIEWS Religion +

at best controversial. Once upon a time For example, we are told that the first thing Continued... created was light, which corresponds to the creation of our sun. However, Genesis firstly gives us heaven and earth with the spirit of God Believers see fulfilments that confirmed the moving “upon the face of the waters”. divine status of Jesus. However, this escaped Or take first life, on which Genesis is specific. the attention of the majority of contemporary What was the first living thing that God created? witnesses who knew their Bibles and should have How many of us could answer that it was “grass, been in a position to make a good call. Generally, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree they did not buy it. Nor were they convinced by yielding fruit”. Seagrass? No, the previous verse is: the brief presence of the supposedly resurrected “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass.” Jesus. The riposte, that the Jews were looking for Parker tells us that relatively early on, life the wrong kind of messiah, overlooks how God’s forms achieved photosynthesis. These forms chosen have had many generations to reconsider. became chloroplasts, “the photosynthetic factories Not even the power of prayer has moved them. of plants”. The author can then plead with us in Throughout centuries of masses on Good Friday, italics: “It is extremely appropriate that the author Catholics beseeched God to convert the “perfidious of Genesis chose plant life for his third stage in his Jews”. Eventually, this was softened to “faithless creation account (ie life) – it accords particularly Jews”. Now simply “Jews” is enough to convey well with the science. In fact, he could not have the same message. They remain an inconvenient chosen better.” embarrassment to believers in a divine Jesus. In other words, Parker argues that the Aside from the prophecies, the Bible human author of Genesis received a message comprises messages between people and from God about the very early emergence of descriptions of events which are either supposed photosynthesising forms, but in any event chose to have happened or are allegorical. All that to write that the first life was grass and fruit trees. material is taken to be divinely guided. Again, we This book is subtitled “Why the Bible is see the restraint of God. He has refrained from Scientifically Accurate”. It turns out that the only inspiring a single line of text that was beyond the scientific accuracy in Genesis is in depicting the imagination or knowledge of people at the time. perceptions of a typical person from one area at The content may be very interesting, but nothing that time of human history – geocentric universe is surprising. There are no animals or places as etc. Maybe all our evidence of cosmology, geology yet undiscovered; there is not a single bit of new and natural history – all our science – is a God- science or mathematics. given hoax. An honest creationist will own up Having a Bible that consists of what humans to believing exactly that: right through to decoy either knew or could make up does not preclude fossils and light created already on its way to us the possibility of divine inspiration. The other from distant stars! side of that coin is that many arguments have In that case the Bible could be correct and been launched by believers who think they have science is wrong. But to try to match science found something in the text, beyond human ken. and Genesis like Parker does is hopeless even on Courtesy of one of my Christian mates in metaphorical levels. The world has developed ministering mode, came The Genesis Enigma by continuously, not in ‘days’ or stages like the Andrew Parker. jerking changeover of a digital clock. The order of Parker is no young-earth creationist. He writes earth, sun then moon is wrong. Almost all of the as an experienced scientist. He does not think the contents of the universe (apart from dark matter) fossil record is a comprehensive God-given hoax. is dismissed with “He made the stars also.” The text of this book hums with his love of science Supposedly after the grass. and his wonderment at the workings of his God. It would not be often that a skeptic would We are treated to many genial ramblings through ask: “What is a good gift for a creationist?” scientific or historical areas. There is some trading This book is the answer. The author’s imaginary of precision for readability but many would find parallels between Genesis and reality will do the interesting new material here. creationist reader no harm. The many pages of The feeling emerges that a foundation is scientific content will do them good. Trusting a being laid to make good the book’s claim of Christian author, they may persevere and learn connecting Genesis to reality. When they come, something. the connections are problematic. The text of Genesis is twisted and the supposed matches are - Reviewed by Martin Hadley 56 The Skeptic June 11 Where the wild men are Tracking the Man-Beasts the Mothman muscling in on the puny Greys for celebrity status. It is interesting to see how By the popular image of aliens changes over time, Prometheus Books, US$19.00 suggesting they are a product of society rather than a race of space tourists. This field is particularly prone to hoaxes, as listed. This must be a constant oe Nickell, arguably the most experienced source of frustration to people who would like to Jparanormal investigator in the world, will see the alien hypothesis taken seriously. be familiar to anybody who reads the Skeptical Finally, part 5 is all about Manimals, returning Inquirer magazine. His latest book contains to age-old myths and the perennial hoaxes that the current thinking behind many enduring have plagued otherwise intelligent people for mysteries and a surprising number of hoaxes. centuries. Between the classical myths and gaffed This is not a big book, but it is written in an (faked) hybrid creatures are the sideshow ‘freaks’ entertaining and economical style. Every chapter that were often embellished to amaze the public. is well referenced for the astute investigator to Surprisingly, Joe quotes P.T. Barnum claiming that seek the evidence for themselves. people enjoy being fooled. Like foxes in a hunt, I This is a much more reliable source suppose. of information than you will find Unlike the Monster Hunters Handbook by in random blogs and will hopefully Ibrahim S. Amin, Tracking the Man-Beasts is not encourage more fieldwork from a a practical manual. It feels more like cautionary younger generation. tales from a man who has seen it all before and has Part 1 and 2 feature Monster Men much wisdom to impart. It has more in common and Hairy Man-Beasts respectively. Joe with Haunted and Mysterious Australia by Tim reports genuine cases of human genetic the Yowie Man because both books are grounded anomalies as well as blatant frauds. For in reality, entertaining, and encourage further those who have ever wanted to know investigation. While Tim’s book comes across as a what ever happened to that tall hairy glossy travel guide to weird Australia, Joe’s book is guy from the seventies, Mr Sasquatch, truly international. you can read about it here. Throughout this book, Joe updates familiar Like the rest of us, the big fella has cases. Old hoaxes are laid to rest as people admit changed over the years but the biggest culpability, sometimes decades after the event, surprise was reading about how Joe while other cases can be explained as honest and his wife, Diana Harris, chased the misperceptions (owls figure prominently). Joe also elusive creature in 2008. This strikes details the proponents of some monster theories. me as a particularly bold venture. I’m told that In this regard, the book would be of value to only those who fail to find Bigfoot survive the people who are inclined to believe in monsters attempt. He now supposes it was a black bear with because Joe directs the reader to the best sources mange, making it even more daring. available even though he might disagree with their Part 3, the Supernaturals, dares to explore conclusions. This seems to define Joe’s approach as werewolves, vampires, and a range of other an investigator, rather than a mystery-monger or monsters. The historical werewolf cases are so-called . explored, including the “Beast of Gévaudan” and Regular readers of will be several lesser-known encounters that are no less familiar with Joe’s investigations but this is more intriguing. Vampires, by contrast, seem bland as than a cut-and-paste of old material. Each case Joe moves from what he calls “folklore to fakelore”. seems to be revisited rather than reprinted because The Chupacabra gets a mention as the new each case, no matter how old, seems to be updated myth on the block. If you haven’t been keeping up with fresh material. If you have never read any of with this latest beastie, Joe will quickly bring you Joe’s investigations, this book is possibly the most up to speed. It is somewhat disconcerting to read definitive collection ouy will find. Even if you how credulous news stories can evoke such public are familiar with Joe’s work, the book is full of fear and a belief that persists today. Our faded hero surprising new developments. from the seventies, Mr Sasquatch, can only envy at Highly recommended. how easily mange can make a monster. Part 4 updates us on Extraterrestrials, with - Reviewed by Philip Peters 57 REVIEWS Paranormal + Occult

investigator for the Committee for Scientific Look and learn Inquiry since 1997. He has therefore been exposed to a lot of claims over the years. And it shows. In these pages, you will find Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to solve investigations of haunted houses, lake monsters, psychic ‘detectives’, crop circles, yetis, white Unexplained Mysteries witches of Jamaica, and on and on. There’s By even a psychic cat, who turns out to be a more Rhombus Publishing, US$16.95 a quick-reflex cat (or probably does – we’ll never know). Radford takes a fairly gentle approach his is a book about getting to claimants. He interviews quite a few, but Tout there and looking ... and he never lampoons them. Rather he outlines knowing how to do it. And its title what his explanation is and how he came by it. pretty much sums up what the book This is more for the reader’s benefit than the contains. interviewee, who has normally disappeared Here are numerous into the background by the time Radford investigations the author has either completes his investigations and assessments. participated in or studied. In many There are also short essays by other instances, he has worked alongside investigators, such as Randi, Nickell, Martin noted paranormal investigator, Garner, etc. Joe Nickell, whose own book on But it’s not the cases he investigates which is ‘unknown’ animals is reviewed the stuff of the book, it’s the scientific approach elsewhere this issue. he uses. It’s not always a barrel of fun; in fact, What makes this book particu- Radford is pretty matter of fact about the list larly interesting are the instruction of prerequisites he gives, as he is about the lists scattered throughout on what investigations themselves. But this book will you need to have, research you give you an idea of all that you’ll need to pack need to do, and actions you need to in your bag before you head out on the road to take if you want to investigate the investigate. paranormal. And Radford covers a lot. The author is managing editor of The Skeptical Inquirer, and an - Reviewed by Tim Mendham

The book not only looks at the beginnings of the Nazi Party in Germany between WW1 Nasty Nazis and WW2, but also at the doctrine and dogma that was the foundation for the belief system Hitler’s Master of the Dark Arts: Himmler’s Black Knights developed by the men who eventually formed & the Occult Origins of the SS the SS. Formed as Hitler’s personal body guard (‘SS’ By Bill Yenne is the abbreviation for Schutzstaffel, ‘protective Zenith, US$21.00 squadron’), recruits were selected not only for their leadership potential and good health, but eaders fascinated with the occult and the for their ‘Aryan’ background - blond and blue- Rparanormal would be interested in this eyed with German family background that could book. Essentially it is about Heinrich Himmler, be traced back 150 years with no Jewish relatives. the creator of the SS. A small man with poor Thus, unlike the then German Army, the SS vision who completed a degree in agriculture, he was formed to be of an overtly pure heritage became one of the most feared men in history. that could not be polluted. But, in forming an With a hard core interest in mythology and organisation such as the SS, it would need a German folklore, Himmler set out to create belief system and set of values that transcended an organisation based on occult practices and the enemies it wanted to remove from German mystical thinking. life. As a result, Himmler, the former trainee 58 The Skeptic June 11

farmer and vegie grower, became the most feared Christian and other gods were pretenders to man in Germany and eventually Europe for over his god of the Vikings. List is also known for a decade. his book Theozoology (1905), a pseudoscientific Himmler saw his SS as a collection of Black treatise that the Aryans were descended from Knights descended from warriors, and as a gods, and everyone else was descended from sea- result formulated a belief system based on monsters or apes. visions, runes, Germanic myths and dreams. The Other sections of the book are devoted influence of the paranormal on this belief system to the spiritual side of the SS, including resulted in Himmler himself thinking he was the development of the Black Knights and descended from an actual king of Germany who the castles and rituals adopted. One of the had been dead for over 1000 years. ‘chaplains’ of the SS was Karl Maria Wilgut. Rituals for the initiation of SS officers were He was the architect of the pagan thinking for developed and held in castles purchased for the the SS which lead to many of the more bizarre sole reason of enhancing their esteem. There is rituals that have never been published. As usual much macho myth about what went on. Some with all mystics, Wilgut thought that his powers have suggested, perhaps wildly and certainly were descended from an ancient civilisation, without hard evidence, that some of the rituals untamed by the Roman occupation. He also involved the beheading of officers and drinking had a female companion who channelled for blood from their severed heads, with members him, talking to dead kings and other assorted accepting death in preference to any other characters. option. All good gory stuff, but it might be too Castles all over Germany, purchased with much, even for the SS. SS funds, were used as training and meditation But they were more assuredly involved centres, while mystics held seminars and in many other matters. The SS had its own conducted tours of places of interest with archaeology department which looked for relevant associations. artefacts, including the Holy Grail. Yenne states The SS followed the standard development of that the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was not far a , an occult or mystic group, with additional off some of the things the SS did. Expeditions features that few cults have. Firstly, it had Hitler, to such places as Tibet, Greenland and the no doubt one of the greatest communicators North Pole were conducted with the sole goal of the last century. Secondly, Germany suffered of locating and proving the strength and origins badly from the Depression and the payment of of the Aryan race. A potential trip to the South war debt as a result of WWI. It needed someone Pole to demonstrate German scientific capability to blame for all its issues and problems. In these and to search for further evidence of racial circumstances, a belief system based on visions origins was cancelled due to the outbreak of of racial superiority and authority, with a touch WW2. of mysticism thrown in for good measure, was The first chapters of the book concentrate ripe for exploitation. on the problems faced by Bill Yenne is a prolific author of military Germany after the end of and historical books. He is also a contributor WW1 and the rise of the Nazi to books on the two World Wars. This book is Party. But equal time is given no doubt a result of much of his research. The to the people who would reviewer was taken aback by the collection of eventually influence the images that are contained in the book, many beliefs of Himmler and SS. never published before. It is of interest that the With the rise of neo-nazi groups, the book symbol of the SS is taken provides a excellent understanding of their basic from a set of runes that were doctrine. It also demonstrates the exploitation developed by a Guido Karl of a people by a cult - how to solve all your Anton von List. von List problems by accepting your heritage, regardless stated that his runes came to of how silly it sounds. The book also describes him in a vision, a recurring the development of a cult from its beginnings theme for all the people to its eventual demise, demonstrating how involved in the formation of destructive and inhuman a cult can be. If you the SS’s belief system of the share an interest in cults, this would be a suitable SS. List developed a concept place to start your research. of mysticism based on Norse and Germanic culture; the - Reviewed by Geoff Cowan 59 FEATURE Astronomy A big pizza pie

The Book of the Moon astrology, alchemy and the telling of fortunes. By Rick Stroud A final chapter in this broad-ranging book looks at how the Moon has influenced culture Doubleday, A$52.95 from food to movies, offering a capstone to the whole discussion. eing an astronomy fan from way back, I If I can make a number of criticisms, more Bhave always been interested in books about images of the actual Moon itself would have space and associated science. This book is a good been useful. The book has a excellent discussion contribution to the field – well-written and on the naming of all features of the Moon and presented, it is highly readable and demonstrates the fight over ‘naming rights’ by the USSR and impeccable research. the International Astronomy Union. An atlas of Stroud is a film producer responsible for the Moon, highlighting the naming conventions the well-regarded British TV show, Brideshead and the names that were eventually settled upon Revisited, and the less-regarded but long running in the 1960s, would have helped. soap, Coronation Street. With this background, Additionally, a map of the landing and it is curious as to why he would write a book on crash sites of all the USA and USSR probes the Moon. He says that his interest in the Moon would have assisted the reader in the history of started as a 9-year-old, and when he had the the ‘space race’. Stroud goes to great pains to opportunity to make a documentary for NASA, ensure that the book includes images of all the his interest was reignited. This book is a spin-off astronauts and probes, as well as myth-related from that film. subjects, but the lack of an atlas was evident Skeptics will be interested in this for a after a few chapters. I needed to refer to another number of reasons. Firstly, it looks at the science book to get the full impact of what Stroud was of the Moon and the astronomers who observed describing. it from ancient times to today. One particular This book has a place in the skeptic’s library chapter discusses every probe, both manned - it speaks to the interest we have in science in and unmanned, that went to the Moon with general, especially astronomy and spaceflight, statistics and facts together with images of the but also weather, geology and history. The men who walked there. summary of facts, stories and interesting But what makes this book complete and of trivia would be of interest to all those with a interest to the readers of this journal are those fascination for the Moon, but it also appeals chapters following the discussion of astrophysics to our desire to learn about irrationality. The and astronomers. Chapter 3 looks section on biodynamics is informative and at all the gods and myths relating complete in demonstrating how Rudolph Steiner to the Moon in a concise summary influenced a generation of farmers in food that would make any other book production. Steiner’s ideas were not actually on astronomy turn its pages in based on spirituality, as he claimed, but on shame. how people have been growing their food for Stroud also discusses the thousands of years, as ill-founded as his ideas effects of the Moon on gardening were. using the new-age theory of The Book of the Moon is a one-stop shop for biodynamics. He does not support all the information that you will ever need in these theories, but discusses the relation to our major satellite. But an additional sway that influential people have book containing images of the features will no had using the Moon for their doubt be needed for complete enjoyment. irrational theories on growing food and breeding animals. - Reviewed by Geoff Cowan Two additional chapters look at how the Moon influences the use of magic, theories on werewolves, madness and on science as a whole. The chapter on magic addresses the Moon’s role in the occult, 60 letters To the Editor The Skeptic June 11

7. Dessler A.E., Davis S.M. “Trends in What you think ... tropospheric humidity from reanalysis systems”. Journal of Geophysical Research, v.115, D19127, 5 PP. (2010). Climate Response Knutti and Hegerl’s 2008 review4 is a doi:10.1029/2010JD014192 . good overview on data and model-based to Lawson constraints to climate sensitivity which Robert O’Connor gets us back to 3±1 degrees, feedbacks Gorokan NSW included. This is where the weight of ark, I’m sorry if you are upset evidence rests. M[The Skeptic, 30:1, p60 – at the Paltridge’s estimate for sensitivity Degrees of Woo time-gap inherent between issues in is extremely low if inclusive of all print publications - Ed]. However, not feedbacks. The argument based on having a base of common facts prevents decreasing humidity in the upper n the article “Degrees of Woo” [The meaningful discussion. atmosphere leading to an overall negative ISkeptic , 31:1 p24] Prof Nicholas On the properties of carbon dioxide water vapour feedback and a lower Klomp of Charles Sturt University 5 and climate sensitivity, I think you were sensitivity for CO2 on p69-72 is based discussed aspects of complementary and are giving a partial and incorrect on his paper6 which was inconsistent medicine. account. with the overall evidence as reviewed by Surely these prerequisites and/or Your Lamb reference (figure 114, Dessler and Davis7. credit benefits, we asked, could easily p.307 of the 1997 Routledge edition “A classic misdirection”. The be seen as endorsements by a noted I have to hand1 is based on work by information you were after was in the Australian institution that such ‘studies’ Ramanathan and Augustsson from second reference provided; the first have validity, when in fact they are not 2 1977 . It is of interest that you use this dissected the “CO2 is saturated” canard. without serious question. model-based study for support, given As far as CO2 trends go, why are Prof Klomp responded: “I understand your previous problems with models. It you assuming linearity? Is there some especially the point you make about not does not support your contention that economic or population growth providing validity or endorsement to the carbon dioxide effect is saturated. information you are privy to? Alternative un-scientific approaches to healthcare. On page 308, Lamb writes “Others energy breakthroughs? Why haven’t you In the end it is a decision to either professionally concerned with the CO2 gone public with this? not engage with the industry at all, problem suggested that the warming or attempt to improve the scientific effect might be no more than one- References training of (potential) practitioners, tenth to one-fifteenth of Plass’s figure; 1. Lamb H.H. Climate, History and the so that they are more likely to offer a but recent studies with the most Modern World. Routledge 2d Ed. 1997 service to the public that is less likely sophisticated models, which not only reprint. Taylor and Francis e-Library 2005. to make unfounded and/or incorrect allow for atmospheric transport of the 2. Augustsson T. and Ramanathan V. “A claims of efficacy or, worse, impede radiative-convective model study of CO2 and heat about the world but referral of genuinely sick clients to the the CO climate problem”. Journal of take at least some formal account of 2 more formal health system. exchanges with the top layer of the ocean Atmospheric Sciences v.34:448-51 (1977) “Universities give credit to prior and possible effects on cloud cover, have 3. Lorius C., et al. “The ice-core ecord:r learning, although at CSU we restrict pointed once more to a greater warming, Climate sensitivity and future greenhouse this to government-recognised between 2.0 and 3.5 degrees C, for a warming.” Nature 347:139-145 (1990), qualifications. On balance, I believe doubling of the atmospheric carbon doi:10.1038/347139a0. our approach of insisting on teaching 4. Knutti R., Hegerl G. “The equilibrium dioxide to 600ppm.” the science required by all health care sensitivity of the Earth’s temperature to In the first paragraphs of the Lorius practitioners, with a strong emphasis on 3 radiation changes”. Nature Geoscience paper , he wrote: “The radiative forcing 1:735-743 (2008). Published online: 26 evidence-based practice, but acknow- resulting from doubled atmospheric October 2008 | doi:10.1038/ngeo337 ledging the interest and achievements of CO2 would increase the surface and 5. Paltridge G.W. The Climate Caper: Facts people who have formally studied these tropospheric temperature by ~1.2 degrees and Fallacies of Global Warming. Taylor other subjects, is a reasonable approach.” C if there were no feedbacks in the Trade Publishing 2010. . His logic is extremely poor. Try climate system. ... But there are many 6. Paltridge G.W. et al. “Trends in middle substitution, where appropriate, of the possible feedbacks which may occur in and upper-level tropospheric humidity words “safe breaking”. Then he seems to response to an initial forcing.” from NCEP reanalysis data”. Theoretical be expecting to be lauded for teaching

The figure for 2CO alone is a useful and Applied Climatology. v.98,3-4:351- known safe-breakers how to do it better. metric, but feedbacks happen that 359 (2009). DOI: 10.1007/s00704-009- “But”, the Prof might argue, “we know amplify its effect. 0117-x) that safe breaking is unacceptable.” 61 letters To the Editor

Degrees of Woo asymptotic, as we live in a probabilistic texts (99BS 2011) where the earth is universe. Close to absolute truth will described as the centre of the universe Continued... be our personal assurance of our own and is flat (99.9999999BS 2011).” existence: Descartes’ Cogito ergo sum. This scale can be averaged. Each That is my case, with one caveat - But as we might have difficulty proving statement can be given a scale of that it is well known that Asian students our existence to some other people likelihood based on refutable evidence. contribute high fees to university coffers. in the world it can never be absolute. This scale can then be added and A professor who selects or condones Close to the other extreme would be the averaged over the whole text. Such a courses because they are money spinners childhood falsehood of the furry rodent scale can be wonderful for markers of should hand in his/her badge. that deposits chocolate eggs for ‘good’ higher degree theses and a BS score children to binge eat. level can be set as a standard for each Geoff Sherrington Truth, of course, is temporally ‘academic’ discipline. Donvale VIC dependent, so the scale would have to For example: be qualified by the time in which the • Chinese Herbal Medicine - 65 BS estimate was made. My existence is • Chiropractic 95 BS The BS scale currently reassuring but proving my • Osteopathy - 95 BS existence in the future will become • Reflexology - 99.9 BS more problematical. My DNA might • Pure Mathematics - 0.01 BS ost of you are aware of various be preserved and linked to descendants, • Sociology – 60 BS Mscales used in science as a but otherwise I will become a name that • Medicine – 25 BS shorthand for comparing the intensity declines with use and is forgotten in the • Physics – 1 BS of processes - the Richter scale for earth- ebb and flow of cultural conflict. • Freudian psychology – 70 BS quake, Kelvin scale for temperature I modestly propose this scale to be I hope to see this scale propagated (and its subset Celsius) etc. What I called the Brookman Scale; that it shares through all forms of publication. If propose is a scale of falsity for writers to an acronym with the faecal output of the use becomes widespread and some indicate the reliability of assertions that the male bovine is, of course, purely editors refuse to adopt the scale, then they publish in creative writings, or in coincidental. Skeptics in the future deciding what to read will become easy. critiques. may qualify statements thus: “The Simply refuse all publications that have a The scale will range from zero earth is a spheroid (1BS 2011) with an BS score above your desired level. to one hundred, with zero being asymmetrical magnetic field (1BS 2011). absolute truth, and 100 being Many people, of course, believe the David Brookman absolute falsehood; they are of course literal interpretations in ancient religious Salamander Bay NSW

cryptic crossword solution Dr Bob’s Trivia SOLUTIONS

S N O I T A X U L B U S X O N

D N I A D O I N 1. Lohengrin (Sorry).

R O R R E C L U C I R S A G

T 2. He believed gnomes were real, and he hoped it would

A E T E I U N

A entice them to appear.

Y E F S Y F F U T S S O O B A

K N L I N S I H 3. Beauty. Helen of Troy had “the face that launched

C N I I U N N E H C T I T S 1,000 ships” so 1mH would be enough beauty to

O S M O D T A

A launch one ship. Negatively, -1mH would sink one

T N E G A I B I L A P A P

L ship, or launch one ship the other way.

S T F T O P U

O 4. S A N D H S I L A O P I R X When he comes to the notoriously jammed M25 ring T

N A M U C E I U motorway, there are no other cars in his lane.

E L D D A W T R C T E N E T

N 5. Judas Iscariot

M C X N I S A A

O I A R N I E W D O R M I N E You can see more like this, every month and going back 62 some years, at www.skeptics.com.au/features/dr-bobs-quiz/

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