Just out now - No jab, no play campaign launched to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools: The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph are today launching a campaign to stop the rise in the number of children succumbing to preventable diseases because parents are failing to have them fully immunised. Although only 1.5 per cent of parents are "vaccine refusers" or conscientious objectors, many parents are forgetful, leaving areas of NSW with vaccination rates below 85 … [Read more...]
Breaking News: Australian Newspapers Band Together To Protest Anti-Vaccination
May 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Lecture – Elizabeth Loftus: Memory Matters
May 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
"People sometimes remember things that never happened." The BHA, Centre for Inquiry UK, Goldsmiths' Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit present Elizabeth Loftus on Memory Matters, exploring how and why this happens. … [Read more...]
Links Du Jour – AVN Under HCCC Fire, Swisse Vs ABC’s The Checkout And James “Bomb Detector” McCormick Jailed
May 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A few links from around the traps, that have distracted me a little during this heinously busy week: Firstly, some good news - HCCC (Australian Health Care Complaints Commission) power boosted after anti-vax feud - The Medical Observer: THE NSW Health Care Complaints Commission’s (HCCC) bitter feud with anti-vaccine lobbyists has propelled the state government to dramatically increase the body’s powers, enabling it to launch practitioner investigations without a patient … [Read more...]
Podcasts – ScienceRewired, 365 Days Of Philosophy And Token Skeptic Shows Now Out #scicomm
April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I've been very busy over my brief holiday break - the important thing is that if you're in Australia and interested in science communication, science education and science outreach, that you check out some of the presenters at the forthcoming ScienceRewired Big Science Communication Summit and consider not only: Giving feedback on what is discussed (think of it like a "wiki" for things that will be raised at the event), but Consider signing up to present yourself! For these interviews, … [Read more...]
Apparently My Home Town (Perth) Is Beset By UFOs…
April 28, 2013 By 3 Comments
Today's newspaper (that I usually avoid and usually wouldn't get an alert for, unless it mentions matters of a pseudoscientific or paranormal nature) - well, how about some UFOs about 20km (12 miles) from the city? In Darlington... up in the hills... and about 20km south of the flight-paths that takes you to the cities in the East, from my little bit of research. Apparently there's hundreds of UFOs out in that area. Hundreds. You'd hope that the airlines would be doing a little more … [Read more...]
Jabbed: Love, Fear And Vaccines – On Australian SBS, 26th May
April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The interview I previously conducted with director Sonya Pemberton can be found on the Token Skeptic podcast, but you may also enjoy this teaser from the full transcript over on the Curiouser and Curiouser column for the CSI website: Kylie: Your next production, Jabbed, you've said that you have been seeking out voices to add to the investigation of vaccination claims? Sonya Pemberton: Yeah. Well, it is not an investigation of anti‑vaccination. I should be really clear. I started out … [Read more...]
DONE! Lords Pass Defamation Bill! Simon Singh, Et Al, Rejoice #UK #LibelReform
April 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Isn't it ALWAYS the way, that big things happen when you're stuck on public transport? He also writes: "Big thanks to ProfBrianCox & DaveGorman who were at Penderel's Oak 4 years ago, kickstarting #LibelReform science campaign"...which was FOUR years ago. Full story over on The Guardian: Laws that led to London being dubbed "the libel capital of the world" will be reformed after peers in the Lords voted to pass the defamation bill, ending a three-year campaign led by Liberal Democrat … [Read more...]
Skepticism In Romania! New Token Skeptic Podcast
April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Now out on the Token Skeptic website: Episode One Hundred And Fifty Eight - On Sceptici în România - Skepticism In Romania - three fantastic, talented skeptics (Eddy Petrisor, Stanca Miruna Geanta Chelbea and Ovidiu Covaciu) who have a lot to say! Check out http://podcast.sceptici.ro and enjoy subscribing to some of the freshest content on the internet when it comes to pseudoscience, the paranormal and challenging quackery in Europe. Kylie: What are some of the big concerns in Romania … [Read more...]
Interview With Sharon Hill On The Media Guide To Skepticism
April 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
A little while back I conducted an interview with Sharon Hill, after reading a document that features on the Doubtful News website. It’s called The Media Guide To Skepticism and features some fascinating tips and guidance for anyone interested in finding out more about skepticism. Sharon Hill has recently started writing for the Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sharon-hill and you can also find her monthly column “Sounds Sciencey“ over on the Committee for … [Read more...]
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