1 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:09,500 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:27,210 --> 00:00:25,500 wow it's the old skeptic zone theme hmm 3 00:00:30,179 --> 00:00:27,220 I thought I put that into retirement 4 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:30,189 about a year back oh well you know how 5 00:00:34,470 --> 00:00:32,050 it is get them out once in a while give 6 00:00:36,869 --> 00:00:34,480 them a run through the paddocks through 7 00:00:39,750 --> 00:00:36,879 the internet and put it back into the 8 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:39,760 stable maybe we'll hear that theme once 9 00:00:46,170 --> 00:00:43,050 again sometime in the distant future 10 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:46,180 hello it's Richard Saunders here it's 11 00:00:53,970 --> 00:00:50,170 episode number 162 of the skeptic zone 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:53,980 on the twenty-sixth of November 2011 13 00:01:00,510 --> 00:00:56,530 what a show we have lined up for you 14 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:00,520 this week now last weekend the 15 00:01:05,249 --> 00:01:02,110 Australian skeptics held their annual 16 00:01:07,230 --> 00:01:05,259 convention last year of course it was 17 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:07,240 combined with Cam Australia and that was 18 00:01:13,230 --> 00:01:09,490 a huge success this year was a bit more 19 00:01:16,020 --> 00:01:13,240 low-key not being a tam and we had it at 20 00:01:18,690 --> 00:01:16,030 the Australian Museum just the one day 21 00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:18,700 convention what a great time great time 22 00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:23,110 had by all especially especially by 23 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:24,970 Maynard who was running around with his 24 00:01:29,550 --> 00:01:27,610 microphone lots of interviews coming up 25 00:01:31,919 --> 00:01:29,560 from the Australian skeptics national 26 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:31,929 convention over the coming weeks and 27 00:01:38,339 --> 00:01:35,410 after those bits and pieces from Maynard 28 00:01:41,730 --> 00:01:38,349 it's the welcome return of reality bites 29 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:41,740 with Joanne been amoo and Joanne's going 30 00:01:47,730 --> 00:01:43,450 to be looking this week she's going to 31 00:01:50,309 --> 00:01:47,740 be looking at apricot kernels mmm and 32 00:01:52,169 --> 00:01:50,319 the risk of toxicity and cancer claims 33 00:01:54,839 --> 00:01:52,179 are all sorts of things like that coming 34 00:01:57,540 --> 00:01:54,849 up in reality bites and then following 35 00:02:00,510 --> 00:01:57,550 that of course it's the think tank but 36 00:02:02,790 --> 00:02:00,520 not not not not at our club down the end 37 00:02:05,790 --> 00:02:02,800 of the street we go to a mystery 38 00:02:07,559 --> 00:02:05,800 location yes a mystery location keep 39 00:02:10,290 --> 00:02:07,569 listening to the skeptic zone and find 40 00:02:13,490 --> 00:02:10,300 out where we end up thank you for all 41 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:13,500 those people by the way writing to me 42 00:02:18,390 --> 00:02:16,090 who've discovered skepticism for the 43 00:02:20,940 --> 00:02:18,400 first time by seeing me appear on the 44 00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:20,950 television show the one the one which 45 00:02:26,670 --> 00:02:23,319 just wrapped up the final show went to 46 00:02:29,730 --> 00:02:26,680 where in the past week and if you're 47 00:02:32,850 --> 00:02:29,740 interested the winner as voted by the 48 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:32,860 Great Australian public was Greg Riley 49 00:02:37,860 --> 00:02:34,840 from Victoria there you are Greg 50 00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:37,870 winner of the one but thank you to 51 00:02:43,559 --> 00:02:40,060 everybody who's been writing in to me 52 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:43,569 saying well not always nice things but 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:46,510 lots of nice things actually I'm pleased 54 00:02:52,020 --> 00:02:49,330 to say mostly nice things and how 55 00:02:55,350 --> 00:02:52,030 they've gone on to discover things like 56 00:02:58,559 --> 00:02:55,360 the Australian skeptics and even so far 57 00:03:01,530 --> 00:02:58,569 as finding other podcasts and even this 58 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:01,540 podcast so that's all good i'm very 59 00:03:05,430 --> 00:03:03,310 pleased to hear about that some more 60 00:03:07,589 --> 00:03:05,440 interesting and exciting news coming up 61 00:03:08,970 --> 00:03:07,599 over the the summer break here in 62 00:03:11,190 --> 00:03:08,980 australia the winter break in the 63 00:03:14,729 --> 00:03:11,200 northern hemisphere is our friend and 64 00:03:17,550 --> 00:03:14,739 reporter Maynard looks like he's got a 65 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:17,560 new show which will be appearing on ABC 66 00:03:22,890 --> 00:03:20,530 radio that seems exciting stuff that's 67 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:22,900 exciting stuff and with special guests 68 00:03:30,030 --> 00:03:26,530 maybe even now well me and dr. HC will 69 00:03:32,220 --> 00:03:30,040 see more news about that pretty soon but 70 00:03:33,630 --> 00:03:32,230 we're all hoping that that comes off the 71 00:03:36,479 --> 00:03:33,640 main odd that should be very interesting 72 00:03:37,890 --> 00:03:36,489 and exciting for people in Australia and 73 00:03:41,039 --> 00:03:37,900 of course well the internet these days 74 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:41,049 people around the world and don't forget 75 00:03:47,069 --> 00:03:44,530 we still have the the appeal from 76 00:03:52,170 --> 00:03:47,079 Maynard to get funds for him to come 77 00:03:57,150 --> 00:03:52,180 with us to Tam 10 in Las Vegas so Rachel 78 00:04:00,240 --> 00:03:57,160 and I and Joe and Iran can um well not 79 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:00,250 run around like like crazy trying to get 80 00:04:04,229 --> 00:04:02,290 lots of interviews will it may not do 81 00:04:05,879 --> 00:04:04,239 the running around for you on your 82 00:04:08,759 --> 00:04:05,889 behalf and on now we have from getting 83 00:04:12,089 --> 00:04:08,769 all those great interviews and soon soon 84 00:04:17,039 --> 00:04:12,099 will be auctioning off a poster filled 85 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:17,049 with famous skeptical autographs oh boy 86 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:20,530 everyone from Joe Nickell to the skeptic 87 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:23,050 zone team to Ben radford Steve novella 88 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:26,410 Rebecca Watson's on there even may not 89 00:04:30,540 --> 00:04:28,870 himself and lots of other names i'll be 90 00:04:34,110 --> 00:04:30,550 telling you about soon look out for that 91 00:04:35,850 --> 00:04:34,120 coming up that'll be auctioned off there 92 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:35,860 are a couple actually but we'll be 93 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:38,530 starting off with one all benefits going 94 00:04:44,339 --> 00:04:41,410 to help us get Maynard over Terrell Las 95 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:44,349 Vegas where I think he'll feel right at 96 00:04:47,810 --> 00:04:46,450 home well I'm going to feel right at 97 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:47,820 home I'm going to 98 00:04:52,430 --> 00:04:50,610 I'm going to run downstairs one of these 99 00:04:53,690 --> 00:04:52,440 days I'm going to trip if I keep running 100 00:04:56,300 --> 00:04:53,700 down those stairs i'm going to run 101 00:04:59,510 --> 00:04:56,310 downstairs i'm going to run to the 102 00:05:06,320 --> 00:04:59,520 coffee plunger i'm going to have a nice 103 00:05:10,220 --> 00:05:06,330 cup of obama blend coffee as has bought 104 00:05:13,010 --> 00:05:10,230 here in down in Sydney in Newtown Obama 105 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:13,020 blender coffee oh yes now this is a 106 00:05:20,750 --> 00:05:16,410 mixture of coffees from Africa and the 107 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:20,760 Americas hmm as as you can find it 108 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:23,570 campus coffee here and now in Newtown 109 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:26,610 I'll do that I'll do that and while I'm 110 00:05:44,630 --> 00:05:29,610 doing that sipping my coffee I'll let 111 00:05:53,850 --> 00:05:49,800 here's my not spooky action at the 112 00:05:57,820 --> 00:05:56,140 well people it's all happening if the 113 00:05:59,980 --> 00:05:57,830 Australian skeptics national convention 114 00:06:01,300 --> 00:05:59,990 2011 I can read that off the screen if 115 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:01,310 you want to know the difference between 116 00:06:06,430 --> 00:06:04,370 a apotheosis and a catharsis these are 117 00:06:08,010 --> 00:06:06,440 the people to ask and I'm up I'm right 118 00:06:12,010 --> 00:06:08,020 at the back in the naughty seats with 119 00:06:13,750 --> 00:06:12,020 dr. Christie Wilson now well I look i'm 120 00:06:15,790 --> 00:06:13,760 we right at the back do you normally 121 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:15,800 hang up to up the back of these kind of 122 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:17,810 things you can get up to nonsense and 123 00:06:21,460 --> 00:06:19,730 carry on a bit up the back always I 124 00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:21,470 always like to be hidden well away from 125 00:06:25,660 --> 00:06:24,110 from trouble especially something like 126 00:06:28,180 --> 00:06:25,670 this you know definitely I hate being 127 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:28,190 asked questions Oh for example I have no 128 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:29,410 idea what the difference between 129 00:06:34,810 --> 00:06:32,570 apotheosis and catharsis I can't even 130 00:06:37,510 --> 00:06:34,820 say I Robin oh they're both great woods 131 00:06:39,130 --> 00:06:37,520 to drop I like introducing little things 132 00:06:41,410 --> 00:06:39,140 like that into the skeptic zone I 133 00:06:44,020 --> 00:06:41,420 haven't brought the great cambrian 134 00:06:46,270 --> 00:06:44,030 explode cambrian explosion conundrum 135 00:06:48,190 --> 00:06:46,280 here before and I have asked for 136 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:48,200 evidence of extraterrestrials on the 137 00:06:52,510 --> 00:06:49,820 show but sadly we haven't had any yet 138 00:06:55,030 --> 00:06:52,520 well I've got a good one I always give 139 00:06:56,890 --> 00:06:55,040 my students is etiological criteria that 140 00:06:59,290 --> 00:06:56,900 always impresses people at dinner 141 00:07:02,409 --> 00:06:59,300 parties aetiological criteria it means 142 00:07:04,810 --> 00:07:02,419 what's the cause of something so what's 143 00:07:06,940 --> 00:07:04,820 the etiology of depression who's Alf was 144 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:06,950 an etiological criteria nice i want to 145 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:10,370 drop in it will impress everybody hey as 146 00:07:14,469 --> 00:07:12,890 your professional i had i not much sleep 147 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:14,479 last night because I was really stressed 148 00:07:20,050 --> 00:07:17,690 I had two coffees this morning and I can 149 00:07:21,940 --> 00:07:20,060 I feel mildly like a panic attack 150 00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:21,950 without the pins and needles and stuff 151 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:23,620 is that the coffee and the lack of sleep 152 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:25,910 absolutely yeah oh how strong was the 153 00:07:29,230 --> 00:07:27,410 coffee did you have milk sugar in the 154 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:29,240 coffee or was it like two really strong 155 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:31,610 black coffee well it coffee will do that 156 00:07:35,830 --> 00:07:34,130 it's a drug yeah yeah was it stimulate 157 00:07:38,050 --> 00:07:35,840 you and just go to do this absolutely 158 00:07:40,630 --> 00:07:38,060 and when I was doing my PhD many years 159 00:07:42,430 --> 00:07:40,640 ago and I lived on coffee because it 160 00:07:44,170 --> 00:07:42,440 kept me going I was buzzing for days and 161 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:44,180 days and days oh yeah don't drink coffee 162 00:07:48,250 --> 00:07:46,150 if you want to be relaxed and chilled 163 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:48,260 but if you want to wake up which is what 164 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:49,850 I did yeah but anyway but look it's 165 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:51,710 quite a relaxing venue here this is 166 00:07:55,750 --> 00:07:53,210 really good what are you going to be 167 00:07:56,679 --> 00:07:55,760 telling people about today uh right well 168 00:07:59,350 --> 00:07:56,689 um 169 00:08:02,259 --> 00:07:59,360 I'm a psychology lecturer at chester 170 00:08:04,629 --> 00:08:02,269 university based in aubrey and my area 171 00:08:06,729 --> 00:08:04,639 of research is the psychology of belief 172 00:08:08,259 --> 00:08:06,739 why people believe in weird and 173 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:08,269 wonderful things all the psychological 174 00:08:13,089 --> 00:08:10,610 and in some cases physiological reasons 175 00:08:14,589 --> 00:08:13,099 why people believe in this stuff and the 176 00:08:17,829 --> 00:08:14,599 area is actually called animalistic 177 00:08:19,629 --> 00:08:17,839 psychology and your your your listeners 178 00:08:23,109 --> 00:08:19,639 will have heard me mention this before 179 00:08:24,819 --> 00:08:23,119 so it's not the same as parapsychology 180 00:08:27,389 --> 00:08:24,829 or see parapsychology as everybody 181 00:08:29,679 --> 00:08:27,399 listening will know is very sort of 182 00:08:31,619 --> 00:08:29,689 friendly very sympathetic towards the 183 00:08:33,459 --> 00:08:31,629 idea that sigh exists and 184 00:08:34,869 --> 00:08:33,469 parapsychologists and basically spend a 185 00:08:37,949 --> 00:08:34,879 hundred years trying to prove this stuff 186 00:08:40,569 --> 00:08:37,959 is real anomalistic psychology is 187 00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:40,579 absolutely skeptic skeptical in nature 188 00:08:44,230 --> 00:08:42,110 and as I said it's looking at the 189 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:44,240 psychological and in some cases 190 00:08:47,860 --> 00:08:46,490 physiological reasons why some people 191 00:08:49,379 --> 00:08:47,870 believe in all this weird and wonderful 192 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:49,389 stuff so that's that's what I 193 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:52,310 investigate that's what I'm doing see 194 00:08:57,879 --> 00:08:54,290 reckon you could take Michael Shermer in 195 00:09:00,249 --> 00:08:57,889 a fight Oh take my chauffeur anyway 196 00:09:02,470 --> 00:09:00,259 frankly was that a bit of a crush on him 197 00:09:05,079 --> 00:09:02,480 I sure hope he's listening Michael give 198 00:09:07,929 --> 00:09:05,089 me a call and what is the best example 199 00:09:09,639 --> 00:09:07,939 of of your work you could give us right 200 00:09:12,369 --> 00:09:09,649 I know what is the common belief that 201 00:09:15,429 --> 00:09:12,379 you usually use as an example well okay 202 00:09:18,369 --> 00:09:15,439 oh that's a good question I think my 203 00:09:21,850 --> 00:09:18,379 main my main thesis if you like is that 204 00:09:23,139 --> 00:09:21,860 that we're all actually believers and 205 00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:23,149 again your listeners will at those of 206 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:24,470 those of them that have seen me give 207 00:09:29,799 --> 00:09:26,569 talks and so on and conventions what 208 00:09:31,119 --> 00:09:29,809 have you and at tam will know that the 209 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:31,129 this is something that I bang on about 210 00:09:38,290 --> 00:09:34,970 all the time that skeptics tend to think 211 00:09:39,999 --> 00:09:38,300 that believers are a particular kind of 212 00:09:42,220 --> 00:09:40,009 species that there's something 213 00:09:44,799 --> 00:09:42,230 fundamentally wrong with the way they 214 00:09:48,699 --> 00:09:44,809 think and how they process information 215 00:09:52,629 --> 00:09:48,709 etc but in reality that's not actually 216 00:09:54,220 --> 00:09:52,639 the case skeptics are believers as well 217 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:54,230 I mean we believe in skepticism we 218 00:09:57,759 --> 00:09:55,730 believe in science now these are all 219 00:10:00,069 --> 00:09:57,769 human activities and wherever you have 220 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:00,079 humans taking part in any kind of 221 00:10:03,249 --> 00:10:01,370 activity you're going to have bias 222 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:03,259 you're going to have all kinds of 223 00:10:07,930 --> 00:10:04,730 subjective 224 00:10:10,689 --> 00:10:07,940 associated with him and so we believe as 225 00:10:12,970 --> 00:10:10,699 well and my my main thrust my main 226 00:10:15,670 --> 00:10:12,980 argument if you like is that that we all 227 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:15,680 believe in something we all believe in 228 00:10:22,150 --> 00:10:18,850 something and that there are not 229 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:22,160 specific differences between believers 230 00:10:26,590 --> 00:10:23,810 that it's something that may possibly 231 00:10:30,730 --> 00:10:26,600 even be innate so we may possibly be 232 00:10:32,439 --> 00:10:30,740 born with this this need this desire to 233 00:10:34,870 --> 00:10:32,449 believe in something because if we 234 00:10:37,060 --> 00:10:34,880 believe we belong and if we belong we 235 00:10:39,069 --> 00:10:37,070 feel stronger so it might have some kind 236 00:10:41,319 --> 00:10:39,079 of adaptive purpose maybe that's that's 237 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:41,329 my sort of thrust of my andreea the 238 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:43,610 moment I can't get too many academics 239 00:10:48,850 --> 00:10:46,490 they'll believe me then will agree with 240 00:10:51,069 --> 00:10:48,860 it will agree with me but does the kind 241 00:10:53,650 --> 00:10:51,079 of thing i'm working on how belief in 242 00:10:56,610 --> 00:10:53,660 various things can actually be useful it 243 00:10:59,439 --> 00:10:56,620 can actually help us cope with with life 244 00:11:02,110 --> 00:10:59,449 so what is the key to having someone 245 00:11:03,790 --> 00:11:02,120 change their belief if it's shown to be 246 00:11:06,490 --> 00:11:03,800 wrong how do you because that's pretty 247 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:06,500 big that's a cathartic moment if you 248 00:11:10,030 --> 00:11:08,570 actually have to change your belief in 249 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:10,040 helping you if someone really believes 250 00:11:14,050 --> 00:11:11,690 that and they're not open to the facts 251 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:14,060 how do you do that well I'm not sure 252 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:16,370 that you can as actually that came up in 253 00:11:20,079 --> 00:11:18,170 the previous the previous talk and I'm 254 00:11:22,090 --> 00:11:20,089 not sure that you can it's very hard to 255 00:11:26,650 --> 00:11:22,100 convince someone who believes in yetis 256 00:11:28,329 --> 00:11:26,660 or or talking to the dead very hard to 257 00:11:30,579 --> 00:11:28,339 convince them that it's not actually the 258 00:11:33,639 --> 00:11:30,589 case and again I've said this many times 259 00:11:35,530 --> 00:11:33,649 before that it only takes a little bit 260 00:11:38,819 --> 00:11:35,540 of evidence to convince people of 261 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:38,829 anything you know a human self deception 262 00:11:44,079 --> 00:11:41,930 we're all capable of that we can be 263 00:11:46,150 --> 00:11:44,089 convinced of pretty much anything with 264 00:11:48,759 --> 00:11:46,160 the smallest piece of evidence to 265 00:11:50,170 --> 00:11:48,769 convince someone of the opposite of 266 00:11:52,629 --> 00:11:50,180 their beliefs I think that's actually 267 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:52,639 very difficult to do because we're 268 00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:54,610 talking about a lot of complex 269 00:11:59,860 --> 00:11:58,010 psychological variables here too there's 270 00:12:01,129 --> 00:11:59,870 lots of reasons why people believe in 271 00:12:04,429 --> 00:12:01,139 stuff 272 00:12:09,169 --> 00:12:04,439 it's quite complex and to turn someone 273 00:12:11,780 --> 00:12:09,179 away from that is more than just simple 274 00:12:15,590 --> 00:12:11,790 rational thinking you know it's more 275 00:12:18,199 --> 00:12:15,600 than just trying to encourage rational 276 00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:18,209 thinking far more than that now when of 277 00:12:25,189 --> 00:12:19,769 you had a belief that you had to chuck 278 00:12:26,869 --> 00:12:25,199 away come on I'm look earlier for 279 00:12:28,369 --> 00:12:26,879 example I actually used to buy that 280 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:28,379 magic water that they showed on the 281 00:12:33,129 --> 00:12:31,169 screen earlier in the belief that it 282 00:12:36,439 --> 00:12:33,139 would help my parents arthritis I 283 00:12:38,599 --> 00:12:36,449 actually used to believe that no III 284 00:12:41,900 --> 00:12:38,609 don't have anything like that oh well I 285 00:12:44,409 --> 00:12:41,910 do bizarrely now this is bizarre and I 286 00:12:46,669 --> 00:12:44,419 do actually have and I'm apologized via 287 00:12:49,849 --> 00:12:46,679 listeners to this book about this but I 288 00:12:52,789 --> 00:12:49,859 do actually have a lucky number um well 289 00:12:55,759 --> 00:12:52,799 it's not so much lucky is that it just 290 00:12:57,109 --> 00:12:55,769 follows me around 58 5 they it just 291 00:12:58,759 --> 00:12:57,119 seems to follow me around everywhere 292 00:13:00,470 --> 00:12:58,769 that's interesting and how long have you 293 00:13:02,780 --> 00:13:00,480 noticed this number popping up well 294 00:13:05,239 --> 00:13:02,790 since I was born because it's it's 295 00:13:09,289 --> 00:13:05,249 actually my birthday 58 not in the year 296 00:13:11,059 --> 00:13:09,299 58th 5th of august so and it just seems 297 00:13:14,629 --> 00:13:11,069 to find me around Lila addresses 298 00:13:17,269 --> 00:13:14,639 postcodes number plates driver's license 299 00:13:20,449 --> 00:13:17,279 my even my Equity card my Equity card 300 00:13:24,619 --> 00:13:20,459 British Actors Equity card it was 58 58 301 00:13:25,909 --> 00:13:24,629 which was weird weird maybe someone from 302 00:13:29,569 --> 00:13:25,919 another realm is trying to communicate 303 00:13:31,340 --> 00:13:29,579 with you by coincidence quite possibly 304 00:13:32,659 --> 00:13:31,350 yeah no don't worry though I'm not I'm 305 00:13:34,549 --> 00:13:32,669 not there's no chance that I'm going to 306 00:13:38,059 --> 00:13:34,559 be turning to the dark side any time yet 307 00:13:39,769 --> 00:13:38,069 no well good luck with the working to 308 00:13:41,269 --> 00:13:39,779 this crowd they're pretty good crowd but 309 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:41,279 you know something could happen to look 310 00:13:45,650 --> 00:13:43,290 like i always say these things i want 311 00:13:46,850 --> 00:13:45,660 someone to get up there go crazy and get 312 00:13:49,299 --> 00:13:46,860 dragged out do you think that will be 313 00:13:51,499 --> 00:13:49,309 happening tonight I don't think so I 314 00:13:52,850 --> 00:13:51,509 really want to see that in a skeptic 315 00:13:54,319 --> 00:13:52,860 times with someone just suddenly go 316 00:13:56,460 --> 00:13:54,329 we're a little bit and have to get taken 317 00:13:59,060 --> 00:13:56,470 out no I don't think so 318 00:14:01,230 --> 00:13:59,070 no little fart irrational for that I 319 00:14:02,940 --> 00:14:01,240 guess okay we'll go get back to my 320 00:14:07,470 --> 00:14:02,950 catharsis thanks for your time okay guys 321 00:14:09,750 --> 00:14:07,480 good good to see you later look we're 322 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:09,760 out here in the foyer at the Australian 323 00:14:12,570 --> 00:14:11,110 Museum and you could just cut the 324 00:14:14,940 --> 00:14:12,580 tension with with something that you'd 325 00:14:17,250 --> 00:14:14,950 find in the museum shop and who we got 326 00:14:18,990 --> 00:14:17,260 here day hi this is Karen I'm from 327 00:14:20,910 --> 00:14:19,000 Melbourne hey all the way from melbourne 328 00:14:26,580 --> 00:14:20,920 now what did you a motorbike it did you 329 00:14:27,390 --> 00:14:26,590 walk hitchhike the plane yes and now 330 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:27,400 what have you thought of what you've 331 00:14:30,540 --> 00:14:28,930 heard so far it's a really big day here 332 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:30,550 and have you got the right shirt on 333 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:33,010 colorful and skeptical it's almost as 334 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:35,680 loud as yours men ours I had to wear 335 00:14:39,180 --> 00:14:37,450 some loud so people can seek me out to 336 00:14:41,490 --> 00:14:39,190 say some stuff but is there something 337 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:41,500 you're looking forward to today the the 338 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:42,910 dinner looks good i'm looking forward to 339 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:45,730 the dinner definitely I'm definitely a 340 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:48,010 fan of Laurens lungs so yeah that all 341 00:14:53,220 --> 00:14:51,250 that'll be good hopefully yes so far 342 00:14:55,890 --> 00:14:53,230 today it's still only only the morning 343 00:14:57,510 --> 00:14:55,900 so only a couple of talks so far but and 344 00:14:59,400 --> 00:14:57,520 what is your area what's your 345 00:15:02,880 --> 00:14:59,410 skeptically are you like delving in 346 00:15:06,630 --> 00:15:02,890 mucking around with I really sink my 347 00:15:08,850 --> 00:15:06,640 teeth into religion actually ok so would 348 00:15:13,370 --> 00:15:08,860 you be described as bone hanging I go 349 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:13,380 word here and anti theist probably 350 00:15:18,330 --> 00:15:16,270 atheist is a definition that that suits 351 00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:18,340 me fine i think but yeah you know 352 00:15:23,820 --> 00:15:20,350 there's so many definitions out there 353 00:15:25,380 --> 00:15:23,830 and that they all pretty much overlap no 354 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:25,390 I can't so you obviously look at if 355 00:15:29,460 --> 00:15:27,730 fewer theologies what's your favourite 356 00:15:31,950 --> 00:15:29,470 God that you like to look at and the 357 00:15:34,410 --> 00:15:31,960 effect on people my favorite what's odd 358 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:34,420 your favorite which of the gods is your 359 00:15:40,590 --> 00:15:37,510 favorite I I like Thor he's definitely a 360 00:15:42,990 --> 00:15:40,600 favorite God and what an outfit and what 361 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:43,000 an outfit you know Jesus of course was 362 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:44,710 now two across and Thor carries a hammer 363 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:48,610 you know you figure it out at any time 364 00:15:52,740 --> 00:15:50,890 he could go go to a gay dance party in 365 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:52,750 that outfit at any time Thor just turns 366 00:15:57,050 --> 00:15:55,170 up they go war absolutely 367 00:16:01,490 --> 00:15:57,060 good and what was his mi suppose we may 368 00:16:04,129 --> 00:16:01,500 block from by the way um I don't know it 369 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:04,139 was it made of a song it's also gets it 370 00:16:08,509 --> 00:16:06,690 into ancient astronaut theory as well 371 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:08,519 because you know a God with a mighty 372 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:10,170 hammer could have been some technology 373 00:16:14,780 --> 00:16:12,540 like misinterpreted by the ancients it 374 00:16:16,370 --> 00:16:14,790 could have been but probably not there's 375 00:16:18,350 --> 00:16:16,380 very little evidence for this I know it 376 00:16:19,699 --> 00:16:18,360 will go well and that's into that 377 00:16:24,530 --> 00:16:19,709 conversation people have a good day 378 00:16:26,509 --> 00:16:24,540 cheers my dad thank you we're here in 379 00:16:28,519 --> 00:16:26,519 the lunchroom who am I talking to my 380 00:16:29,540 --> 00:16:28,529 name is Jason cook and I'm the current 381 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:29,550 president of the Griffith University 382 00:16:35,420 --> 00:16:32,970 skeptics and freethinkers know so so has 383 00:16:37,340 --> 00:16:35,430 it been the conference with the 384 00:16:40,310 --> 00:16:37,350 kilometers today definitely definitely 385 00:16:41,389 --> 00:16:40,320 really informative really fun excellent 386 00:16:44,319 --> 00:16:41,399 conference it's only halfway through 387 00:16:46,519 --> 00:16:44,329 what's been the best bit wow I 388 00:16:48,740 --> 00:16:46,529 particularly liked the last speaker 389 00:16:50,660 --> 00:16:48,750 which was about science journalism and 390 00:16:52,699 --> 00:16:50,670 the decline dog dumbing down of science 391 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:52,709 journalism i'm currently studying 392 00:16:56,780 --> 00:16:54,870 journalism and we'd like to get into the 393 00:16:59,180 --> 00:16:56,790 science area so when was the last time 394 00:17:00,500 --> 00:16:59,190 you went when you were reading a science 395 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:00,510 journalism 396 00:17:06,260 --> 00:17:02,730 article yeah recently likely this 397 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:06,270 morning it's a daily occurrence oh you 398 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:07,890 see what the facts are wrong or it's 399 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:10,170 poorly written or a little bit of both 400 00:17:15,860 --> 00:17:14,250 there can be facts wrong or sometimes it 401 00:17:18,130 --> 00:17:15,870 just doesn't seem to make sense there'll 402 00:17:21,020 --> 00:17:18,140 be something that our contradiction or 403 00:17:24,439 --> 00:17:21,030 terminology that they've sort of tried 404 00:17:26,540 --> 00:17:24,449 to use the language of science but 405 00:17:29,300 --> 00:17:26,550 without the understanding of it so it's 406 00:17:31,070 --> 00:17:29,310 almost like a poor translation you know 407 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:31,080 when you do a translation program of a 408 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:32,730 language other than English and it comes 409 00:17:37,580 --> 00:17:34,250 back as English and doesn't make sense 410 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:37,590 that do you think it's just mainly they 411 00:17:42,950 --> 00:17:40,170 just they're rushing for deadlines or 412 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:42,960 they're just sloppy or sometimes as they 413 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:45,570 own agenda they're pushing it can be all 414 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:47,250 of the above all of the above there's 415 00:17:50,990 --> 00:17:48,810 always a deadline issue which is getting 416 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:51,000 harder and harder and harder and that's 417 00:17:57,530 --> 00:17:54,570 across all journalism but yeah the 418 00:17:58,790 --> 00:17:57,540 general in the general public there 419 00:18:01,070 --> 00:17:58,800 seems to be a problem with science 420 00:18:02,390 --> 00:18:01,080 literacy I say seems to be there's 421 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:02,400 definitely a problem with science 422 00:18:07,430 --> 00:18:05,310 literacy a subsection of that public 423 00:18:10,370 --> 00:18:07,440 will become science journalists it's 424 00:18:12,830 --> 00:18:10,380 just the same problem flowing on it and 425 00:18:14,270 --> 00:18:12,840 what issues you skipped except the good 426 00:18:15,590 --> 00:18:14,280 university looking at the moment what 427 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:15,600 about what's ringing your bell up that 428 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:17,610 way at the moment in Queensland we 429 00:18:21,590 --> 00:18:19,410 always have young earth creationists 430 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:21,600 always there's always the 431 00:18:24,730 --> 00:18:23,210 anti-vaccination network 432 00:18:26,409 --> 00:18:24,740 because they're in northern New South 433 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:26,419 Wales they're not that far from where 434 00:18:30,399 --> 00:18:28,490 we're based so we're always keeping an 435 00:18:33,419 --> 00:18:30,409 eye on them and trying to inform people 436 00:18:36,519 --> 00:18:33,429 of what they're doing homeopathy I 437 00:18:40,090 --> 00:18:36,529 regularly take hundreds of homeopathic 438 00:18:42,970 --> 00:18:40,100 sleeping pills no effect whatsoever 439 00:18:45,850 --> 00:18:42,980 except to demonstrate it I did actually 440 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:45,860 see on the dr ratush talk earlier to 441 00:18:50,830 --> 00:18:49,010 stop talking about homeopathic cures for 442 00:18:55,659 --> 00:18:50,840 breast cancer and I noticed actually one 443 00:18:57,940 --> 00:18:55,669 of the herbs there is a fusion th uja it 444 00:19:00,100 --> 00:18:57,950 actually think does have some topical 445 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:00,110 effect if you put it onto a wound I 446 00:19:03,519 --> 00:19:01,730 think it can be helpful in a topic or 447 00:19:05,019 --> 00:19:03,529 form but not when diluted but I thought 448 00:19:07,389 --> 00:19:05,029 hang on that's one heard that actually 449 00:19:10,180 --> 00:19:07,399 does do something if directly applied to 450 00:19:12,630 --> 00:19:10,190 something yeah well a lot of curves are 451 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:12,640 that's where we get medicine from 452 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:15,110 paracetamol is derived from the bark of 453 00:19:21,159 --> 00:19:17,690 a willow tree I think that's where 454 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:21,169 medicine comes from but so it's sort of 455 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:23,450 a problem to reject all natural medicine 456 00:19:28,330 --> 00:19:24,890 or all alternative or complementary 457 00:19:30,370 --> 00:19:28,340 medicines however we need to test them 458 00:19:32,590 --> 00:19:30,380 to see if they work and if we test them 459 00:19:34,659 --> 00:19:32,600 and they don't work then they don't work 460 00:19:36,610 --> 00:19:34,669 unfortunately the moment they're not 461 00:19:39,190 --> 00:19:36,620 being adequately tested or those that 462 00:19:41,139 --> 00:19:39,200 are adequately tested are shown not to 463 00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:41,149 work but they're for sale and the 464 00:19:43,510 --> 00:19:42,710 general public doesn't know this sort of 465 00:19:45,490 --> 00:19:43,520 thing 466 00:19:47,020 --> 00:19:45,500 and what would be your dream science 467 00:19:49,450 --> 00:19:47,030 writing job but you like to work for the 468 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:49,460 ABC sign kuna door for commercial paper 469 00:19:54,610 --> 00:19:52,250 definitely the obesity that's sort of my 470 00:19:56,380 --> 00:19:54,620 pinnacle I like to do the Hannibal 471 00:20:00,640 --> 00:19:56,390 Lecter voice in one day all the way to 472 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:00,650 the ABC and it was arresting a the chat 473 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:02,090 about science writing it's good to have 474 00:20:05,650 --> 00:20:04,010 a science department but as I've 475 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:05,660 discovered working at the ABC sometimes 476 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:06,890 if you're not in the science department 477 00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:08,450 and you want to do a science story 478 00:20:11,770 --> 00:20:10,310 there's a little bit of a ghettoization 479 00:20:13,540 --> 00:20:11,780 it's like I know you been not do that 480 00:20:15,340 --> 00:20:13,550 science story the science unit does that 481 00:20:17,050 --> 00:20:15,350 and certainly they would do it in a more 482 00:20:18,700 --> 00:20:17,060 informed way but it does block some 483 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:18,710 lighter science stories getting through 484 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:22,010 yeah that's definitely true and any 485 00:20:26,530 --> 00:20:23,810 science department can make mistakes 486 00:20:28,420 --> 00:20:26,540 over all fallible we all make mistakes 487 00:20:30,970 --> 00:20:28,430 a lot of what we do in the skeptic 488 00:20:33,250 --> 00:20:30,980 community is not just have scientists 489 00:20:34,930 --> 00:20:33,260 for instance a magician might be able to 490 00:20:36,790 --> 00:20:34,940 look at something James Randi is a great 491 00:20:39,220 --> 00:20:36,800 example of this he'll look at something 492 00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:39,230 and he can see where a mistake has been 493 00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:40,910 made that a normal scientist won't be 494 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:44,120 able to necessarily pick that up there's 495 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:46,550 a lot of psychology involved how we 496 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:49,250 fooled ourselves how we deceived that's 497 00:20:53,020 --> 00:20:50,720 not necessarily something you're going 498 00:20:55,930 --> 00:20:53,030 to learn by becoming a chemist or a 499 00:20:57,820 --> 00:20:55,940 physicist you learn the methodology of 500 00:20:59,830 --> 00:20:57,830 science which is vital and probably the 501 00:21:01,270 --> 00:20:59,840 most important thing however unless you 502 00:21:03,010 --> 00:21:01,280 have critical thinking unless you have 503 00:21:06,820 --> 00:21:03,020 an understanding of how we can be fooled 504 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:06,830 how we can be deceived sometimes being a 505 00:21:11,140 --> 00:21:09,650 scientist isn't enough and what's the 506 00:21:12,730 --> 00:21:11,150 best way we can contact your skeptical 507 00:21:14,830 --> 00:21:12,740 group online you've got you've got like 508 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:14,840 a great website would flash things that 509 00:21:25,710 --> 00:21:19,670 pop out and things we have a website you 510 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:25,720 can find our blog which is wwg ussf calm 511 00:21:31,060 --> 00:21:28,850 complicated but also if you just google 512 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:31,070 Griffith University skeptics or if you 513 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:34,250 google my name jason j ayso n cooksey 514 00:21:38,770 --> 00:21:36,410 double o ke and you can find our stuff 515 00:21:40,060 --> 00:21:38,780 everywhere all over the internet will 516 00:21:41,950 --> 00:21:40,070 enjoy the rest of the day and good luck 517 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:41,960 with that future job at the ABC science 518 00:22:03,430 --> 00:21:57,580 this is james randi and you're listening 519 00:22:06,310 --> 00:22:03,440 to the skeptic zone hi this is carrie 520 00:22:09,369 --> 00:22:06,320 papi I'm Ross Fletcher okay Ross hey 521 00:22:12,159 --> 00:22:09,379 we're from a podcast called oh no Ross 522 00:22:13,930 --> 00:22:12,169 and Carrie we find out what happens when 523 00:22:16,090 --> 00:22:13,940 you show up and ask questions we've hung 524 00:22:18,430 --> 00:22:16,100 out with the Cabalists the Mormons we've 525 00:22:21,190 --> 00:22:18,440 gone and gotten ear candle gone to the 526 00:22:22,810 --> 00:22:21,200 Sikhs we show up so you don't have to so 527 00:22:24,729 --> 00:22:22,820 find out where we're going next we'll 528 00:22:27,339 --> 00:22:24,739 even have special episodes where we have 529 00:22:29,139 --> 00:22:27,349 famous guests like Brian Dalton from mr. 530 00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:29,149 deity you heard that awesome theme music 531 00:22:35,169 --> 00:22:31,460 he wrote that you should come visit us 532 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:35,179 at Oh No podcast.com or facebook.com 533 00:22:42,129 --> 00:22:37,970 slash on rack what the hell's honor a 534 00:22:44,649 --> 00:22:42,139 cross Oh in RAC Oh Oh No Ross and Carrie 535 00:22:53,810 --> 00:22:44,659 that's our show that's a smart come join 536 00:23:08,760 --> 00:22:59,130 is some food for thought it's reality 537 00:23:09,919 --> 00:23:08,770 bites with Joanne Ben amoo Food 538 00:23:12,360 --> 00:23:09,929 Standards Australia New Zealand 539 00:23:14,669 --> 00:23:12,370 reiterated warnings last week about 540 00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:14,679 potentially toxic raw apricot kernels 541 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:17,110 being sold for consumption online and in 542 00:23:21,779 --> 00:23:19,510 health food stores this move came in 543 00:23:23,730 --> 00:23:21,789 response to chai tree an alternative 544 00:23:25,470 --> 00:23:23,740 health company and Victoria who have 545 00:23:27,510 --> 00:23:25,480 reintroduced the kernels to the market 546 00:23:30,990 --> 00:23:27,520 following initially participating in a 547 00:23:33,690 --> 00:23:31,000 recall issued by FSA and Z the company 548 00:23:35,909 --> 00:23:33,700 stated on its website that quote the 549 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:35,919 consumption of raw apricot kernels may 550 00:23:41,159 --> 00:23:38,890 result in adverse reactions raw apricot 551 00:23:43,370 --> 00:23:41,169 kernels contain amygdalin which releases 552 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:43,380 naturally-occurring hydrocyanic acid 553 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:46,690 this is toxic in excess it is the advice 554 00:23:50,039 --> 00:23:48,130 of Food Standards Australia New Zealand 555 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:50,049 and the Department of Health that may 556 00:23:56,070 --> 00:23:52,450 not be consumed please use responsibly 557 00:23:59,610 --> 00:23:56,080 an archived version of the same website 558 00:24:01,590 --> 00:23:59,620 from 2006 states unfortunately due to 559 00:24:03,690 --> 00:24:01,600 certain regulations imposed by governing 560 00:24:05,250 --> 00:24:03,700 bodies we can't educate you on the 561 00:24:07,710 --> 00:24:05,260 therapeutic properties of apricot 562 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:07,720 kernels however we will happily direct 563 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:10,330 you to any necessary information they 564 00:24:16,260 --> 00:24:12,370 provide links to websites including cure 565 00:24:18,060 --> 00:24:16,270 zone b-17 and apricot power all of which 566 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:18,070 promote the use of amygdalin to treat 567 00:24:21,810 --> 00:24:20,110 cancer and claim that the medical 568 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:21,820 establishment has tried to suppress it 569 00:24:27,029 --> 00:24:24,250 an initial warning had been issued 570 00:24:29,220 --> 00:24:27,039 earlier in November when FSA and Zed 571 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:29,230 placed a recall on kernels sold by chai 572 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:31,450 tree after a Queensland man became 573 00:24:37,159 --> 00:24:34,090 unwell the tested product was found to 574 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:37,169 contain high levels of hydrocyanic acid 575 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:40,690 hydrocyanic acid is cyanide and yet the 576 00:24:43,980 --> 00:24:42,490 kernels are touted by some alternative 577 00:24:47,580 --> 00:24:43,990 health proponents as a treatment for 578 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:47,590 cancer toxicity is increased by oral 579 00:24:52,110 --> 00:24:49,570 consumption due to the way our bodies 580 00:24:54,149 --> 00:24:52,120 metabolize amygdalin which is also found 581 00:24:56,789 --> 00:24:54,159 in other fruit pets and seeds such as 582 00:24:58,320 --> 00:24:56,799 almonds and cherries the bitter form of 583 00:25:00,600 --> 00:24:58,330 the pits is popular with those seeking 584 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:00,610 alternative treatments as they contain 585 00:25:05,340 --> 00:25:02,890 higher levels of amygdalin 586 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:05,350 speaking to the Age newspaper professor 587 00:25:09,900 --> 00:25:07,720 in over the cancer council stated that 588 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:09,910 many people think that if it's derived 589 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:11,650 from a fruit that it can't be too 590 00:25:18,060 --> 00:25:15,570 harmful but in this case it can be 591 00:25:20,430 --> 00:25:18,070 people are known to consume up to 50 592 00:25:23,310 --> 00:25:20,440 pits per day but even a small number may 593 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:23,320 be harmful speaking to hospitality 594 00:25:28,020 --> 00:25:25,690 magazine Alan Koontz of the New South 595 00:25:30,420 --> 00:25:28,030 Wales food authorities stated at the 596 00:25:32,370 --> 00:25:30,430 level of hydrocyanic acid detected in 597 00:25:33,990 --> 00:25:32,380 this product only a small number of 598 00:25:35,790 --> 00:25:34,000 apricot kernels would need to be 599 00:25:38,250 --> 00:25:35,800 consumed to reach potentially unsafe 600 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:38,260 levels according to publish toxicity 601 00:25:43,350 --> 00:25:41,290 data health claims surrounding the 602 00:25:45,900 --> 00:25:43,360 substance date back to Russia in the 603 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:45,910 mid-1800s gaining popularity in the 604 00:25:52,620 --> 00:25:49,330 1950s when dr. Ernst eat crab senior and 605 00:25:54,870 --> 00:25:52,630 his son earns t cremes jr. promoted the 606 00:25:58,470 --> 00:25:54,880 use of a synthesized form of amygdalin 607 00:26:00,150 --> 00:25:58,480 to treat cancer crab senior and son had 608 00:26:02,550 --> 00:26:00,160 a long history of promoting various 609 00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:02,560 substances as cancer cures and on 610 00:26:07,530 --> 00:26:04,240 notable figures in the history of cancer 611 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:07,540 quackery krebs claimed that cancerous 612 00:26:11,910 --> 00:26:09,970 cells are rich in an enzyme which causes 613 00:26:14,850 --> 00:26:11,920 release of cyanide from amygdalin 614 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:14,860 killing the cancerous tissue healthy 615 00:26:20,340 --> 00:26:17,290 tissue is spared by another enzyme which 616 00:26:23,370 --> 00:26:20,350 deactivates the cyanide when authorities 617 00:26:27,060 --> 00:26:23,380 tried to banish krebs rebranded a medlin 618 00:26:29,900 --> 00:26:27,070 as vitamin b17 or layer trial claiming a 619 00:26:32,580 --> 00:26:29,910 deficiency of the vitamin led to cancer 620 00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:32,590 like other pseudo scientific theories 621 00:26:36,420 --> 00:26:34,870 the claimed mechanism of action has 622 00:26:39,930 --> 00:26:36,430 never been shown to have scientific 623 00:26:42,180 --> 00:26:39,940 plausibility a 2006 review from the 624 00:26:43,830 --> 00:26:42,190 Cochrane Collaboration concluded that 625 00:26:45,810 --> 00:26:43,840 claims of benefit for cancer patients 626 00:26:49,290 --> 00:26:45,820 are not supported by data from 627 00:26:52,830 --> 00:26:49,300 controlled clinical trials a 1982 trial 628 00:26:55,140 --> 00:26:52,840 of 175 patients found that in orbit one 629 00:26:57,150 --> 00:26:55,150 patient Jimmer's increased in size 630 00:26:59,250 --> 00:26:57,160 following treatment with authors 631 00:27:01,340 --> 00:26:59,260 concluding that it is a toxic drug that 632 00:27:03,690 --> 00:27:01,350 is not effective as a cancer treatment 633 00:27:05,190 --> 00:27:03,700 there have been numerous cases of 634 00:27:07,410 --> 00:27:05,200 patients seeking treatment with low 635 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:07,420 trial most notably the late Steve 636 00:27:11,610 --> 00:27:09,850 McQueen he had traveled to Mexico 637 00:27:13,860 --> 00:27:11,620 seeking alternative treatments for a 638 00:27:15,100 --> 00:27:13,870 mesothelioma diagnosis he received in 639 00:27:17,620 --> 00:27:15,110 1979 640 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:17,630 he reportedly underwent a punishing 641 00:27:23,650 --> 00:27:20,270 regime including up to 50 daily vitamins 642 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:23,660 coffee enemas and lateral mcqueen died 643 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:26,210 shortly after claiming recovery having 644 00:27:30,940 --> 00:27:27,650 failed to respond to any of these 645 00:27:33,130 --> 00:27:30,950 treatments another harrowing case was 646 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:33,140 that of two-year-old Chad Green whose 647 00:27:37,570 --> 00:27:35,210 parents fled to Mexico against court 648 00:27:39,820 --> 00:27:37,580 orders seeking alternative treatment for 649 00:27:42,850 --> 00:27:39,830 his leukemia which had responded well to 650 00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:42,860 chemotherapy Chad's death suggested 651 00:27:47,980 --> 00:27:45,049 cyanide poisoning but the quack watch 652 00:27:50,470 --> 00:27:47,990 website notes that dr. Contreras a noted 653 00:27:52,990 --> 00:27:50,480 proponent of laetrile therapy claimed he 654 00:27:55,180 --> 00:27:53,000 died of leukemia and was a good example 655 00:27:59,380 --> 00:27:55,190 of the effectiveness of laetrile because 656 00:28:01,360 --> 00:27:59,390 he had died of pleasant death in 1975 a 657 00:28:03,340 --> 00:28:01,370 class action lawsuit attempted to force 658 00:28:05,980 --> 00:28:03,350 the FDA to allow terminal cancer 659 00:28:09,460 --> 00:28:05,990 patients to obtain lair trial the case 660 00:28:11,049 --> 00:28:09,470 was initially successful but in 1979 the 661 00:28:13,180 --> 00:28:11,059 US Supreme Court rejected the argument 662 00:28:16,990 --> 00:28:13,190 the terminal patients be exempted from 663 00:28:19,690 --> 00:28:17,000 FDA regulation while it has been banned 664 00:28:22,090 --> 00:28:19,700 for sale in many countries hospitals in 665 00:28:24,190 --> 00:28:22,100 Mexico such as the Oasis of Hope cancer 666 00:28:26,620 --> 00:28:24,200 hospital continue to offer it as a 667 00:28:29,430 --> 00:28:26,630 treatment and many websites offering 668 00:28:32,169 --> 00:28:29,440 alternative cancer cures promote its use 669 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:32,179 Cancer Council are calling for a ban on 670 00:28:45,610 --> 00:28:43,490 the Colonel's now on Belfast FM we turn 671 00:28:47,770 --> 00:28:45,620 to the personal ads easing going and 672 00:28:49,990 --> 00:28:47,780 confident skeptic seeks other critical 673 00:28:52,330 --> 00:28:50,000 thinkers for fun laughter and good times 674 00:28:54,730 --> 00:28:52,340 must be willing to apply logic liberally 675 00:28:56,740 --> 00:28:54,740 and a good listener expect something new 676 00:28:58,360 --> 00:28:56,750 and interesting every month come and 677 00:29:00,250 --> 00:28:58,370 meet me in Belfast in Northern Ireland 678 00:29:03,669 --> 00:29:00,260 if this sounds like you check out my 679 00:29:11,110 --> 00:29:03,679 profile on bail for skeptics calm music 680 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:11,120 by Kevin MacLeod join us now for 681 00:29:21,620 --> 00:29:13,290 drinking skeptically 682 00:29:23,330 --> 00:29:21,630 in the think tank of the cut being made 683 00:29:25,610 --> 00:29:23,340 the cuts themselves in Mali it was the 684 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:25,620 thought of that Richard is recording us 685 00:29:32,210 --> 00:29:28,890 now hello hello hello Iran hello dr. 686 00:29:33,830 --> 00:29:32,220 rachy and welcome to this interesting 687 00:29:35,630 --> 00:29:33,840 thing tank we have for you this week 688 00:29:37,310 --> 00:29:35,640 we're not coming to you from our 689 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:37,320 favorite club down the end of the street 690 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:39,930 indeed we're coming to you from Iran sir 691 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:44,610 gives learn drew come office sort of 692 00:29:48,470 --> 00:29:46,530 utility so they deal until we finish 693 00:29:50,510 --> 00:29:48,480 renovating the this is the office as 694 00:29:52,310 --> 00:29:50,520 well as the lounger so we've decided to 695 00:29:54,110 --> 00:29:52,320 come to a completely different part of 696 00:29:57,410 --> 00:29:54,120 Sydney Town thanks thanks to a bunch of 697 00:29:58,850 --> 00:29:57,420 Nana's and my numpty RSL we were going 698 00:30:00,620 --> 00:29:58,860 to be in another club but it didn't 699 00:30:04,010 --> 00:30:00,630 quite work out so here we are 700 00:30:05,510 --> 00:30:04,020 nevertheless and I must say that the the 701 00:30:07,970 --> 00:30:05,520 biggest thing that's happened and as 702 00:30:09,980 --> 00:30:07,980 listeners know earlier early in the show 703 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:09,990 was our little convention and what a 704 00:30:14,570 --> 00:30:12,450 great success that was very very good I 705 00:30:16,730 --> 00:30:14,580 think we all enjoyed taking part of that 706 00:30:19,820 --> 00:30:16,740 and the dinner was great good fun good 707 00:30:22,910 --> 00:30:19,830 fun all around and Thank You Iran for 708 00:30:24,950 --> 00:30:22,920 doing the lion's share of the work to 709 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:24,960 get that together thank you it was 710 00:30:29,810 --> 00:30:26,490 really good say the highlight for me was 711 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:29,820 done Peter Daugherty's talk it was just 712 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:32,730 absolutely fantastic he's brilliant is 713 00:30:37,550 --> 00:30:35,370 yeah it was just so inspiring I like yes 714 00:30:41,330 --> 00:30:37,560 that was very good and i also like Peter 715 00:30:43,130 --> 00:30:41,340 Hatfield yes potholder 54 only 54 in 716 00:30:45,950 --> 00:30:43,140 that was great to see him and dr. Reggie 717 00:30:50,150 --> 00:30:45,960 of course gave a great talk i was i have 718 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:50,160 to say i like the paddle most well 719 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:52,710 that's I wonder why I up a little bit 720 00:30:57,740 --> 00:30:54,510 sika nice probably sounded like um 721 00:30:59,630 --> 00:30:57,750 Sylvia Browne at the moment it's now 722 00:31:03,350 --> 00:30:59,640 hopping all as we speak rachel has got a 723 00:31:04,850 --> 00:31:03,360 little full of worms look yeah it's a 724 00:31:08,650 --> 00:31:04,860 little worm was just crawling on your 725 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:08,660 shoulder oh I let it out don't know me 726 00:31:14,870 --> 00:31:12,570 now that the panel that we would it goes 727 00:31:16,310 --> 00:31:14,880 out the door the it was like one of 728 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:16,320 these little caterpillar 729 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:19,110 each way yeah probably would have got 730 00:31:23,269 --> 00:31:20,690 around to my feel like I just 731 00:31:27,230 --> 00:31:23,279 participated in a in a worm edition of 732 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:27,240 free will the panel we were discussing 733 00:31:32,090 --> 00:31:29,370 just now from our national convention 734 00:31:35,060 --> 00:31:32,100 was sort of a health panel it was about 735 00:31:37,690 --> 00:31:35,070 the title was regulating alternative 736 00:31:41,810 --> 00:31:37,700 medicine or regular regulating medicine 737 00:31:44,389 --> 00:31:41,820 and the the moderator was Christopher's 738 00:31:46,249 --> 00:31:44,399 in from choice good news so it was very 739 00:31:48,529 --> 00:31:46,259 I mean he's done it a lot he's done that 740 00:31:50,389 --> 00:31:48,539 a few times before but it was very good 741 00:31:52,789 --> 00:31:50,399 he was very and I should point out that 742 00:31:56,330 --> 00:31:52,799 the choice has just given an honorary 743 00:31:58,789 --> 00:31:56,340 shonky oras or dishonorable mention in 744 00:32:00,409 --> 00:31:58,799 the shang keys to the TGA which is good 745 00:32:02,690 --> 00:32:00,419 because one of the members of the panel 746 00:32:05,330 --> 00:32:02,700 was drawn hammer doctor dr. Owen Hammett 747 00:32:08,299 --> 00:32:05,340 who is the national head of the TGA 748 00:32:12,110 --> 00:32:08,309 which was I thought it a nice nice cool 749 00:32:14,570 --> 00:32:12,120 for us we also had Marcus Betsy who is 750 00:32:18,259 --> 00:32:14,580 the head of compliance unit with the a 751 00:32:21,259 --> 00:32:18,269 Triple C and ken harvey which which has 752 00:32:24,769 --> 00:32:21,269 this thorn in their side serial 753 00:32:26,139 --> 00:32:24,779 complainer and I continued to do that so 754 00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:26,149 the tunnel and I thought it was a great 755 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:28,710 just to remind listeners of course the 756 00:32:34,249 --> 00:32:32,250 TGA is the therapeutics Goods 757 00:32:37,159 --> 00:32:34,259 Administration it's the equivalent of 758 00:32:39,619 --> 00:32:37,169 the FDA in this in the state so i guess 759 00:32:45,289 --> 00:32:39,629 the NHS not really the UHS but yeah 760 00:32:48,789 --> 00:32:45,299 what's it it's more o.o actually a 19 761 00:32:51,980 --> 00:32:48,799 the UK it's something wrong mhm a 762 00:32:56,269 --> 00:32:51,990 medicine and health regulatory mrs I 763 00:32:58,909 --> 00:32:56,279 know that society get something back 764 00:33:02,810 --> 00:32:58,919 mhra oh sorry I have some emails with 765 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:02,820 Alan Anderson oh yeah engine it but the 766 00:33:07,159 --> 00:33:05,250 a Triple C stands for the Australian 767 00:33:09,799 --> 00:33:07,169 Competition and Consumer Commission 768 00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:09,809 which is sort of like in America's sort 769 00:33:16,519 --> 00:33:13,289 of like the FTC is this is this how many 770 00:33:18,919 --> 00:33:16,529 acronyms can return to a think tank but 771 00:33:20,140 --> 00:33:18,929 but the point is like every minute he 772 00:33:23,910 --> 00:33:20,150 lays 773 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:23,920 you're single the a trip will see is the 774 00:33:29,020 --> 00:33:26,090 organization in Australia that actually 775 00:33:31,630 --> 00:33:29,030 does stuff and has teeth yes and the TTA 776 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:31,640 and is the paper tiger as can be seen 777 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:33,730 but I thought it was so interesting that 778 00:33:39,970 --> 00:33:36,290 Ken gave the first presentation because 779 00:33:42,070 --> 00:33:39,980 the the thought the the panel was such 780 00:33:44,410 --> 00:33:42,080 that each person gave 10 minutes and 781 00:33:47,290 --> 00:33:44,420 then there was a discussion and Ken 782 00:33:49,660 --> 00:33:47,300 started off just slamming the TGA and 783 00:33:52,420 --> 00:33:49,670 actually put up a picture of an origami 784 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:52,430 tiger I don't think name next to it 785 00:33:58,270 --> 00:33:56,690 paper tiger today and I that Rowan 786 00:34:00,910 --> 00:33:58,280 Hammett didn't look particularly 787 00:34:03,820 --> 00:34:00,920 comfortable for the hour and a half he 788 00:34:05,590 --> 00:34:03,830 SAT there no I mean good item for 789 00:34:07,060 --> 00:34:05,600 turning up one point I did feel a little 790 00:34:09,550 --> 00:34:07,070 bit sorry for him but then he started 791 00:34:11,470 --> 00:34:09,560 spouting logical fallacies about but 792 00:34:15,220 --> 00:34:11,480 people die of paracetamol overdoses 793 00:34:18,130 --> 00:34:15,230 every year so leave Camelot he was he I 794 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:18,140 should be snapping basis of what he was 795 00:34:23,409 --> 00:34:21,050 saying and at some level I could kind of 796 00:34:26,230 --> 00:34:23,419 get what you saying but it doesn't 797 00:34:28,870 --> 00:34:26,240 actually to me justify the situation the 798 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:28,880 argument seems to be that cam is seen as 799 00:34:34,270 --> 00:34:31,610 being low risk and therefore the Wayne 800 00:34:36,909 --> 00:34:34,280 TGA handles it is to say it's low risk 801 00:34:38,740 --> 00:34:36,919 and therefore at some level we can were 802 00:34:42,399 --> 00:34:38,750 comfortable with this situation of 803 00:34:46,990 --> 00:34:42,409 low-risk products not having as much 804 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:47,000 scrutiny and and oversight compared to 805 00:34:50,770 --> 00:34:49,520 high-risk things like oh look over here 806 00:34:52,690 --> 00:34:50,780 medications caused all these problems 807 00:34:54,070 --> 00:34:52,700 and people die from medications every 808 00:34:55,780 --> 00:34:54,080 year and therefore we have to focus more 809 00:34:57,450 --> 00:34:55,790 over there and that just doesn't cut it 810 00:35:00,670 --> 00:34:57,460 for me as far as I'm concerned it's 811 00:35:02,620 --> 00:35:00,680 still there there are still significant 812 00:35:04,420 --> 00:35:02,630 risks well he was changing the subject 813 00:35:07,630 --> 00:35:04,430 but he was also he was also making 814 00:35:09,250 --> 00:35:07,640 excuses because the thing is they're not 815 00:35:11,860 --> 00:35:09,260 doing the other one the other part as 816 00:35:14,130 --> 00:35:11,870 well which which we know as of the last 817 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:14,140 couple days there's a big issue with 818 00:35:21,610 --> 00:35:18,770 with the hip replacements so and we know 819 00:35:23,470 --> 00:35:21,620 there's been issues with nurofen with 820 00:35:24,850 --> 00:35:23,480 the advertising for neuro so that it's 821 00:35:27,670 --> 00:35:24,860 not like they're doing such a good job 822 00:35:30,010 --> 00:35:27,680 on the on the high-risk medicine side 823 00:35:32,230 --> 00:35:30,020 either and I think part of the problem 824 00:35:34,990 --> 00:35:32,240 is with with dr. Hamid is 825 00:35:38,020 --> 00:35:35,000 he does find excuses and we saw that 826 00:35:39,550 --> 00:35:38,030 recently with a the issue with the audit 827 00:35:41,859 --> 00:35:39,560 so they ran it the way it works just 828 00:35:46,270 --> 00:35:41,869 very generally and correct me if I'm 829 00:35:48,220 --> 00:35:46,280 wrong eh the that the aust that we have 830 00:35:50,980 --> 00:35:48,230 two types of registration or post our 831 00:35:52,750 --> 00:35:50,990 registration registered products there 832 00:35:54,550 --> 00:35:52,760 are the ones that are like normal 833 00:35:57,220 --> 00:35:54,560 medications basically and they have to 834 00:35:59,350 --> 00:35:57,230 go through all the double-blind testing 835 00:36:01,180 --> 00:35:59,360 and phase 1 2 3 and all those things in 836 00:36:02,890 --> 00:36:01,190 and with monitoring continuing through 837 00:36:06,370 --> 00:36:02,900 phase 4 and in that those are the 838 00:36:08,530 --> 00:36:06,380 registered products the listed products 839 00:36:11,050 --> 00:36:08,540 we had which have an austell number are 840 00:36:13,170 --> 00:36:11,060 simply declared by their sponsors that 841 00:36:16,470 --> 00:36:13,180 they have they include certain 842 00:36:19,690 --> 00:36:16,480 ingredients that are part of a list of 843 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:19,700 Priya Priya pre-approved ingredients at 844 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:22,130 a low risk and they say they make the 845 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:23,690 claims they actually write this free 846 00:36:27,700 --> 00:36:25,850 free text that they can put in that 847 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:27,710 explains what the product does but 848 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:29,210 nobody reading hold them to account in 849 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:30,890 terms o and they say we have the 850 00:36:34,359 --> 00:36:32,930 evidence yeah and I can do it all online 851 00:36:35,890 --> 00:36:34,369 but basically it could do it all online 852 00:36:37,420 --> 00:36:35,900 you pay a hundred and ninety-eight 853 00:36:39,310 --> 00:36:37,430 dollars or something and you get you get 854 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:39,320 the number that doesn't thought section 855 00:36:43,990 --> 00:36:42,050 oh okay was it no way rather than 856 00:36:46,930 --> 00:36:44,000 something well that makes a huge 857 00:36:51,190 --> 00:36:46,940 difference yes clinical trials are about 858 00:36:53,740 --> 00:36:51,200 a segment Mary money okay so yeah I 859 00:36:55,930 --> 00:36:53,750 remember Pfizer's budget a clinical 860 00:36:57,640 --> 00:36:55,940 research budget i think is 6.2 billion 861 00:37:00,220 --> 00:36:57,650 dollars a year or something i just saw 862 00:37:03,190 --> 00:37:00,230 something really question so anyway the 863 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:03,200 fam the thing is the thing is they what 864 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:05,570 what they do the listed product is that 865 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:07,010 they're supposed to audit a certain 866 00:37:11,290 --> 00:37:09,770 number every year and in recent audit 867 00:37:14,260 --> 00:37:11,300 they found ninety percent were 868 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:14,270 non-compliant now some of them were 869 00:37:19,750 --> 00:37:17,090 non-compliant on trivial matters like 870 00:37:22,270 --> 00:37:19,760 the size of certain things on the on the 871 00:37:24,810 --> 00:37:22,280 laser device yes yeah so some of them 872 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:24,820 were or something's missing and but but 873 00:37:28,870 --> 00:37:27,770 the point is that first of all ninety 874 00:37:30,820 --> 00:37:28,880 percent of them were found to be 875 00:37:32,530 --> 00:37:30,830 non-compliant but within those ninety 876 00:37:34,900 --> 00:37:32,540 percent the vast majority were also 877 00:37:36,550 --> 00:37:34,910 non-compliant on many other way many 878 00:37:38,950 --> 00:37:36,560 other things some of which are quite 879 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:38,960 serious but when row and Hammett was 880 00:37:43,450 --> 00:37:40,970 interviewed on the radio about it he 881 00:37:44,970 --> 00:37:43,460 said oh most of them were trivial most 882 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:44,980 of them were things like labeling and 883 00:37:49,830 --> 00:37:47,050 like that which is patently not true i 884 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:49,840 mean the numbers are out there and it's 885 00:37:56,430 --> 00:37:53,650 just not true that that the majority are 886 00:37:58,260 --> 00:37:56,440 minor things the majority I actually can 887 00:38:00,630 --> 00:37:58,270 I can I make a further point on that too 888 00:38:04,859 --> 00:38:00,640 in terms of obfuscation in with respect 889 00:38:07,050 --> 00:38:04,869 to dr. Hammett that audit only covered a 890 00:38:09,270 --> 00:38:07,060 very small percentage of the 10,000 891 00:38:11,070 --> 00:38:09,280 products that are listed so in the very 892 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:11,080 small amount that they audited ninety 893 00:38:15,420 --> 00:38:13,330 percent didn't comply and the tj's 894 00:38:17,940 --> 00:38:15,430 excuse after that two ones well we only 895 00:38:20,550 --> 00:38:17,950 actually covered a small number so if we 896 00:38:25,290 --> 00:38:20,560 actually audited more it probably would 897 00:38:27,060 --> 00:38:25,300 you know revert to the mean no no if you 898 00:38:29,070 --> 00:38:27,070 started off with ninety percent wrong 899 00:38:31,620 --> 00:38:29,080 it's unlikely you're going to go back to 900 00:38:33,270 --> 00:38:31,630 ten percent you know if you increase the 901 00:38:34,859 --> 00:38:33,280 number of products that you audit it's 902 00:38:37,500 --> 00:38:34,869 just me that's that's the kind of 903 00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:37,510 obfuscation and rhetoric that he was 904 00:38:42,510 --> 00:38:40,510 using on Saturday he was he was yes just 905 00:38:44,580 --> 00:38:42,520 to get out of every question and every 906 00:38:46,170 --> 00:38:44,590 excuse in the world a lot of angle a lot 907 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:46,180 of people making the comment ities 908 00:38:50,790 --> 00:38:48,130 sounded like a typical politician I 909 00:38:52,260 --> 00:38:50,800 don't know I know whether you'd agree 910 00:38:54,900 --> 00:38:52,270 with me but the thing that gets me is 911 00:38:59,370 --> 00:38:54,910 let's let's assume that all of these 912 00:39:01,080 --> 00:38:59,380 products are actually low risk that they 913 00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:01,090 really you know there is nothing that 914 00:39:05,820 --> 00:39:03,510 could cause any harm and that's all fine 915 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:05,830 the fact remains and what still bothers 916 00:39:10,170 --> 00:39:07,810 me is that I'm not comfortable with the 917 00:39:13,230 --> 00:39:10,180 fact that the TGA would have an attitude 918 00:39:17,099 --> 00:39:13,240 that low risk in terms of physical harm 919 00:39:19,140 --> 00:39:17,109 which isn't obviously important means 920 00:39:21,060 --> 00:39:19,150 therefore it's okay with consumers who 921 00:39:23,940 --> 00:39:21,070 maybe two nite and you don't know better 922 00:39:26,370 --> 00:39:23,950 being ripped off that's not but I think 923 00:39:31,170 --> 00:39:26,380 actually that's not the TGA the problem 924 00:39:33,390 --> 00:39:31,180 is the law the TGA should enforce what 925 00:39:35,430 --> 00:39:33,400 the law says okay there is a problem 926 00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:35,440 with the law yeah it has this whole the 927 00:39:39,420 --> 00:39:37,510 whole listed thing is just ridiculous 928 00:39:41,550 --> 00:39:39,430 because it it gives them a an air 929 00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:41,560 there's an air of being endorsed and 930 00:39:44,940 --> 00:39:43,600 superior like approved by really to say 931 00:39:46,830 --> 00:39:44,950 approved like that it's actually a 932 00:39:48,810 --> 00:39:46,840 ridiculous if anybody knows how the 933 00:39:50,790 --> 00:39:48,820 system works knows that it hasn't been 934 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:50,800 approved or these products haven't been 935 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:52,570 approved so I think that's a problem 936 00:39:55,470 --> 00:39:53,530 with the law but the problem is that 937 00:39:56,780 --> 00:39:55,480 within the law there's things they can 938 00:40:00,980 --> 00:39:56,790 do to make things better 939 00:40:03,410 --> 00:40:00,990 huh and they don't know the topic of Ed 940 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:03,420 candles came up or as an example to him 941 00:40:08,810 --> 00:40:06,450 and his attitude was all well if we if 942 00:40:10,970 --> 00:40:08,820 we d list one of them then they just 943 00:40:14,660 --> 00:40:10,980 alter the claims and listed against 944 00:40:16,370 --> 00:40:14,670 that's like but and he kept on saying as 945 00:40:20,540 --> 00:40:16,380 if this would make us feel better and I 946 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:20,550 mean seriously he was sitting facing 120 947 00:40:26,540 --> 00:40:24,210 skeptics important some sorry 140 some 948 00:40:28,220 --> 00:40:26,550 of whom have read the legislation some 949 00:40:31,100 --> 00:40:28,230 of whom have read the National Audit and 950 00:40:32,990 --> 00:40:31,110 not quite well and saying ah but you 951 00:40:35,450 --> 00:40:33,000 know you guys are really awesome because 952 00:40:37,910 --> 00:40:35,460 you need to keep complaining and then we 953 00:40:40,850 --> 00:40:37,920 can do stuff about it and it's like no 954 00:40:43,340 --> 00:40:40,860 no no no no that's not how it works you 955 00:40:45,410 --> 00:40:43,350 should be proactive about this not and 956 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:45,420 what does he expect us all to go harder 957 00:40:49,130 --> 00:40:47,010 that's okay then because we're all 958 00:40:50,390 --> 00:40:49,140 really good and we met cries I mean we 959 00:40:52,130 --> 00:40:50,400 have to talk to you thank you for doing 960 00:40:53,810 --> 00:40:52,140 my job boy yeah and we know where those 961 00:40:57,110 --> 00:40:53,820 complaints go into a dirty big black 962 00:40:59,570 --> 00:40:57,120 hole that we and we don't I mean this 963 00:41:02,720 --> 00:40:59,580 this is I just drives me insane but you 964 00:41:04,190 --> 00:41:02,730 know I blogged about this a couple of 965 00:41:07,580 --> 00:41:04,200 days ago where there was a Freedom of 966 00:41:11,180 --> 00:41:07,590 Information Act passed granted on a 967 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:11,190 piece of data from the TGA which was 968 00:41:15,380 --> 00:41:12,810 basically a list of sponsors that had 969 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:15,390 breached the legislation and somebody 970 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:17,250 said look I need to know which ones have 971 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:19,170 breached and why and they released this 972 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:22,170 document and I swear to god it is it's 973 00:41:28,340 --> 00:41:26,010 beautiful it is like maybe you can put 974 00:41:30,230 --> 00:41:28,350 it on its blog right yeah it's all it's 975 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:30,240 on my blog it's the current place the 976 00:41:36,410 --> 00:41:33,330 skeptics pooh pooh pooh yeah it's got 977 00:41:38,870 --> 00:41:36,420 the the name of that it says I RTG TGA 978 00:41:40,490 --> 00:41:38,880 and then it's got a fax mark at the 979 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:40,500 bottom and the middle is a black 980 00:41:46,340 --> 00:41:43,530 rectangle that's the revised things 981 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:46,350 being redacted filled in it's been 982 00:41:50,630 --> 00:41:48,090 redacted to the point where you can see 983 00:41:53,470 --> 00:41:50,640 the frame of the page yes yeah and 984 00:41:56,570 --> 00:41:53,480 that's their transparency it's just 985 00:41:59,060 --> 00:41:56,580 absolutely hopeless Joe your highlighter 986 00:42:01,640 --> 00:41:59,070 has been busy oh it's been so busy I 987 00:42:04,340 --> 00:42:01,650 know I had also fun with my highlighters 988 00:42:05,750 --> 00:42:04,350 I can tell from here only one color any 989 00:42:07,250 --> 00:42:05,760 one color though and I don't know I've 990 00:42:08,420 --> 00:42:07,260 got to really interesting stories too 991 00:42:09,420 --> 00:42:08,430 sweet so I'm just trying to decide which 992 00:42:11,670 --> 00:42:09,430 one 993 00:42:15,030 --> 00:42:11,680 well the most interesting are they both 994 00:42:18,150 --> 00:42:15,040 are they both are um how about I start 995 00:42:20,849 --> 00:42:18,160 with them with this one I'm you might 996 00:42:22,890 --> 00:42:20,859 have seen as some on twitter if you read 997 00:42:24,780 --> 00:42:22,900 the guide in if you follow george 998 00:42:26,370 --> 00:42:24,790 monbiot pronounce his name correctly 999 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:26,380 he's a journalist who writes for The 1000 00:42:31,620 --> 00:42:28,930 Guardian and he wrote a really 1001 00:42:34,950 --> 00:42:31,630 interesting piece in The Guardian a 1002 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:34,960 couple of days ago it's really really 1003 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:38,410 worrying actually and a gentleman by the 1004 00:42:43,799 --> 00:42:42,130 name of dr. Christopher Busby who is a 1005 00:42:46,559 --> 00:42:43,809 visiting professor at the University of 1006 00:42:48,870 --> 00:42:46,569 Ulster and also is the former science 1007 00:42:53,190 --> 00:42:48,880 and technology spokesman for the Green 1008 00:42:55,650 --> 00:42:53,200 Party in the UK is it is basically 1009 00:42:58,520 --> 00:42:55,660 promoting anti radiation pills to people 1010 00:43:01,589 --> 00:42:58,530 in Japan who were affected by Fukushima 1011 00:43:05,819 --> 00:43:01,599 now what's what's particularly 1012 00:43:07,710 --> 00:43:05,829 concerning about all this is that um you 1013 00:43:09,900 --> 00:43:07,720 should really really recommend the two 1014 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:09,910 that you read the two articles that he 1015 00:43:14,039 --> 00:43:11,770 wrote because some that they're just 1016 00:43:16,890 --> 00:43:14,049 it's really good journalism very very 1017 00:43:19,650 --> 00:43:16,900 interesting but he's selling a range of 1018 00:43:23,099 --> 00:43:19,660 mineral supplements urine tests and food 1019 00:43:27,740 --> 00:43:23,109 tests to the Japanese population all at 1020 00:43:31,730 --> 00:43:27,750 rather exorbitant prices so it must be 1021 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:31,740 runs a company called busby laboratories 1022 00:43:35,970 --> 00:43:34,450 which are providing these tests and he's 1023 00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:35,980 promoting them through an organization 1024 00:43:41,010 --> 00:43:37,690 called the Christopher Busby foundation 1025 00:43:43,319 --> 00:43:41,020 for children of Fukushima and both of 1026 00:43:44,730 --> 00:43:43,329 the both the pills and the tests are 1027 00:43:47,430 --> 00:43:44,740 being sold through a website in 1028 00:43:53,130 --> 00:43:47,440 California called for you dash detox 1029 00:43:54,299 --> 00:43:53,140 calm now what's particularly uh about 1030 00:43:55,740 --> 00:43:54,309 this whole thing aside from the fact 1031 00:43:58,109 --> 00:43:55,750 that there is absolutely no evidence 1032 00:44:00,809 --> 00:43:58,119 what he's doing is that he's also making 1033 00:44:03,059 --> 00:44:00,819 some really really ugly claims about 1034 00:44:06,890 --> 00:44:03,069 what's going on in Japan but what's 1035 00:44:09,930 --> 00:44:06,900 being done by Japanese government he is 1036 00:44:12,089 --> 00:44:09,940 he is what he warns in these videos 1037 00:44:14,039 --> 00:44:12,099 which he's put online of a public health 1038 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:14,049 catastrophe and Japan caused by the 1039 00:44:18,210 --> 00:44:16,450 Fukushima disaster and he claims that 1040 00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:18,220 radioactive cesium will destroy the 1041 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:19,930 heart muscles of Japanese children which 1042 00:44:23,079 --> 00:44:20,930 there is absolutely 1043 00:44:24,910 --> 00:44:23,089 no evidence for just the heart muscles 1044 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:24,920 because I see different muscles in Italy 1045 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:27,650 he alleges that and I'm quoting directly 1046 00:44:32,049 --> 00:44:29,450 from the article here he alleges that 1047 00:44:33,430 --> 00:44:32,059 the jack that the sorry he alleges that 1048 00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:33,440 the Japanese government is tracking 1049 00:44:37,809 --> 00:44:35,510 radioactive material from the Fukushima 1050 00:44:39,849 --> 00:44:37,819 site all over Japan in order to increase 1051 00:44:41,349 --> 00:44:39,859 the cancer rate in the whole of Japan so 1052 00:44:43,990 --> 00:44:41,359 that there will be no control group of 1053 00:44:45,460 --> 00:44:44,000 children unaffected by the disaster in 1054 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:45,470 order to help the Japanese government 1055 00:44:48,640 --> 00:44:47,450 prevent potential lawsuits from people 1056 00:44:50,589 --> 00:44:48,650 whose health may have been affected by 1057 00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:50,599 the village this is the part where we 1058 00:44:59,020 --> 00:44:56,930 move away from detox pills into was it 1059 00:45:03,549 --> 00:44:59,030 the lithium what do you what did you 1060 00:45:05,650 --> 00:45:03,559 people who are lithium yeah 1061 00:45:09,339 --> 00:45:05,660 antipsychotics yeah I me psychotics I 1062 00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:09,349 mean clearly this is really my job I 1063 00:45:14,410 --> 00:45:12,710 know um look this this guy's got along 1064 00:45:16,450 --> 00:45:14,420 the history of being associated with the 1065 00:45:18,190 --> 00:45:16,460 Green Party in the UK and in fact this 1066 00:45:20,890 --> 00:45:18,200 was the comment made by I'm George 1067 00:45:22,690 --> 00:45:20,900 Monbiot which is that the the claims of 1068 00:45:26,500 --> 00:45:22,700 this man are doing serious damage to the 1069 00:45:29,109 --> 00:45:26,510 Green Party by association apparently he 1070 00:45:30,579 --> 00:45:29,119 he had a history in the past of claiming 1071 00:45:33,059 --> 00:45:30,589 that there was a leukemia cluster 1072 00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:33,069 amongst children living in Wales 1073 00:45:37,210 --> 00:45:35,450 interestingly his and what he said here 1074 00:45:38,319 --> 00:45:37,220 is that his findings were self were self 1075 00:45:40,599 --> 00:45:38,329 published and released by the 1076 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:40,609 environmental consultancy and research 1077 00:45:44,650 --> 00:45:43,010 organization that he runs so they've 1078 00:45:47,230 --> 00:45:44,660 never been subject to peer review and 1079 00:45:50,890 --> 00:45:47,240 that when his claims were scrutinized by 1080 00:45:54,490 --> 00:45:50,900 by scientists this is very interesting 1081 00:45:56,559 --> 00:45:54,500 here young his statistical mistakes were 1082 00:45:58,390 --> 00:45:56,569 so astonishing that he countered the 1083 00:46:01,480 --> 00:45:58,400 overall the kamir incidents for Wales 1084 00:46:03,250 --> 00:46:01,490 twice just mixed up the figures from 1085 00:46:05,470 --> 00:46:03,260 urban areas with those from small rural 1086 00:46:07,120 --> 00:46:05,480 areas claimed there were 10 cases of 1087 00:46:08,859 --> 00:46:07,130 leukemia and young children in this 1088 00:46:11,470 --> 00:46:08,869 particular area when in reality there 1089 00:46:13,089 --> 00:46:11,480 was just one case and and as he says 1090 00:46:14,890 --> 00:46:13,099 here worst of all they found clear 1091 00:46:16,599 --> 00:46:14,900 evidence of data dredging which renders 1092 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:16,609 all subsequent statistical inference 1093 00:46:22,780 --> 00:46:20,210 spurious there's no luxury how would you 1094 00:46:24,400 --> 00:46:22,790 describe it agent rotated Reggie it's 1095 00:46:28,450 --> 00:46:24,410 like data my own which is like cherry 1096 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:28,460 picking yeah okay yeah um and at 1097 00:46:34,240 --> 00:46:32,330 and and so I mean this man is just 1098 00:46:36,010 --> 00:46:34,250 making these claims but in addition to 1099 00:46:37,450 --> 00:46:36,020 that he's selling visa making sure 1100 00:46:40,930 --> 00:46:37,460 though she's basically making [\h__\h] up 1101 00:46:42,970 --> 00:46:40,940 but he's charging people a phenomenal 1102 00:46:44,620 --> 00:46:42,980 amount of money he's charging thousands 1103 00:46:46,480 --> 00:46:44,630 and thousands of dollars for these tests 1104 00:46:48,849 --> 00:46:46,490 I mean he's charging like four urines 1105 00:46:50,890 --> 00:46:48,859 your stories oh so many times before 1106 00:46:52,810 --> 00:46:50,900 it's just another I mean it's just one 1107 00:46:54,790 --> 00:46:52,820 on me and you know what the you know 1108 00:46:56,980 --> 00:46:54,800 what the amazing thing is that we hear 1109 00:47:00,190 --> 00:46:56,990 this story time in the game and did you 1110 00:47:04,089 --> 00:47:00,200 notice how often it happens this is when 1111 00:47:06,130 --> 00:47:04,099 when he did some terrible tragedy yeah 1112 00:47:09,250 --> 00:47:06,140 and these people are preying on human 1113 00:47:11,339 --> 00:47:09,260 misery yeah it's just absolutely hauling 1114 00:47:14,770 --> 00:47:11,349 what but what I found particularly 1115 00:47:16,210 --> 00:47:14,780 important easier what I found 1116 00:47:19,690 --> 00:47:16,220 particularly important but about what 1117 00:47:21,460 --> 00:47:19,700 was being said was that he touches on 1118 00:47:23,260 --> 00:47:21,470 the fact that the young the green 1119 00:47:26,260 --> 00:47:23,270 movement needs to really distance 1120 00:47:27,220 --> 00:47:26,270 themselves from people like this and I 1121 00:47:30,579 --> 00:47:27,230 mean you know we've looked at things 1122 00:47:32,710 --> 00:47:30,589 like the issues of GM food and you know 1123 00:47:33,970 --> 00:47:32,720 I think you know a lot of people really 1124 00:47:35,740 --> 00:47:33,980 want to be able to support the 1125 00:47:37,270 --> 00:47:35,750 environmental movement in terms of 1126 00:47:41,490 --> 00:47:37,280 dealing with climate change and so on 1127 00:47:43,630 --> 00:47:41,500 but when we see the sort of the 1128 00:47:46,510 --> 00:47:43,640 environmental side supporting really 1129 00:47:49,270 --> 00:47:46,520 anti science stop I was no accident very 1130 00:47:51,910 --> 00:47:49,280 very hard to get on board and and I 1131 00:47:53,740 --> 00:47:51,920 really really applaud this article they 1132 00:47:56,170 --> 00:47:53,750 don't worry birth canal this is on the 1133 00:47:58,510 --> 00:47:56,180 Guardian website there's two articles to 1134 00:48:01,720 --> 00:47:58,520 articles by George Monbiot enum and he 1135 00:48:02,920 --> 00:48:01,730 said he's on Twitter definitely 1136 00:48:04,960 --> 00:48:02,930 definitely worth a lot what is your 1137 00:48:07,300 --> 00:48:04,970 other highlighted marketing so my other 1138 00:48:09,280 --> 00:48:07,310 highlighted masterpiece okay silver 1139 00:48:12,010 --> 00:48:09,290 before you go hello ms okay if you want 1140 00:48:14,550 --> 00:48:12,020 to hear Joe squee all right I'm just 1141 00:48:17,220 --> 00:48:14,560 gonna move over 1142 00:48:20,500 --> 00:48:17,230 folks let me just explain what happened 1143 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:20,510 from behind his back Iran produced a 1144 00:48:28,240 --> 00:48:25,210 whole big container of of sharpie 1145 00:48:30,610 --> 00:48:28,250 highlighters and all differences sharpie 1146 00:48:33,940 --> 00:48:30,620 holla yes yeah I'm taking the microphone 1147 00:48:36,010 --> 00:48:33,950 far away because Joe is over excited she 1148 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:36,020 is now holding up the container of a 1149 00:48:40,780 --> 00:48:37,850 sharpie highlighters there must be like 1150 00:48:43,870 --> 00:48:40,790 20 their greens and blues and yellows 1151 00:48:49,030 --> 00:48:43,880 and reds and rachel is about to take a 1152 00:48:53,140 --> 00:48:49,040 picture of her now I expect the 1153 00:48:54,670 --> 00:48:53,150 listeners who on tweet Twitter a few 1154 00:48:57,360 --> 00:48:54,680 days ago would have seen the picture 1155 00:49:04,360 --> 00:48:57,370 which Rachel's just about to take now 1156 00:49:07,300 --> 00:49:04,370 and there we go now yes please tweet it 1157 00:49:11,500 --> 00:49:07,310 now so I listeners case this is all time 1158 00:49:13,720 --> 00:49:11,510 distortion Joe so right back to more 1159 00:49:16,900 --> 00:49:13,730 interesting stuff so the only thing I to 1160 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:16,910 talk about with some anyone who if you 1161 00:49:23,050 --> 00:49:18,890 listen to the I think it was the science 1162 00:49:24,730 --> 00:49:23,060 on top podcast from the weeks ago I was 1163 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:24,740 on there couple of wesco talking about 1164 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:27,410 BPA or bisphenol which people have 1165 00:49:30,730 --> 00:49:28,970 probably heard mentioned in the media 1166 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:30,740 and I'm absolutely fascinated by this 1167 00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:34,010 topic because i think it's just just 1168 00:49:40,660 --> 00:49:37,970 such an astounding example of poor poor 1169 00:49:44,500 --> 00:49:40,670 science reporting and absolute media 1170 00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:44,510 fail on the the particular 1171 00:49:49,540 --> 00:49:46,730 a study that we talked about a few weeks 1172 00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:49,550 ago on science on top was a fantastic 1173 00:49:55,480 --> 00:49:53,410 study which came out which has been 1174 00:49:59,170 --> 00:49:55,490 which was really seen as being an 1175 00:50:02,100 --> 00:49:59,180 absolutely you know almost well almost 1176 00:50:05,560 --> 00:50:02,110 flawless piece of signs which 1177 00:50:07,660 --> 00:50:05,570 demonstrated the safety of BPA now if 1178 00:50:09,010 --> 00:50:07,670 you've been following this all in the 1179 00:50:11,620 --> 00:50:09,020 media you'd know that there's a lot of 1180 00:50:13,870 --> 00:50:11,630 concern about this phenol it's a it's a 1181 00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:13,880 chemical that's found in the lining of 1182 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:17,810 cans and a lot of plastic water bottles 1183 00:50:21,670 --> 00:50:20,450 and all sorts of things and for a quite 1184 00:50:23,890 --> 00:50:21,680 a number of years now there's been a lot 1185 00:50:26,320 --> 00:50:23,900 of concern over where the BPA is toxic 1186 00:50:30,460 --> 00:50:26,330 to humans a particular concern is that 1187 00:50:32,830 --> 00:50:30,470 it's it has hormone effects like 1188 00:50:34,990 --> 00:50:32,840 estrogen and that there's the potential 1189 00:50:37,750 --> 00:50:35,000 for it to cause cancer and other health 1190 00:50:39,070 --> 00:50:37,760 problems so there's been a huge number 1191 00:50:41,170 --> 00:50:39,080 of studies over the last few years and 1192 00:50:44,320 --> 00:50:41,180 it's it's really quite an interesting 1193 00:50:45,580 --> 00:50:44,330 scientific controversy what's particular 1194 00:50:46,930 --> 00:50:45,590 interesting is that depending on which 1195 00:50:49,270 --> 00:50:46,940 part of the world you're in that either 1196 00:50:51,610 --> 00:50:49,280 is or isn't the controversy so if you go 1197 00:50:53,710 --> 00:50:51,620 over to the US or Canada there's a 1198 00:50:57,100 --> 00:50:53,720 really really strong push to ban BPA 1199 00:50:59,320 --> 00:50:57,110 whereas if you go over to the EU there 1200 00:51:01,060 --> 00:50:59,330 is a feeling that the science has 1201 00:51:03,100 --> 00:51:01,070 absolutely almost you know conclusively 1202 00:51:06,130 --> 00:51:03,110 shown that BPA is safe and there's 1203 00:51:08,890 --> 00:51:06,140 nothing to worry about so what um what 1204 00:51:12,640 --> 00:51:08,900 got me all jumping up and down today was 1205 00:51:15,720 --> 00:51:12,650 studies just come out in the journal of 1206 00:51:20,770 --> 00:51:15,730 the american association or jammer which 1207 00:51:23,320 --> 00:51:20,780 looked at the levels of BPA in in 1208 00:51:26,380 --> 00:51:23,330 people's urine after eating soup canned 1209 00:51:28,300 --> 00:51:26,390 soup all right and all of the news 1210 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:28,310 there's a whole lot of hysteria because 1211 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:30,410 what they've said is the urine of people 1212 00:51:34,570 --> 00:51:32,210 who consume canned soup can contain 1213 00:51:36,130 --> 00:51:34,580 surprisingly high levels of BPA or 1214 00:51:37,450 --> 00:51:36,140 hormone-disrupting compound linked to 1215 00:51:39,550 --> 00:51:37,460 health problems including heart disease 1216 00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:39,560 diabetes and obesity so it's a 1217 00:51:44,860 --> 00:51:41,770 conclusion right at the start yes so 1218 00:51:48,610 --> 00:51:44,870 panic panic panic is high levels of BPA 1219 00:51:50,590 --> 00:51:48,620 in urine and the conclusion is therefore 1220 00:51:52,660 --> 00:51:50,600 beef we know BPA's toxic in this high 1221 00:51:54,680 --> 00:51:52,670 level year and so run for the hills that 1222 00:51:56,599 --> 00:51:54,690 and by the way I must think 1223 00:51:59,480 --> 00:51:56,609 ed brown from science on top of pointing 1224 00:52:01,339 --> 00:51:59,490 this out to me today drew the problem 1225 00:52:04,010 --> 00:52:01,349 with this is that they're really really 1226 00:52:07,670 --> 00:52:04,020 good research into BPA the the the this 1227 00:52:10,940 --> 00:52:07,680 the method logically sound science has 1228 00:52:13,609 --> 00:52:10,950 shown that BPA is rapidly excreted from 1229 00:52:16,010 --> 00:52:13,619 the body and metabolized and extend 1230 00:52:17,809 --> 00:52:16,020 excreted very very quickly and that it's 1231 00:52:20,240 --> 00:52:17,819 not surprising that you see high levels 1232 00:52:23,420 --> 00:52:20,250 of BPA in the urine after people consume 1233 00:52:26,540 --> 00:52:23,430 it because it could reiterated its going 1234 00:52:28,730 --> 00:52:26,550 away and there was a fantastic study by 1235 00:52:31,670 --> 00:52:28,740 a tea Gordon which was published in the 1236 00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:31,680 Journal of toxicological Sciences about 1237 00:52:38,120 --> 00:52:35,010 six months ago and and it was it really 1238 00:52:40,760 --> 00:52:38,130 conclusively showed that you know BPA 1239 00:52:44,300 --> 00:52:40,770 does not stick around at the body long 1240 00:52:46,819 --> 00:52:44,310 enough to cause problems it's unlikely 1241 00:52:49,550 --> 00:52:46,829 to be found at high levels in human 1242 00:52:51,319 --> 00:52:49,560 tissues and therefore it's not something 1243 00:52:52,609 --> 00:52:51,329 to worry about and they've been a number 1244 00:52:55,670 --> 00:52:52,619 of really really good studies that are 1245 00:52:59,210 --> 00:52:55,680 showing this that aside if you go online 1246 00:53:01,670 --> 00:52:59,220 you will find not a beep about the good 1247 00:53:04,609 --> 00:53:01,680 studies what you will find is a lot of 1248 00:53:07,970 --> 00:53:04,619 media hysteria about studies which are 1249 00:53:11,359 --> 00:53:07,980 pretty poorly conducted not well 1250 00:53:15,559 --> 00:53:11,369 controlled really not actually telling 1251 00:53:19,540 --> 00:53:15,569 us anything of value except creating 1252 00:53:22,700 --> 00:53:19,550 fear so it could be a storm in a soup in 1253 00:53:24,800 --> 00:53:22,710 absolutely so um you know this is 1254 00:53:26,569 --> 00:53:24,810 getting a lot of attention online at the 1255 00:53:28,250 --> 00:53:26,579 moment and I just think it's really 1256 00:53:30,589 --> 00:53:28,260 worth keeping an eye on it because that 1257 00:53:32,809 --> 00:53:30,599 the thing is that there's measures being 1258 00:53:36,319 --> 00:53:32,819 taken by a lot of governments to ban BPA 1259 00:53:37,609 --> 00:53:36,329 stay and as I mentioned previously you 1260 00:53:40,700 --> 00:53:37,619 know Steve novella blogged about this a 1261 00:53:43,250 --> 00:53:40,710 couple of years ago they you know at the 1262 00:53:44,720 --> 00:53:43,260 time there was more to talk about here 1263 00:53:46,670 --> 00:53:44,730 it was a controversy that was worth 1264 00:53:48,980 --> 00:53:46,680 looking at really now the science seems 1265 00:53:50,450 --> 00:53:48,990 to be you know quite settled there is 1266 00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:50,460 nothing to be worried about but still 1267 00:53:54,740 --> 00:53:52,890 you know what we're looking at banning a 1268 00:53:57,170 --> 00:53:54,750 substance unnecessarily we're creating 1269 00:54:00,529 --> 00:53:57,180 fear particularly among amongst parents 1270 00:54:04,519 --> 00:54:00,539 and worried about the kids being exposed 1271 00:54:06,949 --> 00:54:04,529 and I think it's uh yeah well your 1272 00:54:10,009 --> 00:54:06,959 highlighter has been used to very good 1273 00:54:12,199 --> 00:54:10,019 use their effect and well I think we'll 1274 00:54:14,989 --> 00:54:12,209 wrap up this a thing then pretty soon 1275 00:54:17,569 --> 00:54:14,999 but let's switch over to Ron for a 1276 00:54:19,219 --> 00:54:17,579 second because at the top of the thing 1277 00:54:20,839 --> 00:54:19,229 think we did mention our convention 1278 00:54:22,969 --> 00:54:20,849 which was a great success and we of 1279 00:54:25,370 --> 00:54:22,979 course as we do every year now 1280 00:54:28,849 --> 00:54:25,380 convention we give out awards cheers and 1281 00:54:31,219 --> 00:54:28,859 jeers they might say yes so the the 1282 00:54:34,929 --> 00:54:31,229 first award we gave the bent spoon award 1283 00:54:38,150 --> 00:54:34,939 which we awarded to Melbourne University 1284 00:54:41,120 --> 00:54:38,160 RMIT and the reason we gave them that 1285 00:54:42,769 --> 00:54:41,130 award which is an annual award we always 1286 00:54:43,939 --> 00:54:42,779 have a problem with the with that award 1287 00:54:46,429 --> 00:54:43,949 because there's always so many good 1288 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:46,439 candidates unfortunately was because 1289 00:54:51,319 --> 00:54:49,410 they have a fundamentalist chiropractic 1290 00:54:54,620 --> 00:54:51,329 education program and again I hesitate 1291 00:54:56,870 --> 00:54:54,630 to say education in this context but I 1292 00:54:58,400 --> 00:54:56,880 think that's what they call it and not 1293 00:55:01,130 --> 00:54:58,410 only do they support fundamentalist 1294 00:55:04,729 --> 00:55:01,140 chiropractors they also have an 1295 00:55:07,370 --> 00:55:04,739 on-campus pediatric chiropractic clinic 1296 00:55:09,529 --> 00:55:07,380 so I think the well deserving of the 1297 00:55:11,419 --> 00:55:09,539 bent spoon award so in addition to the 1298 00:55:12,739 --> 00:55:11,429 bench man award we also mentioned we 1299 00:55:14,479 --> 00:55:12,749 gave a dishonorable mention to 1300 00:55:16,909 --> 00:55:14,489 Blackmore's into the pharmacy Guild of 1301 00:55:19,159 --> 00:55:16,919 Australia for the the deal that they 1302 00:55:21,649 --> 00:55:19,169 concocted to try to sell unproven 1303 00:55:25,429 --> 00:55:21,659 medication or well I'm not so medication 1304 00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:25,439 and unproven stuff sure to people who 1305 00:55:31,399 --> 00:55:28,650 come to pharmacies to buy specific real 1306 00:55:33,829 --> 00:55:31,409 real real you know proven proven from a 1307 00:55:35,509 --> 00:55:33,839 suitor goals yeah and but with the 1308 00:55:37,819 --> 00:55:35,519 reason we didn't give it to them and 1309 00:55:42,339 --> 00:55:37,829 eventually was because it caused them so 1310 00:55:45,769 --> 00:55:42,349 much harm that we we thought of actually 1311 00:55:47,120 --> 00:55:45,779 given him you know positive mention for 1312 00:55:49,759 --> 00:55:47,130 causing so much harm to that kind of 1313 00:55:51,469 --> 00:55:49,769 education we said we were we were 1314 00:55:54,649 --> 00:55:51,479 jokingly saying that we will give them 1315 00:55:57,979 --> 00:55:54,659 give Christine holgate the Blackmore CEO 1316 00:56:00,499 --> 00:55:57,989 the the if there was it the coke and 1317 00:56:03,649 --> 00:56:00,509 fries award coca because she said that 1318 00:56:06,739 --> 00:56:03,659 this is these these additives are like 1319 00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:06,749 the coke and fries of pharmacies so that 1320 00:56:10,249 --> 00:56:08,130 that didn't go down very well with the 1321 00:56:13,009 --> 00:56:10,259 public and they was it was very good so 1322 00:56:13,770 --> 00:56:13,019 that that's the bent spoon award we then 1323 00:56:17,790 --> 00:56:13,780 awarded 1324 00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:17,800 several nice nice ones the first one was 1325 00:56:22,980 --> 00:56:20,010 we gave special recognition to 1326 00:56:27,000 --> 00:56:22,990 journalists TV journalist Frank bungalow 1327 00:56:29,730 --> 00:56:27,010 who's you rage and Richard you know very 1328 00:56:32,220 --> 00:56:29,740 well you've worked with him he's a TV 1329 00:56:34,020 --> 00:56:32,230 journalist with Channel Seven's today 1330 00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:34,030 tonight in Adelaide we don't usually see 1331 00:56:38,760 --> 00:56:36,610 very good scientific stuff from from 1332 00:56:40,770 --> 00:56:38,770 today tonight but Frank has done several 1333 00:56:43,350 --> 00:56:40,780 the Adelaide they're a different group 1334 00:56:45,180 --> 00:56:43,360 from the Sydney group yes nevertheless 1335 00:56:47,490 --> 00:56:45,190 oh yeah he's still good you know it's 1336 00:56:49,140 --> 00:56:47,500 still today tonight is generally however 1337 00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:49,150 he put it it's tabloid television and 1338 00:56:54,900 --> 00:56:52,570 you don't expect accuracy in science but 1339 00:56:56,580 --> 00:56:54,910 Frank has done good work fantastic work 1340 00:57:00,330 --> 00:56:56,590 and he's done several really good 1341 00:57:02,630 --> 00:57:00,340 stories and any continues to follow up 1342 00:57:04,890 --> 00:57:02,640 what we do in The Skeptical movement and 1343 00:57:06,240 --> 00:57:04,900 and there's mine absolutely there's more 1344 00:57:09,150 --> 00:57:06,250 to comment that something I mentioned 1345 00:57:10,680 --> 00:57:09,160 when I when I gave him the award so he 1346 00:57:12,360 --> 00:57:10,690 wasn't there unfortunately but we will 1347 00:57:15,840 --> 00:57:12,370 send him the the certificate of 1348 00:57:18,630 --> 00:57:15,850 appreciation then skeptic of the year 1349 00:57:20,850 --> 00:57:18,640 was awarded to Loretta Marin who was 1350 00:57:22,680 --> 00:57:20,860 already been awarded generally the jelly 1351 00:57:24,810 --> 00:57:22,690 bean lady she's already been awarded in 1352 00:57:27,120 --> 00:57:24,820 the past in 2007 but the thing is 1353 00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:27,130 Loretta could easily win every year we 1354 00:57:31,590 --> 00:57:28,570 just give it to others from time to time 1355 00:57:34,760 --> 00:57:31,600 because it's not fair see she's so 1356 00:57:38,150 --> 00:57:34,770 active and she's just so brilliant and 1357 00:57:40,410 --> 00:57:38,160 specifically this was for her word 1358 00:57:42,330 --> 00:57:40,420 against chiropractors this year and 1359 00:57:44,340 --> 00:57:42,340 especially against fundamentalist 1360 00:57:45,750 --> 00:57:44,350 chiropractors then again mentioned them 1361 00:57:48,420 --> 00:57:45,760 they're the ones who still believe in 1362 00:57:50,190 --> 00:57:48,430 the vertebral subluxation complex as the 1363 00:57:51,630 --> 00:57:50,200 cause of some of them believe its most 1364 00:57:54,450 --> 00:57:51,640 disease and others believe it's all 1365 00:57:56,430 --> 00:57:54,460 disease but whatever it is it's it's a 1366 00:57:59,400 --> 00:57:56,440 mythical it's a mythical syndrome i mean 1367 00:58:01,100 --> 00:57:59,410 this mythical symptom or in digital 1368 00:58:03,300 --> 00:58:01,110 condition or whatever you can call it 1369 00:58:05,880 --> 00:58:03,310 because its mythical it's difficult to 1370 00:58:07,200 --> 00:58:05,890 define but some people still believe in 1371 00:58:08,670 --> 00:58:07,210 and they're they're quite prominent 1372 00:58:11,550 --> 00:58:08,680 within the chiropractic movement and 1373 00:58:15,300 --> 00:58:11,560 she's really taking them to task and and 1374 00:58:17,850 --> 00:58:15,310 will continue to do so i'm sure we also 1375 00:58:19,500 --> 00:58:17,860 have the full net award for the 1376 00:58:23,749 --> 00:58:19,510 promotion of Reason which we call the 1377 00:58:27,799 --> 00:58:23,759 Fred and that was that's for the the 1378 00:58:29,719 --> 00:58:27,809 the way we describe it is that it's 1379 00:58:31,459 --> 00:58:29,729 awarded to acknowledge as a member of 1380 00:58:33,649 --> 00:58:31,469 the public or a public figure was made a 1381 00:58:35,389 --> 00:58:33,659 significant contribution to educating or 1382 00:58:38,120 --> 00:58:35,399 informing the public regarding issues of 1383 00:58:39,829 --> 00:58:38,130 science and reason and in addition to a 1384 00:58:41,749 --> 00:58:39,839 certificate we also give a thousand 1385 00:58:44,989 --> 00:58:41,759 dollars to the person when's this and 1386 00:58:48,199 --> 00:58:44,999 this year's winner was hands down ken 1387 00:58:50,509 --> 00:58:48,209 harvey dr. ken harvey our friend for his 1388 00:58:52,459 --> 00:58:50,519 work against census thing but but really 1389 00:58:55,489 --> 00:58:52,469 you know it's it's sort of a an 1390 00:59:00,979 --> 00:58:55,499 accumulation of his work of many years 1391 00:59:03,289 --> 00:59:00,989 of taking quacks to to task and and also 1392 00:59:06,019 --> 00:59:03,299 in being a thorn in the side of the the 1393 00:59:07,489 --> 00:59:06,029 TGA in particular they people see they 1394 00:59:09,319 --> 00:59:07,499 think it was the we were what we were 1395 00:59:12,379 --> 00:59:09,329 giving the awards just before the panel 1396 00:59:13,519 --> 00:59:12,389 and i said i said DNA he's been a thorn 1397 00:59:15,139 --> 00:59:13,529 in their side and i'm sure he will 1398 00:59:17,719 --> 00:59:15,149 continue be a thorn in his side in about 1399 00:59:20,870 --> 00:59:17,729 seven more minutes so so that was very 1400 00:59:24,589 --> 00:59:20,880 good and then we surprised Barry 1401 00:59:26,089 --> 00:59:24,599 Williams I called him on on the stage he 1402 00:59:28,609 --> 00:59:26,099 didn't know anything was coming he 1403 00:59:30,829 --> 00:59:28,619 wasn't even going to attendance and of 1404 00:59:32,839 --> 00:59:30,839 course Barry's been behind the 1405 00:59:34,519 --> 00:59:32,849 Australian skeptics and Australia the 1406 00:59:36,319 --> 00:59:34,529 skeptical movement in Australia for for 1407 00:59:39,199 --> 00:59:36,329 the past basically for the portly entire 1408 00:59:43,999 --> 00:59:39,209 yetis did duration this is very early 1409 00:59:46,099 --> 00:59:44,009 eighties yes and uh and he and he is you 1410 00:59:47,659 --> 00:59:46,109 know he's been a very important person 1411 00:59:49,909 --> 00:59:47,669 in skeptical movement in Australia and 1412 00:59:51,139 --> 00:59:49,919 he was going to miss this convention for 1413 00:59:54,439 --> 00:59:51,149 the first time after attending every 1414 00:59:55,819 --> 00:59:54,449 single one of the first 26 so I asked 1415 00:59:57,799 --> 00:59:55,829 him to say a few words about the bench 1416 00:59:59,509 --> 00:59:57,809 spoon award so he thought he was going 1417 01:00:01,819 --> 00:59:59,519 to say if you were to buy the bed spin 1418 01:00:02,959 --> 01:00:01,829 award and I said no we actually don't 1419 01:00:04,669 --> 01:00:02,969 want to hear what you have to say about 1420 01:00:06,919 --> 01:00:04,679 Vince pin award he was kind of shocked 1421 01:00:09,649 --> 01:00:06,929 see a different thing and we gave him a 1422 01:00:11,269 --> 01:00:09,659 Life Achievement Award and because he's 1423 01:00:14,059 --> 01:00:11,279 a in addition to the certificate because 1424 01:00:16,099 --> 01:00:14,069 he's a is a cricket fanatic i think is 1425 01:00:20,149 --> 01:00:16,109 he good way of saying is we gave him a 1426 01:00:22,129 --> 01:00:20,159 replica ashes urn with the words to bury 1427 01:00:24,379 --> 01:00:22,139 for to Barry Williams for a lifetime of 1428 01:00:26,120 --> 01:00:24,389 skepticism and he was really touched by 1429 01:00:28,249 --> 01:00:26,130 anyone was really nice lovely little 1430 01:00:31,249 --> 01:00:28,259 little gesture I thought yes he was he 1431 01:00:33,379 --> 01:00:31,259 was was absolutely always a highlight of 1432 01:00:35,470 --> 01:00:33,389 the convention the awards every year 1433 01:00:37,390 --> 01:00:35,480 always wait can't wait 1434 01:00:40,000 --> 01:00:37,400 who wins the bent spoon always great fun 1435 01:00:42,490 --> 01:00:40,010 it's been great fun to have a think tank 1436 01:00:44,740 --> 01:00:42,500 away from our favorite Club no bus 1437 01:00:46,440 --> 01:00:44,750 announcements you might have wanted to 1438 01:00:49,480 --> 01:00:46,450 make a bus and that's now it's all right 1439 01:00:51,540 --> 01:00:49,490 listeners can imagine a bus announcement 1440 01:00:54,910 --> 01:00:51,550 but I'm sure the next thing tank will be 1441 01:00:57,370 --> 01:00:54,920 back at some busy noisy club with bus 1442 01:01:00,550 --> 01:00:57,380 announcements or some such thing dr. 1443 01:01:02,050 --> 01:01:00,560 Reggie you better get home and jump back 1444 01:01:04,630 --> 01:01:02,060 into bed with your chicken soup and 1445 01:01:06,760 --> 01:01:04,640 measles yeah i just also want to add 1446 01:01:08,740 --> 01:01:06,770 that I think Lawrence lean did a great 1447 01:01:11,380 --> 01:01:08,750 job at the convention child oh yeah big 1448 01:01:13,810 --> 01:01:11,390 shout out to him here I like yeah he did 1449 01:01:16,420 --> 01:01:13,820 he did the the dinner talk it was fat 1450 01:01:18,099 --> 01:01:16,430 yeah quite a few people came people 1451 01:01:19,330 --> 01:01:18,109 obviously not everybody attended the 1452 01:01:20,740 --> 01:01:19,340 dinner not everybody attended the 1453 01:01:23,080 --> 01:01:20,750 conference it didn't attended the dinner 1454 01:01:26,320 --> 01:01:23,090 but the water but they were close to a 1455 01:01:28,270 --> 01:01:26,330 hundred people at the dinner and and I 1456 01:01:31,150 --> 01:01:28,280 think everyone said this was their 1457 01:01:33,790 --> 01:01:31,160 favorite part of the day and he was he 1458 01:01:35,740 --> 01:01:33,800 was quick fun Joe thank you very much 1459 01:01:37,540 --> 01:01:35,750 thank you Richard I have fun with your 1460 01:01:39,280 --> 01:01:37,550 highlighter yes my highlighters are 1461 01:01:41,530 --> 01:01:39,290 wonderful I'll take them on the plane 1462 01:01:45,190 --> 01:01:41,540 with me I've already tweeted I'm off to 1463 01:01:46,690 --> 01:01:45,200 find Wu in Peru whoo in Peru and Iran 1464 01:01:48,970 --> 01:01:46,700 thank you for having us in your land 1465 01:01:51,550 --> 01:01:48,980 room you must welcome we have no glasses 1466 01:02:20,380 --> 01:01:51,560 to cling but until our next think tank 1467 01:02:25,579 --> 01:02:23,390 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1468 01:02:29,599 --> 01:02:25,589 zone and thank you to all those people 1469 01:02:32,480 --> 01:02:29,609 who've been far too kind congratulating 1470 01:02:33,890 --> 01:02:32,490 me personally for the the state of power 1471 01:02:37,579 --> 01:02:33,900 balance in the United States because 1472 01:02:39,710 --> 01:02:37,589 they've gone into bankruptcy it's very 1473 01:02:42,650 --> 01:02:39,720 kind of you i only did a little little 1474 01:02:45,559 --> 01:02:42,660 bit a little part in exposing the scam 1475 01:02:48,289 --> 01:02:45,569 that is power balance but i will see 1476 01:02:51,109 --> 01:02:48,299 what's happening but it's occasionally 1477 01:02:53,990 --> 01:02:51,119 it's good to see some some success it 1478 01:02:56,950 --> 01:02:54,000 really is and I'm not wearing my power 1479 01:03:00,319 --> 01:02:56,960 balance i'm wearing my placebo band ho 1480 01:03:03,799 --> 01:03:00,329 don't forget pasiba ban the real thing 1481 01:03:07,549 --> 01:03:03,809 or the real fake thing the real thing 1482 01:03:09,799 --> 01:03:07,559 thing anyway you know what i mean well 1483 01:03:11,990 --> 01:03:09,809 after that interesting show I need to 1484 01:03:13,849 --> 01:03:12,000 lie down for at least a week at least 1485 01:03:16,480 --> 01:03:13,859 week and then I'll get up again and I'll 1486 01:03:21,109 --> 01:03:16,490 try to produce another skipping zone 1487 01:03:23,690 --> 01:03:21,119 which will be 162 until then this is 1488 01:03:29,000 --> 01:03:23,700 Richard Saunders signing off from Sydney 1489 01:03:33,289 --> 01:03:29,010 Australia you've been listening to the 1490 01:03:36,530 --> 01:03:33,299 skeptic zone visit our website at wwc a 1491 01:03:40,539 --> 01:03:36,540 petting zoo TV for comments contacts and 1492 01:03:40,549 --> 01:03:45,540 skin