Hello skeptifans. March is a weather-diverse month in Canada. Some of us are walking around in light jackets enjoying the sunshine, and some of us are braving the snow and -20C cold. Wherever you are, I hope you’re staying warm and skeptical.
Canada’s ex-defense minister: U.S. knows how aliens can make us greener
Roger sent in this story. Our former defense minister has made some strange claims about a US conspiracy to cover up alien technology. He will be speaking at a UFO conference to promote his book on the subject. Here’s a video from 2008. Watch it, and then remember he was responsible for the defense of Canada, including overseeing the Canadian Forces:
B.C. naturopaths the first in Canada to prescribe medications
Michael sent in this Fail. For several months now, BC Naturopaths have had the right to prescribe certain medications. This article covers some of the concerns MDs have about this, but is mired in statements meant to “balance” the argument. Then, it’s capped off with a history of naturopathy that sounds like it’s straight from the naturopath’s press kit.
Fluoride in water has to go, says doc
Evan sent in this Fail. Dr. Paul Connett spoke to a packed crowd about the dangers of fluoride, and his opinions were published in this article with no challenge or criticism. It’s just another example of a reporter not doing any actual journalism. Listen to a speaker, write down what they say, and publish it with no analysis. That’s what passes these days. On top of that, the article sites an unpublished study linking lowered IQ with fluoride. If it’s unpublished, I wonder how the writer was able to know what the study showed?
India on the front lines in the battle to eradicate polio
Art sent in this Win. Some anti-vaxers criticize the amount of vaccines children get, and say that we should skip vaccines for things like polio, since the disease has been eradicated. Except it hasn’t. The battle to wipe out polio is still on. This article discusses the challenges and successes of the polio vaccination program in India. It covers some interesting things about the evolution of polio vaccines, and the technology used to trace strains of the virus. When you hear stories of mothers carrying their children for miles to get them inoculated, it makes you wonder how some parents are willing eschew this life saving technology. We are very privileged in North America, and sometimes privilege makes us ignorant.
That’s the Fails and Wins for this week, folks. If you have a face-palm moment when reading the news, send me the story at links [at] skepticnorth [dot] com.