Skeptics in the media

Dowsing

Wellington ratepayers foot bill for pseudoscience

Where: newsroom.co.nz

Who: Farah Hancock

When: 6/3/2019

Skeptic summary: Downer, one of New Zealand's largest infrastructure companies, goes on the record to say they are not going to stop their staff or contractors from using dowsing to find water pipes. I'm not making this up. See more detailed coverage of this unbelievable story earlier in this issue.

The Force Field Film Challenge!

Why we must explain vaccines to kids

Where: stuff.co.nz

Who: Siouxsie Wiles

When: 18/03/2019

Skeptic summary: Kids are right to ask questions about vaccinations, and as adults it's our responsibility to give them the truth. Siouxsie explains how to approach the subject with them, and deal with all those questions. Also, a mention of stage one of our project ‘The Force Field Film Challenge!”. Stage one is to raise funds. Stage two is to reward kid's schools for helping them use their curiosity and creativity to spread the good word about the power of herd immunity via vaccination to the wider world.

To donate go to:

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/force-field-film-challenge

To find out more go to:

https://skeptics.nz/latest/nationwide-school-video-competition-promotes-vaccination

Post Truth Vodka

The devious truth behind this Post-Truth Vodka selling on Trade Me

Where: nzherald.co.nz

Who: Megan Harvey

When: 24/01/2019

Skeptic summary: What happens when a marketing agency wants to promote themselves and the truth? Post-Truth Vodka. We were quoted as saying "We are naturally suspicious of an advertising agency suddenly becoming a champion of truth, but we like vodka"

The bottle's contents were not what they seemed, but the agency were true to their word, and gave the proceeds of the auction to the NZ Skeptics Society.

We will use the money to further our goals of promoting critical thinking.