Letters to the Editor

- 1 August 2019

to SECRETARY, EDITOR

The Committee,

NZ Skeptics.

25 May 2019

Dear Fellow Skeptics,

I am a long time member of the NZ Skeptics. I wish to respectfully raise a point of concern that I have regarding the direction that the NZ Skeptics appear to be going. Over two decades ago I walked away from Greenpeace when I realized that they had become political activists and had abandoned rational scientific debate. In recent editions of the NZ Skeptic magazine I have been seeing similar warning signs.

This has come to a head in the latest editorial. It would appear that I am a ‘Climate change denier’. Well I have never denied that the climate changes, rather I consider myself an ‘Anthropogenic climate change industry sceptic’. The fact that I choose to question and debate this emotive and politically charged topic does not put me on the same level as a Holocaust denier, which incidentally is the intent of the ‘denier’ label.

Have the NZ Skeptics polled the membership on their views on climate change? It might be an interesting exercise. Another thing that really concerns me is the idea that it is ok to enable activist children to wag school and stand on street corners waving placards. As Skeptics shouldn’t we be encouraging these children to do their own research, go to the source material (not just the NZ Herald), consider the counter arguments and critiques and then form an educated opinion? Maybe then they might find themselves in a position to actually be part of the solution. Everyone is entitled to their own honestly held opinions and provided they can make an intelligent and cohesive argument in support of their views, I am more than happy to debate them. They may even change my mind.

Yours sincerely

Karen Woodley

Dear Karen,

Thanks very much for your reply.

We very much appreciate that you took the time to write in. Our Chair, Craig Shearer has responded to you by means of an article—‘How to Skeptic’.

Jessica Macarlane NZ Skeptic Editor