News Front
Jessica Macfarlane (May 1, 2020)
'Horrifying' impact of coronavirus misinformation for people with Asian background - Christchurch mayor
Where: stuff.co.nz
Who: Oliver Lewis
When: 14/02/2020
Skeptic summary: Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel says people with an Asian background are staying at home to avoid racist comments from people assuming they might be carrying coronavirus (Covid-19). This is the harm of misinformation, and a reminder again that we can't be smug and think New Zealand don't have a racisim problem. It does.
From snake oil to science: I peddled ‘clean' eating, wellness—until I learned the facts
Where: usatoday.com
Who: Denby Royal
When: 05/02/2020
Skeptic summary: It's always good to hear from an ex-woo salesperson. This former holistic nutritionist provides insight into how and why people change their minds, and a reminder that they can. One key quote: “the presence of a residue is not equal to the presence of a risk” - Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society.
Fighting ‘the irrational ape' with critical thinking
Where: rnz.co.nz
Who: Nine to Noon with Lynn Freeman
When: 22/01/2020
Skeptic summary: Dr. David Robert Grimes talks about his book ‘The Irrational Ape'. His book talks about bad thinking and how to avoid it, and how critical thinking can save the world. All the good stuff is here, thinking skeptically, fact-checking, looking for the source of the information and following the money. Dr. Grimes says “None of us are born critical thinkers, but we all have the capacity to be.” His book has been criticised for a lack of citations from women.
Concerns over secret search for giants' bones near Huntly
Where: rnz.co.nz
Who: Susan Strongman
When: 14/02/2020
Skeptic summary: What's the harm in searching for a hidden race of giants? “Quite a lot of these theories are used to make some variation of the claim ‘Well, if white people were here first, then the Treaty is null and void'”. With no evidence, this group has been working under cover of darkness, excavating in a cave without the property owner's permission. The conspiracy theorists are convinced and excited about the possibilities. In an email to RNZ they said “Providing proof of 8' humans to the world will be bigger than finding Tutankhamen”
Coronavirus causing some anti-vaxxers to waver, experts say
Where: theguardian.com
Who: Jon Henley
When: 21/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: It's taken a pandemic, but there are some hearts and minds that have changed. While a growing shit-show of pseudoscience believe metastasises across social media we need to take heart by looking at these positive cases.
Twitter bans incitement to attack 5G towers
Where: bbc.com
Who: Unknown
When: 23/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: Social media giant Twitter is doing something to slow down the tidal wave of bullshit linking Covid19 with 5G. Surpressing freedom of speech or surpressing incitement to cause vandalism and destruction? I'll leave that judgement to you.
‘Absolutely insane': Anti-vaxxers promote coronavirus conspiracies
Where: smh.com.au
Who: Caitlin Fitzsimmons and Tom Rabe
When: 20/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: Plague enthusiasts have been printing and distributing a pamphlet that suggests people not get their flu-jab and ignore rules around physical distancing. “NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it was "absolutely insane" for people to advocate not getting a flu shot.”
Missouri Sues Televangelist Jim Bakker For Selling Fake Coronavirus Cure
Where: npr.org
Who: Matthew S. Schwartz
When: 11/03/2020
Skeptic Summary: Silver Solution sold for $80 USD on his TV show was making the televangelist a tidy profit until he was finally shut down. “According to the National Institutes of Health, very little evidence backs up the health-related claims of silver. "Colloidal silver can be dangerous to your health," the NIH says. “
Coronavirus: Church member going door to door to spread The Word breaks Covid-19 lockdown
Where: stuff.co.nz
Who: Mike Mather
When: 10/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: A woman wanting to spread The Word of God on behalf of (but without the knowledge or permission of) her Baptist church may have been in danger of spreading more than she intended to. She seemed contrite after being shut down.
600 people have been killed and 3,000 left in hospital in Iran after they drank neat alcohol in the mistaken belief it cures coronavirus
Where: dailymail.co.uk
Who: Chris Pleasance
When: 8/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: A horrible and devastating example of the answer to the perennial question: “What's the harm in promoting nonsense?”
Coronavirus: Pastor who decried ‘hysteria' dies after attending Mardi Gras
Where: bbc.com
Who: Aleem Maqbool
When: 06/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: Landon Spradlin, a pastor and accomplished blues musician was sceptical of warnings about Covid-19 and shared his thoughts on social media. Sadly he became sick along with many others in a spike of cases after playing with his band in New Orleans in March. After his death, his daughter Jesse reflected that a mistrust of media, and polarisation of political parties made it hard to tell what was true and what was political point scoring. She said “unless we start acting like one nation we are not truly going to find a solution.”
Coronavirus: Churches receive more than $1.5m from Government's Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme
Where: stuff.co.nz
Who: Anuja Nadkarni
When: 15/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: Why? Churches get tax breaks just as charities do, but now they are helped out with a wage subsidy?
Northlanders urged to beware Covid-19 rumours, misinformation: Netsafe
Where: nzherald.co.nz
Who: Peter de Graff
When: 21/03/2020
Skeptic Summary: From claims on Facebook pinpointing (wrongly) the town or even street where Covid-19 was found, to claims purporting to be from hospitals in Australia, Chinese doctors, or our own Ministry of Health, misinformation was rife.
One of the most dangerous claims suggesting gargling hydrogen peroxide would kill the virus, when actually it would lead to severe and painful burns, holes in internal tissues or death. Netsafe chief executive Martin Cocker said it was up to people using social media to not share things they weren't sure were true. This skeptic is skeptical that statement will have much effect even though we agree with the sentiment.
Chiropractors deemed ‘essential services' during level 4 lockdown
Where: stuff.co.nz
Who: Joel McManus
When: 08/04/2020
Skeptic Summary: The president of The Chiropractors association, Hayden Thomas is quoted as saying “At least we can do something to functionally help people so that emergency rooms and GPs don't get overwhelmed”.
To say it would reduce the numbers of people presenting at the emergency department is dangerous in that it is holding up Chiropractic as an equal and effective alternative to emergency care. If it's an emergency people shouldn't be going to the chiropractor, and in some cases a trip to one can cause a trip to E.D. in cases of neck or spine adjustments gone wrong.
Coronavirus: Conspiracy theorist David Icke's Facebook page deleted as pressure mounts on social media companies
Where: independent.co.uk
Who: Lizzie Dearden
When: 1/05/2020
Skeptic Summary: After building pressure from groups and individuals, Facebook finally removes David Icke's page promoting and profiting from coronavirus misinformation. The page had almost 800,000 likes at the time. David Icke's conspiracy theories are wide ranging, racist and dangerous. In a video with millions of views he said Jews were behind the virus. He also claims 5G spreads coronavirus. This is a man who is also known for the theory that the royal family are actually lizard people.
“Misinformation puts all of our lives at risk by encouraging the public not to comply with clinical guidance. “ say the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
Coronavirus: Debunking the baseless conspiracy theories in NZ
Where: stuff.co.nz
Who: George Block
When: 3/3/2020
Skeptic Summary: When asked about the link between 5G and coronavirus, University of Waikato's M R X Dentith says the link is based on fear and not evidence. He clarified that “there is no such thing as a digital virus”. What to do people you know are taken in? Rather than tell them they are wrong which will solidify their beliefs, give them good information about 5G safety for example, which will then be more effective in helping them change their minds.