Articles tagged with "community"

Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal is the newest entry in what could legitimately be considered a world-famous-in-New-Zealand subgenre of Gloriavale documentaries. The three-part series directed by Nicole Rittenmeyer, and executive produced by Dame Julie Christie, is frustrating to watch, and overall is a boring mess. Some producers live by the adage of “all attention is good attention”, but when the subject is a religious community in which children were sexually abused, that is a stance that commits a real disservice to the survivors.

I'm unreserved in my assessment that this has been one of the biggest weekends in ISTA/Highden history, just not for the reasons ISTA would have anticipated. Anya Kamenetz, writing for New York Magazine's The Cut, has written a damning piece on ISTA, with the subtitle of: “_Can a neo-Tantric sex group dedicated to exploring dark desires root out abuse?_”

By which I mean I recommend watching a new documentary called “Gloriavale”, which focuses on the infamous religious group. I most definitely don't recommend converting to their religion and moving to the Gloriavale compound on the South Island. I went to a Film Festival viewing of the documentary yesterday, before general release to cinemas next week, and there was also a fascinating Question and Answer session afterwards with some of the filmmakers and subjects of the documentary. Here's the trailer:

Ending on a positive note (no pun intended) this week, NZ Skeptics committee member Brad MacClure was featured in an article on Stuff about piano tuning, and skepticism. There's a nice write-up and associated video.

As everybody no doubt knows we're back in lockdown again - level 3 for Auckland and level 2 for the rest of the country.

As no doubt everyone will be aware by now, there's been community transmission of COVID-19 in Auckland. Back to Level 3 for Auckland, and Level 2 for the rest of the country. Let's hope this is over with quickly, and doesn't get out of hand. Best wishes to everyone involved, and keep scanning and checking in!

With that odd title out of the way, I want to get to the heart of what our role should be as skeptics, and how to properly do scientific scepticism.

Raw water - the latest foolish fad to hit people's screens, pockets, and in some instances I'd guess their toilet paper expenditure as well.

Up to 80 kids - 1 in 4 - at Brunswick North West Primary School in Melbourne have contracted chicken pox. The school is tolerant or even welcoming of parents who choose not to vaccinate their kids. Newsletters have reiterated this view:

Daniel Ryan reports from the front line of the battle against the anti-fluoridationists.

It will be interesting to see how the government handles the latest health scare which is being helped along by the usual sensationalist media reporting. How about this example: "The men who made the poisons that blighted a New Plymouth community…." (Sunday Star Times, 12 September 2004).

From a medical member, recently moved to a rural practice:

Ray Carr was a fine example of an active Skeptic.