More than 10,000 people take to the streets to protest against pope

Saturday’s protest saw nearly 20,000 people unite against the pope, making it, by the National Catholic Register’s own admission, “one of the largest protests against a pope in modern history.” Meanwhile, around 80,000 Catholics amassed in Hyde Park, where the pope later led an evening prayer vigil. With only a reported 5% and 11% of British Catholics conforming to the pope’s stances on contraception and homosexuality respectively, we can only hope that most got the wrong address.

Read more here.

Watch or read speeches from the protest here.

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal stalls as US Senate Republicans block bill

The extent to which gay intolerance remains an issue never ceases to amaze me. This week Republican senators blocked Obama’s promised end to the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy, which allows the dismissal of gays from the US armed forces if they reveal their sexuality. Democrats failed to swing even a single Republican’s vote, and a couple even voted against the policy’s withdrawal themselves.

Read the Guardian’s news coverage here.

‘Draw Muhammad’ cartoonist Molly Norris changes name, goes into hiding at FBI’s insistence

The cartoonist who inspired ‘Everybody Draw Muhammad Day’ has changed her name and gone into hiding at the advice of the FBI after a fatwa was issued against her. A radical Islamic leader linked to the recent Times Square bombing attempt placed her on an execution hit list and wrote that her “proper abode is hellfire.” This in response to her published cartoon with an anti-censorship message, which itself followed Comedy Central’s editing of a South Park episode that depicted the Islamic prophet. RIP Molly Norris: a martyr for a noble cause.

Read the Washington Post’s news coverage here.

[Via HumanistLife]

Mass suicide fears over LA sect allayed

When a group of sect members went missing, leaving behind letters wishing goodbye to their living relatives and claiming they would soon meet their deceased ones in heaven, they naturally ignited fears of a mass suicide. Fortunately the group, which included several children, has been found alive after a tip off to police. CNN reported that one sect member said they were all “perfectly OK”, and were angry to find that such an extensive search was under way.

Read Sky’s news coverage here.

[Via Richard Dawkins]

Science reporting on the BBC. Your chance to have a say.

The BBC has commissioned Steve Jones, UCL’s star geneticist, to write a report on the impartiality of science reporting on the BBC. It’s an issue that many of you will have some strong opinions on, and luckily you can make them heard by emailing them to trust.science@bbc.co.uk

Read more here.

[Via DC’s Improbable Science]

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

If you come across something that you think our readers would enjoy, send a tip my way at will [at] skeptic [dot] org [dot] uk.

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Pressure mounts against Koran burning

A small US Church is under criticism for its plans to hold a Koran burning event on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Their opponents include many religious moderates, who are worried that the event will send a message of nationwide intolerance for Islam, from which many fear repercussions. Unfortunately, it’s like water off a duck’s back to the event’s organiser, who still wishes only to fight fire with fire.

Read the BBC’s news coverage here.

*Update: This morning the event’s organiser announced that the Koran burning will be put on hold. He first cancelled the event, but changed his decision after finding that, as he sees it, he was lied to about the relocation of the ‘Ground-Zero mosque’.*

Read more here.

Vince Cable to signal cuts to science funding

Vince Cable has announced plans to cut science funding, reserving it only for commercially useful or “academically outstanding” research. While we could happily cut off some of the fat – studies into making the perfect cuppa perhaps – the plans risk expending many projects whose immediate significance is ‘only’ to further our understanding of a subject. President of the Royal Society Martin Rees also worries that “cuts would create the impression that UK science is in relative decline and make the UK a less attractive location for mobile talent and investment.”

Read the BBC’s news coverage here.

The trouble with the pope

This Monday Channel 4 is airing a little something to get you in the mood for the upcoming protests against the pope’s UK visit. In it, Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell scrutinises the beliefs and policies of Pope Benedict XVI, including all your favourite hits: opposition to contraception, condom use and embryonic stem cell research, and of course, the child sex abuse scandal. The program starts at 8PM. (The programme’s website doesn’t give the duration, but I shouldn’t think it wise to make other plans for that night given the subject matter.)

Read more here.

[Via Richard Dawkins]

VoYS stunt a success

This week Voices of Young Science (VoYS) donned their lab coats and took to the streets in protest against a Department of Health-proposed scheme to regulate practitioners of traditional medicine on everything but their medical training. The stunt, which saw young medics dishing out diplomas in ‘Old Wives’ Tales’ to members of the public, was a great success. A big thank you to everyone who made it!

Read more about the proposed scheme and the event here.

Stephen Hawing on M-theory and creation

This week, in an interview for BBC Newsnight, Professor Stephen Hawking talked about M-theory – “the theory of everything” – and its implications towards creation stories. M-theory, he explained, is the culmination of all six string theories, and predicts that the universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing, eliminating the need for a creator.

All week this latest brush with the religious has had Hawking under fire from people who couldn’t hope to understand the maths behind his reasoning, yet remain certain he’s wrong.

Watch Professor Stephen Hawking on Newsnight here.

[Via Atheist Media Blog]

Royal London Homeopathic Hospital rebranded

The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, that favourite institute of Prince Charles’, has changed its name. It was suggested that the hospital, which offers other alternative treatments including acupuncture and reiki, change its name to something along the lines of ‘Hospital for palliative and supportive care’, which might at least have been a small victory. Instead, it is now the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (read: the Royal London Hospital for Integrated, and therefore accepted, Medicine). Clearly Charlie’s friends, in the wake of homeopathy’s recent negative publicity, have merely retreated to a less controversial-sounding brand name.

Read more here.

[Via DC’s Improbable Science]

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

If you come across something that you think our readers would enjoy, send a tip my way at will [at] skeptic [dot] org [dot] uk.

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Government funding for stem cell research blocked by US court

A US judge has prohibited studies involving stem cells derived from human embryos that will later be discarded. The ruling, which overrides President Obama’s 2009 executive order to allow such studies, has caused many US scientists concern over its impact on their work. The Guardian reports that “The judge’s decision is almost certain to be appealed by the administration.”

Read the Guardian’s coverage here.

US government lends credibility to bogus prayer study

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services now features on its website an article claiming that prayer “may be a useful complement to Western medical practice.” This conclusion was reached through an atrocious study in which the conditions of sight- and hearing-impaired Mozambicans were reportedly found to improve after ‘proximal intercessory prayer (PIP)’. (That’s ‘prayer’ to you and me.) No reasonable scientific protocol was followed: The tests were neither single- nor double-blind, and included no controls. In fact, the participants – attendees of an evangelical meeting! – were subjected to PIP until they said it worked, kind of like how we know that beating the hell out of a person will make him sorry.

Read more on the study here.

Read the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ article here.

[Via Pharyngula]

Claudy bomb: conspiracy allowed IRA priest to go free

The British government and the Catholic Church colluded to protect the priest behind the Claudy bombings of 1972, a report issued this week reveals. One of the gravest atrocities of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the bombing killed 9 people, injuring a further 30. The Catholic Church stands by its actions, explaining that to have identified the IRA bomber to be a Catholic priest might have ignited further violence in what was already the bloodiest year of three decades of conflict. Many of the victims’ families are uncomforted by this justification, and are calling for legal justice and an apology.

Read the BBC’s news coverage here.

Watch the BBC News coverage here.

[Via Richard Dawkins]

Uri Geller’s mind bender: Egyptian loot in Scotland

Famed bender Uri Geller, presumably having realised the uselessness of manipulating silverware, has found a new hobby: hunting for Egyptian treasure in Scotland. The conjurer recently purchased a small island off the Eastern coast for £30,000, after being inexplicably drawn to it. He later realised that his attraction was caused by ancient treasures buried there, and promptly buried a crystal orb “once belonging to Albert Einstein” (standard protocol I believe). Geller plans to find the treasures by dowsing. Expert historians however, say stories connecting Scotland with Ancient Egypt are “tosh!”

Read the Wall Street Journal’s coverage here.

[Via Skepchick]

It’s looking silly outside; Bring a lab coat

Looking to boost your CV? Science charity Sense About Science is planning an event in which diplomas in ‘Old Wives’ Traditional Medicine’ will be awarded to those who can answer a few simple questions on the subject.

The stunt is a response to Department of Health proposals to introduce a professional registration scheme for herbalists and other practitioners of ‘traditional’ medicine. The move would serve the idea that practising medicine does not require proper medical training.

The event will be held outside the Department of Health office, situated on Whitehall, London (map), on 8 September, and will begin at 11:30am. Please try to pop down if you can, if only for an hour or two. Also, if you have one, wear a lab coat. I promise you won’t be the only one.

For more information, visit the Sense About Science website.

If you’re interested, it would be really helpful if you would contact Julia Wilson at jwilson@senseaboutscience.org and say so, just to give an idea of how many people to expect. Thanks!

(Further details coming soon.)

Empire State Building refuses to light up for Mother Teresa

Although the Empire State Building readily lit up for the Rotary Club’s 100^th birthday, and the 60^th anniversary of the founding of communist China, it will not shine blue and white for Mother Teresa’s 100^th birthday as requested. The building’s owners issued a statement to say that they cannot recognise religious figures in this way. Bill Donohue, talking on FOX News, claims this amendment was added after the request to justify the denial. It’s always fun to see Bill Donohue mad.

Watch the Fox News coverage here.

[Via Atheist Media Blog]

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

If you come across something that you think our readers would enjoy, send a tip my way at will [at] skeptic [dot] org [dot] uk.

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Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning “confesses” killing her husband on Iranian TV

For several weeks the world has watched the unfolding case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in outrage. Originally sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, she has now appeared on a major Iranian television network, apparently to confess to her involvement in the murder of her husband and his cousin. ‘Appeared’ is not quite the right term though: Sakineh’s face was blurred and her voice dubbed, raising doubts that the person speaking was even her. Her lawyer maintains that it was, but also that she was “severely beaten up and tortured until she accepted to appear in front of camera”.

Read Al Jazeera’s coverage here.

Watch the BBC News coverage here.

[Via Atheist Media Blog]

Faith School Menace

Richard Dawkins’ latest documentary Faith School Menace? examines the role of faith schools in Britain as the coalition government rolls out it’s ‘free schools’ initiative. Through a series of interviews with politicians, teachers and children, Dawkins reveals the depressing realities of faith schools’ discrimination between and indoctrination of children in Britain. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into faith schools following the program.

Watch Faith School Menace here. (Unfortunately this video is only available to UK viewers).

[Via Richard Dawkins]

NHS ‘alternative therapy’ blast

We all know how tough it is to find jobs in this economic climate, so how would you react if I told you of one that pays £68,000 a year, only requires you to work for two days a week, and demands no expertise whatsoever. The position: ‘Specialty Doctor in Homeopathy’ for NHS Tayside. Sure they may be cutting 500 jobs in the next year, but you don’t need to feel bad; you won’t be the only one applying.

Read the Express’ coverage here.

From blasphemy to blasphemy rights

Last year the Centre for Inquiry (CFI) celebrated ‘International Blasphemy Day’, a day intended to promote free speech, but which some abused, using it as an excuse to mindlessly insult faith and religion. This year the CFI have rebranded the holiday ‘International Blasphemy Rights Day’ in the hope that attention will be focused on the serious issues surrounding blasphemy and the right to free speech, at home and abroad.

Read more here.

Visit the ‘International Blasphemy Rights Day’ Facebook page here.

[Via Friendly Atheist]

Drug firms hiding negative research are unfit to experiment on people

This week the drug company AstraZeneca settled a class action for £125m after more than 17,500 patients claimed it had withheld information showing that a schizophrenia drug could cause diabetes. AstraZeneca’s publications manager has admitted to the company’s burying of data in a past study concerning the drug, while publishing the positive findings.

Read Ben Goldacre’s article in the Guardian here.

Last Catholic adoption agency faces closure after Charity Commission ruling

This week it was adoption agency Catholic Care’s turn to bend over and take a court ruling up the backside, as the Charity Commission rejected their request to turn away gay couples on the basis of their sexuality. Earlier this year a High Court judge ordered that their case for homophobia be considered, making Catholic Care the last Catholic adoption agency not to have been forced to close down or disassociate with the Church. It would be so easy to end on a joke, but I’m bigger than that.

Read the Telegraph’s coverage here.

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

If you come across something that you think our readers would enjoy, send a tip my way at will [at] skeptic [dot] org [dot] uk.

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Vatican makes attempted ordination of women a grave crime

Last week the Church of England’s synod voted overwhelmingly to allow women to be ordained as bishops. Worried that some might mistakenly connect the Catholic Church with such tolerance, the Vatican announced three days later that in its establishment the same actions would constitute a ‘grave crime’, putting it in the same category as clerical sex abuse of minors. I think it might be time to employ a new head of PR.

Read the Guardian’s news coverage here.

Watch the BBC’s news coverage here.

[Video via Atheist Media Blog]

Scientology’s problem with Twitter

Last year, Cardiff councillor John Dixon happened to pass a local branch of the Church of Scientology. He reached for his phone and Tweeted “I didn’t know the Scientologists had a church on Tottenham Court Road. Just hurried past in case the stupid rubs off.” Now he faces a disciplinary hearing for breaching the code of conduct for local authority members.

In response, the term #stupidscientology has become a trending topic on Twitter. For those of you whose lives don’t revolve around what Stephen Fry has for tea each day, that means it’s one of Twitter’s most talked about topics in the UK today. I only hope that the tweets are to say what a first-rate job the church (it’s definitely a church) is doing, which I want to make clear is my view.

Read the Guardian’s news coverage here.

Watch BBC Newsnight’s interview with Councillor John Dixon here.

[Via Atheist Media Blog]

£17,500 fine over ‘spiritual healer’ advert

This week TV watchdog Ofcom bared its teeth and fined a television network £17,500 for airing a spiritual healing advert ‘likely to exploit vulnerable people’. The ad promoted ‘spiritual healer’ Professor Mohammed Zain, whose advise to one client was to credit his account with £110, pray for a week and call him back. She did so, and upon receiving her call Zain told her to cough up a further £1,400 and in return he would find her a prince. Charming.

Read the Guardian’s news coverage here.

The missing pope petition

Those of you who signed the ‘Protest the Pope’ petition will have recently received an email with the official response from the Prime Minister’s office, which is essentially ‘The Pope is coming to dinner. The UK taxpayer has to fork out a shedload of cash for it.’ Your reaction was probably similar to mine: ‘We know all this. That’s what we’re protesting against!’

So in essence Downing Street ignored the petition. But if that wasn’t bad enough it’s now been removed by Whitehall officials, more than three months before it was scheduled to close. It seems that only selected petitions are allowed.

Don’t let it end there. The Protest the Pope Coalition plans to rally against the Pope’s visit on Saturday 18 September in London. Anyone who isn’t there is a kiddy-fiddler.

Read more here.

Find out more about the rally and other events here.

[Via Richard Dawkins]

Chicken eggs and Ham

Last week MSNBC reported that scientists have ‘proven’ that the chicken came before the egg – a claim despairingly debunked by PZ Myers. At least one reader was convinced though. This week Ken Ham smugly blogged on the discovery’s consistency with the Bible’s creation myth. Looks like Bananaman’s got a new partner in crime: Eggface.

Read more here.

[Via Pharyngula]

BHA condemns “appalling decision” to give education award to creationist zoo

Gone are the days when we could say ‘only in America’. The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, an initiative of the last UK government set in place to promote educational school trips, has awarded creationist Noah’s Ark Zoo a ‘Quality Badge’ in recognition of its educational programme. Setting aside the biblical myths that are its backbone, the programme denies a host of scientific facts that conflict with the establishment’s views including radio carbon dating, the fossil record and the speed of light. The British Humanist Association is urging for the award’s retraction.

Read more here.

[Via Planet Atheism]

Facing Mecca when you pray doesn’t matter says Islamic leader

Indonesian Muslims have been praying in the wrong direction. Rather than facing Mecca it turns out that the country’s mosques had people facing Africa. The head of the Indonesian Ulema Council – the organisation responsible for the mix up – assured Muslims that their prayers had still been heard by Allah. That’s one bit of superstition ignored, only the rest of the Koran to go.

Read more here.

[Via Friendly Atheist]

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Please feel free to leave a comment and I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible. Until next time, take care of yourself, and each other.

If you come across something that you think our readers would enjoy, send a tip my way at will [at] skeptic [dot] org [dot] uk.

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