What are skeptics?
Skeptics promote critical thinking and the scientific method to address
all beliefs or practices. We ask: What
is the evidence? We examine extraordinary claims
with open minds, but we expose claims for which evidence and reason are
poor.
A few of the issues we examine:
CAM campaign tour begins Public meetings in two cities mark the beginning of the tour
exposing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Skeptics chair
Eric McMillan and other skeptics are appearing in Guelph and Hamilton,
on May 2 and May 3 respectively, to carry on the year-long campaign
launched in Toronto recently. More cities across Canada are being lined
up for the rest of 2008.
Or see more
details of these meetings on the Coming Events page.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA? Skeptical meetings, presentations, camps and other activities
are now posted on the Coming Events. Check out what's happening in
Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Coming Events
New book
puts alternative medicine to the test Scientific researchers expose the failures of alternative
medicine in a long-awaited book being released in Canada, the United
Kingdom, and United States this spring and summer. News 2008
Skeptic chair continues to survive
'homeopathic suicide' attempt Two full months after publicly downing massive overdoses of
three homeopathic remedies, Skeptics Canada chair Eric McMillan is STILL
alive. The "homeopathic suicide" demonstration was part
of a public meeting held to launch Skeptics Canada's CAM Campaign. News 2007
Skeptics Canada launches CAM campaign An exciting year-long campaign on complementary and
alternative medicine (CAM) is being kicked off with a series of public
meetings—along with live testing of dubious products and treatments,
media events, a petition to the federal government and a national
conference. News 2007
Homeopathy
talk online
See and hear Dr. Michael De Robertis talk on the curious
"science" behind homeopathy. The presentation at the kick-off
event of Skeptics Canada's CAM campaign on December 7 is available
online in this Skeptics Canada podcast at Veoh.com.
JOIN THE CAUSE If you would like to help the cause of
skepticism and critical thinking, then become part of the skeptical
movement.
Calculating Christ
The "Lost Tomb of Jesus" documentary, DVD and book by Canadian
fillmmakers have caused a sensation, but it's unlikely the discoveries
will be confirmed, say expertsSkeptical Topics
Staring
down iridology Iridology is one of the oddest and least credible of the alt-med
practices but it may have a tiny speck of truth to it. Skeptical Topics
UPDATED
REGULAR FEATURES:
Naturopathy David Bailey is up to N now in his series of introductions to
Pseudoscience A-Z, this time looking at the bizarre ideas behind the
pseudoscience of Naturopathy. Skeptical
Topics
2007 newsletters now online
Sample 2007 issues of Openly Skeptical, the newsletter of
Skeptics Canada, are online now in PDF format—including our
biggest-ever (28-page) newsletter—for free download. Newsletters
From the files of
Skeptics Canada:
York University rejects chiropractic
college It was a crucial battle for science and skepticism when chiropractic
came close to gaining a foothold at Canada's third largest university. A
participant recounts the struggle and warns of more to come. Skeptical Topics
Water memory tests all wet: A reassessment of the
Benveniste experiments Remember the short-lived excitement in 1988 when a French laboratory
reported results apparently confirming a fundamental tenet of
homeopathy? Many homeopathic websites today still cite these experiments
in support of their products. However, as this article shows, the
results were soon shown to be erroneous. Skeptical Topics
New book
puts alternative medicine to the test
