Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

[Barry Karr <SkeptInq@AOL.COM>]

Articles of Note

Group That Debunks Paranormal To Open Office In Manhattan
New York-AP, March 10, 2003

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/WABC_031003_paranormal.html

When the Center for Free Inquiry opens its newest office in Manhattan, it couldn't ask for a better greeting. The ornate sign outside the building at 30 Rockefeller Center reads "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of our times" and a sculpture of the Greek god Prometheus stands prominently nearby. "If we had a patron saint, he would be ours," CFI-Metro NY Chairman Austin Dacey says of Prometheus, who brought fire and intelligence to humanity. The group of international skeptics, known for debunking psychics, ghosts and alien abductions, is opening a new office in Manhattan to promote better scientific coverage by the news media.   


Some see Iraq war in Scripture
By Bill Hillburg
Los Angeles Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~1230768,00.html

"For millions of Americans, the looming war with Iraq is far more than an 
effort to eliminate a dictator and his weapons of mass destruction. Citing 
Scripture, they fervently believe that the conflict is yet another strong 
sign that the end of time is approaching."


Can good vibrations stop war?
by Dennis Roddy
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20030309edroddy09p1.asp

"With Americans prepared to invade Iraq in reaction to terrorist strikes by 
Saudis and Saddam Hussein destroying weapons he denies having, logic's 
tattered remnants strode across the international stage in the robes of the 
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi."


ITC monitors Diana spirit show
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2826403.stm

"A TV watchdog is to monitor a documentary which claims to contact the 
spirit of Princess Diana as part of a review into paranormal programming."


Diana seance edited for British TV
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/10/diana.tv.seance/

"Lurid scenes of psychics trying to get in touch with the late Diana, 
Princess of Wales, have been cut from a U.S. television programme being 
shown on British television Monday."


ITC to investigate paranormal shows
by Matt Wells
The Guardian [UK]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,911009,00.html

"Tonight's coverage by a satellite TV channel of an attempt to raise the 
spirit of Princess Diana has prompted television regulators to launch an 
investigation into the proliferation of programmes about the paranormal."



It's Time To Rethink Ephedra Regulation
by Leon Jaroff
Time
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,429341,00.html

"Steve Bechler may not have died in vain. After the 23-year-old Baltimore 
Orioles pitcher collapsed and died in February following a spring training 
workout in Florida, a bottle of weight loss supplements containing ephedra 
was found in his locker. A Florida medical examiner reported that ephedra 
might well have contributed to his death."


The mind should be open
By Karl J. Mogel
California Aggie
http://www.californiaaggie.com/_articles/5852.taf

"Last week, I had the privilege to discuss science and astrology with 
Michael Mercury on his radio show. He said that the reason I didn’t believe 
in astrology was because my mind was closed. I contested that 
characterization, but he repeated that multiple times, even in the closing 
statements of the show, when it was out of place for me to respond again."


FDA Proposes Standards for Supplements
by LAURAN NEERGAARD
Associated Press
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/5347699.htm

"Millions of users of St. John's wort, calcium and other dietary 
supplements may soon know for sure they're getting what they pay for: The 
government proposed the first manufacturing standards for the $19 billion 
supplement industry in an attempt to cut fraud and contamination."



Outlawing Science
By Ellen Goodman
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59557-2003Mar7.html

"Never again will I underestimate the commitment of the U.S. House of 
Representatives to homeland security. While the whole country is on an 
emotional toggle switch, alternating between orange and yellow alert, the 
representatives nevertheless have taken time out to protect our fair 
country from another breed of international criminals: patients."



Is It Good for the Jews?
By BILL KELLER
New York Times
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/08/opinion/08KELL.html?ex=1047704400&en=1bce39f6df355daf&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE>

"Two weeks ago, a group of senior intelligence officials in the Defense 
Department sat for an hour listening to a briefing by a writer who claims — 
I am not making this up — that messages encoded in the Hebrew text of the 
Old Testament provide clues to the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. One of 
the officials told me that they had agreed to meet the writer, Michael 
Drosnin, author of a Nostradamus-style best seller, without understanding 
that he was promoting Biblical prophecy. Still, rather than shoo him away, 
they listened politely as he consumed several man-hours of valuable 
intelligence-crunching time. Apparently he has given similar briefings to 
top officials of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency."

For More Stories Visit:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skepticsearch/


The 11th European Skeptics Congress
London, September 5-7, 2003

ASKE:  The Association for Skeptical Enquiry

THE SKEPTIC: The UK's leading skeptical magazine

ECSO:  The European Council of Skeptical Organisations

CSICOP The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
 
11th European Skeptics Congress, ASKE, P.O. Box 5994, Ripley, DE5 3XL, UK  http://www.aske.org.uk/congress
Congress Chair: Dr. Michael Heap, Tel: +44 (0)114 262 0468; Fax +44(0)114 221 7319; m.heap@sheffield.ac.uk
______________________________________________________________________

REGISTRATION 


Anyone with an interest in promoting rational and scientific thinking and its application for human benefit is welcome to attend The 11th European Skeptics Congress.  

Early registration is strongly recommended, particularly if you are booking accommodation as this will soon become full.

The venue of the Congress is Franklin Wilkins Building, Kings College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN.  This is on the south bank of the River Thames and is within walking distance of many famous attractions, including the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Globe Theatre, the Festival Hall and the New Tate Gallery.  It is also within walking distance of Waterloo Station (national and underground rail network and the Eurostar trains to and from France and Belgium.  Economical accommodation is available through the Congress organisation.  People attending the Congress may wish to extend their visit to London to explore this interesting area of the Capital City. 


Congress Advisory Board
Prof. Willem Betz, University of Brussels; Dr. Scott Campbell, University of Nottingham; Prof. Cornelis de Jager, Universities of Utrecht and Brussels; Prof. Steven Donnelly, University of Salford; Prof. Chris French, Goldsmiths College, University of London; Dr. Toby Howard, University of Manchester; Mr. Mike Hutchinson, The Skeptic; Mr. Barry Karr, CSICOP; Dr. Martin Mahner, GWUP/ECSO; Prof. David Marks, City University; Mr. Amardeo Sarma, GWUP/ECSO; Dr. Graham Wagstaff, University of Liverpool; Dr. Richard Wiseman, University of Hertfordshire 
 OUTLINE OF CONGRESS PROGRAMME

The congress will consist of formal presentations from invited speakers and members of Skeptical Societies in Europe and North America and more informal debates.  At various times during the main programme, parallel events will be held such as workshop-type presentations.  For the call for papers see the AKSE website (see above) or the ECSO website (www.ecso.org).  

Friday September 5th 

11.00 a.m. onwards Registration 

130 - 2.00 p.m. Welcoming addresses

2.00 - 5.30 p.m. Symposium on Science, Health and Medicine (with keynote address by Professor Edzard Ernst and papers by Professor Leslie Walker and Dr. Dorothy Rowe).

8.00 - 9.30 p.m. Reception for delegates

Saturday September 6th 

9.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. Symposia on Parapsychology and Anomalistic Psychology (with keynote addresses by Professor Robert Morris and Professor Chris French and papers by Professor Ray Hyman and Professor Richard Wiseman).

4.00 - 6.00 p.m. Symposium on 'Scientists on the Defensive'

8.00 - 10.00 p.m. Congress Dinner

Sunday September 7th 

9.30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. Miscellaneous papers

1.30 p.m. Close

REGISTRATION FEES

All fees are payable in pounds sterling only, by VISA, MasterCard or a cheque in pound sterling drawn on a UK bank.  (If you have any problems in the method of payment, please contact the Congress organisers).

The registration fee is £55 for applications received on or before June 30th 2003.  Thereafter it is £70.  

The registration fee for an accompanying person, namely a spouse or child, is £25.

The registration fee for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate student is £25.  

The cost of the Congress Dinner is £20.

ACCOMMODATION
The apartments and hotels below are, unless otherwise stated, within walking distance of the Congress venue, as well as major attractions - the London Eye, the Festival Hall, the Globe Theatre, the Houses of Parliament, the New Tate Gallery, etc. - and Waterloo Station.  (Note that telephone and fax numbers when dialled in the UK have '0' instead of '44'.)

1.  BOOKING WITH YOUR CONGRESS REGISTRATION

LOW PRICE, SINGLE EN SUITE ROOMS

Stamford Street Apartments (King's College London), Stamford Street, London SE1

Accommodation in London is extremely expensive.  However, we have arranged for very economical accommodation (£30.50 per person per night) to be available at students' apartments, which are vacated during the summer.  These are directly opposite the Congress venue and are single en suite rooms (with shower and toilet).  Breakfast (which is not included in the £30.50) is available in the main Congress hall.  You should book this accommodation through the Congress organisers on your registration form.  

We have reserved these rooms for Friday 5th and Saturday 6th September.  If you wish to come earlier or stay longer, then you should ring the Kings College Conference Office on (44)-207-848 1700 (the Fax is (44)-207-848 1717 and the email is vacations.at.kings@kcl.ac.uk), tell them that you are attending the Congress and staying at Stamford Street Apartments, and book your extra nights (these will cost you the usual price of £34.00).  

2.  BOOKING DIRECTLY YOURSELF

If you do not wish to use the above accommodation, you will need to book your accommodation yourself.  The apartments and hotels below are a sample.  

LOW PRICE, SINGLE AND TWIN EN SUITE ROOMS (Bed & breakfast)

Bankside House (London School of Economics), 24 Sumner Street, London SE1 9JA
Tel: (44)-207-633 9877; Fax: (44)-207-574 6730; email: vacations@lse.ac.uk

'Standard' single and en suite single, twin, triple and quad rooms (and rooms for disabled persons) are available from approximately £30 (standard single room), £43 (en suite single room), £58 (en suite twin room), etc.  Breakfast is included.  

The above accommodation is very close to the Congress venue.  There are many other halls of residence available over the summer but they require a short journey on the underground.  For details of these, contact the following (source: http://www.venuemasters.com).

City University: Tel: (44)-207-040 8037; Email: events@city.ac.uk
Imperial College London: Tel: (44)-207-594 9494; Email: accommodationlink@ic.ac.uk
The London Institute: Tel: (44)-207-514 6240; Email: accom@linst.ac.uk
The London School of Economics: Tel: (44)-207-955 7575; Email: vacations@lse.ac.uk
Queen Mary's College London: Tel: (44)-207-882 3642; Email: holiday@qmul.ac.uk
University College London: Tel: (44)-207-833 8175; Email: accommodation@ucl.ac.uk
University of North London: Tel: (44)-207-607 5415; Email: summerlets@unl.ac.uk
University of Westminster: Tel: (44)-207-834 1172/1169; Email: comserv@wmin.ac.uk
HOTELS 

The approximate prices quoted are per room; e.g. £88 for a twin room is £44 per person.  

***Days Inn Waterloo, 54 Kennington Road, London SE1 7BJ
Tel: (44)-207-922 1331; Fax: (44)-207-922 1441
Per room per night from approximately £75.  (There is a long-stay car park nearby.)

London County Hall Travel Inn, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Tel: (44)-870 238 3300; Fax: (44)-207-902 1619
This is a popular hotel but is described as 'basic'.  Do not confuse this with the Marriott below.  
Per room per night: from approximately £83 plus breakfast (£5 to £7).

***The Comfort Inn Vauxhall, 87 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RN
Tel: (44)-207-735 9494; Fax: (44)-207-735 1001
Per room per night from approximately £95 (with breakfast).  (This is a very short bus or underground journey to the Congress venue.)

Mad Hatter Hotel, 3-7 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NY
Tel: (44)-207-401 9222; Fax: (44)-207-401 7111; Email: madhatter@fullers.co.uk
Per room per night approximately £100.  (The star rating for this hotel is not given).

****London Bridge Hotel, 8-18 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG
Tel: (44)-207-855 2200; Fax: (44)-207-855 2233; Email: sales@london-bridge-hotel.co.uk
Per room per night: from approximately £110.

***Novotel Waterloo, 113 Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7LS
Tel: (44)-207-793 1010; Fax: (44)-207-793 0202
Per room per night: from approximately £135 (single) or £155 (twin).

*****Marriott London County Hall Hotel, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB
Tel: (44)-207-928 5200; Fax: (44)-207-928 5300; International Toll-Free: 44--80--221-222
Per room per night from £170.00


 The 11th European Skeptics Congress
London, September 5-7, 2003

REGISTRATION FORM 

Please read these form carefully, complete the details and send the form, together with your cheque, bankers order or GIRO (if you are paying by any of these methods) to:

11th European Skeptics Congress, ASKE, P.O. Box 5994, Ripley, DE5 3XL, UK.  

Registration 

    Before June 30, 2003    After June 30, 2003 Amount paid
Full registration fee   £55 £70 £
Accompanying person's fee*  £25 £25 £
Student's registration fee**    £25 £25 £
Congress dinner     £20 per person  £20 per person  £
    -------------   TOTAL   £

* Spouse or child who wishes to accompany you at the Congress
** Full-time undergraduates or postgraduates

Accommodation 

Only complete this if you wish to book rooms at the Stamford Street Apartments.  Breakfast is not included but is available at the Congress venue, which is across the road from the apartments.  (If you wish to come earlier or prolong your stay, please see the earlier instructions).

Please book me the following en suite rooms at the Stamford Street Apartments.

Dates   Number of rooms required    Fee per single room Amount paid
Friday Sept. 5, 2003        £30.50  £
Saturday Sept. 6, 2003      £30.50  £
    --------------- TOTAL   £



TOTAL AMOUNT PAID
(Registration, dinner, accommodation')
    
£………………


PTO
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You may pay by a cheque, bank draft or GIRO made out in pounds sterling and drawn on a UK bank, or by Visa or MasterCard

Either:

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Please return this form and any accompanying payment to 11th European Skeptics Congress, ASKE, P.O. Box 5994, Ripley, DE5 3XL, UK.