(13) Wed 19 Nov 97 23:27 By: Christopher Baker To: All Re: CSICOP digest Part 1 of 2 St: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ @EID:f2df 2373bb60 [part 1 of 2] Approved-By: SkeptInq@AOL.COM Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 14:45:41 -0500 Reply-To: CSICOP Announcement Sender: CSICOP Announcement From: SkeptInq@aol.com Subject: SI DIGEST 11-19-97 To: CSICOP-ANNOUNCE@LISTSERV.AOL.COM *********************************************************** SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ELECTRONIC DIGEST *********************************************************** November 19, 1997. SI Electronic Digest is the weekly e-mail news update of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP.) http://www.csicop.org. The Digest is written and edited by Matthew Nisbet and Barry Karr. SI Digest has over 1600 readers worldwide, and is distributed via e- mail from the Center for Inquiry-International, Amherst N.Y., USA. PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR SKEPTICAL FRIENDS. For free Digest subscriptions, go to: http://www.csicop.org/list/index.html#subscribe Send comments, media inquiries and news to: SINISBET@aol.com (716-636-1425) CSICOP publishes the bi-monthly SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, The Magazine for Science and Reason. To subscribe at the $16.95 introductory price, call 1-800-634-1610. The November/December issue features Dave Thomas on "Hidden Messages and The Bible Code." In this week's SI Digest: --UFO Report In the U.S. Pacific Northwest. --New Centers for Inquiry Planned Across North America and the World. --The U.S. Federal Trade Commission Cracks Down On Web Health Claims. --CFI Institute Winter Session- San Diego, Jan. 8-11, 1998. --Council for Media Integrity Stock Fund Gains Momentum. --Meanwhile...The U.S. SEC Considers New Rules Limiting Stockholder Influence. --Watch "Scientific Frontiers: Beyond Science" Tonight on PBS 8pm EST. ****************************************************** UFO REPORT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ****************************************************** November 15, 1997-- Hundreds of witnesses saw strange lights in the night skies over Oregon and Washington last week, reported the Associated Press. Some witnesses described one broad streak of light, others reported many. Dozens of calls were received by radio stations, newspapers, law enforcement authorities and by the Seattle- based UFO Reporting and Information Service. "It was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen," Dave Way of Keizer, Ore., told the Statesman Journal in Salem, Ore. "It looked like something out of 'Star Trek.'" "It looked like a huge bottle rocket moving slowly across the sky," June Akiyama, who was in Gig Harbor, told The News Tribune of Tacoma. State and federal authorities, however, had the real scoop. They identified the source of the lights as space junk from an old Russian rocket burning up as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Whatever was left of the debris fell safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington. ********************************************************************** NEW CENTERS FOR INQUIRY PLANNED AROUND THE WORLD. ********************************************************************** AMHERST, NY-- What is the Center for Inquiry-- International? Established in 1995, CFI- International is a million dollar, state-of- the-art facility that serves as a global resource for skeptics and rationalists. Adjacent to the State University at Buffalo, CFI- International is the joint headquarters for the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal(CSICOP) and the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH). The Center's 20,000 sq. feet include conference and public meeting space for several hundred, a 50,000 volume library complex, offices, warehouse and mailing facilities. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Magazine, FREE INQUIRY Magazine, and the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine are edited and published at the Center. CFI - International sponsors a wide variety of programs including: -- Lectures, symposiums, and conferences featuring leading experts and scholars. -- Book discussion groups. -- Programs for children on moral education, critical thinking, and science. -- A place for celebrations and ceremonies such as marriages, namings, funerals and graduations in a secular setting. Regional Centers for Inquiry are now in the developing stages in cities across North America and the world. In Los Angeles, the million-dollar fund drive has exceeded its original goal of $1 million, and the Center for Inquiry-West outreach committee has just doubled the target to $2 million. On November 7, the new campaign was announced to a packed house of supporters at the Los Angeles Renaissance Hotel, prompting new contributions totaling over $50,000 in less than 24 hours. In Kansas City, an initial three-year campaign target of $300,000 was announced for the Center for Inquiry-Midwest offices. The eventual goal is to launch a million-dollar follow-up campaign to fund a new Center for Inquiry. An open public meeting was held on October 25 with members of the CSICOP board participating. Over $10,000 was raised. Interest has been expressed in establishing similar Centers in other cities of North America with plans now under way for Atlanta, Toronto, St. Petersburg/Tampa, and Boston. Activists in other cities have expressed similar enthusiasm and exploratory discussions have begun with local residents. Meanwhile, Paul Kurtz, Barry Karr and Joe Nickell traveled to La Coruna and Zaragoza, Spain to attend international conferences cosponsored by CSICOP. Exploratory discussions are underway to start a Center for Inquiry in Barcelona, Spain, and to translate skeptical literature into Spanish for the entire Spanish-speaking world. Similarly, a new Center for Inquiry has been opened at Moscow State University with an exchange program initiated with students and faculty at the Moscow Center. ********************************************************** FTC CRACKS DOWN ON WEB HEALTH CLAIMS *********************************************************** From Nov 5 Natural Healthline, via Declan McCullagh, fight-censorship-announce. by Michael Evers The Federal Trade Commission recently joined with public health and consumer protection and information agencies from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to "surf" the Internet for potentially false or deceptive advertising claims concerning treatments or cures for heart disease, cancer, AIDS, diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The FTC announced today that in just a few hours during the recently conducted North American Health Claim Surf Day, Internet surfers identified more than 400 World Wide Web sites and numerous Usenet newsgroups that contain promotions for products or services purporting to help cure, treat or prevent these six diseases. The FTC said that it sent hundreds of Web sites and newsgroups e-mail messages pointing out that advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims. FTC staff will follow-up by revisiting the targeted sites in the coming weeks to determine if changes have been made. Suspected violators received an e-mail warning which said the following: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), its federal and state law enforcement partners, and public health and consumer protection agencies from Mexico and Canada are sending you (and hundreds of other Internet advertisers) this message based upon a review of the promotion you disseminated through the Internet. The FTC and its partners have NOT determined whether your Internet promotion violates United States federal or state laws, Mexican law, or Canadian law. Nevertheless, we want to remind you that when you make health claims in promoting a product, service, or treatment, those claims must be truthful and non-deceptive. Deceptive Acts or Practices Are Unlawful under the FTC Act In the United States, Section 5 of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. 45), prohibits deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. In addition, Section 12 of the Act (15 U.S.C. § 52) prohibits the dissemination of any false advertisement to induce the purchase of any food, drugs, or devices. An advertisement is misleading and deceptive if the advertiser makes an objective claim, either expressly or by implication, including through the use of consumer testimonials, without a "reasonable basis" to support that claim. As set out in the Commission's Advertising Substantiation Policy Statement, advertisements that specify the level of substantiation that the advertiser possesses (e.g., "tests prove" or "studies show") must be supported by at least that level of evidence. If the advertisement does not specify a particular type of substantiation, the Commission considers several factors in determining the appropriate level of substantiation. Typically, claims of the sort included on your Internet site must be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Competent and reliable scientific evidence is defined as tests, analyses, research, studies, or other evidence based on the expertise of professionals in the relevant area, that has been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by persons qualified to do so, using procedures generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results. Anecdotal evidence and consumer testimonials are not considered competent and reliable scientific evidence. You may want to review your advertisement in light of these standards. Possible Violations in Other Jurisdictions Unfair or deceptive acts or practices are also unlawful under various state statutes in the United States. The standards under these statutes may be different from those of the FTC's. In addition, by placing an Internet site on the World Wide Web, you may be subject to scrutiny in other countries where you sell your products. You should be aware that many countries, including Mexico and Canada, also have laws that generally require advertisements to be truthful and non-deceptive. "Hopeful and sometimes desperate consumers spend millions of dollars on unproven, deceptively marketed, and often useless 'miracle cures' and the Internet should not become the newest medium for this age- old problem," said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "In addition to wasting consumers' money, some products or treatments may even cause them serious harm or endanger their lives. Even when the advertised remedy is harmless, it can still have a detrimental effect if it causes consumers to stop or slow the use of proven treatments." In addition to today's effort to prevent health fraud, the FTC has recently conducted several other Internet Surf Days focusing on different types of fraud, including pyramid schemes and deceptive business opportunity offers. [end part 1 of 2] --- DB B2300sl/001027 * Origin: Rights On! - Make me believe it! - Edgewater_FL_USA (1:18/14) SEEN-BY: 12/12 218/890 1001 270/101 353/250 396/1 3615/50 51 3804/180 @PATH: 18/14 374/98 46 3651/9 396/1 3615/50 218/1001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (14) Wed 19 Nov 97 23:29 By: Christopher Baker To: All Re: CSICOP digest Part 2 of 2 St: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ @EID:f29b 2373bba0 [part 2 of 2] North American Health Claim Surf Day participants included: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Health Canada Competition Bureau of Industry Canada Procuraduria Federal del Consumidor of Mexico the Secretaria de Salud of Mexico Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Federal Communications Commission (Denver Office) Attorney General of Connecticut Attorney General of Illinois Attorney General of Kentucky Attorney General of Maryland Attorney General of Massachusetts Attorney General of Minnesota Attorney General of Missouri Attorney General of North Carolina Attorney General of Pennsylvania Attorney General of Tennessee Attorney General of Texas Attorney General of Vermont Attorney General of Virginia Attorney General of Wisconsin Arthritis Foundation American Heart Association American Diabetes Association Capital Area and Tristate AIDS Task Force Better Business Bureau serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. For more information, Federal Trade Commission Web site http://www.ftc.gov Tom Carter FTC Dallas Regional Director 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 2150 Dallas, Texas 75201 (214) 979-9350 --------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is public. To join fight-censorship-announce, send "subscribe fight-censorship- announce" to majordomo@vorlon.mit.edu. More information is at http://www.eff.org/~declan/fc/ ********************************************************************** CFI INSTITUTE WINTER SESSION-- SAN DIEGO, JAN. 8-11. ********************************************************************** From the office of the Dean Dear Skeptic, I am pleased to invite you to share an extraordinary learning opportunity. The Center for Inquiry Institute will hold its annual Winter Session from Thursday through Sunday, January 8-11, 1998, in San Diego, California. Offerings include "History and Philosophy of Skepticism", a core course from our Science and the Paranormal curriculum, and "Evolution vs. Creationism", a bi-disciplinary workshop applicable to either the Science and the Paranormal program or the Humanistic Studies program. The Center for Inquiry Institute was founded in 1987 as a joint project of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and the Council for Secular Humanism. Its objective is to increase public awareness and utilization of critical thinking and rationality, particularly with respect to social and ethical concerns. To meet this challenge, the Institute has formed a diverse and distinguished international faculty which embodies the highest standards of academic excellence and objectivity. The Institute offers three-year certificate programs in two program areas: (1) Science and the Paranormal, examining the nature of alleged paranormal phenomena; and (2) Humanistic Studies, examining the nature of social and ethical conduct while critically exploring and contrasting the roles of reason, freethought, and religion. Students matriculated to a certificate program are awarded a Certificate of Proficiency upon successful completion of their chosen curriculum. They must complete 30 credits (15 credits in core courses, 8 credits in workshops, and a 7-credit research paper or thesis). Should a student later decide to matriculate in either certificate program, courses and workshops previously completed for credit will apply toward the certificate. Humanists and skeptics have gathered around the country to learn and enjoy one another's company each summer for more than a decade. Today you can benefit from the incomparable ambiance of San Diego. During and after your studies, you'll be able to visit some of its many attractions, including the world's largest creationist museum (the subject of a critical field trip). The faculty and staff look forward to welcoming you. Sincerely, Vern Bullough, Ph.D. Dean, Center for Inquiry Institute COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: History and Philosophy of Skepticism (S3) (Core course: 3 credits applicable to the Science and the Paranormal Certificate) This 3-credit core course discusses the origins of skepticism and the legacy of skeptical philosophers through the ages. Also traces the advance of science and milestones in critical thinking, ending with a view of skepticism's role in today's world. Professors: Paul Kurtz is professor emeritus of philosophy, State University of New York at Buffalo, and founder of CSICOP, the Council for Secular Humanism, and Prometheus Books. He is author of over 30 books including _The New Skepticism_, the _Skeptic's Handbook of Parapsychology_, and _The Transcendental Temptation_ Theodore Schick Jr. is professor of philosophy at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and coauthor of _How to Think About Weird Things_. Evolution vs. Creationism (WS5/WH5) (Workshop: 2 credits applicable to Science and the Paranormal or Humanistic Studies Certificate) This 2-credit bi-disciplinary workshop discusses the theory of evolution and the evidence for it, in contrast to the claims of creationists. This workshop seeks to establish criteria and guidelines for distinguishing between science and pseudoscience, and shows how creationists have adopted the trappings of science in an attempt to have their teachings included in science textbooks. Professors: Eugenie Scott is executive director of the National Center for Science Education. Jere Lipps is Director of the Museum of Paleontology of the University of California, Berkeley. To register call TOLL FREE In the USA 1800-458-1366 or e-mail CFIFLYNN@aol.com. ********************************************************************** COUNCIL FOR MEDIA INTEGRITY STOCK FUND GAINS MOMENTUM ********************************************************************** AMHERST NY, NOV. 11-- The Council for Media Integrity increased its position in General Electric, owner of NBC, by purchasing additional shares through its Media Stock Fund. Aimed at providing leverage for a response to the television market's lucrative commercial marketing of fringe science and pseudoscience, CSICOP is asking friends and supporters to help it acquire common stock in media conglomerate companies. "The Media Stock Fund" will allow CSICOP to take part in shareholder meetings, where it can question the infatuation with the paranormal increasingly demonstrated in television programming. "We are deliberately targeting each of the major television networks, and well known media conglomerates Westinghouse (CBS), General Electric (NBC), News Corp (FOX), Time Warner(WB, Turner Broadcasting), and Disney (ABC)," Paul Kurtz, chairman of CSICOP said. "The media have now virtually replaced the schools, colleges, and universities as the main source of information for the general public. The irresponsibility of the media in the area of science and the paranormal is a worldwide problem. But it especially applies to the United States, where the media have been distorting science, and in particular, presenting pseudoscience as genuine science. Indeed, we are appalled by the number of 'documentaries,' which are really entertainment programs, presenting fringe science as real science." Sponsored by CSICOP, the Council for Media Integrity is comprised of a network of distinguished members of science and academia committed to monitoring the media. A statement endorsed by the members of the council maintains that , "If the United States is to continue to provide leadership and compete in the global economy, we need to raise the level of scientific literacy and understanding of the general public." "We are not, of course, asking that TV producers not run these shows or make a profit. We surely do not wish to censor the media. We only ask that they provide some balance and provide some appreciation of the scientific approach. The new Council will monitor such programs, and attempt to persuade producers, directors, writers, and the general public to leave room for the appreciation of scientific methods of inquiry." The practice of organizing shareholder response within a company is common practice among advocacy groups that seek socially responsible corporate conduct through shareholder passed resolutions. As a shareholder, CSICOP will have opportunities to attend shareholder meetings, submit viewpoints to shareholder publications, and sponsor shareholder resolutions. While exercising these and other shareholder rights, CSICOP will be representing a broad, international constituency who support the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific viewpoint while providing a balanced viewpoint to the public-at-large. "The Fund will allow us to make shareholder meetings into accountability sessions for the media giants when they package superstition and pseudo-science as fact" Kurtz said. Author/Entertainer Steve Allen, Honorary Co-ordinating Chair of the Council for Media Integrity, is a recent high-profile donor to the Media Stock Fund. Allen has long been a committed skeptic and critic of the media. Launched this past summer, the Media Stock Fund has enjoyed national attention ranging from the front page of the Wall Street Journal to CNBC television. ********************************************************************** MEANWHILE...THE SEC CONSIDERS NEW RULES TO LIMIT INFLUENCE. ********************************************************************** WASHINGTON DC, November 19, 1997-- While CSICOP works to leverage influence with large media conglomerates through stockholder resolutions, the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently considering new rules that would greatly restrict future stockholder influence. Under current procedures, shareholders with at least $1,000 of common stock are able to place a resolution on a company ballot. If the resolution fails but receives 3 percent of the vote on the ballot, it can be re-introduced the next year. To be re-introduced in succeeding years, it must garner increasing support-- 6 percent and then 10 percent. Under the proposed new SEC rules, however, submission thresholds would be raised to 6, 15, and 30 percent. In addition, corporate management would be granted a power currently reserved to the SEC: that of deciding whether a resolution is worthy of shareholder consideration. Under the new rules, if a company chooses not to place a resolution on the ballot at all, filers must, on their own initiative and at their own expense, successfully petition 3 percent of all shareholders to force the resolution onto the first ballot. Three percent of shareholders in targeted media conglomerates would mean billions of dollars in holdings, a requirement impossible to meet. The SEC public comment period on the new rules ends November 25. To express your opinion on the proposed rules, contact the SEC at: rule-comments@sec.gov (attention Jonathon Katz, refer to file No. s7-25-97). *************************************************** WATCH "BEYOND SCIENCE" TONIGHT! *************************************************** SANTA MONICA, CA-- What's science fact and what's fiction? What's the difference between a hoax and a genuine unsolved mystery? Who's a crackpot and who's a scientific visionary? And how can we, the lay public, tell? These are the thorny questions tackled in the "Beyond Science?" episode of Scientific American Frontiers. Host Alan Alda tries to dowse for water and takes part in an experiment to see if it works. He also conducts an alien autopsy, has his handwriting analyzed by graphologists, tracks down a purportedly unlimited new energy source, and explores the idea of healing by manipulating a patient's "energy fields." The episode features prominently CSICOP Executive Council members Ray Hyman, Barry Beyerstein, and Nobel laureate and CSICOP fellow Steven Weinberg. Wednesday, November 19, 8:00 PM EST PBS (Check your local listings.) [end part 2 of 2] --- DB B2300sl/001027 * Origin: Rights On! - Make me believe it! - Edgewater_FL_USA (1:18/14) SEEN-BY: 12/12 218/890 1001 270/101 353/250 396/1 3615/50 51 3804/180 @PATH: 18/14 374/98 46 3651/9 396/1 3615/50 218/1001