Monthly Archives: July 2011

Someone take May’s shovel away

Greens, Politics, Scepticism

After erupting on Twitter yesterday, Green Party leader Elizabeth May is trying to defend her comments on her blog.

She repeatedly falls back on the “precautionary principle,” stating that if we don’t really know if Wi-Fi is safe, then we should be careful.

Never mind the similarities between this and the “teach the controversy” or “climate change isn’t settled” arguments, let’s actually dig into the text of what she says.

First, she starts with some comparisons of past technologies that seemed innocuous at first.

I was worried about things like Agent Orange.  Health Canada wasn’t.  I was concerned about lead in gas, but it was hard to get the government to act.  I worked to get certain pesticides banned, but they were “safe” right up to the day they were banned.

Citation needed? While Canada allowed leaded gasoline between the 1970s and 1990s, I don’t see where we decided Agent Orange was “safe”, in fact, everyone seemed in agreement that it was pretty nasty shit (exactly why the Americans wanted to use it in Vietnam). It was tested in remote parts of our giant country, which raises ethical, not science (which was settled), issues.

But more importantly, on each of these examples, mechanisms of how the toxicity works can be proposed. Chemicals can build up in your body and kill you. When we consider electromagnetic radiation, there are no mechanisms for low-intensity microwaves to harm us. It’s not as easy as saying “scary radiation”. These waves are of the wrong frequency to excite electrons in any atoms and lack the intensity to cause any noticeable effects.

She also repeatedly cites the self-published Bio-Initiative Report and mentions a report that she read that can’t be found online (maybe it was redacted?).

Finally, she finishes with how she justifies her seemingly hypocritical use of a Blackberry:

Our stance is simple and responsible.  Exercise the precautionary principle.  A risk of a health problem requires a cautious approach until the science is settled.

For me personally, that translates into using my blackberry, but not carrying it in my pocket.  I do not hold it up against my head.  I prefer land lines.  Do I occasionally use cell phones?  Sure.  Do I want high speed internet in my house? Yes, and I have a cable.  Am I happy to latch onto a signal in the airport by Wi-Fi? You bet.

It is a matter of knowing there are unanswered questions and taking reasonable precautions.  If you have Wi-Fi in your home, turn it off when you are sleeping.  Locate the router away from where your kids are sleeping.  Urge your kids to text more than talk with the phone to their head.

I really want to know when May will consider the science settled. I have a hunch, like creationists and climate change deniers, the science won’t really be “settled” until it agrees with her point of view.

Those kooky Greens

Greens, Politics, Scepticism

I’ve been considering running in the upcoming Vancouver municipal election and the thought of seeking a Vancouver Greens nomination had crossed my mind, but I think I don’t think I’m quite ready to sign on with them yet. Two news items today reminded me how prominent anti-science environmentalism is in the party.

First, the BC Greens have taken a strong stance against the introduction of Smart Meters in the province.

Smart Meters are a new kind of Wi-Fi power meter that supposedly allows better monitoring of power consumption, and is a part of upgrading the entire electric grid in the province. BC Hydro is fully behind the implementation as a way to modernize our grid.

Now, there are likely some legitimate concerns about the cost of replacing an entire province’s electric meters, but that’s not what the Greens have latched onto:

…wireless technology poses a potential risk to health and the environment and further research that is independent of industry funding is needed.

Where do the Greens go for a source for this claims?

Why, none other than Canada’s professional Wi-Fi fear monger, Magda Havas:

Magda Havas is Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent University where she teaches and does research on the biological effects of environmental contaminants. Since the 1990s, Dr. Havas’s research has focused on the biological effects of electromagnetic pollution including radio frequency radiation, electromagnetic fields, dirty electricity, and ground current. She works with diabetics as well as with individuals who have multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and those who are electrically hypersensitive.

Dr. Havas joins Jane Sterk, leader of the Green Party of BC in calling for cancelling implementation of the wireless smart meters. Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich supports this change. [emphasis theirs]

It’s never reassuring when their one source for this fear is a researcher who works with people who have an unverified and likely falsely diagnosed condition like electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Much like “wind turbine syndrome,” this ‘condition’ seems to be little more than a hypochondrial response.

People actually reading the words I write and quote here will notice that our lone federal Green MP stands behind this ban, which brings me to my second piece of disappointment from the Greens.

Jonathan Kay at the National Post blogs reports on a Twitter exchange that May had today:

Oh, but wait — here comes Green Party leader Elizabeth May, tweeting her way to ridicule this week with a Twitter message that declared: “It is very disturbing how quickly Wifi has moved into schools as it is children who are the most vulnerable.” She also Tweeted a message to our friend Colby Cosh at Maclean’s that the technology “is one prevailing theory re disappearance of pollinating insects.”

After a barrage of criticism, Ms. May used her Twitter account to defend herself, claiming that all of her claims were “evidence-based,” and suggesting that she is merely being cautious about an untested technology. But the fact that she Tweeted “So glad I don’t have Wifi at home” means she clearly has swallowed this nonsense and uses it to guide her own IT choices.

Well done Green Parties.

At least there’s one Skeptic among you.

Finally, to end with some good news, another study (which does seem a bit methodologically weak) out today adds to the growing evidence that cell phones do not pose any risk for brain cancer. In this case they looked solely at children and teenagers, finding no statistically significant link.

The limits of Godwin’s Law

Fascism, Politics

Godwin’s law, simply stated, is that any internet debate will eventually decay into one side making a reference to Nazis, the Hitler, or the Holocaust, and at that point loses the debate.

This works fine for discussions of creationism, free speech, and even libertarianism, but when discussing far-right political extremists, it can potentially be a bit stifling.

Of course, Oslo slaughterer Anders Behrig Breivik was no anti-Semitic Nazi, but his actions and goals are hauntingly reminiscent.

The scapegoating of outsiders, the hatred of the left and “Marxism”, and the justification to use terror and violence to promote an ideology are the hallmarks of fascism.

We’re so far lucky that no political leader yet has the skill, charisma, and chilling intelligence of Adolph Hitler to capitalize on these sentiments, although Geert Wilders seems to be leading the charge in the Netherlands.

Finally, similarly with Hitler’s almost faux-religiosity (an article of its own, but my basic thought is that he was marginally religious while understanding the power it held) is strongly mirrored in Breivik. I agree with Alternavox and Sam Harris that the New York Times is wrong in labeling him a “Christian Fundamentalist”, when his views were more Christian/agnostic (think lapsed-Catholic).

Albertans: More progressive than their government

Gay rights, Politics

A couple years ago, the Alberta government bared a storm of criticism and pushed ahead with an ideologically-driven cut when it delisted gender reassignment surgery as a covered medical procedure. This is a procedure even Iran pays half for.

So it’s good to hear stories like this:

The landslide winner of a radio station’s controversial breast implant contest is a transgender Calgarian.

The winner of the Amp Radio contest, named by the station only as a musician called Avery, tallied 76 per cent of 30,000 online votes.

While an internet contest isn’t necessarily limited to Calgarians, it makes me proud to see that not only did Avery win, but did so by a landslide.

In an era when trans rights bills are still being stalled by our Conservative overloard government and his unelected Senate, it’s good to see some progress on treating each other as equals.

Make sure to watch the interview with Avery when they announce the winner:

“Not an inch of space”

Canada, Conservatives, Free speech, Politics

Never mind that Europe is supposed to be all metric all the time, here’s a quote relating to yesterday’s tragedy:

"That the perpetrator apparently comes from the far-right scene shows once again how dangerous racist and anti-foreigner ideologies are," Germany’s opposition Greens said in a statement. "We must not allow them an inch of space in our societies."

I’m really not clear on whether the Greens here are advocating full-on censorship here. It sure seems like they’re on side with pushing hate groups underground.

We walk a fine line with hate speech laws in Canada. Some (very vocally) argue they’re a farce, while others see the value in them. I think we’ve generally done a decent job of balancing free speech rights with the right not to be persecuted.

But we always have to be careful not to overstep that line, suppressing ideas that make us uncomfortable. Democracy thrives on free inquiry and debate. Multiculturalism is a touchy subject, and one we’re likely going to have to discuss more in our own future. It’s hard to find the right answer when some aren’t heard.

We cannot censor dissent.

But at the same time, violence is also unacceptable. We also have to take precautions not to prevent dissent  from fermenting into hate crimes.

It’s a fine line.

On the Oslo blasts

Conservatives, Islam, Media, Politics, Religion

By now you’re probably aware of the explosion and subsequent shooting that happened today (yesterday there?) in Oslo, Norway. If not, go read then come back.

Going off the details that are undisputed as of now, a bomb was set off in downtown Oslo, near the government buildings and later a man dressed as a police officer opened fire on delegates of a Labour Party youth camp. (Real) Police believe the two events are linked and the death toll is still rising and is at least 10.

The New York Times had initially reported that an Islamic fundamentalist group had taken credit for the bombing, but the paper was quick to note that such claims are often false.

Any time a terrorist attack (and I define this as a terrorist attack since it was an attack that inspired terror) occurs, it’s almost instinct now to blame Muslims. Hopefully most people take a second and realize it’s not any or even a sizable number of Muslims who could commit such atrocities (can anyone picture Mayor Nenshi doing anything so atrocious?). Finally, we actually realize that in situations like this, we need to wait until some facts come out before posting our favourite violent sections of the Koran in relation to this attack.

Almost ironically, some reports are starting to come out now, and they’re worthy of the same skepticism as the initial reports, that the gunmen was a blonde Norwegian and has no links to any Islamic group. The irony comes from the fact that this man may prove to have ties to ultra-right organizations that strongly oppose the left-leaning governing Labour party and Muslim immigration.

Rather than Islamo-Fascists it may prove to be just old fashioned Western Fascists.

Of course if a xenophobic right-wing group had escaped without being caught, they could have pinned the blame on Muslims and immigrants, potentially swinging popular opinion over to some of their more extremist policies.

But now I’m into idle speculation.

I wish the best for the investigators and Norwegian people. Norway holds a soft-spot in my heart as the place Alberta (and Canada) could be if we actually worked together.

Donate to CFI Canada to establish physical centres across the country

Atheism, Canada, CFI, Charity

I don’t usually cross-post with Canadian Atheist, but I think this is an important, and ambitious campaign.

I’ve had my differences with CFI Canada in the past, but we are on the same side, and they continue to do the most for freethought in Canada. I therefore urge you to donate to their “Next Big Step” campaign to help raise half a million dollars, enough to lease or buy physical locations for each of their centres in Canada.

So go and donate now, and again, and get your friends to donate to the Next Big Step campaign.

The deadline is September 30th, so there’s not a lot of time to reach this goal.

Canadian airports x-ray homeopathy now

Scepticism, Science

I got a message today from a friend who works in airport security that represents another skeptic win (that makes two this week):

I thought you all might be interested in the fact that homeopathic medication is no longer exempt from going through the X-Ray at the airport. I’m not sure what prompted this change, but it’s an interesting development.

It’s not clear if it’s an official change or just something that was brought in at the local level, but it’s good to know that glorified water isn’t receiving a special treatment anymore.

Of course practitioners will be upset, because when you deal with unsubstantiated magic, you get comments like these:

x-RAYS DO AFFECT THE POTENCIES. POTENCIES ARE IN VIBRATIONAL / ENGERGY FORM.

Day before Y’day I was searching Homeopathy books for this topic, At-last I got book "Homeopathy The modern Prescriber" A Practical Guide to Treatment by Henrietta Wells First published in UK 2002 published by arrangment with Watkins Publishing, London and also published by New Age Books New Delhi for every one web ref iswww.newagebooksindia.com

In this book in page 187 (51. Care of remedies when travelling) it has clearly mentioned that Remedies should not go thorugh the X-Ray machines used for security at air port. Two pages details are given what precautions to be taken etc. If any one interested let me know so that I can scanned the same and put for others also to know.

But surprise to know , This forum is having all expert from nation and international level but no concrete comments & explanation has come out for care to be taken. May be what is mentioned in Henrietta Wells book how far it is true. but at-least I got some postive reply.

Hookahs at SFU go up in smoke

Scepticism, Science, SFU

The Pakistan Student Association at my school, Simon Fraser University, was planning a party/fundraiser to build municipal spirit in the aftermath of the Stanley Cup riots. As part of their party they planned to have hookah smoking.

While possibly popular in the hipster/stoner crowds, the fact is that hookahs are at least as dangerous and carcinogenic as cigarettes, despite false beliefs that the water in the pipe magically filters the smoke (it doesn’t).

As the event was planned for the Highland Pub at SFU, my friend Nick was concerned that there may be an issue with SFU’s strict policy on tobacco:

3.1       A person must not deal in, sell, offer for sale or distribute tobacco within University Space.

He sent a few emails around the university and just received this back today:

We thank you for your concerns with regards to having Hookah. We decided not to have hookah at the event. Posters have been redesigned and redistributed. It is attached for your reference.

Score one for the good guys!

Democracy or policy?

BC, Elections, Politics

With the HST referendum underway and ballots supposedly in the mail (I should have mine in the next couple days…) I’ve had a thought that there may be a bigger question than the subtleties of consumption taxation.

The question has to deal with two issues near and dear to my heart: Democracy and evidenced-based policy.

Disregarding whether or not the HST is smart, rational policy, it must be evidently clear that its implementation was anything but democratic. Harmonization was announced within weeks of an election which gave not a peep to the issue, and the paperwork was signed in such haste that it seemed negotiations had been going on for months (which they may or may not have been). With no opportunity to fairly weigh the pros and cons of this policy, the public was left scathing at every extra dime spent on every cup of coffee and haircut.

So my question is about priorities. While we should want a government that only brings forward rational, evidenced-based policy, can we let that come at the expense of democratic participation?

In other words, is being right or being heard more important?

My first inclination, and I won’t claim to have a final answer on this issue that has only arisen in me this evening, is that we should prioritize democracy and accountability even at the expense of rational policy. History has given us countless examples of dictators and tyrants who grow increasingly corrupt when unchecked. The benevolent dictatorship is a fiction, and while far from perfect, democracy is still the least bad system of government to date.

And so it is partially to re-affirm that requirement of accountability that I feel compelled to vote Yes to scrap the HST. There are only so many chances to chastise one’s government, and while the policy may or may not be good for the province, the lies around its implementation require reprimanding.