This week we first hear from the fantastic Massimo Polidoro who tells all about CICAP Fest from two weeks ago.
We then look forward to a new film which is a fictional tale about the relationship between pope Benedict and Francis and report that there is a new book is out which brings attention to the brewing schism within the Catholic church (this makes Francis rather unhappy).
In the news, Russia is not very successfully trying to cover up the fire in the smallpox lab (ouch!), Sweden extends the HPV vaccinations to ALL kids (not just girls) and the Hungarian Skeptics scores a win for kicking out alt med quackery from a medical university.
Russian bot farms spreads both anti and pro vaccination memes in order to undermine people’s trust in information in general and we again get confirmation that the climate change is escalating. The ‘fake’ city of Bielefeld did not manage to find anyone to prove its non-existence and Swedish politicians try to score populist points with crime fighting proposals that will be totally ineffective or even counterproductive.
We end the episode by being deeply disappointed in the German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who totally failed to end homeopathy funding. For that, he receives this week’s Really Wrong award.
Enjoy!
Segments:
Intro; Greetings; Interview; Pontus Pokes the Pope; News; Really Wrong; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-takes
Events Calendar: https://theesp.eu/events_in_europe
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:51 Greetings
Climate change rebellion is going on all over the world!
0:04:03 Interview with Massimo Polidoro
We hear more about the CICAP Fest the great success with the science festival in Padua.
- CICAP Fest: https://www.cicapfest.it/2019
- Massimo Polidoro’s website: https://www.massimopolidoro.com/
0:15:33 Pontus Pokes the Pope – New book makes Francis talk openly about the schism
About the new film “The two Popes”:
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeqdEuZcN5k
- Review of the film: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/sep/12/the-two-popes-anthony-hopkins-and-jonathan-pryce-divine-in-papal-faceoff
About the book and Francis’ view on Catholic schism:
- https://international.la-croix.com/news/how-america-wanted-to-change-the-pope-introduction/10670#
- https://angelusnews.com/news/popes-use-of-the-s-word-means-he-understands-the-stakes/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/world/europe/pope-francis-schism.html
- https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/09/18/bishops-say-despite-americans-attacking-me-flap-francis-has-strong-us-support/
0:20:03 Skeptical News
RUSSIA: Fire in Russian Lab with smallpox-virus
- The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/17/blast-sparks-fire-at-russian-laboratory-housing-smallpox-virus
SWEDEN: Boys to be included in HPV vaccination program
- Sveriges Radio (Swedish): https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=7301602
HUNGARY: Germanic New Medicine in physicians’ further education at Medicel University
- Szkeptikus Társaság (Hungarian): https://szkeptikus.blog.hu/2019/09/05/uj_german_medicina_az_orvostovabbkepzesben
RUSSIA / INTERNATIONAL: Malicious Bots and Trolls Spread Vaccine Misinformation
- Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/news/2019/09/18/malicious-bots-and-trolls-spread-vaccine-misinformation/
CLIMATE: 2015 – 2019 hottest five-year period ever
GERMANY: Bielefeld 1 million remains unclaimed
- The Local.de: https://www.thelocal.de/20190918/bielefeld-exists-result-of-campaign-to-end-conspirary-announced
- Bielefeld Million (German): http://www.bielefeldmillion.de/wettbewerb/beweise-widerlegungen/
SWEDEN: Researchers criticize political approach to fighting crime
- DN.se (Swedish): https://www.dn.se/debatt/kriminalpolitisk-kapprustning-bortser-fran-forskningsresultat/
00:43:43 Really Wrong: To Jens Spahn for not ending funding of homeopathy in Germany
- Der Spiegel Gesundheit (German): https://www.spiegel.de/gesundheit/diagnose/jens-spahn-will-homoeopathie-auf-kassenkosten-nicht-antasten-a-1287297.html
- Der Spiegel Kultur (German): https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/homoeopathie-staatlich-gefoerdertes-magisches-denken-a-1286056.html
00:48:26 Quote and Goodbye
“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”
/ Plato, 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC, Greek philosopher /
00:52:25 Outro
00:53:40 Out-takes