TheESP – Ep. #155 – Bacon, probiotics, the danger of acupuncture and the rise of anti-fluoridation

This week we’re back to bring you news and info about a wide range of topics including Francis Bacon and his importance in the development of #science, how the ‘good pope’ John Paul II was a misogynist, why we admire the works of Sense about Science so much and how they came up with yet another campaign that deserves much attention (the ‘Evidence Hunter Activity Pack’), how facilitated communication is a thing in Sweden despite all the evidence that suggests it does not work at all, why we should be cautious with consuming #probiotics (thanks to Prof. Edzard Ernst for the heads up), plus Skepkon 2019, the German annual conference for skeptics organised by gwup | die skeptiker is coming up, while a Swedish acupuncturist is on trial for almost killing two patients and the county of Killarney in Ireland calls to remove #fluoride from drinking water, despite the lack of any indications that it could be harmful (while its benefits are many).

Segments:
Intro; Greetings; This Week in Skepticism; Pontus Pokes the Pope; News; Really Wrong; Farewell and Quote; Outro; Out-takes

Events Calendar: https://theesp.eu/events_in_europe

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:27 Greetings

00:04:33 This Week in Skepticism

Francis Bacon: English philosopher and Statesman, born on 22 January 1561.

00:09:54 Pontus Pokes the Pope

John Paul II once refused to shake Irish President’s hand because she was not a man, and Cardinal Arborelius threatens to leave Swedish Missionary Council because of abortions.

• https://www.irishcentral.com/news/pope-john-paul-refused-to-shake-hand-of-ireland-s-female-president-she-reveals
• https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2019-01-16/katolska-kyrkan-i-abortstrid-i-sverige

00:16:28 Skeptical News

UK: New educational material developed by Sense About Science: Evidence Hunter Activity Pack

• http://www.askforevidence.org/articles/evidence-hunter-activity-pack

SWEDEN: Facilitated communication

• https://www.dn.se/sthlm/forskare-metoden-ar-svar-att-utvardera-vetenskapligt/

INTERNATIONAL: Probiotics are not risk free

• https://edzardernst.com/2019/01/probiotics-are-not-entirely-risk-free/

GERMANY: Tickets released for SkepKon 2019

• https://www.skepkon.org/tickets

SWEDEN: Acupuncturist on trial for almost killing two customers

• https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=96&artikel=7129821

00:38:28 Really Wrong: IRELAND: Killarney Council wants to ban water flouridation

• https://www.killarneytoday.com/killarney-call-remove-fluoride-drinking-water/

00:41:07 Farewell

00:43:04 Quote
“If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.”
/Francis Bacon

00:43:54 Outro

00:45:09 Out-takes