Had enough of astrologers, psychics, homeopaths, and spirit channelers? Yearning to talk with someone rational for awhile? Meetup with other local skeptics for some refreshing and sane conversation.
Jin-oh Choi, Organiser
0408 271 800 / info AT launcestonskeptics.com		 bodynsoulfestival.launcestonskeptics.com
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    Launceston Skeptics
  • Jin-oh Choi, Organiser
    0408 271 800
    info AT launcestonskeptics.com
Jin-oh Choi, Organiser
0408 271 800 / info AT launcestonskeptics.com		 bodynsoulfestival.launcestonskeptics.com

Recommended Educational Resources (in alphabetical order)

    The Thinker's Guide To...
  • Aural Photography
    Claim: That this method of "photographing" objects creates a gateway to the paranormal world of auras.
  • Critical Thinking
    "Strive to challenge your own truths and the truth of others."
  • Homeopathy
    Claim: Suppose you want to help sleeping. You consult an alternative healer, who reason. You want the opposite effect: to feel sleepy. So I'll take some caffeine and dilute it in water. I'll dilute it over and over, until there's no more caffeine - it's just pure water. Drink it and you'll feel sleepy.
  • Psychic Reading
    Claim: Psychic reading is a type of method used to foretell the future of an individual or a group.
  • Reflexology
    Claim: By applying pressure to specific areas of the hands and/or feet you can heal other areas of the body.
  • Skepticism
    Skeptic (n) - One who applies critical thinking and scientific method to the examination of knowledge, perceptions and beliefs.
  • Spotting a bogus claim
    So you want to be able to spot the fraud?
  • Vaccination
    Claim: Immunisation will make your child autistic.
  • Whats the Harm?
    Claim: If it makes people happy what's the harm in that?

    Other Resources
  • Australian Skeptics
    Material to help teachers get the truth to students.
  • Embiggen Books
    An independent bookshop with the largest collection of science titles in the observable universe.
  • Homeopathy: there's nothing in it | The 10:23 Campaign | #ten23
    The 10:23 Campaign aims to raise awareness about the reality of homeopathy. We will tell you how it can be shown not to work, why homeopaths' claims are impossible, why you should care.
  • Jenny McCarthy Body Count
    Vaccines save lives. Not getting vaccinated not only puts your life, or your child's life, at risk, but it also puts the lives of others around you at risk. There are a number of people, approximately 3-5%, that are unable to receive vaccines due to various medical conditions.
  • Skeptic's Dictionary, The
    The Skeptic's Dictionary is a website and a book. Each features definitions, arguments, and essays on topics ranging from acupuncture to zombies, and provides a lively, commonsense trove of detailed information on things supernatural, paranormal, and pseudoscientific.
  • Skeptics Society, The
    The Reading Room is a comprehensive, free resource of articles relating to science and skepticism. The Library contains an ever-growing index of articles, reviews and opinion editorials culled from our extensive archives, offering an in depth look into the myriad of subjects the Skeptics Society has explored over the years.
  • Stop the Australian Vaccination Network (SAVN)
    The "Stop the Australian Vaccination Network" (SAVN) was formed in mid 2009 following the death of baby Dana McCaffery of Pertussis, a preventable illness. We believe that the anti-vaccination propaganda issued by the AVN and its President, Meryl Dorey, is a menace to public health.
  • What's The Harm?
    This site is designed to make a point about the danger of not thinking critically. Namely that you can easily be injured or killed by neglecting this important skill. We have collected the stories of over 670,000 people who have been injured or killed as a result of someone not thinking critically.

Recommended Organisations (in alphabetical order)

    Australian (Local) Organisations
  • Australian Skeptics
    Australian Skeptics is a loose confederation of groups across Australia that investigate paranormal and pseudo-scientific claims from a responsible scientific viewpoint.
  • Canberra Skeptics
    Canberra Skeptics Incorporated is a non-profit association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory for the purpose of promoting critical thinking.
  • QLD Skeptics
  • Skeptics SA
    Skeptics SA is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting rational investigation of the natural world.
  • Tasmanian Skeptics
    Skeptics Australia (Tas) Inc is the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Skeptics organisation.
  • Vic Skeptics
    The Australian Skeptics (Victorian Branch) is an evidence-based organisation run by volunteer members.
  • WA Skeptics
    WA Skeptics, the WA branch of Australian Skeptics Inc, began in 1981 in Subiaco. It encourages a responsible view of curious and unlikely claims (including medical claims) by providing regular meetings open to all, speakers for club functions, annual awards for young critical writers, an information service for the media, and pre-tests of WA claimants for the Australian Skeptics $100,000 prize. It has no formal membership and no subscription fee.
  • Young Australian Skeptics
    A skeptical sanctuary for young Australian skeptics and freethinkers. Provides a blog and articles, a forum, media and educational assets.

    International Organisations
  • Center for Inquiry
    The mission of the Center for Inquiry is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.
  • Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
    The mission of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry is to promote scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims.
  • James Randi Educational Foundation
    The James Randi Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1996. Its aim is to promote critical thinking by reaching out to the public and media with reliable information about paranormal and supernatural ideas so widespread in our society today.
  • Skeptics Society, The
    The Skeptics Society is a scientific and educational organization of scholars, scientists, historians, magicians, professors and teachers, and anyone curious about controversial ideas, extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas, and the promotion of science. Our mission is to serve as an educational tool for those seeking clarification and viewpoints on those controversial ideas and claims.

Online Forums (in alphabetical order)

Recommended Podcasts (in alphabetical order)

    Australian (Local) Podcasts
  • Godless Business
    A group of Australian sceptics talking about the events of the world every fortnight.
  • Imaginary Friends Show
    The demolisher's of irrational, illogical and dangerous posed beliefs, faiths and religion.
  • In Vino Veritas Podcast
    In Vino Veritas is the hilarious skepti-comical podcast from Jason Brown and Dave The Happy Singer. Over three bottles of wine, the hilarious British Sydneyside skeptics dissect, discuss and debate the news, science, religion, philosophy, technology, politics and culture. The skeptacular In Vino Veritas: Three bottles of wine, Two skeptics, One podcast.
  • Pseudo Scientists, The
    The official podcast of The Young Australian Skeptics.
  • Rational Capital
    A podcast of science and skepticism, around and about Canberra.
  • Skeptic Zone, The
    The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason.
  • Token Skeptic
    The Token Skeptic podcast is a weekly look at the latest ideas and issues that puzzle the rational mind - and the science behind it all!

    International Podcasts
  • Amateur Scientist, The
    A comedy podcast about extraordinary things.
  • Amateur Skeptics
    We here at Amateur Skeptics are not scientists. We are normal people who are trying to look at the world with an evidence-based approach. We strive to have open minds and change our opinions with new evidence.
  • Astronomy Cast
    Astronomy Cast offers you a fact based journey through the cosmos.
  • For Good Reason
    For Good Reason is the interview program hosted by D.J. Grothe, promoting critical thinking and skepticism about the central beliefs of society.
  • Geologic Podcast
    George Hrab and the Geologic Universe.
  • InKredulous
    InKredulous is the topical, skeptical, news quiz game from the Merseyside Skeptics Society.
  • Just Skeptics
    Just Skeptics is a skeptical podcast brought to you by the Greater Manchester Skeptics.
  • Little Atoms
    Little Atoms is a weekly show featuring the worlds of science, journalism, politics, religion, academia, human rights and the arts in conversation.
  • MonsterTalk
    MonsterTalk discusses monsters with scientists and researchers in the field. What are the hard facts behind the legends of Bigfoot, Lake Monsters, Sea Monsters, Ghosts, Goblins, Aliens, and the thing under your bed? Tune in and find out.
  • Mr. Deity
    Mr. Deity offers a humorous (and slightly irreverent) look at the day-to-day operations of the universe and the "Big Man" in charge.
  • Pod Delusion, The
    The Pod Delusion is a weekly news magazine podcast about interesting things. From politics, to science to culture and philosophy, it's commentary from a secular, rationalist, skeptical, somewhat lefty-liberal, sort of perspective.
  • Point of Inquiry
    Point of Inquiry is the premiere radio show and podcast of the Center for Inquiry, drawing on CFI's relationship with the leading minds of the day including Nobel Prize-winning scientists, public intellectuals, social critics and thinkers, and renowned entertainers.
  • QuackCast
    A review of Quacks, Frauds and Charlatans. Oops. Thats not right. That should be Supplements, Complementary and Alternative Medicine i.e. SCAM's.
  • Rationally Speaking
    Rationally Speaking is the bi-weekly podcast of New York City Skeptics.
  • Righteous Indignation
    Righteous Indignation is the UK based podcast that aims to critically examine extraordinary claims and the people who surround them.
  • Skepchick Podcast
    The Skepchick podcast appears irregularly with interviews, discussions, and assorted skeptical goodness.
  • Skepticality
    Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine.
  • Skeptically Speaking
    With humour, enthusiasm and a lot of curiosity, Skeptically Speaking guides you through the fascinating world of science and critical thinking.
  • Skeptico
    This podcast is a leading source for intelligent, hard-nosed skeptic vs. believer debate on science and spirituality.
  • Skeptics' Guide 5x5, The
    The Skeptics' Guide 5x5 - Five Minutes with Five Skeptics. A weekly science podcast discussing news in the world of science and pseudoscience. A companion to The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe weekly podcast.
  • Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, The
    The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly Podcast talkshow discussing the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view.
  • Skeptic's Testiment, The
    TST is a religious and historical podcast which deals with current religious news stories (including archaeology), evens from history and a large range of other biblical topics.
  • Skeptics with a K
    Skeptics with a K is the podcast for science, reason and critical thinking from the Merseyside Skeptics Society.
  • Skeptoid
    Skeptoid is a weekly show taking an incisive, critical look at pop culture phenomena and pseudoscientific beliefs.
  • Strange Quarks
    Strange Quarks is a podcast that peers into the fringes of science and pseudoscience, and covers the battle for science-based politics in Britain and around the world with the help of some interesting guests.

Special Thanks (in alphabetical order)

Sponsors (in alphabetical order)
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