British and Irish Skeptic - 1987 - Vol 1 No 2

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE British & Irish SKEPTIC, Volume I, Number 2, dated March/April 1987, is dedicated to the scientific investigation of claims of the paranormal. It features a cover headline announcing "PLUMMER TO VISIT UK AND IRELAND" and includes a "HELP!" section soliciting contributions. The magazine is published bimonthly from Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

In This Issue

The issue lists several articles and features, including "Hits & Misses," "Brooke Bond's 'Unexplained Mysteries'," a profile of a small-time psychic, "The Geller Bumph" by Frank Chambers, "A Spanish Close Encounter Reexamined" by Ian Ridpath, book reviews, and "Letters to the Editor."

Plummer to Visit UK and Ireland

CSICOP's Executive Director, Mark Plummer, is scheduled to visit Britain and Ireland in May 1987. A meeting with British skeptics is planned for May 8 in London, and he will address the first public meeting of the Irish Skeptics on May 12 in Dublin.

HELP!

The newsletter appeals for more articles, newspaper clippings, insights, news, information, book reviews, TV or radio reviews, cartoons, and other contributions to make the newsletter more varied and interesting. It thanks current contributors and encourages readers to spread the word.

Hits & Misses

Burglars break into PN's offices: The offices of Psychic News (PN) were broken into, with drawers ransacked and the bookshop's till stolen. The break-in occurred on January 17 or 18, and the main concern is the potential loss of mail containing payments or orders. This incident is noted as being similar to a previous break-in at another publishing firm.

British Report: The British Committee held a meeting in London on March 11 to discuss restructuring as "National Groups" as requested by CSICOP. Plans are underway to form a new Association, with a draft constitution to be drawn up.

Berglas vs. Dion: David Berglas, Acting Chairman of the British Committee, along with two anonymous contributors, has challenged psychic performer Christian Dion to prove his powers, offering a £30,000 prize. Woman magazine has called for 100 volunteers for the experiment.

European Report: The first issue of the British & Irish Skeptic was sent to European contacts. Amardeo Sarma reports from Germany on the formation of ASUPO (Working Group to Investigate Pseudoscience and the Occult), which plans to publish a newsletter and is criticizing a dowsing project. Conradin Beeli, Swiss Convenor, is involved in editing a newsletter for Swiss plans. Dr. Henri Broch from Nice, France, sent his book "Le Paranormal" and information on his "ZET" service, which provides dossiers on phenomena.

Brazilian magic offers some cold comfort: A report from Sao Paulo details the work of the Fundacao Cacique Cobra Coral (FCCC), a spiritualist foundation that claims to alter weather patterns. They offered to end the cold wave in Europe free of charge, requesting meteorological forecasts. The foundation also claims to have averted floods in Brazil. The article notes that some government departments take their claims seriously.

WORK OF BRAZILIAN MEDIUM REDUCES EUROPEAN COLD: This section elaborates on the FCCC's activities, mentioning that on January 14, 1987, medium Adelaide Scritori began "Operation Europe" to raise temperatures at the request of Buckingham Palace. It also details FCCC's involvement in alleviating a drought in Santa Caterina, Brazil.

NAME THIS NEWSLETTER CONTEST: The newsletter is running a contest to name itself, with suggestions including "The Balance," "R.I.P.," and "The Rational Inquirer." The prize is a two-year free subscription.

MAGIC STONE CHALLENGED: Toby Howard reports that the Advertising Standards Authority is investigating an advertisement for a "Magic Stone" following a complaint about its claims of "instant success" and "unlimited wealth."

Brooke Bond launches psychic card series

Brooke Bond is launching a picture card series titled "Unexplained Mysteries of the World," to be given with PG Tips tea. The series features 40 subjects, including archeological enigmas, lake monsters, and psychic phenomena, with notes written by Bob Rickard. The company aims to interest and educate children and adults. David Leon of "Project Marketing" proposed the idea in 1981, and it was later revived and tested.

The cards include images related to levitation, featuring medium Colin Evans, and psychic Uri Geller. Other topics include a photograph of alleged "embodied hands" and a poltergeist picture from St Jean de Maurienne. The series also touches upon the Borley Rectory hauntings.

Brooke Bond has printed 600 million cards, available for about nine months. They expect about two million people to collect the sets. The company maintains that the series is educational and not an involvement with the occult.

Scientists say card series is garbage: A US-based group of scientists, including Michael Hutchinson from CSICOP, has condemned the Brooke Bond card series as "garbage" and an "insult to the intelligence." They challenge 30 of the 40 subjects, citing inaccuracies such as the curse of Tutankhamun's tomb, a "Neanderthal man" being made of rubber, and a "flying saucer" being a saucepan lid. CSICOP also reiterates its offer of £200,000 for proof of Uri Geller's powers.

Chimps in hot water over 'hoax' tea cards: This article, from the Daily Mail, highlights the controversy surrounding Brooke Bond's "Unexplained Mysteries" cards, with scientists accusing the company of promoting "junk science" and making "monkeys out of schoolchildren."

Inform: Brooke Bond expects 2.5 million people to collect the cards. Spokesman Ivan Robinson reiterates that the cards are intended to inform and educate.

A Spanish Close Encounter Reexamined

Ian Ridpath examines a case from "The Encyclopedia of UFOs" involving Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Serena, who reported being chased by a bright white light. Ridpath attributes the sighting to the planet Venus, pointing out an error in the reported setting time of Venus and suggesting the "high strangeness" of the case is related to the UFOlogists involved. He notes that Willy Smith's later attempts to explain away Venus as a cause were unconvincing.

The Geller Bumph

This article discusses Uri Geller's return to public life, his claims of being a multi-millionaire, and his continued use of "tricks" like bending spoons. The author critiques "The Geller Papers," a collection of "scientific observations" on Geller's powers, highlighting the authors' apparent eagerness for recognition and their "utter naivety" in describing precautions against fraud. The article suggests that Geller performs best when presented with multiple objects and that experimenters' own states of mind can influence the perceived results.

Dowser narrows search for buried treasures

Newcastle University is searching for four large stone statues of Aesculapius, Hippocrates, Galen, and Paracelsus, last seen in 1850. A dowser, Dennis Briggs, believes he has located their burial site. The statues were removed during the demolition of the Barber Surgeons Hall and their whereabouts were forgotten until a note from 1876 was rediscovered. If recovered, Dr. Dale and Professor Shaw hope to re-erect them.

A Liberal victory was in the stars

Stephen Wells, a Liberal county councillor and mind-reader, accurately predicted the outcome of the Truro by-election a month in advance. The prediction was placed in a safety deposit box and opened live on BBC Radio Cornwall. The Mail on Sunday reported the event, and Redge Lewis of South Devon expressed skepticism, leading to a response from the newspaper's Managing Editor, Jim Anderson, who defended the reporting but acknowledged the possibility of a trick.

Newsletter Report

As of this writing, the newsletter has about 50 paid subscriptions. The first issue was sent to nearly 500 subscribers of The Skeptical Inquirer in Britain and Ireland. The editor thanks contributors and apologizes for the delay in publishing promised content, attributing it to unexpected submissions.

Area Contacts Wanted

The newsletter seeks to combat the sense of isolation among skeptics by listing contact people in various areas of the UK and Ireland. Readers are encouraged to add their names to the list if no contact exists in their region.

Newswatchers Wanted

Volunteers are sought to clip articles from major British and Irish newspapers for the newsletter, as the editor cannot cover all publications himself.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, critically examining paranormal claims and pseudoscience. It highlights instances where alleged supernatural phenomena are explained by natural causes, hoaxes, or misinterpretations. The editorial stance is one of scientific investigation and a demand for evidence, often debunking sensationalized stories and exposing the lack of rigor in some paranormal research. There is a clear emphasis on educating the public and encouraging critical thinking.

This issue of The Skeptic, published bimonthly by The Irish Skeptics, focuses on critical examination of paranormal claims and psychic phenomena. The cover date indicates content from January and February 1987, with a publication format of 'Bimonthly' and volume '1'. The magazine's price is listed as IR£10.00 or Sterling £9.50 per year.

Dematerialization Event Investigation

The issue begins with an article detailing a 'dematerialization event' involving a vanadium carbide disk. The authors describe an experiment where a small disk, placed in a capsule, was claimed to have fractured and 'dematerialized'. The article questions the methodology of the experiment, suggesting that the contents of the unsealed capsule could have been manipulated or fractured by simple physical means, such as compression between fingers or against a hard surface, without the case itself being damaged. The author notes that Hasted, one of the experimenters, admitted to not closely examining the capsules, which detracts from the experiment's validity. The author also critiques the rationale provided for not having a skilled magician present, arguing that a magician's expertise would be crucial in detecting potential deception.

Psychic Performers and Investigations

The magazine profiles Phil Jordan, a 'small-time psychic' from Candor, NY, who performs at dinner shows and private readings. Jordan claims to see auras and predict medical problems, travel plans, and romantic entanglements. The article highlights a case where Jordan was credited with helping police find the bodies of two drowning victims, but questions whether his 'psychic vision' was merely common sense based on information already available to him. James Randi is mentioned as having suggested a test for Jordan's aura-seeing ability, which Jordan has reportedly declined.

Book Reviews

Two book reviews are featured:

'Sorry, You've Been Duped!' by Melvin Harris

Reviewed by Lewis Jones, this book is described as a critical examination of various paranormal claims, including ghosts, demons, and psychic detectives. The review highlights Harris's work in unravelling the sources of such claims, often pointing to historical novels or fabricated stories. Examples include the 'Amityville Horror', which was revealed to be a fabricated story, and the claims surrounding Jack the Ripper, where psychics provided inaccurate information. The review praises Harris for his 'non-psychic sleuthing' in debunking these phenomena.

'The Adventures of a Parapsychologist' by Susan Blackmore

Reviewed by Redge Lewis, this book details Dr. Susan Blackmore's decade-long research into ESP, occultism, and poltergeists. Blackmore, a former believer, failed to find convincing evidence for psi phenomena. The book recounts her efforts to achieve experimental results that would justify her beliefs, which were rapidly eroding. Lewis notes that Blackmore admits parapsychology is 'mysterious and alluring' and has 'just enough 'scientific' evidence to provide bait'. The review recommends the book as essential reading for those interested in the subject, particularly for its sections on poltergeists.

Stories of Note

This section summarizes news items from 'Psychic News' for January and February 1987:

• January 1987:
• The Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP) is investigating haunted caves in Kent.
• Police found clairvoyants' suggestions useless in a murder case.
• A new PsychicLine service is being set up in Liverpool.
• An apparition was reported at a Harrogate Police training centre.
• A new publication, 'The Home Medical Encyclopædia', will include an article on faith healing.
• A Spiritualist defence group has been formed.
• A couple fled their haunted home in Dewsbury.

• February 1987:
• Brooke-Bond launched a psychic card series.
• A clairvoyant is seeking the repeal of the Vagrancy Act.
• A local vicar criticized a dial-a-psychic service.
• An article in 'Police Review' indicated that most senior officers remain skeptical about mediums' crime-busting abilities.
• A child care worker was banned from working with youngsters after allegedly participating in ouija board sessions.
• The Philippine medical community is considering whether psychic surgeons should practice alongside conventional medicine.
• Leading clairvoyant Doris Collins joined 'The Sun' newspaper.

Letters to the Editor

Two letters are published:

Hilary Evans

Evans comments on David Berman's article about the Knock apparitions. While agreeing with Berman's presentation of facts, Evans suggests that beyond genuine appearance, mass hallucination, collusion, or hoax, there is also the possibility of a psychological explanation. This involves a primary event (potentially hallucinatory) triggering secondary events in suggestible individuals. Evans proposes a psychological model for visionary and encounter experiences, involving individual needs, cultural background, and immediate circumstances.

Antony Flew

Flew responds to a review of 'Secret Cult' which mentioned 'Moonies wandering around like zombies'. Flew, an atheist and Vice-President of the Rationalist Press Association, states that while he finds the doctrines of the Unification Church unbelievable, he has not personally encountered any 'Moonies' who resemble zombies. He apologizes for speaking without thinking in his previous comment.

Editorial and Publication Information

The issue concludes with details about 'The British Committee' and 'Irish Convenors', listing members and contact information. 'The Skeptic' is published bimonthly from Dublin, Ireland, with Wendy M. Grossman as editor. Subscription rates and donation information are provided. The issue also includes a notice about the next issue's content, which will feature a profile of Doris Stokes, skepticism in Europe, and a review of Paul Kurtz's 'The Transcendental Temptation'. The copy date for the next issue is June 1, 1987.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, critical analysis of psychic phenomena, and the debunking of alleged supernatural events. The editorial stance is clearly that of promoting rational inquiry and scientific scrutiny, challenging anecdotal evidence and highlighting potential explanations involving psychological factors, trickery, or misinterpretation. The magazine consistently questions the validity of psychic abilities and paranormal occurrences, often drawing on investigative journalism and scientific principles to present a counter-narrative to sensationalist claims.