Of course it is unfortunate, and prejudiced, for many commentators to have assumed that Breivik was a Muslim – and for those who assumed this, the bias is clear in how they concocted quite torturous narratives to explain why a Muslim would target kids at a Labour Party camp. It made little sense that he… Continue reading Breivik, terror and Islamophibia
Author: Jacques Rousseau
On Elevatorgate: Dawkins, Watson and the need for balance
The origins of what has now become a bitter war between various elements in the secular community lie partly in a failure to understand context, or to apply the principle of charity. Some posts on Elevatorgate make it appear that Watson accuses all men of being rapists, and others that Dawkins is a misogynist –… Continue reading On Elevatorgate: Dawkins, Watson and the need for balance
Bill of Responsibilities
Note: this is an edited version of a column for The Daily Maverick It has been a month since the department of education, LeadSA and the National Religious Leaders’ Forum launched their Bill of Responsibilities. Some criticisms of the bill were forthcoming from Ivo Vegter, Khadija Patel and myself (here, here and here). We had concerns… Continue reading Bill of Responsibilities
Quacks like Patrick Holdford find receptive audiences in South Africa
Patrick Holford is one of the many nutritionists, doctors or specialists of one form or another who make a living by selling false or misleading promises. Sometimes, they even endorse harmful remedies, or harmful avoidance of effective remedies, as is the case with Holford’s association with HIV denialism (and Scientology). Why does a national chain… Continue reading Quacks like Patrick Holdford find receptive audiences in South Africa
Moralistic outrage chills free speech
The Kuli Roberts column, Bitch’s Brew, has been cancelled by Avusa and the Sunday World newspaper following the publication of a “racist” column which expressed various stereotypes related to a subsection of South Africans sometimes described as ‘coloureds’. But as offensive as the column might have been to some, is there ever a good reason… Continue reading Moralistic outrage chills free speech
The war on woo
Why do newspapers continue to publish astrological readings, and why are we not more concerned by the fact that so many people find it plausible that holograms can aid your balance?
Consumers in South Africa to stage homeopathic ‘overdose’
Consumer rights activists in South Africa have today announced their intention to take a mass homeopathic ‘overdose’ next month, as part of a major global protest against the alternative remedies.
Leo Igwe arrested (again)
Despite the stated commitment of Awka Ibom State Governor Goodswill Akpabio to rooting out the exploitation of children for the Pentecostal witch industry, people like Leo – who are allies in that cause – are frequently arrested and subjected to other rights violations.
ASASA complaint in respect of PowerBalanceSA
The text of the FSI complaint regarding misleading advertising on the part of PowerBalance, as submitted to the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa in January 2011.
Homeopathic ‘Overdosers’ Announce Global Challenge
The 10:23 Campaign in 2010 saw 400 skeptics in the United Kingdom publicly protest the use of homeopathic remedies by taking mass “overdoses” of the pills. In 2011, the campaign will be expanding internationally.