skeptik.ee
skeptik.ee is the website and primary communication outlet of MTÜ Eesti Skeptik, a non-profit organisation established in 2007 and dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena and claims, and coordination of communication between skeptics. It aims to popularize science among students and promote skeptical thought in Estonia.[1]
Research
In September 2007, skeptik.ee reported of a simple experiment analysing the visual qualities of electrolysis of various solutions of salts in water, trying to explain the apparent pollution of footbathwater caused by a product called Ionic-Detox.[2] The elegant results and related conclusions regarding unnecessarily to insert polluted person's feet into footbath water to develop appearance of "extraction of pollutants from human body" has become the canonical study of "detoxification" footbath studies, commonly cited in discussions regarding this form of alternative health services.
Abort.ee
In spring of 2008, the newly established Institute of Culture of Life (Estonian: Elukultuuri Instituut), a Catholic-connected pro-life organisation, set up abort.ee, a website supposedly "helping expectant mothers in pregnancy crisis to decide" but actually dedicated to convincing people about evils of abortion through photos of supposed remains of aborted fœtuses. skeptik.ee published several articles critical of the material and claims thereof, as well as the fact that EI had successfully applied for a grant for developing the website from Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs. EI responded by threatening to sue MTÜ Eesti Skeptik and Martin Vällik over defamation via mail and various public channels.[3]
Umbluu award
MTÜ Eesti Skeptik gives out a yearly Umbluu award, published every 31 April on the website, for the year's most striking activities in the field of propagating pseudoscience. The award comes with the sculpture of Skewed Pendulum (Estonian: Viltune Pendel).[4]
In 2008, the award was given to Estonian Rescue Service for its procurement, continued usage and vocal defence of Sniffex, an extremely expensive dowsing rod.[5][6] Notoriously, the Rescue Service was reported to have been using Sniffex for "bomb detection" during George W. Bush's state visit to Republic of Estonia.[7]
References
- ^ Vällik, Martin (7 April 2007). "Tere tulemast skeptik.ee lehele!". skeptik.ee.
- ^ skeptik.ee 30 September 2007: Ionic-Detox köögilaual by Martin Vällik
- ^ Eesti Ekspress 23 April 2008: Abort.ee tegijad kaebavad Martin Välliku kohtusse
- ^ Youtube video of the Skewed Pendulum in action
- ^ skeptik.ee 30 April 2008 01:11: Umbluu-preemia 2008
- ^ Äripäev 30 April 2008 10:06: Võluvits tõi päästeametile Umbluu-preemia by Villu Päärt
- ^ Eesti Päevaleht 20 April 2007 07:20 Päästeameti imependel võib osutuda kasutuks by Kerttu Kaldoja