2011 Press Release: |
|
|
 |
1023 Campaign “Overdose” San Francisco
|
|
|
More than 30 consumer rights activists plan to take several times the recommended dose of various homeopathic remedies at the Whole Foods Market on California St. in San Francisco. This symbolic 'overdose' aims to increase public awareness and put pressure on manufacturers and retailers who sell these products as if they were legitimate medical treatments. “Many people think homeopathy is a natural or herbal remedy, but nothing could be further from the truth. Even homeopaths agree that the pills contain nothing but sugar and water. The worst situation is when these non-treatments are given in lieu of medicine and vaccines”, said Norman Clevenger, a spokesperson for the group. The demonstration was in concert with the 10:23 Campaign—a global protest against homeopathy organized by consumer advocates in the United Kingdom. Similar events took place today in 70 cities and 28 countries around the world.The 10:23 Campaign began a year ago in the UK, with almost 400 protesters taking part in 'overdose' events across the country following an admission by Britain's leading pharmacy that the pills are only sold because consumers will buy them, not because they are effective.Tens of billions of dollars are spent around the world each year on homeopathic treatments, with most patients completely unaware of what they are purchasing. When consumers learn the theory behind the homeopathic preparation process, they are often outraged that manufacturers and retailers have misrepresented these products. “Homeopathy combines two unlikely ideas: That 'like cures like' and that dilution and shaking increases potency. If these things turned out to be true it would violate much of what we know about our world. When homeopathic remedies are studied in well controlled clinical trials, they work no better than placebos.” - Leonard Tramiel, PhD - Physicist, and coordinator at the Center For Inquiry San Francisco Though sugar pills and water may seem harmless, the endorsement of homeopathic remedies by pharmacies and healthcare providers has grave consequences. As well as betraying the public trust in medical providers, patients with serious conditions often avoid seeking evidence-based medical attention due to the belief that homeopathy can solve their problems. For more information please reference: |
||
 |
We are a group of rational thinking activists in the San Francsico Bay Area working to grow the modern skeptical movement and hamper northern California "Woo Factories" from exporting irrational thinking around the world. We are not skeptical of the scientific method or evidence-based thinking. |
|