So, go to TAM or other Skeptical meet-ups if you can, you won’t be disappointed.

For example EU legislation about pseudoscientific issues are not so much covered in the existing skeptic media. Homeopathy is simply treated by skeptics in the US as a clear and obvious example of pseudoscience. Meanwhile simplified registration of homeopathic remedies is endorsed by EU recommendations. In many European countries financing of CAM from public money is either ongoing or close to that. Consumer protection and product registration rules in other areas are also driven by EU directives more and more and vendors of dubious products are navigating very successfully between the national and EU level procedures making the life of a skeptic in any given country very difficult. If you combine these Europe-specific challenges with the language barriers, you might understand that we are looking for some specific (additional) forums for European skeptics.

Of course it does not mean that we might not want to invite speakers from US. They are our heroes as well. But it is too bad that we find much less similar skeptic “stars” here in Europe. We have to find them! Also we – the Hungarian organizers – simply does not have the money to cover the costs for transatlantic travels for speakers from the US.

That is very good that we now have two skeptic events in Europe already. It is rather unfortunate however that – it seems – there is not so much cooperation between the organizers (I am being one of them). The two events are possibly too close to each other. Last year we voluntarily postponed the 14th European Skeptics Congress by a year (!) not to compete with the first TAM London. That time we heard rumors that TAM London would be organized every 2nd year (like the European congress), so we tried to manage them for alternating years. Now we had learnt that again we would collide. No coordination

Anyhow, there are possibly differences between the two events. TAM is more like a show, a big party for skeptics – and it was a really good one last year in London! We are focusing a bit more on personal involvement. During the 21 years of the European congresses discussions, Q&A sessions has always been an important part of the event. In 2007 in Dublin special workshops had been organized for initiating cooperation. We would like to build on that initiation and will organize workshops on three topics:

* Enforcing cooperation among skeptics in Europe – Should we set up our own platforms, or should we use existing forums? How to cope with language barriers? How could we utilize, translate each others articles, videos etc. Should we start a podcast specialized on European topics? Should we prepare common statements on specific issues?
* Reacting on antievolutionist propaganda – Should we participate on direct debates or not? Should we reflect on claims coming from evolution deniers? How should we react on initiations about “teaching the controversy” in schools? How should we present evolution theory, the concept and the new findings to the public?
* Answering the CAM challenge on a European level – How could we influence policy making about complementer and alternative medicine on the European level? Could we create a general policy recommendation? What are the similarities and differences on CAM regulation and practice in the various countries?

We are still looking for participants for these panel discussions. Also there is still opportunity for registering as a lecturer for the congress.

Please visit the following pages for more info:

http://congress2010.skeptic.hu/
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154207073099

Gabor Hrasko
President – Hungarian Skeptics Society

At least the weather is better here….

I sadly can’t go (too poor :< , I have a trip to London planned already, and Eurostar tickets (let alone TAM tickets, probably) aren't really the most affordable things in the world), so I really shouldn't be complaining, but this does strike me as odd.
If I would've gone, I know I would've loved to see you, though.

Oh, and Budapest is indeed lovely as long as you ignore the hungarist. Hopefully, with the new non-socialist party in government now, there will be less riots.

Greatest challenge for me now is to remember that there is a meeting there and then.