Mysticism in Nowadays Romania

Mysticism in Nowadays RomaniaMysticism in Nowadays Romania

14th European Skeptics Congress - Budapest 217-19 September, 2010

Romania

Romania, mankind’s spiritual centerRomania, mankind’s spiritual center

http://www.libertatea.ro/stire/dupa-sfarsitul-lumii-capitala-va-avea-7-km-diametru-285044.html


Romania

Atila Nyerges

MD – Timişoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Executive MBA – ASEBUSS and University of Washington, Seattle

Managerial position in a leading pharmaceutical company

Founding member and president of the Romanian Secular-

Humanist Association (ASUR), a young organization promoting

science, critical thinking and a secular state

atila.nyerges@asur

.ro


Romania

mysticism noun

/ˈmɪs.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/ n [U]

the belief that there is hidden meaning in life

or that each human being can unite with God


Romania

Issues


Romania

Cervical Cancer - Health Care Issue


Romania

Vaccination Timeline 2008

- 16 July 2008 - Budget Allocation

- 20 October 2008 - Vaccination against HPV introduced in the law

- 14 November 2008 - Aquisition

- 20 November 2008 - Vaccination and information campaign announcement

- 24 November 2008 - Vaccination and information campaign have started

- 30 November 2008 - General elections

Budget Law

July August September October November DecemberElectionsElectoral campaign

Vaccination campaign

Information campaign

Fourth grade elementary school cohort: 110.000 girls


Romania

Vaccination Rate?

2,57%


Romania

Why such a low vaccination rate?

• Lack of Information

• Myths

The vaccine’s long-term effects are not known

Cervical cancer is not related with HPV but with hygiene

Vaccination is an “invitation” for promiscuous behavior

The HPV vaccines are under the experimental phase

Romania is the only country all over the world testing the HPV vaccines on kids

Only Romania has introduced the HPV vaccines on the national immunization programs

The medical community is divided regarding HPV vaccination


Romania

http://www.who.int/wer/2009/wer8415.pdf


Romania You decide for You decide for the health of the health of your daughteryour daughter


RomaniaPress Conference – June 14, 2009


Romania

Vaccination Timeline 2009

Vaccination campaignInformation campaign

April June July September October November December

Result?

5%


Romania

Conclusions HPV Vaccination Campaign

• Low level of understanding health care issues (Evidence Based

Medicine)

• Confusion regarding the credibility of various information sources

• High propensity for conspiracy theories (victim status)


Romania

• Is this an isolated event?

• How do we compare with other countries?


Romania


Romania

16% without a prescription

How did you obtain the last course of antibiotics that you used?


RomaniaWhat was the reason for last taking antibiotics that you used?

40% for a cold


Romania

Knowledge about Antibiotics


Romania

Conclusions Special Eurobarometer 338

• One of the lowest levels of understanding health care

issues

• The lowest rate in terms of observing the regulations

for dispensing medicines


Romania

Contributing Factors

• Education

• State Investments in Research

• Private Investments in Research and Popularizing

Science

• NGO Contributions

• Mass-Media


Romania

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study*

Algerie Georgia Malaysia Slovenia

Armenia Ghana Malta South Koreea

Australia Hong-Kong Marocco Sweden

Bahrein Hungary Norway Syria

Bosnia & Hercegovina Indonezia Oman Taiwan

Botswana Iran Palestine Thailand

Bulgaria Israel Qatar Tunisia

Colombia Italy Romania Turkey

Cyprus Japan Russia Ukraine

Czech Republic Jordan Saudi Arabia USA

Egypt Kuweit Scotland Canada (3 provinces)

El Salvador Lebanon Serbia Spain (Basque Country)

England Lithuania Singapore UAE (Dubai)

TIMSS 2007 Participating Countries

52 Participant Countries

21 from Europe

14 from EU

* eight grade students

http://nces.ed.gov/timss/index.asp

• Mathematics• Physics• Chemistry• Biology


Romania

TIMSS

Mathematics59

8

59

7

59

3

57

2

57

0

51

7

51

3

51

2

50

8

50

6

50

4

50

1

49

9

49

6

49

1

48

8

48

7

48

6

48

0

47

4

46

9

46

5

46

4

46

3

46

2

46

1

45

6

44

9

44

1

43

2

42

7

42

0

41

0

40

3

39

8

39

7

39

6

39

1

38

7

38

1

38

0

37

2

36

7

36

4

35

4

34

0

32

9

30

9

30

7

Tai

wan

Sou

th K

oree

a

Sin

gapo

re

Hon

g-K

ong

Japa

n

Hun

gary

Eng

land

Rus

sia

US

A

Lith

uani

a

Cze

ch R

epub

lic

Slo

veni

a

Arm

enia

Aus

tral

ia

Sw

eden

Mal

ta

Sco

tland

Ser

bia

Ital

y

Mal

aysi

a

Nor

way

Cyp

rus

Bul

garia

Isra

el

Ukr

aine

Rom

ania

Bos

nia

& H

erce

govi

na

Leba

non

Tha

iland

Tur

key

Jord

an

Tun

isia

Geo

rgia

Iran

Bah

rein

Indo

nezi

a

Syr

ia

Egy

pt

Alg

erie

Mar

occo

Col

ombi

a

Om

an

Pal

estin

e

Bot

swan

a

Kuw

eit

El S

alva

dor

Sau

di A

rabi

a

Gha

na

Qat

ar


14 out of 14 in EU18 out of 21 in Europe


Romania

TIMSS

Sciences56

7

56

1

55

4

55

3

54

2

53

9

53

9

53

8

53

0

53

0

52

0

51

9

51

5

51

1

49

6

49

5

48

8

48

7

48

5

48

1

47

1

47

0

47

0

47

0

46

8

46

7

46

6

46

2

45

9

45

7

45

4

45

2

45

2

44

5

42

7

42

3

42

1

41

8

41

7

41

4

40

8

40

8

40

4

40

3

40

2

38

7

35

5

31

9

30

3

Sin

gapo

re

Tai

wan

Japa

n

Sou

th K

oree

a

Eng

land

Hun

gary

Cze

ch R

epub

lic

Slo

veni

a

Rus

sia

Hon

g-K

ong

US

A

Lith

uani

a

Aus

tral

ia

Sw

eden

Sco

tland

Ital

y

Arm

enia

Nor

way

Ukr

aine

Jord

an

Mal

aysi

a

Tha

iland

Ser

bia

Bul

garia

Isra

el

Bah

rein

Bos

nia

& H

erce

govi

na

Rom

ania

Iran

Mal

ta

Tur

key

Syr

ia

Cyp

rus

Tun

isia

Indo

nezi

a

Om

an

Geo

rgia

Kuw

eit

Col

ombi

a

Leba

non

Egy

pt

Alg

erie

Pal

estin

e

Sau

di A

rabi

a

Mar

occo

El S

alva

dor

Bot

swan

a

Qat

ar

Gha

na


12 out of 14 in EU18 out of 21 in Europe


Romania

Conclusion TIMSS

• One of the lowest levels of scientific education in Europe


Romania

STISOC Project

Prof. dr. Lazăr Vlăsceanu et al.

Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest

http://www.stisoc.ro/


Romania

http://www.stisoc.ro/docs/STISOC2010_Rezumat.pdf

Administer to 1000 people

Administer to 500 people and compare

Administer to 500 people and placebo

Don’t know/NA

Understanding the Experimental Method among EU Accession States (2002)

Which Method is Correct in Evaluating a Medicine?

Options:1. Administer to 1000

people2. Administer to 500

people and compare3. Administer to 500

people and placebo4. Don’t know/NA


Romania

“What’s Your Sign?”

Opinions Regarding the Science behind Astrology

Not at all scientific

Very scientific


Romania

Conclusions STISOC

• One of the biggest deficits in Europe in terms of scientific

knowledge

• One of the highest levels of beliefs and religious practices in

Europe and a high level of belief in the visibility of supernatural

interventions – miracles and possessed people

• One of the highest levels of beliefs in para and pseudo sciences,

like Astrology, and a high acceptance rate for superstitions

• Positive attitude towards science and its products; however these

attitudes are not based on understanding the scientific method


Romania

Corporate Social Responsibility

0

4

16

26

34

38

43

Science

Human Rights

Sport

Culture

Environment

Sociology

Education

No of companies interested in

http://www.responsabilitatesociala.ro/csr-in-romania.html


Romania

Non-Governmental Organizations

• 137 Participant NGO’s

• Only 3 interested in popularizing science

Source: NGO Fest 2010


Romania


Romania

Witches exorcising Parliament from Violet Flame


Romania

ASUR – The Romanian Secular-Humanist Association

• Cooperation with University of California, Berkeley for translating “Understanding

Evolution” site and related teaching resources for biology teachers

• Celebrating “Astronomy Day” – Essay Contest with Prizes for Teenagers

• “Space Week” – celebrating astrophysics and astronomy, in cooperation with

Faculty of Physics, Bucharest

• “Science is Fun” – Photography Contest

Future Projects

• “Summer Science Camps” for underprivileged children

• Children Visiting Science Museums

• “Critical Thinking” Movie Evenings

• “Galileo” - Scientific Blogging Platform

Date post:	06-May-2015
Category:	News & Politics
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Mysticism in Nowadays Romania

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