10:23 Campaign

In 2004, the Belgian skeptical organisation SKEPP made headlines when thirty skeptics at Ghent University performed a "mass suicide stunt" with an overdose of homeopathically diluted snake poison, belladonna and arsenic, in an attempt to publicly show that homeopathy does not work.{{Cite news |url=http://skepp.be/nl/gezondheid/alternatieve-behandelingen/homeopathie/gif-slikken-om-homeopathie-te-ontmaskeren |title=Gif slikken om homeopathie te ontmaskeren |author=Hilde Pauwels |work=De Standaard |publisher=VUMmedia |date=12 January 2004 |accessdate=25 August 2014 |language=nl |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203055622/http://skepp.be/nl/gezondheid/alternatieve-behandelingen/homeopathie/gif-slikken-om-homeopathie-te-ontmaskeren |url-status=live }}{{in lang|nl}} [http://skepp.be/nl/gezondheid/alternatieve-behandelingen/homeopathie/de-homeopathie-stunt De Homeopathie stunt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203061532/http://skepp.be/nl/gezondheid/alternatieve-behandelingen/homeopathie/de-homeopathie-stunt |date=3 December 2013 }}. Skepp.be, 1 March 2004 (overview of media articles){{Cite journal |last=Bonneux |first=Luc |date=May–June 2004 |title=Belgium Skeptics Commit Mass Suicide |url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/belgium_skeptics_commit_mass_suicide/ |journal=Skeptical Inquirer |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |volume=28 |issue=3 |accessdate=25 August 2014 |archive-date=2 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102034559/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/belgium_skeptics_commit_mass_suicide |url-status=live }} When Belgian skeptics met with Merseyside Skeptics during a Skeptics in the Pub in 2010, the idea was adopted to hold an international event.{{Cite episode |url=http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2010/09/skeptics-with-a-k-episode-031/ |title=Skeptics with a K: Episode No. 031 |last=Hall |first=Mike |last2=Marshall |first2=Marsh |authorlink2=Michael Marshall (skeptic) |last3=Harris |first3=Colin |series=Skeptics with a K |number=31 |type=podcast |publisher=Merseyside Skeptics Society |date=23 September 2010 |accessdate=25 August 2014 |archive-date=8 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208222842/http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2010/09/skeptics-with-a-k-episode-031/ |url-status=live }}{{rp|at=14:27}}

The campaign's name, 10:23, comes from the Avogadro number, which is approximately 6.022 × 10²³.{{cite web |title=10:23 Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.1023.org.uk/faq.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727130656/http://www.1023.org.uk/faq.php |archive-date=2020-07-27 |accessdate=1 November 2013}}

The campaign aims to raise awareness of implausible and unsubstantiated claims made by homoeopaths. It opposes high street retailers, such as Boots UK, stocking homoeopathic remedies alongside medicine, saying that "the support lent by Boots to this quack therapy contributes directly to its acceptance as a valid medical treatment by the British public, acceptance it does not warrant and support it does not deserve."{{Cite web |author=Merseyside Skeptics Society |authorlink=Merseyside Skeptics Society |date=2009-11-27 |title=An Open Letter to Alliance Boots |url=https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2009/11/an-open-letter-to-alliance-boots/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |work=The Skeptic |archive-date=3 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603212631/https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2009/11/an-open-letter-to-alliance-boots/ |url-status=live }}

The organisers state that homoeopathy is "an unscientific and absurd pseudoscience", and that, according to their statement, "There is nothing in it."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527455.800-homeopathy-overdosing-on-nothing.html?full=true#.UnRhavn0F8E|title = Homeopathy: Overdosing on nothing}}{{cite web |author=Merseyside Skeptics Society |authorlink=Merseyside Skeptics Society |title=The 10:23 Challenge |url=http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819072418/http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |archive-date=2020-08-19 |accessdate=12 April 2011}} They question the ethics of selling treatments to the public which have not been proven to be efficacious and are widely disregarded by the scientific community.{{cite web|last=Davis |first=Margaret |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/mass-overdose-staged-in-homeopathic-protest-1884019.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/mass-overdose-staged-in-homeopathic-protest-1884019.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mass 'overdose' staged in homeopathic protest – Health News – Health & Families |work=The Independent|date=30 January 2010 |accessdate=29 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}

File:1023 campaign Hungary.webm. Szeged, 5 February 2011]]

File:1023 campaign in Amsterdam.webm and Stichting Skepsis members and sympathisers in Amsterdam]]

On 30 January 2010, members participated in a protest involving a mass overdose of homoeopathic products to demonstrate its inefficacy.{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Mass-overdose-Leicester-city-centre/article-1782650-detail/article.html |title=Mass "overdose" in Leicester city centre |publisher=Leicester Mercury |date=30 January 2010 |accessdate=31 January 2010 |archive-date=3 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503101108/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Mass-overdose-Leicester-city-centre/story-12062959-detail/story.html |url-status=live }} Many protesters stood outside branches of Boots UK, other shops selling homoeopathic products, and other prominent public spaces and took 84 pills each of arsenicum album, 20 times the recommended dose.

A second overdose was organised for 5–6 February 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.1023.org.uk/ |title=The 10:23 Challenge |author=Merseyside Skeptics Society|authorlink=Merseyside Skeptics Society |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205215413/http://www.1023.org.uk/ |archivedate=5 February 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy }} Worldwide, the campaign received commitments of participation from 70 cities in 30 countries.{{cite web |author=Merseyside Skeptics Society |authorlink=Merseyside Skeptics Society |title=The 10:23 Challenge 2011 |url=http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819072418/http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |archive-date=2020-08-19 |accessdate=11 April 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |title=The 10:23 Challenge 2011 | The 10:23 Campaign | #ten23 |publisher=1023.org.uk |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929005728/http://www.1023.org.uk/the-1023-challenge.php |url-status=live }} In the United Kingdom, events took place in Manchester, as part of the QED Conference,{{cite web |url=http://www.qedcon.org/schedule/ |title=Event Schedule :: QED :: Question Explore Discover |publisher=North West Skeptical Events Ltd |accessdate=5 February 2011 |archive-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112083354/http://www.qedcon.org/schedule |url-status=unfit }} and Cardiff.{{cite web |url=http://thewelshboyo.co.uk/?p=194 |title=Consumers in Cardiff stage homeopathic 'overdose' |author=Morgan, Rhys |authorlink=Rhys Morgan |date=28 January 2011 |work=Skeptical |accessdate=3 December 2011 |archive-date=4 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204155200/http://thewelshboyo.co.uk/?p=194 |url-status=live }} The original Belgian SKEPP and the Dutch organisations Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij and Stichting Skepsis also participated in the worldwide 10:23 Campaign. They carried out their tongue-in-cheek suicide attempt in Brussels and Amsterdam specifically to protest the recognition of homeopathic preparations by the European Parliament.{{Cite news |url=http://www.standaard.be/cnt/hd360pk2 |title=Skepp pleegt collectief zelfmoord |work=De Standaard |publisher=Corelio |date=7 February 2011 |accessdate=25 August 2014 |language=nl |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225039/http://www.standaard.be/cnt/hd360pk2 |url-status=live }}{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.wereldburgers.tv/2011/02/05/homeopathische-zelfmoordpoging/ Homeopathische zelfmoordpoging] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213721/http://www.wereldburgers.tv/2011/02/05/homeopathische-zelfmoordpoging/ |date=3 March 2016 }} wereldburgers.tv. 5 February 2011 Czech Sisyfos organization joined this happening when its members tried to publicly overdose themselves in Prague.{{cite journal |last1=Hympl |first1=Josef |title=Protestující se demonstrativně "předávkovali" homeopatiky |journal=Tyden.cz |date=6 February 2011 |url=https://www.tyden.cz/rubriky/domaci/protestujici-se-demonstrativne-predavkovali-homeopatiky_193166.html |language=Czech |issn=1210-9940}}{{cite web |last1=Kořínek |first1=Petr |title=Homeopatika neléčí |url=http://www.rozhlas.cz/regina/denik/_zprava/847286 |website=Český rozhlas Regina |publisher=Český rozhlas |language=Czech |accessdate=26 June 2018}}

In April 2012, at the Berkeley SkeptiCal conference, over 100 people participated in a mass overdose, taking caffea cruda, which is intended to treat sleeplessness.{{cite web|last=Munger|first=Kel|title=Drugs, not bugs|url=http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/drugs-not-bugs/content?oid=5825955&fb_source=message|publisher=Sacramento News Review|accessdate=5 April 2012|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903231608/http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/drugs-not-bugs/content?oid=5825955&fb_source=message|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Mixing Homeopathic "Remedies" for 2011 San Francisco 10:23 "Overdose" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Bg-aSjNM4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/X2Bg-aSjNM4 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=10:23 campaign|accessdate=5 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}

There have been no reports of ill effects following any of the overdoses.{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/no-ill-effects-after-public-homeopathic-overdose |title=No ill effects after public homeopathic overdose |publisher=Medical Observer |date=15 February 2011 |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=11 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311112306/http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/no-ill-effects-after-public-homeopathic-overdose |url-status=live }}

Notable scientists and public figures have shown support for the 10:23 Campaign, including Phil Plait,{{cite news|last=Plait|first=Phil|authorlink=Phil Plait|title=Homeopathy and the 10:23 project|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/04/homeopathy-and-the-1023-project/#.UnUpKvn0F8F|accessdate=2 November 2013|newspaper=Discover|date=4 January 2010|archive-date=26 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526092753/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/04/homeopathy-and-the-1023-project#.UnUpKvn0F8F|url-status=live}} James Randi Educational Foundation,{{cite web |url=http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1188-worldwide-1023-campaign-on-homeopathy-feb-5.html |title=Worldwide 10:23 campaign on homeopathy: Feb. 5 |publisher=Randi.org |date= |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=18 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218201239/http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1188-worldwide-1023-campaign-on-homeopathy-feb-5.html |url-status=live }} Simon Singh,{{cite web |author= |url=http://simonsingh.net/media/online-videos/alternative-medicine/andy-lewis-and-simon-discuss-homeopathy-and-the-1023-campaign/ |title=Andy Lewis and Simon discuss Homeopathy and the 10:23 Campaign |publisher=Simonsingh.net |date=30 January 2010 |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925235644/http://simonsingh.net/media/online-videos/alternative-medicine/andy-lewis-and-simon-discuss-homeopathy-and-the-1023-campaign/ |url-status=live }} Steven Novella,{{cite web|title=Randi issues a Challenge|url=http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/randi-issues-a-challenge/|accessdate=2 November 2013|archive-date=5 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705013602/http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/randi-issues-a-challenge/|url-status=live}} Penn Jillette,{{cite web|title=Penn Point : Massive Homeopathic Overdose Cures|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1ZbJRAyexM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/L1ZbJRAyexM |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=2 November 2013}}{{cbignore}} and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.{{cite web|title=The 10:23 Event|url=http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/4934-the-10-23-event|accessdate=2 November 2013|archive-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122040154/http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/4934-the-10-23-event|url-status=live}}

James Randi invited advocates and retailers of homoeopathy to take the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge to prove that homoeopathy was efficacious to win a prize and himself overdosed on homoeopathic sleeping pills as part of his stage show.{{cite web|last=Randi|first=James|title=James Randi Speaks Homeopathy Week 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WyzM_TsIXc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/_WyzM_TsIXc |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=JREF}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|last=Randi|first=James|title=James Randi Lecture @ Caltech – Homeopathy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jqP_1beVXQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/0jqP_1beVXQ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=California Institute of Technology|accessdate=5 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|last=Randi|first=James|authorlink=James Randi |title=James Randi's Challenge to Homeopathy Manufacturers and Retail Pharmacies|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMukj31qw1U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/SMukj31qw1U |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=JREF|accessdate=5 September 2012}}{{cbignore}}

The campaign gained international coverage in the press from The Australian,{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/good-week-for-sceptics/story-e6frg8y6-1226004002890|title=Good week for sceptics|publisher=The Australian|accessdate=11 April 2011|author=Adam Taor|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702101045/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/good-week-for-sceptics/news-story/03e77fcba083ecb9dbeeb105426e26a6?nk=eb95c41eb01c720609c1a6a08a619a96-1562062245|url-status=live}} The Medical Observer,{{cite web|url=http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/no-ill-effects-after-public-homeopathic-overdose|title=No ill effects after public homeopathic overdose|publisher=The Medical Observer|accessdate=11 April 2011|author=Caroline Brettingham-Moore|archive-date=11 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311112306/http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/no-ill-effects-after-public-homeopathic-overdose|url-status=live}} BBC, The Independent, The Telegraph,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7028989/Boots-hit-by-mass-homeopathy-overdose.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122082216/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7028989/Boots-hit-by-mass-homeopathy-overdose.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2010 |title=Boots hit by mass homeopathy 'overdose' |work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=29 November 2013}} and The Guardian.{{cite web |author=Martin Robbins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/jan/29/homeopathy-10-23-overdose |title=Homeopathy: At 10:23 tomorrow we will prove there's nothing in it | Martin Robbins | Life and style |work=The Guardian |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=29 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329131649/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/jan/29/homeopathy-10-23-overdose |url-status=live }}

The British Homeopathic Association dismissed the 10:23 Campaign as "grossly irresponsible", describing the public overdose as dangerous, and claimed that the participants had no understanding of how to select remedies appropriately.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/media-centre/news-press-release/the-british-homeopathic-association-dismisses-1023-campaign/ |title=The British Homeopathic Association dismisses 10:23 campaign |publisher=British Homeopathic |accessdate=29 November 2013 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512032121/http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/media-centre/news-press-release/the-british-homeopathic-association-dismisses-1023-campaign/ |url-status=live }}

Melbourne-based Dr Ken Harvey told Pharmacy News "the campaign would raise awareness of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) transparency review and concerns over homeopathic products."{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/news/homeopathy--overdose-to-highlight-tga-transparenc |title=Homeopathy "overdose" to highlight TGA transparency |publisher=Pharmacy News |accessdate=11 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007181019/http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/news/homeopathy--overdose-to-highlight-tga-transparenc |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

File:Mark_Edward_phosphorus_overdose.JPG|Skeptical activist and magician Mark Edward overdoses in Monterey, CA 2011

File:Suicidio homeopático 2011- Bandeja con productos para "intoxicarse".jpg|Tray shows products used in Chile in 2011

File:Suicidio homeopático 2011 en Santiago de Chile.jpg|10:23 campaign in Santiago, Chile 2011

File:SkeptiCal overdosing 2012.JPG|SkeptiCal group overdosing on homoeopathic solution. Berkeley, CA 21 April 2012

File:1023-oslo-2011.jpg| 10:23 campaign in Oslo, Norway, 2011

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Category:Homeopathy

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