Year of Pig will bring more epidemics, disasters and unrest

HONG KONG: The Year of the Pig starts Sunday, and Chinese fortune tellers say it will be a good time to have a baby, but also warn there will be an upsurge in epidemics, disasters and violent conflicts across the world.

"The Year of the Pig will not be very peaceful," said Raymond Lo, a feng shui master in Hong Kong.

Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water - two of the five elements that Chinese mystics say are the basis of the universe, Lo said. Since fire and water are conflicting elements, they tend to whip up trouble, he said.

"Fire sitting on water is a symbol of conflict and skirmish. We'll also see more fire disasters and bombings," he said.

Malaysian feng shui master Lillian Too agreed there was trouble ahead. "I wish I could say that there won't be natural disasters, but I am afraid it could be as bad as last year," she said.

"There could be epidemics. I am very worried about bird flu. Eat healthy foods and take care of your health," she added.

The gloomy predictions won't stop ethnic Chinese - one-fifth of the world's population - from kicking off their biggest celebration of the year on Saturday - the Lunar New Year's eve. It's an occasion to have family feasts, buy new clothes and exchange red envelopes stuffed with gift money.

The pig is the last of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Legend has it that the pig finished last in the race that determined the zodiac's order.

Despite losing the race, the pig symbolizes good luck and that inspires many Chinese to have children during a porky year. "Any children born in the Year of Pig will receive help from others throughout their lives," Lo said.

Famous pigs include former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor-director Woody Allen and singer Elton John.

The Russian AK-47 rifle - one of the most popular weapons in the world - was invented during a pig year, Lo said. "So it will not be surprising to see more gunbattles, murder with guns and bombing attacks in 2007," he said.

Last year, Hong Kong soothsayer Alion Yeo accurately predicted that the North Korean nuclear crisis would worsen during the Year of the Dog.

This year, Yeo is predicting that the reclusive communist nation will undergo a power struggle that will bring leadership changes around May.

Singaporean fortune teller John Lok predicted the situation in Iraq will not settle, U.S. President George W. Bush will have a bad year and the next president of France may be a lady.

Most soothsayers said the world economy will continue to boom, but people should also be cautious about their investments.

"Because of the water element in the Year of the Pig, the economy will continue to grow, which also paves the way for another round of interest rate hikes," said Peter So, a celebrity fortune teller in Hong Kong.

The Year of the Pig has to be celebrated with special sensitivity in Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia with large Muslim populations that consider pigs and pork products to be unclean and offensive.

Hong Kong, Friday, AP