N Zealand sceptics defy 'Moonman' quake prophecy
Geologists, engineers and like-minded sceptics will meet in
earthquake-devastated Christchurch Sunday to mock "junk science"
predictions another major tremor will hit the city this weekend.
Ken Ring, a quasi-mystic mathematician known as the "Moonman", claims
he predicted last month's 6.3-magnitude quake by studying the moon and
has warned another tremor will rock New Zealand's second-largest city on
March 20.
So far 166 people have been confirmed killed in February's disaster,
although police have said they expect the figure to rise to more than
200.
New Zealand Skeptics spokeswoman Vicki Hyde said many in Christchurch
were taking Ring seriously and her organisation had organised a
"non-event" lunch on the day to try to set their minds at ease.
"At times like these, we think it's irresponsible to allow anyone to
exploit the understandable anxieties of Christchurch residents," she
said, accusing Ring of seeking "opportunistic publicity".
Hyde said prominent sceptics, including members of the scientific
community who have attacked Ring's theories, would attend the lunch in a
historic stone building on a Christchurch hilltop. Environment Minister
Nick Smith, who holds a PhD in geo-technical engineering, described the
lunch as a public service event.
"The last thing needed by thousands of traumatised people in
Canterbury, including elderly and children, is junk science and made-up
predictions of future major quakes," he said.
In response to the attacks, Ring has said will make no public comment
until after March 20.
His theories centre on the fact that moon is now unusually close to
the Earth, exerting a strong gravitational pull.
AFP
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