Media Watch

by Kim Farnell

Please send any clippings, cassettes and videos relating to astrology in process in the media for the archives to Nick Campion at 51 Bellevue Crescent, Bristol BS8 4TF, UK. You can e mail email Nick Campion. All tapes will be copied and returned. Also, please let Nick know if you are yourself doing anything in the media concerned with astrology.

According to a new survey on religious beliefs, almost a third of all American adults believe in astrology.The Harris Poll of a cross section of 2,201 adults surveyed online between Jan. 21 and 27 revealed that 31% of the public believe in astrology, including 36 % of women. The poll showed a significant difference between Americans aged 25 to 29 and those over 65. Forty-three percent of those aged 25 to 29 believe in astrology, but only 17 percent of people aged 65 and over, and 25 percent of men.

Harris disclosed the following about its survey: "Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. 'Propensity score' weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

Astronomer Patrick Moore recently had his autobiography, 80 Not Out: The Autobiography, published and in a in interview with Reuters placed astrology alongside conspiracy theories "I mean, there are all these people who don't believe man ever landed on the moon, that it was all some huge conspiracy. It is ludicrous," he sputters. "Astrology too -- utter nonsense. Last time I saw my stars, they said I was going to achieve an amazing sporting feat!"

Reuters also reported that Thai astrologers predict Iraq war date. They have settled on April 8 as the last possible date for the launch of a US-led war on Iraq. Mars, the planet symbolising war, was at its closest point to earth in 76,000 years this year so war was inevitable, four top Thai astrologers told a public symposium. Mars would be at its closest point to earth on April 8, but war could start as soon as the end of March because Uranus was in Aquarius.

Pinyo Phongcharoen, president of the 6,000-member National Astrological Association of Thailand, said, "The United States will win the war but it won't be as short as they expect. It will drag on for months and months," he said. "At the end of this year Saddam Hussein will be squeezed and toppled by the people closest to him. But it's unclear whether he will die." Pinyo, who correctly predicted the 1997 Asian economic crisis but failed to see the September 11 attacks on the United States, said the economic fallout from the war would be huge. "Economic problems will be everywhere, but will mostly hit the warring parties: Iraq, the United States and Britain, and the Middle East," said Pinyo, who is consulted by a number of Thai politicians. "They (the problems) will reach Thailand. We'll have big problems with high oil prices and our exports will fall." But the war would be followed by a long period of peace, Pinyo said. "There can be long-lasting peace afterwards, with Jupiter entering the orbit of Uranus."

The Italian newspaper Il Messaggero on 28 December said that eight million Italians, about 15% of the population, admit to having consulted an astrologer at least once. Other estimates go higher. Enthusiasm in Italy is such that even the Web page for the state-owned national electricity authority, ENEL, has a section offering horoscopes.

Home***World News by Jenni Dean Harte***Media Watch ***Data Section by David Fisher***Columbia Space Shuttle Re-Entry by Betty Gosling***Snippets***Obituary Sydney Omarr***Submissions to Transit***AA Website