The earthquake forecasting program which I have promoted perhaps the most to date, in fact probably much more than my own is the sun shadow based program which Shan is running. If it does in fact work (I myself have no way of testing it) then I feel that it could be ideal for even the most remote villages in developing nations. And if it were widely used then perhaps no one would need my program and I could focus on something else.

Shan is apparently willing to give all of the information regarding how to run his program to any responsible organization or individual for free. How can you beat that? But, it is my understanding that in spite of his efforts, my efforts to get people to try the program, and even his newspaper coverage, he has never been contacted even once by any scientist, research group, or government agency anywhere interested in learning about the program.

So, what does that tell you about international earthquake forecasting efforts?

Actually, I can tell you from experience that I have relatively little trouble getting people around the world to listen to and act on my forecasts. But in spite of all of my efforts, as far as I can tell I have never had any success in getting any person or group to spend any time and energy on developing any type of earthquake forecasting program. One of the main reasons for that is, I believe, the fact that responding to a forecast costs almost nothing. But doing research costs money. And no one wants to spend the necessary money even though with Shan’s program it would probably be an almost immeasurably small amount.

Well, the goal here is to keep people from dying during earthquakes. And it is my philosophy that if it requires that you take them by the hand and actually give them a forecasting program for free and then show them exactly how to use it then that is better than just letting them die. What I keep in mind is the fact that even if most adults do not care what happens, there are many children around the world who are dependent on others for their very lives. And some adult somewhere should act in a responsible manner with regard to the welfare of those children even if it has to be you or me or Canie or Shan.