New Zealand Government Unites Indigenous Knowledge With 'Western Science' By Claiming Gods Cause Earthquakes – Why Evolution Is True

A comment by reader Chris Slater brought this article to my attention from GeoNet, an organization that describes itself as providing “information on geological hazards in Aotearoa New Zealand.” It also

… Sponsored by the New Zealand Government through its agencies: Toka To Aki Natural Hazards Committee, GNS Science, Land Information New Zealand (LINS), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBE).

Hazards include volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis. Isn't that useful? Of course, monitoring is done using scientific methods (see here for earthquakes, for example), because you have to use modern science to make the best predictions.

But this is New Zealand, which is why GeoNet had to include some local knowledge to satisfy the zeitgeist; in this case, the addition was pure myth. This article, which you can read by clicking on the title, cites gods as the cause of earthquakes. It’s all metaphor, of course, but it’s meant to satisfy the claim that both types of “knowledge” are the perfect combination for understanding the world.

The subtitle reflects the main title:

Weaving together the different threads of knowledge, Māori Mātauranga and Western science, enhances our understanding of our land and supports conversations about how we can better prepare for dangerous natural events, like the Alpine Fault earthquake, together.

Note the emphasis on the combination of indigenous “ways of knowing” with what they insist on calling “Western science” (which is no longer Western) to lead to a better understanding of nature. But Mauringa Maori includes not only practical knowledge gained through trial and error: it also includes myth, ethics, legends, and religion. And here they bring in religion.

Excerpt (in bold, mine)

The Alpine Fault is the longest naturally occurring straight line on Earth. It represents the meeting of two major tectonic plates and has been formed over millions of years, stretching ever longer, lifting our landscapes above the ocean, and creating the peaks of the Southern Alps with every major earthquake it causes.

According to Ngāi Tahu creation stories, earthquakes are caused by Rūmuku, the son of Ranginui (Sky Father) and his wife Papatuanuku (Earth Mother). The Māori have experienced the shaking of the earth for centuries.

Science tells us that a Rūmuku earthquake hits the Alpine Fault about every 300 years, the last time being in 1717. These large earthquakes have been happening for millions of years, and the next one is not a matter of if, but when. The next big earthquake on the Alpine Fault will be long and powerful and will dramatically change the landscape of Te Waipūnamu as we know it. Landslides, liquefaction, river shifts, flooding, tsunamis and aftershocks are likely.

A major earthquake on the Alpine Fault in our lifetime is a scary thought! However, understanding how our earthquakes have moved in the past helps us prepare for the future. While we can’t predict when one will happen, we can work together to be better prepared by sharing our knowledge, science, and experiences about past earthquakes and emergencies to raise awareness, build understanding, and strengthen our relationships. The better we communicate beforehand, the easier it will be to support each other during and after a catastrophic event.

This is a complete mess. Not only does bringing Maori religion into earthquake prediction add nothing, it is likely to confuse students who believe that religious mythology is inherent in this prediction. What on earth does it mean to say, “Science tells us that Rūmuku shakes the Alpine Fault about every 300 years…”? This is simply a flat-out lie. The stresses on tectonic plates cause them to slide about once every 300 years. This is not due to the actions of a god who decides to shake the Earth about every 300 years (is he bored?).

Adding the idea that gods shake the earth to their science is an insult to geologists—an insult to them. It is embarrassing for the New Zealand government to have to mix indigenous mythology with science in order to pretend that they can reinforce each other. In fact, this pressure comes from an attempt to sanctify indigenous people and satisfy, as it believes, the demands of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. But the Treaty says nothing about making indigenous ways of knowing equal to modern science.

Yes, indigenous knowledge may be a useful addition to some limited scientific endeavors, but this is not one of them. Away with the gods in geology!

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos