In fewer than four months, China has been pelted by crippling blizzards and riots in Tibet. These were followed by chaos on international legs of the Olympic torch relay, fuelled by pro-Tibet demonstrators. Then came a bloody train crash followed by this week's deadly, 7.9-magnitude earthquake in central Sichuan province.

Lo, who lives in Hong Kong, tried to explain some of the occurrences in terms of Chinese astrology, a traditional belief system dating back thousands of years. Lo said part of the problem may stem from the birthdates of China's current political leadership -- president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao. Both were born in 1942, The Year of the Horse.

In Chinese astrology, 2008 is The Year of the Rat and, according to Lo, this is part of the problem. "Chinese people believe in animal astrology," Hu said in a telephone interview. "In animal astrology we know the horse clashes with the rat. This is a very common thing, well known among Chinese people. So if you are born in the Year of the Horse, because of the clash against the rat you will have a turbulent year."

Lo offered a remedy. He said carrying an ox pendent -- for people like Hu and Wen -- could help ward off problems, because the ox is seen as a friend of the rat.