December 27, 2001: Predictions for 2002
The predictions rolling in reflect a nation still reeling from September 11th. Callers forecast suicide bombers in Times Square on New Year's Eve, a biological attack at the Winter Olympics, and China invading Taiwan by July 4th. A 13-year-old from Oregon predicts terrorists will release smallpox on American soil. Among the few optimistic voices, callers predict a great spiritual revival, increasing appearances of angels, and the merging of alternative medicine with mainstream practice.
Art intersperses the predictions with news of the growing India-Pakistan nuclear standoff, a record seven feet of snow burying Buffalo, extreme weather events across the globe, and the bizarre story of a pilotless airplane that flew for two hours over Sonoma County after its owner accidentally left the throttle forward. He also takes a call from a professional asteroid hunter who predicts 2002 will bring the discovery of a near-Earth object requiring active mitigation.
Key Moments
Climate catastrophe sweep: Art reads a worldwide weather roundup, paralyzing cold in Buffalo, Poland and Russia, mudslides in Rio, drought-prayer in Saudi Arabia, bushfires in Australia, framing it as evidence the climate is in mid-shift, regardless of cause.
Bell Family Vault rules: Art explains his predictions tradition, numbered, archived in the 'Bell Family Vault,' scored a year later, and asks callers to reach into their psychic center rather than just guess.
Scoring last year's vault: Art rates 2001 predictions, calling 'JC will return to the show' a ding-ding-ding hit, ETs landing on the White House lawn a bonk, and scoring people becoming more aware of communication with the dead a hit thanks to John Edward and EVP.
Bio-attack at Salt Lake Olympics: An Indianapolis caller predicts a biological attack on opening ceremonies of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, calling 9/11 only the first punch thrown. Art recommends watching CBC and BBC because U.S. coverage is partly propaganda.
One government airline by October: A South Carolina trucker predicts that by October 2002 only one government-controlled airline will remain, with flying restricted to VIPs. The next caller predicts humans will start communicating back to whoever makes crop circles by making our own.
Preserved source
From the original ArtBell.com archive
The 2003 commemorative archive preserves the contemporary listing for this broadcast. Links and descriptions reflect the original site and may be outdated.
View the original program listing