Flat Earth conspiracy theorists gather for first UK convention

IT and NHS workers among attendees at the
event in Birmingham

One-Minute Read

Convention organiser Gary John said: “People are waking up.
We’re seeing an explosion of interest in Flat Earth theories and
increasing mistrust of governments.”

In discussions held over three days at Birmingham’s Jurys Inn
hotel, “guest speakers unveiled their scientific proof that the
Earth is more pancake than profiterole”, the Telegraph reports.

“My research destroys Big Bang cosmology. It supports the idea
that gravity doesn’t exist and the only true force in nature is
electromagnetism,” explained David Marsh, a manager at the NHS
Supply Chain head office in Alfreton, Derbyshire.

Although there is disagreement amongst the new wave of Flat
Earth enthusiasts about Earth’s exact shape, “most share a
core belief the planet has no curvature, and is not moving through
space or spinning”, the newspaper adds.

“We know that continuous East-West travel is a reality,” said
convention speaker Darren Nesbit. “No one has ever come to, or
crossed a physical boundary.”

Nesbit’s own view is that the Earth is supported by pillars and
shaped like a diamond, with the North and South Poles in opposite
corners.

“I’m not saying this is definitely what is going on, but I think
it is a plausible model,” he said.

The number of people who believe Earth is flat “has rocketed in
recent years, with self-styled experts promoting the theory – along
with some celebrities”, says Metro.

During the last five years, online Google searches in the UK for
the phrase “flat Earth” have risen tenfold, according to Google
Trends.

Former England cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff “revealed
last year that he was obsessed with a podcast called The Flat
Earthers – and coming round to their ideas”, adds Metro.

Flintoff said, “If you’re in a helicopter and you hover, why
does the Earth not come to you if it’s round? Why, if we’re
hurtling through space, why would water stay still? Why is it not
wobbling? Also if you fire a laser about 16 miles, if the world was
curved, you shouldn’t be able to see it but you can.”