Dec. 21, 2012: It's almost here. For some, this date means nothing more than Christmas is right around the corner. To other it's considered the end of the world. It is the date on which the 5,125-year-long cycle in Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, closely associated with the Mayan Civilization, will end.
Many people interpret that to mean it's the end of the world as we know it. Many major religions insist the world will come to an end at some point including Christianity, Islam and Judaism. With the growing number of natural disasters that continue to plague the planet, there seems to be plenty of evidence that a major change is coming.
But what does the "end of the world" mean? Will the world literally be destroyed? Will there be some major catastrophe that only a small percentage of people will survive? Or does the date merely signal the end of one age and the beginning of another? Whatever Dec. 21, 2012 has in store for us, there's not much we can do besides be prepared with tools such as an LED flashlight and hunting knife and get ready to survive.
Arguments for and Against the End of the World
The end-of-the-world debate has taken many different turns as people eye the Mayan calendar's fast approaching "deadline" and try to predict what will happen. A few of the more popular theories include:
Pole shift. In 1904, the magnetic North Pole was located just off the northern tip of Nunavut's King William Island, but has since moved north/northwesterly about 6.2 miles per year. In 2001 scientists discovered that its pace suddenly quickened to more than 24.6 miles per year. The argument is that if the shift were increased again, this would affect the magnetic pull on the earth's oceans and other water bodies, which could cause a global disaster.
Planet Nibiru. Another popular theory is that a rogue planet called Nibiru is responsible for this magnetic shift, and many fear this planet will come too close to Earth. However, according to the official NASA website, there is no planet called Nibiru.
Wrong date. In other thoughts, some researchers have doubts on the Dec. 21, 2012 date altogether. Author Gerardo Aldana from the University of California has argued that the basis for the translation of the Mayan calendar is not as reliable as people thought and could be off by as much as 50-100 years. That means "the end of the world" could have already passed by.
One Thing We Know for Sure: Natural Disasters Lie Ahead
There is no question that the world has been experiencing a dramatic increase in natural disasters. From 2000-2009, there were 385 natural disasters - an increase of 233 percent from 1980-1989.
Disaster preparation is vital and varies from person to person. Basic areas of concern include:
Food, water and medical supplies. In a major catastrophe, we cannot rely on grocery stores and running water. Therefore, it's important to not only stock up on these essentials but to consider alternate means of survival - such as keeping water purification tablets handy or stashing away a hunting knife for skinning small game.
Lighting. Light is important not only for getting around in the dark, but for the safety it provides. An LED flashlight or lantern is currently the recommended source of lighting to for your emergency kit. Even better is to have LED headlamps to provide hands free lighting for each member of your family.
Protection. Some survivalists consider weapons, such as hunting knife a major part of their disaster planning. Times of turmoil can be cause for riots and chaos and you may need to defend yourself and your family.