2012: Is This The End for Mankind?

Type in 2012 on the Internet search engine and you will be flooded with speculation as to what is going to occur. Worse still many opinions and predictions foretell the end of mankind or some other disaster facing us all.

From the Mayan Prophecies through to somewhat inconclusive predictions from Nostradamus himself, the year 2012 is rapidly approaching. Predictions of asteroids hitting the Earth and other natural disasters are numerous as are those of a nuclear holocaust or deadly solar storms besieging the planet. As frightening as they sound one has to wonder on some predicted events is there scientific basis behind such rumours?

The scientific community appears split about all this. Many astronomers and scientists envision a major solar storm in 2012 and with building tensions around the world, combined with economic ruin abound, the chances of a major conflict looks greater than ever. Our planet is being drained of natural resources. our ozone layer is becoming thinner. Our magnetic poles are showing distinct signs of reversal and famine still exists in the world. Green house effects are melting our polar regions and more deadly strains of viruses are finding their way quickly around the planet.

But what about our past? Does this offer real clues to our future? In a word it is a yes. Historians and Philosophers combine with those with strong religious beliefs to cast a wary and frightening future for us. Much has been written in magazines or documented on television shows. The fever is gaining and the panic starting to grow amongst thousands if not millions of us as this “dark year” approaches.

How does religion stand on this? Well just read The Bible and the Book of Revelation if ever you want scaring out of your wits. Other religions predict a dire future for man. But all hint at the End of days coming soon and this is vigorously backed up by events that have plagued us both past and present.

So what do we do? Do we sit out and wait or do we dismiss such predictions and warnings as the product of religious scaremongers and crazy scientists? Or do we take heed and observe our future with open eyes and an even more open mind?

If such events are coming, what can we as a race do about it? We have technology and we are able to sit around a table and discuss our problems with an intelligent voice. Or is our world that busy with its own greed for power that we treat such warnings with a hint of laughter?

The jury is out and will be out for some months to come. But my guess is that as 2012 quickly approaches, more and more people will start to take a sneaky, if not curious or fearful look over their shoulders. The irony of our future still rests in our present.

It is after all, just a matter of time before we find out.