Have you heard the news? The end of the world may soon be near.

 That's right. Many Doomsday believers fear that the year 2012 will mark the end of the world as we know it and that the apocalypse will come on December 21. Actually, that's the date of the winter solstice and the longest night of the year. However, theories about the world's eminent demise are varied and include anything from a rogue planet smashing into us to our world spinning end over end.

 Believers point to the ancient Mayan calendar as proof for their fears and note that the winter solstice marks the end of a 144,000-day cycle. This cycle, which begins at the mythical Maya creation date, has already been repeated 12 times. The 13th will end in 2012, capping a full 5,200-year Mayan cycle of creation. According to experts in the matter, this date has long been shrouded in mystery, with many claiming that it will bring destruction to our planet.

 One of the most prominent fears is that a rogue planet dubbed Nibiru or Planet X is supposedly aimed at Earth. However, scientists and astronomers are quick to point out that there is no evidence that such a planet is real. They stress that if such a planet were headed toward Earth by December 21, 2012, it would already be visible to the naked eye, but no one has seen it.

 Among other popular theories are also concerns that planets or stars might line up in ways that will transform Earth as we know it. For instance, some theorists claim that from our point of view, the sun will cross in front of the plane of our galaxy on December 21.

 However, the sun already does this twice a year, astronomers explain. Some Doomsday observers also claim that gravitational effects from planets lining up with each other will somehow have an adverse effect on Earth. However, again the experts say there is no planetary alignment due on December 21, 2012, and even if there was, there would be no need for concern as the only bodies that have any significant gravitational impact on Earth are the moon and the sun, effects that can be seen every day in the changing tides.

 Solar storms - deluges of energetic particles from the sun - are another popular theory and scientists admit these do happen, usually in cycles that last roughly 11 years. When these charged particles collide with Earth, they can trigger auroras and damage satellites and power lines, although not really inflicting any lasting harm. However, there is no evidence that such a super-storm will happen on December 21.

 One of the most popular theories about the planet's demise is the idea of the Earth actually flip-flopping, with fears that 2012 could see the switching of Earth's poles - either the planet's geographical poles, which mark the Earth's axis of rotation, or its magnetic poles, which our compasses point toward. However, the experts say there is no reason to fear such an occurrence, because the moon stabilizes our planet's spin.

 Maybe you didn't know this, but the planet's magnetic poles do actually flip, but not suddenly. Instead, it happens over periods of about 500,000 years and there is no evidence of a flip on December 21, 2012. However, if such a flip did occur, scientists say there would be no real problems except that compasses would have to change from north to south.

 Of all these popular theories of Doomsday, however, the fear of cosmic impact remains the most prevalent and scientists do admit that the Earth is always vulnerable to impacts by comets and asteroids. However, the experts also caution that giant impacts are rare, with the last major collision taking place 65 million years ago, ending the Age of Dinosaurs. Still, astronomers do monitor the sky for near-Earth objects and they assure us that there are none that currently present a credible risk.

 However, despite all the science and research available to us, if you buy into the conspiracy theories which claim that governments around the world know the end is near but have mounted a concentrated effort to keep the truth from us for whatever reason, then it really won't matter to you what the experts say.

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 Instead, despite evidence to the contrary, Doomsday theorists will have earned your support and, if so, then you're already preparing for the end.

 It's with that thought that I pose this question - if, in fact, the world does come to an end on December 21, what will you do to make this year count?

 Will you promise to be a better parent, son or daughter, brother or sister, or friend? Will you promise to reach out to your neighbour and to lend a helping hand to those in need? Will you make a commitment to become involved in your community and to make a positive contribution to your neighborhood? Or will you choose to believe that if the world is coming to an end this year, none of this will matter and everything we do will be moot so why bother?

 But what if they're wrong? What if the world survives past December 21? What if you wake up on December 22 just like you do every other morning? Will you find you have burned all your bridges or will you be ready to face the future with a positive outlook?

 As the supposed end draws near, we can expect a deluge of mass hysteria to dominate the airwaves and newspaper pages. Despite the proliferation of fear, however, I prefer to believe that, contrary to what the Mayans predicted, the sun will continue to rise long past December 21, 2012. I also prefer to look at it this way - if the world is coming to an end, there isn't a damned thing I can do about it, but just in case, I hope to make the next few months count for something.

 E-mail me: editorial@southshorenow.ca

posted on 01/11/12