Mayan apocalypse: panic spreads as December 21 nears

[Hum]

Fears that the end of the world is nigh have spread across the world with only days until the end of the Mayan calendar, with doomsday-mongers predicting a cataclysmic end to the history of Earth.

Ahead of December 21, which marks the conclusion of the 5,125-year "Long Count" Mayan calendar, panic buying of candles and essentials has been reported in China and Russia, along with an explosion in sales of survival shelters in America. In France believers were preparing to converge on a mountain where they believe aliens will rescue them.

The precise manner of Armageddon remains vague, ranging from a catastrophic celestial collision between Earth and the mythical planet Nibiru, also known as Planet X, a disastrous crash with a comet, or the annihilation of civilisation by a giant solar storm.

In America Ron Hubbard, a manufacturer of hi-tech underground survival shelters, has seen his business explode.

"We've gone from one a month to one a day," he said. "I don't have an opinion on the Mayan calendar but, when astrophysicists come to me, buy my shelters and tell me to be prepared for solar flares, radiation, EMPs (electromagnetic pulses) ... I'm going underground on the 19th and coming out on the 23rd. It's just in case anybody's right."

In the French Pyrenees the mayor of Bugarach, population 179, has attempted to prevent pandemonium by banning UFO watchers and light aircraft from the flat topped mount Pic de Bugarach.

According to New Age lore it as an "alien garage" where extraterrestrials are waiting to abandon Earth, taking a lucky few humans with them.

Russia saw people in Omutninsk, in Kirov region, rushing to buy kerosene and supplies after a newspaper article, supposedly written by a Tibetan monk, confirmed the end of the world.

The city of Novokuznetsk faced a run on salt. In Barnaul, close to the Altai Mountains, panic-buyers snapped up all the torches and Thermos flasks.

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, even addressed the situation.

"I don't believe in the end of the world," before adding somewhat disconcertingly: "At least, not this year."

In China, which has no history of preoccupation with the end of the world, a wave of paranoia about the apocalypse can be traced to the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster "2012".

The film, starring John Cusack, was a smash hit in China, as viewers were seduced by a plot that saw the Chinese military building arks to save humanity.

Some in China are taking the prospect of Armageddon seriously with panic buying of candles reported in Sichuan province.

The source of the panic was traced to a post on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, predicting that there will be three days of darkness when the apocalypse arrives.

One grocery store owner said: "At first, we had no idea why. But then we heard someone muttering about the continuous darkness."

Shanghai police said scam artists had been convincing pensioners to hand over savings in a last act of charity.

Meanwhile in Mexico, where the ancient Mayan civilisation flourished, the end time has been seen as an opportunity. The country has organised hundreds of Maya-themed events, and tourism is expected to have doubled this year.

Nasa has been aggressively seeking to dispel doomsday fears. It says there is no evidence Nibiru exists, and rumours it could be hiding behind the sun are unfounded.

"It can't hide behind the sun forever, and we would've seen it years ago," a Nasa scientist said.

The space agency also rejected apocalyptic theories about unusual alignments of the planets, or that the Earth's magnetic poles could suddenly "flip."

Conspiracy theorists contend that the space agency is involved in an elaborate cover up to prevent panic.

But David Morrison, an astronomer at Nasa, said: "At least once a week I get a message from a young person, as young as 11, who says they are ill and/or contemplating suicide because of the coming doomsday. I think it's evil for people to propagate rumours on the internet to frighten children."

Mayans themselves reject any notion that the world will end. Pedro Celestino Yac Noj, a Mayan sage, burned seeds and fruits to mark the end of the old calender at a ceremony in Cuba. He said: "The 21st is for giving thanks and gratitude and the 22nd welcomes the new cycle, a new dawn." :happy:

source

[Pow]

Damn, this is just amusing now

[TurboShrimp]

I hope every single person that is stupid enough and thinks the world is going to end wakes up the following day and just commits suicide.

what a Crock

[Crisp]

Who wants to drink from ma kool-aid?

[Vykranth]

Deja-vu of 1999 and Y2K ...

[Hum]

I'm selling placebo suicide pills on e-Bay -- $50 :shifty:

[Steven P. Administrators]

In America Ron Hubbard, a manufacturer of hi-tech underground survival shelters, has seen his business explode.

Is this a joke? That name is known for something else that I consider wacky as well lol :p

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

The fan on my computer just sped up when I opened this thread. It never speeds up.

... It must be a sign!

[*RedBull*]

Deja-vu of 1999 and Y2K ...

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Only I hope at least half the population of the world goes underground for a few days. That would be nice.

[Zodiarck]

Well 22nd of December will be fun as Fu**s x'D

[Dreamspell]

So sad that people believe such ridiculous predictions made by people who aren't even Mayan, people who don't truly even know how to translate Mesoamerican Codices properly. The Mesoamerican calendars are circular for a reason. They start over with a new cycle, they don't "end". The Mayas themselves are not even worried.

[Detection]

I don't believe the Mayan calendar

I say the world ends on the 31st December 2012, that's when the calendar I got with a Chinese takeaway ends.

[Pupik]

Currently in Kiev (Ukraine) on work from Russia and there's a mall a few streets from me (on Kreschatik) with a lot of shops having a sale on different items as the result of upcoming Christmas. Ton of people there (more than usual) buy ton of stuff (pretty candles included!).

Better add Ukraine to the list of countries that are in panic mode :rolleyes:

[DPyro]

Is this the last of the 'world is gonna end' prophets? Hopefully we won't have to hear about any more of these 'predictions'.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

If Nibiru was going to hit earth on the 21st, dont you think we'd see it in the sky by now?

I'm actually surprised this entire year wasnt filled with panic, tv shows, sensationalistic news and more movies like... well, '2012'.

[Richteralan]

Dayum I have to teach lessons on the 21st.....

[xfx]

If Nibiru was going to hit earth on the 21st, dont you think we'd see it in the sky by now?

We can't see it because it will hit us from below, the south pole... and all are telescopes are facing upwards!

TA-DA!

[Richteralan]

We can't see it because it will hit us from below, the south pole... and all are telescopes are facing upwards!

TA-DA!

we need more flaccid telescopes!

[Farchord]

The fan on my computer just sped up when I opened this thread. It never speeds up.

... It must be a sign!

Mine too!

But almost all jokes aside, if the end of the world comes, please let it be after the Doctor Who Christmas special! Afterwards, I don't care XD

[enc_MAYhem]

I might just have lol'ed after reading this thread.

[FloatingFatMan]

Mine too!

But almost all jokes aside, if the end of the world comes, please let it be after the Doctor Who Christmas special! Afterwards, I don't care XD

If it IS gonna end, I'd rather it happen before then! Bloody killer snowmen ffs.. Sheesh!

[perochan]

just a normal party friday...

[Twiddle]

Regardless of it being true or not, why would it matter. I don't believe it will happen, and it is rather ridiculous..

But if it does, it isn't like I am the only one dying and everyone else gets to live.. all you a**holes are coming with me too! If I have to die to some apocalypse, I take comfort in knowing you will be just as dead as I am. It will be a nice time, something we can all do together; the world will finally get along in something, albeit that something is mass death. :D

[+virtorio MVC]

Morons.

[Intersect]

duck and cover kids the words going to end, AGAIN!