So this is crazy.

My professor started this issue - on December 21, 2012, the world will face its great disaster. Thinking he's cracking a not-so-funny joke, blockmates asked him if for real he's telling the truth. And here he was, "Damn you all", of course he's saying the whole truth. Truth as far as he got this from a liable source. A reference made public and well supported with scientific explanations. This is so basic - since for us, anything that is scientifically supported is TRUE. (crazy and a bit stupid attitude) We are inclined to believe.

What was the issue about, then?

END OF THE WORLD ON 12/21/12.
How?

Some based it on the Mayan Calendar (what we're using is the Gregorian). Mayan Calendar, also known as the Aztec Calendar, is actually a complex type. Compared to the modern calendar that we use, it consists of several calendars in one. The religion calendar of the Mayan has 20 weeks of 13 days instead of 52 weeks of 7 days normal to the Gregorian. So it would take it 260 days to complete the religious cycle. Each week has its own special name, they are of a graphic logo, and each logo represents a unique and symbollic meaning. On the other hand, the solar calendar of the Mayan calendar is divided in 18 months with 20 days. Summing these up, we'll be coming up with 360 days, the same as with the modern calendar. It is believed that there are additional 5 days to complete the cycle, known as unlucky and they don't belong to any of the weeks. This solar cycle is said to have its thirteenth b'ak'tun cycle 5,125 solar years ago since it started. And every cycle's end is preceded by deadly calamities.

Some based it on the presumption of Hopi Indians about the earth's purification. They prelude the great transition to happen on human lives and consciousness. The purification refers to what is becoming commonplace around the planet - massive flooding taking place in most of the Asian countries, hurricanes, and normal weather patterns that are becoming extreme make people react on their seats and whisper that they've never encountered a scene like those things before.

Nostradamus spoke for the heading of a commet planet (probably an asteroid for some) towards the earth. Some expected it to happen on 1999, which that time scientists observed with their eyes widely opened, and had seen no star-like matter to strike the earth. But actually, Nostradamus never said it would be on 1999, rather on 2012, which will trigger the Biblical apocalypse (biblical, predicted by the bible). The triggering of this event will happen on the Doomsday year of the Mayan Calendar.

So far, so good. They predict things consistently.

Now here enters the church.
The church these days does not support any private revelation from any individual for doctrinal matters. Still, it does not contradict the benefit of a person to go on their faithful belief even if it was against the church. His prophecies were of the number of Popes, and that by now, only one more Pope will be leading the Catholic Church.

26,000 year wobble of the Earth will soon be completed. Primarily 2012.

The earth will align with the plane of the milky way. (and so what?)

SO ALL THESE FOR 2012.
I have limited knowledge on this issue, I just heard these info from the news and read it on Manila Bulletin.

And to cut the long story short, all they want to say is that by 2012, we will be the great witnesses of THE WORLD'S END.

We are expected to experience great famine, incessant flooding, drought, extensive calamities, volcanic erruptions, disease, world-wide death (may be caused by the disregard for Human lives), war (and rumors of war..), nuclear threat, global warming, and the EMERGE of the Antichrist (biblically).

It's quite ironic, though.
For why December 21, 2012? Why not make it December 20, 2012 midnight or so?
Why believe on PREDICTIONS? When in fact, predictions are just APPROXIMATIONS?

Human beings are gifted with an organ called BRAIN to sense the natural world. To understand its situations and its abilities. If it is said that the Mayan Calendar will complete its cycle and will bring about great calamities, or if Nostradamus will rise from his tomb and retell his prediction, or if ever Hopi Indians would civilize countries again and reshout their battlecry that the world's gonna experience a Global Purification, then so what? Use our brains to whether these things are possible - observe, investigate, observe, investigate .. and go around the cycle again. Use our skills to react on every situation when in fact, WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS. And all happen for good reasons. No one can ever write a story in a future tense when in fact, only God knows the context of FUTURE.

These predictions told and believing on these predictions are never bad at all. Well, if for approximation purpose it would be fine. But to use this as your guide won't make the situaion better.

Well then. Just BE PREPARED. :)