Mayan 'death and rebirth' date marks the perfect time to tackle planet's crisis
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/16/mayan-death-rebirth-date-planet-crisis'Progress' has brought ecological disaster and the wipeout of species. As the winter solstice arrives, we may not be facing apocalypse but a fresh start in our attitude to the world order
Ed Vulliamy
The Observer, Saturday 15 December 2012
The winter solstice is marked at Stonehenge every year, but this year it coincides with the end of an era in the Maya calendar. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
At 12 minutes past noon last Wednesday, 12.12.12, 12 minutes of wintry stillness was broken by the low chime of a gong. The crowd gathered around the Chalice Well beneath Glastonbury Tor linked hands, looked skywards, then touched the earth. A multitude of others did the same across the world – only this place, as everyone knows, is rather special.
For many people, these days between last Wednesday, 12 December, and the winter solstice on 21 December next Friday constitute a portal of some kind, based upon a convergence of predictions in ancient calendars, notably that of the Maya in what is now Mexico and Guatemala. According to the Maya, the 13th baktun reaches completion on Friday, in what they called the Long Count of time. The moment is taken by some to mean the end of time – those who perhaps prefer the idea of apocalypse Hollywood-style to the prospect of grinding on – and by many more to herald some new era in which battle will be done between those who would protect the planet and those bent on destruction.
Just in case, there will be a Party At the End of Time on solstice eve, at an outdoor location near Glastonbury Tor. It should be more fun than the last time I went to witness the end of time, on assignment for the Washington Post in 1988, with fundamentalist Christians in North Carolina. They had to switch to an escape-plan interpretation of the scripture at stake, reluctantly reopening their shops, rather than being called to be "saved".
To many folk, especially those bound to the materialist order and narrow politics, all this Mayan caper is mumbo jumbo. Others are so dogmatic about its importance they become tedious. But in between there will be those tempted to ponder that the Maya may have been on to something; those for whom the moment does present an opportunity to reflect above and beyond latest news on the royal sprog or from No 11 Downing Street. After all, Christmas and new year are a round of "reflections" from pulpits and television screens, and they come around far more regularly – a baktun is a measurement of 144,000 days, more than 392 solar years.
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I'm no Mayan culture expert, and I think all of their recorded history was destroyed except for the Dresden codices (I think).
Anywho, the interpretation that the calendar's end must mark the apocalypse is an unfounded alarmist conclusion with no basis in reason.
It's just as likely, maybe even more so, that it marks a renaissance or new era, an awakening.
Or, it could be nothing at all!
I heard one (a nobel peace laureate) say it was going to be the time when women rose and finally attained full equality with men.
Now that would be nice.
and the Mayans responsible for keeping the calendar say that it's not end of the world but just end of an era. Big changes happen, are happening all the time. They are not very happy about the hystery hype by many Western people - who make theories about their calendar but don't bother to jusk ask them... 
They say this... Others say that...
Rubbish! Utter rubbish!
I keep a calendar on my wall. Every December 31st it -- horrors !!! -- ends. Thank goodness I buy a new one that begins with January 1st before that sad old year ends. You see. I actively prop up the universe by hanging the new calendar before the old one -- and our very existence -- expires.
It works every damned year. All you DUers owe me so much. Without me, we would have all perished many years ago.
As to the Mayan thing, I think it's the symbolism that is important and could be used in a useful manner here.
Similar to the end of our calendar, when there are resolutions, new approaches, fresh starts.
The same to you and yours. I plan on having a quiet holiday, get together with friends, and all that.
Plus, I have already pinned up next years' calendar so we don't all suffer planet ending apocalypse. As I say, I keep DU safe every December. You can't be too careful.
Will be a nice change.
Enjoy yourself!
That means there have been four Suns before this one, and three "ends of the world"--and we're all still here. I join you and others in the hope that what follows is a freer, healthier and and happier Earth than H. Sap has created for itself over the hundred years or so.
On the other hand, maybe I'll wait till the 22nd. to pay bills. If Yellowstone doesn't blow in the meantime.
