I've done extensive research into the Mayan calendar and have interviewed luminaries such as John Major Jenkins, Daniel Pinchbeck and William Henry, as well as created the free online video, "2012 The Online Movie" and can attest that 2012 is NOT the end of the world. The Maya are pointing to the end of a 26,000 year cycle as a day of great significance, but there is nothing in their prophecies within the Popol Vuh, the Dresden codices or the Chilam Balam that states that 2012 will end in a cataclysm. That being sais, one should be cognizant of the cycles of time and how they're affecting many different earth changes right now. Look no further than the plethora of earthquakes, volcano eruptions, massive land cracks, sinkholes, solar flares, mass animal die offs, tsunamis, etc... Also note that there is a dramatic climate change occurring all through out our solar system and it has nothing to do with "global warming". If you get the time, please check out 2012 The Online Movie. It thoroughly explains the Mayan calendar and what December 21, 2012 truly represents.