2012: end of the world... I think

I'm at least going to say I'm aware that this may well come across as a conspiracy theory entry. It is clear that alluding to conspiracy theories, even in a rational sense, can alienate you from a certain inner circle of society. Stigma towards those who propose outside theories is still rampant, and though I'm no proponent of all dubious conspiracies, I think some still deserve some consideration. Rather than alienate myself, I will attempt to echo "outside theories from within". I have no intention to build a hut, but it would certainly seem we need to start to seriously reform our society and lifestyles, on pain of extinction.

The attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Towers and Pentagon for example have garnered some pretty serious concerns pretaining to the dubious report published by the American government. Many questions still remain regarding the attacks, and the investigation which followed. There are a number of people who have drawn conclusions, some of whom have unfortunately used this confusion to precipitate anti-semetic conspiracies. Though, while anti-semetic hatred remains on the fringe, anti-Islamic racism, violence, and intolerance has become a reality. I deplore both, and yet we live in a society where we are often blind to the sentiments now becoming normal. If you are wondering what I'm talking about I suggest you watch Loose Change: 2nd Edition, and consider the evidence they outline. To say the least, there are questions to be answered, and I don't think the American government has answered them.

Recently, I bought a mobile phone to the suprize of many, including many who were amazed that I have a credit card. I reassure them that I still don't have a drivers licence (something which will be changing soon). I don't intend on using it all too much, but I am often away, and in the case of an election (of which there will likely be a couple coming up), I needed it ready to roll. It was exactly a day or two later that I stumbled upon an article in the Independant, suggesting that mobile phones could well be the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder. Essentially, the world's bee population is collapsing, and there is no lead on what's causing it. To make the point clear, most of our food is dependant on healthy bee populations for polination. As quoted in the Independant, "[if the bees disappeared,] man would have only four years of life left". Now it seems that mobile phones are suspected not to be the main factor in CCD, as more plausible parasitic culprits step forward.

Over a number of years, it has been suggested in everywhere from pop-culture references to peak-oil conferences, that 2012 will be a year of significant change, possibly even the end of the world! Interpretations of Nostredamus have pegged 2012 with the coming of natural disasters and comets. The B'ak'tun cycle of Mayan calendar ends in 2012, and many have predicted this will translate into catastrophic events. The list goes on, and it's clear already that many of these predictions are based on interpretation, and conjecture. I don't however wish to dismiss them entirely, simply to point out their convergence on the year.

Whether it's the end of the world or not, it's really unimportant. What matters is how we respond, react, attempt to prevent, "proact"? Do we have to capacity to change to the extent that is needed. There are several things that are plausible changes to our lifestyle, which could have the affect of neutralizing many of the threats to our survival. Take the example of bees, and assume for the sake of an argument that mobile phones were indeed the cause. Put in the hands of the society and economy as is, would we have the capacity to change? If it were deemed necessary to stop all mobile-phone usage, could we do it. It's easier to imagine a major campaign reaching some bureaucrats after several years of collecting reports, resulting in a conference on CCD. There would then be a counter-lobby campaign put out by the telecommunications industry.

Even today, we have set the stage for an uphill battle against mobile phones, as recently merged and acquired telecommunitcation giants, control the newspapers, televisions, and the infrastructure of the internet. There would likely be a major spin campaign to off-set demands to eliminate mobile phone usage, and in the midst of the PR scrum the telecommunications industry would announce a compromise: limited mobile phone usage within key "hot spot" areas. For example, the GTA, every city with 100,000 or more people, and within 1km of any 400 series highway. This would sit well with many moderate, comfortable, concerned consumers and voters. Many environmentalists, once infatuated with the notion of radical shift in habits for humanity, would concede and accept the proposal disappointedly.

Consider my mobile phone example science fiction, as nothing conclusively says mobile phones correlate to CCD. My inner Trekkie however reminds me how compellingly effective science fiction can change our perception of the world, and the future. The science fiction of mobile phones killing our bee populations is only part fiction-- we are still facing 90% collapse of bee populations in certain areas. If we see the remaining 10% die in the next year, it will be known as "2008: the year the world starved". Einstein's prediction gave us four years from that time... It looks like I will be celebrating my 27th birthday in 2012 without cake.