2012 Mayan 'Doomsday' Prediction Stirs Up Major Headlines

By Michael Lopez

Expect a lot of t-shirts, stickers, and doomsday merchandise to pop up across Latin America in the next several months. According to the ancient Mayan civilization, life as we know it will cease to exist in exactly one year from this week. And that gives eager "end-of-the-world" profiteers 365 days to cash in.

The 1,300-year-old Mayan calendar predicted December 21 2012 as the actual doomsday date. Discovered in Latin America during the 1960's, its markings were clearly spelled out and interpreted as such from a variety of noted archeologists.

And keep in mind, the calendar was quite accurate on many other levels. Despite having none of the major technology we possess today, the ancient Mayans used it to properly document planets in the solar system and account for lunar cycles. So could their 2012 prediction be correct too?

Most scientists highly doubt it. Especially since other Mayan markings clearly show the planet existing way beyond next year. Nevertheless, the 2012 hysteria has created a booming marketplace for the Español tourism industry (and for several doomsday entrepreneurs).

Honduras holds some of the most extravagant artifacts and their travel officials expect quite a lot of visitors within the next 11 months. The tourism board will even be planning live events in the region that houses the Mayan's famous Copan Ruinas.

"What we're expecting here in 2012 are thousands of Honduran and foreign tourists on hand to witness the countdown to the end of the Mayan calendar," Tourism Secretariat spokeswoman Nora Schauer explained.

Schauer went on to say that the country will be holding live TV broadcasts from the ruins site on December 21, presumably so international "end-of-the-world" fans can celebrate in style.

Do you believe the world will end in 2012? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 2012, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Doomsday, End of the World, Honduras, Maya Civilization, Mayans