The Mayan apocalypse is near and the world is losing its mind. From Russia, to China, to the United States, doomsday believers are taking measures to prepare for the supposed end of the world on December 21.
The 5,125 year Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012, making some believe that this means the world is ending. Those who believe this are taking action to prepare for what they think is the apocalypse.
In Russia, prisoners are experiencing a mass psychosis. A huge Mayan-style archway made of ice is being built on Karl Marx Street in Chelyabinsk, according to the NY Times.
People are rushing out to stores to buy supplies for doomsday. For instance, those in Barnaul, near the Altai Mountains are buying torches and Thermos flasks. Those in Omutnink in Kirov are buying kerosene and other things. Their fears were deepened when an article by a Tibetan monk that was published in a local newspaper confirmed that a catastrophe will take place on Dec. 21., according to The Telegraph.
Prime Minister Dimtry Medvedev himself doesn't believe that the world will end-- at least not any time soon."I don't believe in the end of the world. At least, not this year," he said, according to The Telegraph.
In China, many fears were deepened after a recent screening of the 2009 disaster movie "2012." Some people are spending all of their money on last minute luxuries since they don't think they'll need it. One woman took out all of her money to give to poor children so they could have some joy before the world ends, but family prevented her from accomplishing that. Many others are also buying up supplies like candles.
Even the United States is facing the apocalypse fever. The Telegraph reports that gun sales are up in the U.S. and there is a high demand for survival shelters.
"We've gone from one a month to one a day," Ron Hubbard, who manufactures underground surival shelters said, according to The Telegraph. "I don't have an opinion on the Mayan calendar but, when astrophysicists come to me, buy my shelters and tell me to be prepared for solar flares, radiation, EMPs (electromagnetic pulses) ... I'm going underground on the 19th and coming out on the 23rd. It's just in case anybody's right."
Others who are panicking are heading to certain places that are believed to be doomsday safe zones. Tourism to places like Bugarach, France, Sirince, Turkey and Mount Rtanj, Serbia is up as people think that mountains in these regions hold special powers and will save them on Dec. 21.
For those who are concerned, NASA says there is no evidence that the world will actually end on Dec. 21.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
