1º British Debate: 2012 The end of the World or the beginnig of a new Era?

2012 is believed to be the year to witness the end of the world… Before the debate in class, watch this video on Youtube (8 minutes).

The Mayan’s comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated.  The Maya developed 17 different calendars.  The particular Mayan Calendar that has steadily drawn global attention since 1987 is called the Tzolk’in or Cholq’ij.  

The Mayan Dooms Day (Dec. 21, 2012) based on that calendar is in fact a rebirth, the start of the World of the Fifth Sun, a new era when peace begins, and people live in harmony with Mother Earth.

Why? Because at sunrise on December 21, 2012 for the first time in 26,000 years the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic.  This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree of Life and that, according to Mayan’s culture, will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the earth, cleansing it. The key is notfocusing on death, but on the rebirth, the new chance of doing things well!  

Questions for the debate:

1. Where are the Mayans from?
2. Do they still exist? What happened to them?
3. How do we know about them?
4. What is the date that has been predicted?
5. What special day is this every year on the normal calendar?
6. Is there consensus about the significance of this date?
7. At which special Mayan archaeological site can you watch the sun rise?
8. How many tourists are expected to come to Mexico because of the prophecy?
9. What other predicted apocalypse dates have passed recently without event?
10. We usually use base 10 for counting, but what base counting system did the Mayans use for their calendar?