Danilo Valladares -

(IPS) - The Mayan calendar does not provide any global catastrophe, let alone the end of the world.
But the planet's natural resources, so those are in grave danger because of 'human activity, they warn elderly and indigenous activists interviewed in Guatemala.

According to the Mayan calendar, the 21 2012 December will mark the end of the cycle 13 Batkun (a baktun is equal to 144mila days) this has sparked the 'mass hysteria among those who believe that the end of the cycle symbolizes major disasters and the end of the world , but can not find any confirmation in thought natives of Guatemala.
"There are leaders who are influenced by some rumors, or perhaps the number 13 is associated with a lot of energy, so concerned about the potential catastrophe, but there 'is no truth," he told IPS' s activist Antonio Mendoza , the NGO Oxlajuj Ajpop, a name that in Maya Quiché language refers to 13 energies of the Mayan calendar. On the contrary, he says, "this new phase is extremely important for commentary and analysis on human society and nature."

 

According to historians, the 13 Baktun began the '11 August 3114 BC and will end on December 21 2012, the day will begin a new cycle of other 144mila days. "What worries us is how to unite their efforts to change our behavior towards nature, global warming and the neoliberal policies that deal only extract oil and minerals and to build large factories, seriously endangering the 'humanity' says Mendoza. In this sense, several organizations Maya of Guatemala have planned a series of activities for the 'year, including seminars, forums and meetings to discuss and find opportunities for development for the indigenous population. "This is the point of redemption 'invaluable indigenous knowledge of nature and Mother Earth in a context of unity and solidarity," says Mendoza.

The first evidence of the Mayan civilization dating back 3mila years ago when they created the first settlement in Mesoamerica, a '5 area that now includes the states of southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and western Honduras. In the classical period, between 250 and 900 BC the Mayan civilization was one of the most developed in the world, 's architecture and city planning, the system of hieroglyphic writing, the accurate mathematical calculations and' astronomy. The Mayans have made an important contribution to the 'art, science and literature. Their descendants still retain their languages, traditions and customs, and the majestic archaeological sites in the areas where they live are popular with tourists and researchers.

In Guatemala, according to official statistics, indigenous peoples account for nearly 40 percent of 14 million inhabitants of the country, divided into Maya, Garifuna and Xinca, although indigenous organizations indicate a percentage of 60 percent. Mario Molina, the national network of youth organizations maya (Renoj), told IPS that the 21 December "does not mean the end of the Maya or the world, but it will be the 'opportunity to assess the progress made in the development of nature and the 'humanity. " The 'activist has expressed concern about environmental degradation and global warming caused by' s business man, "is one of the key elements to be discussed."

This period will be rather "a good time to build a multicultural country, together with a shared vision," a long-standing desire for Maya population has always been marginalized in Guatemala. Extreme poverty, lack of education and health services are urgent problems in this country, where more than half of the population, 54 percent, live in poverty and 13 percent in 'poverty, according to the' Enquiry national living conditions 2011. Molina complained about the various forms of racism they face the Maya, which is reflected in the lack of political participation, poverty and other issues. To take advantage of this end of the calendar cycle to promote actions "aimed to respect the dignity, life and human rights."

Some see this phase of the Mayan calendar as the 'opening of a window of opportunity. For example, the 'Guatemalan Institute of Tourism has launched the "L' Dawn of the Maya", to celebrate the 13 Baktun and attract a greater number of visitors interested in this culture and its archaeological sites. Cirilo Pérez, spiritual adviser of the 'former president of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom, whose term ended in mid-January, told IPS that "this is not the end of the world. What happens is that phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados and disease have worsened due to the heavy pollution caused by 'man. " L 'idea that the world will end in 2012 inspired books, blogs, TV shows and movies from the apocalyptic implications worldwide, and even extravagant projects such as underground bunkers anti cataclysm.

But the spiritual guidance stresses that "it is not the end of the world. The Mayan calendar can only be understood by the Maya, although several researchers, archaeologists, anthropologists and historians have written many books on the subject, but do not grasp the meaning. " According to Pérez, the real Mayan writings were burned by Diego de Lanza, Spanish Archbishop of 'Mexican archdiocese of Yucatan (1572-1579) who found the documents "superstitions and falsehoods of the devil." De Landa was one of the first Franciscan friars to arrive in the Yucatan Peninsula, where for years he devoted himself to 'work of evangelization of the Maya, despite their reluctance to accept Catholicism.

Pérez, appointed by Colom ambassador of indigenous peoples, unlike other historical and Mayan elders, revealed that "there are still 60 70 year or at the end of Baktun cycle 13" even if the certainty "there 's only God."

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