For many years people have talked about the world ending. Several of these arguments have been based on religious beliefs and some have even been based on scientific theory. Some question the need for environmental management and conservation in light of the expected destruction of the world at some point in the future. Why bother to take care of the birds and trees, the sea and the land if it is all going to come to an end sooner or later?

Well, for one, we don't know when the expected end will come. Some even question if it will come. Secondly, our children and possibly several generations will continue to live on after us and we need to leave a habitable environment for them. Thirdly, whilst we ourselves continue to live on earth, we need to do so in a healthy environment. Fourthly, until we are able to identify an alternative planet to Earth for humans to live on, we need to take care of the one we now have.

Well even if you are not convinced the world will come to an end in the future, have you ever thought about what people say will happen? What is supposed to happen to the Earth and the people living on it? One of oldest end-of-the world accounts comes from the Bible and says that God will destroy the Earth by fire and create a new one without a sea. The new Earth will be even better than the old one and people will live in peace and harmony with God. Another popular account, which has come up very recently, focuses on December 2012. The predictions are that the Earth will be destroyed because time will come to an end according to an ancient Mayan calendar. This will result in enormous natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and tsunamis on Earth.

Whether you view it from a religious or scientific viewpoint, there are many different accounts of how the world will end. Some persons are now convinced that the pollution of the natural environment and the disappearance of several natural species of plants and animals are just a part of an early warning system pointing to the Earth's eventual destruction. Let me know what you think.

Ann Marie Rodriques

PeaceWater Services

Send questions or comments to peacewaterservices@yahoo.com or follow me on Twitter at PeaceWater Services @ AnnRodriques.