Films, documentaries and websites have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is on December 21.

The culture ministry in Guatemala - where half the population are of Mayan descent - is hosting a massive event in the capital just in case the world actually does end, while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways.

But the country's Maya alliance Oxlaljuj Ajpop accuses the government and tour groups of perpetuating the myth that their calendar foresees the imminent end of the world for monetary gain.

It issued a statement last month saying that the new Maya time cycle simply "means there will be big changes on the personal, family and community level, so that there is harmony and balance between mankind and nature".

(Read by Brian Salter. Brian Salter is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

双语资讯

(Agencies)

法国彻底打破了那些打算在世界末日12月21日来临前来法国避难的人的希望。人们相信地球上有几个末日避难地，而其中一个就在法国。

法国当地的官员禁止人们去布加拉什山，这座山是法国西南部的一座山，传言说在世界末日这天山顶会裂开，外星人将乘着太空飞船来营救附近的人类。

法国在该地区的首席代表埃里克•弗雷赛里纳德说，为了避免新时代狂热者、游客和媒体人员蜂拥到布加拉什山，从而产生公共安全隐患，他将禁止人们前往布加拉什山。

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