Scientists Help Indonesian Schools End '2012' Apocalypse Paranoia

Jakarta Globe, Nurfika Osman, February 19, 2010

Illegal copies of the movie "2012" for sale on the Bendungan Hilir pedestrian overpass in Central Jakarta. (JG File Photo)

The after-effect of the doomsday hype that Hollywood packaged into a disaster movie last year and spawned a maelstrom of criticism from the country’s religious leaders is apparently still being felt by, among others, children.

“It’s a very sad movie. I don’t want to watch it again,” said Farah Rahman, 10, referring to “2012,” the movie based on Mayan mythology that the world will end that year.

“I’m scared to see people dying, and tsunamis and earthquakes happening,” said Aqila Sabirra, another 10-year-old.

Looking to separate fact from science fiction, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (Lapan) gathered about 200 public school teachers in Pulogadung district in East Jakarta for a workshop run by scientists on Thursday to help educators answer students’ questions about the apocalypse.

Rahmad Alam, a science teacher at SMP 158 junior high school, lauded the scientists for making an extra effort to shed light on such an unlikely occurrence and explain it in a way that young students could understand.

“We need to encourage students to be more critical about what they see and consider scientific explanations before making any judgment,” Rahmad said. “We don’t want them to be misled by things that are not scientifically proven.”

“2012” depicts an Earth going through several cataclysmic scenarios — massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis — all at the same time because of a dramatic rise in the planet’s temperature.

Jiyo Haryo Suwito, a Lapan researcher, calls the phenomenon “space weather,” a fusion of activities caused by energy coming from the sun and high-energy plasma particles. “Basically it’s an 11-year cycle that’s been recorded as a natural phenomenon hundreds of years ago. So there’s really nothing special about space weather phenomena,” Jiyo said.

“The apocalyptic images on ‘2012’ were all just an exaggeration. No scientific data can prove that such a thing can occur.”

Sri Kaloka Prabotosari, head of Lapan’s space science center, believes that because the public is usually vulnerable to what the media says, it should resort to scientific analysis first to remove its doubts.

“The public has to know about phenomena like solar storms so they will know that the ‘2012’ myth is just that — a myth,” Sri Kaloka said. “When people link prophesy that is depicted in a movie with the apocalypse and all sorts of disasters, it is scientifically inaccurate.”

“This is why we need people to be more attentive to what science has to say, so that they don’t fall for something unless it comes with scientific proof,” Sri Kaloka added. “We have to be more critical about what is happening around us presently and what lies in the future.”

In an interview in December, Thomas Djamaluddin, a senior researcher at Lapan, said: “The apocalypse rumors are scientifically unfounded.”

Thursday’s workshop not only seemed to have answered some doomsday questions, but it also gave the teachers who attended the lecture confidence to confront anxious students.

Kartini, a science teacher from SMP 92 junior high school, said she was constantly being bombarded with questions from her students about the end of the world. Spending time with scientists this week helped her become more equipped in handling those inquisitive minds.

“My students are really afraid until now. They keep asking me ‘Is the movie true?’ Some of them even say that scientists don’t believe in ancient prophecies, and in the end they would regret not buying into the myth,” Kartini said.

“That’s why it’s important to shed light on the issue from a scientist’s point of view. It helps to discourage students from believing something immediately just because they saw it in a movie.”

Daniel Ruman, a science teacher at SMP 99 junior high school, said that because the message of “2012” had caused such a deep effect on his students, Lapan’s decision to reach out to schools was a good way to tone down the unnecessary paranoia.

“To be honest, the movie has had a deep impact on my students. When a kid sees all these things on the screen, it’s difficult not to believe such an event could never happen. And they’re worried that it will really happen in 2012,” Daniel said.

“However, having listened this week to what the scientific community has to say, I’m sure it will help the students to be less afraid. All we have to do is convince them that what they’ve seen on screen isn’t true and make them understand the science behind it.”