2012 was a mark in the myan calander for the end of a set of cycles. Philosiphers took literal meaning to the "end" part and predicted the end of the world as we know it. Lunatics took that statement and got end of the world... really just a bad case of broken telephone.
Albeit, the world will most likely be in for dramatic changes in 2012... Our monetary system has been failing for decades, the whole ideology of democracy (Ruled by the people) is a farce (Secret treaties, laws being passed behind closed doors, corporations holding larger say than people, etc), and people are hording gold jewelry (not bars because legally the bars belong to the banks, all you can have is a paper contract with fine print that says it can be re-claimed) anticipating an economic collapse. We won't be fried by the sun, but your neighbor might bury you for last nights leftovers.