Say what, two suns may be visible from Earth in 2012? Everyday we seem to be getting bombarded with warning signs that our planet is changing rapidly. In fact, many of the changes are occurring for the first time in modern recorded history and all seem to indicate a need for civilization to adapt.

Record-breaking heat and cold are striking all corners of the globe; earthquake activity has spiked, even in places thought not to have active fault lines; birds, bees, fish, and other animals are dropping dead with no coherent cause, and there is a flurry of talk about galactic anomalies beginning to happen.

Since the man-made global warming theory has simmered down from a boil, many other concerns have surfaced that appear to minimize possible effects of CO2 concentrations as our greatest concern. Sure, many of these changes may be connected in some way, but the idea that there is a silver bullet to stop this train of collective events is unlikely.

One thing we can say is that we live in very interesting times. These unprecedented events are accelerating at a blistering pace, as we hurl through space on this ball we call Earth. It seems this turbulent cycle is going to continue to manifest despite our best human efforts to stop it. The only thing we can hope to do is digest the available information and plan for the worst, while hoping for the best. Assuredly, humans possess a far greater ability to adapt through technology than the animal kingdom, yet we certainly can't thrive without protecting the entire biosphere.

Here are 8 strange Earth changes that should demand our attention:

1. Environmental collapse: The global environment has been in an exponential rate of degradation for some time. Our economic system can be likened to Pac-Man gobbling up everything in sight until it's game over, except that Pac-Man doesn't crap out waste like our economy does. Furthermore, we can't just put another quarter in the machine and hit the reset button. From the industrial-chemical agriculture business destroying soil, water, and wildlife on a mass scale, to over-fishing the oceans, the Gulf Oil Spill, chemical spraying, strip mining, gas fracking, water toxicity and the like; our entire habitat seems to be in critical need of healing if we expect to maintain life as a whole. Real environmentalists must wake up from their "Inconvenient" trance and realize there's much more to saving the ecosystem than simply reducing CO2 output.

2. Record tectonic activity: Many earthquake researchers have noted the demonstrable uptick in earthquake frequency and strength, with 2010 hitting record levels. The Chile quake rocked the planet, causing us to actually lose a fraction of the length of our year. This increased activity is precisely what was predicted by science researcher, Lawrence Joseph, who documented in his book Apocalypse 2012 that our entire solar system is traveling through an interstellar energy cloud, which would produce significant observable earth changes beginning in 2009. Renowned physicist, Michio Kaku, has recently warned that enormous earthquakes in our lifetime threaten the mega cities we have created, which only compounds the threat. In addition to galactic changes, there is mounting evidence that the human activity of industrial gas fracking -- particularly in Arkansas -- may have led to earthquake swarms in a region which is not normally active. Now we learn that FEMA is buying massive amounts of MREs, blankets, body bags, and other provisions in anticipation of potential catastrophe along the New Madrid Fault.

3. Magnetic Pole Shift: There is clear evidence throughout history of the magnetic poles wandering and even completely reversing. One of the many functions of Earth's magnetic field is to be a natural compass for animals that rely on it for navigation. A second function would be as a protective barrier against solar flares and space radiation. The news lately has been peppered with dead birds and fish, beached whales, bee colony collapse, and animals dropping dead everywhere for no discernible reason. Many theories have been put forward related to localized events, but the global nature of the overall die-off might better indicate an all-encompassing source like the shifting of the poles. An interesting article on SOTT also claims, "there is some correlation between magnetic reversals, ice ages, sea level drops and likely a whole host of other data indicative of catastrophic activity." There is no doubt that the north magnetic pole is moving rapidly toward Russia. The question is whether or not it will increase toward a cataclysmic event, or continue its path resulting in a wide variety of changes, such as recent airport runway closures, that will require humanity to adapt in more subtle ways.

4. Volcanic Activity: The recent alert of ground levels rising at Yellowstone, sitting atop one of the world's largest supervolcanoes, has bulged a full 10 inches over a section measured in miles is concerning. Along with earthquakes, volcanoes also have dramatically increased in activity. Throughout the Ring of Fire, dormant volcanoes have flared up, and others have increased their output. This is yet another indication of global earth changes, which may at the very least require large populations to relocate, and at worst could threaten civilization.

5. Extreme Weather: Tom Engelhardt recently wrote, "From now on, rising prices, powerful storms, severe droughts and floods, and other unexpected events are likely to play havoc with the fabric of global society." Engelhardt predicts that high prices for oil, as well as food shortages will surely lead to riots around the world. The extreme weather that has been increasingly ravaging the planet in the last few years is likely caused by one or more of the earth changes outlined in this list. However, the effects are one tangible sign that Earth's climate is shifting in some way. Droughts and floods are showing up in unusual places with more intensity, and unusually harsh arctic winters are pounding Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. If we accept these type of weather events to be the new norm, then civilization must at least adapt its food production methods and locations. We're already seeing a major toll on food prices, which may quickly become a global food crisis in 2011.

6. Weakening Ocean Currents: The Thermohaline Circulation (THC) system is the conveyor belt in the world's oceans that transfers heat from equatorial waters to cooler regions. Weakened or changing ocean currents are being blamed for the extreme cold weather in Europe and warm weather in Greenland. As dramatically shown in the movie The Day After Tomorrow when the North Atlantic Current breaks down, so does the global climate. Despite record heat spikes in the summers, some believe the longer and harsher winters due to changes in the ocean currents may result in a new ice age. This underestimated force is so powerful that even slight changes will force humanity to rediscover their nomadic traits.

7. Galactic Anomalies: Reports that the sun rose two days early in Greenland, and that two suns may be visible from earth in 2012 -- the same year as the end of the Mayan galactic calendar and the myth of an approaching planet in our binary solar system -- all seem to render grade-school Earth Science textbooks thoroughly obsolete. Many have speculated about the ramifications of approaching galactic events, but there are no accepted or overriding theories. However, there is a good chance that some physical effects will be felt on Earth if the force of gravity is altered from planetary alignments and/or approaching celestial objects. Keep your eye on the sky and a go-bag at the ready.

8. Solar Activity: It seems that the sun is still very unpredictable, but when she twitches, so do we. Although many have predicted that a severe solar maximum will peak in the next few years potentially causing blasts of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt major communication systems and perhaps elevate tectonic activity, NASA claims the sun's Great Conveyor Belt has slowed to a "walking pace" in 2006 claiming, "We've never seen speeds so low . . . the slowdown we see now means that Solar Cycle 25, peaking around the year 2022, could be one of the weakest in centuries." NASA also reported that the sun experienced a rapid pole reversal in 2001 stating, "Our star's magnetic field has flipped." NASA said that this occurrence is normal and expects another flip in 2012. Even though they claim it has no affect on Earth, the speed of our planet's pole shift has increased over the last decade.

There's no saying for sure what ramifications, if any, these anomalies will cause, but they should be investigated in a serious manner. The challenges facing humanity are difficult enough without constant deceptions and distractions. Collectively, we should demand clear answers about the real threats that are obviously beginning to affect our civilization. Adaptation will be much less painful if we are armed with knowledge and resources. The best thing we can do, individually, is to get educated and become as self-sufficient as possible.