The world is approximately 4.56 billion years old. It stretches from Topeka to Timbuktu, covering 316,754,712 miles.

It holds over 6.6 billion human beings, who grow in number every day.

Just as the humans grow, threats grow, threats like overpopulation, rising pollution, global warming, avian flu and nuclear weapons.

The temperature of the earth is rising steadily, disturbance rises in the Middle East, and the amount of oil is steadily decreasing while the world’s population is predicted to reach nine billion by 2050.

An increasing number of major storms have taken place the past few years and genocides are common in the blazing global-warming heat.

Countries are fighting over resources and fresh water is running low. Small countries are getting their hands on nuclear weapons and governments are using military means to solve every problem.

By 2030, worldwide demand for oil will outpace production, perhaps causing mass nuclear wars among nations.

Is the human population coming to an end?

Are we all going to be slowly roasted by the sun? Are we going to die of thirst?

Is pollution going to make the world a giant trash dump? Are we going to be hit by a nuclear missile?

Relax. I think we’re going to be okay. I can access water at any time, winter is as cold as ever, and it takes no oil to walk, run or ride a bike.

I don’t think the world is going to end in our lifetime or the next. I live my life and time passes on.

When I leave the house, my parents don’t say, “Watch out for the nuclear missiles that might come” or “Don’t touch any birds.” Instead, they say, “Drive safely” or “Don’t do drugs.”

People have worried about their survival in the past. The bubonic plague and Spanish flu killed close to a million people.

Both world wars killed millions and still scar people to this day.

Communism was a major threat to the way we live, and the Cuban missile crisis almost resulted in nuclear war--almost. The 1929 depression hit the world like a hammer and ruined families across the globe.

Thousands of animal species, including the bald eagle, were endangered for some time, but are now thriving.

Y2K, a computer bug, threatened to put the world in chaos and confusion.

Slavery was horrible but now many nations have banned it.

Are we okay? Yes. I live in a big house, I go to a great school, I have a freedom of speech and religion, I can go outside without worrying about my safety, and if I’m hungry, there’s always a plate of leftovers in the fridge.

The only time I see the world ending is when I look in the newspaper.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t recycle, conserve oil, or promote peace among nations; I’m saying that we’re going to be okay. Charles Schulz once said, “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.”