Global Upheaval: War, Plagues, and Environmental Disruption

A core warning throughout Dolores Cannon’s work is the possibility of global upheavals – devastating wars, outbreaks of disease, and environmental cataclysms – that could dramatically alter life on Earth. In Conversations with Nostradamus, the famed seer’s prophecies (as interpreted by Cannon) paint a grim picture of a coming “Time of Troubles” for humanity 36 . Nostradamus spoke of a Third World War triggered by a charismatic Antichrist figure, involving nuclear conflict and even chemical/biological weapons, with massive loss of life 25 37 . Cannon relayed that Nostradamus foresaw “escalating earthquakes, floods, volcanoes and plagues that could kill billions” in this period 25 38 . For example, one of Nostradamus’s quatrains was interpreted to describe widespread pandemics, with disease riding like the “pale rider” of Apocalypse, and another quatrain about “land and sea poisoned, and sky darkened” was

4 linked to environmental collapse 39 . In Cannon’s books, Nostradamus also singled out specific potential events: a catastrophic earthquake on North America’s West Coast that “alters the continent’s landscape drastically” 40 41 , and a “great comet” or celestial object that might threaten Earth.

Cannon’s Nostradamus sessions additionally referenced contemporary (to the 1980s–90s) geopolitical tensions, predicting they would worsen: conflicts in the Middle East and instability in Russia were to presage greater wars 30 . She mentioned a prophecy of “so many assassinations of world leaders that it will seem commonplace” during this chaotic era 36 – citing the then-recent 1995 assassination of Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin as one fulfillment 42 43 . Indeed, Nostradamus (via Cannon) allegedly “clearly foreseen” that event 42 . The overarching scenario she described was essentially a doomsday trajectory: a world war involving

nuclear strikes (starting possibly in the Middle East), rampant civil disorder, famine, and natural disasters converging – essentially a parallel to the Book of Revelation’s apocalypse 44 38 . Notably, Cannon believed Nostradamus even pinpointed the Antichrist’s age and timing: in the mid-1990s she said this figure was “now 34 and in hiding” and would soon emerge 25 .

Historical and present context: Fortunately, the worst-case global war that Cannon’s interpretation feared did not erupt in the late 20th century. There was no World War III in the year 1999 or 2000 (a date many Nostradamus enthusiasts had cited for a “King of Terror” from the sky). However, the world has nonetheless seen significant conflicts and disasters that echo elements of these prophecies:

• Wars and conflict: The decades since Cannon wrote have been marked by warfare, though not a single all-out world war. The Gulf War (1991) and Iraq War (2003) ignited the Middle East; the 9/11 attacks (2001) and subsequent War on Terror brought large-scale conflict involving the West and regions of the Muslim world – scenarios not unlike Nostradamus’s envisioned Christian-Muslim clash. In the 2010s and 2020s, new conflicts arose: notably, the war in Ukraine (2014 simmering, exploding in 2022 with Russia’s invasion) and heightened tensions in East Asia. As of 2023, global military brinkmanship is at a peak not seen since the Cold War. Tellingly, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest ever, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and nuclear escalation risks, as well as biological threats and climate crisis 45 46 . In their 2023 statement, scientists warned: “We are living in a time of unprecedented danger… largely due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increased risk of nuclear escalation,” also noting the breakdown of international norms, continued COVID-19 fallout, and climate stresses 45 47 . This language eerily matches Cannon’s emphasis on the peril of our times. The notion of an Antichrist figure orchestrating war could be seen symbolically in any dictator or tyrant who unleashes great suffering. While no single individual has yet united the world in war, there are candidates that observers have likened to “antichrist-like” (e.g. figures such as Saddam Hussein or more recently, the specter of global terrorism personified by Osama bin Laden was seen in near-demonic terms). Cannon’s timeline might have been early, but the pattern of escalating conflict and the specter of nuclear confrontation is very real today – more real, arguably, than in 1996 when she was anticipating it 36 30 . The credibility of her war predictions lies in how closely current events align with the broad

strokes: East-West tensions, wars in the Middle East (with religious undertones), and talk of world war if things spiral (for instance, NATO and Russia clashing). We haven’t crossed the threshold, but the risk she warned of is not abated. Leaders and citizens would do well not to ignore these warnings – the fragile peace of the post-Cold War world has evaporated, and we face a moment where choices about war and peace are literally existential (as the Doomsday Clock indicator shows 45 ).

5 • Pandemics and disease: Nostradamus frequently mentioned plague in his prophecies (he lived during the Black Death’s aftermath), and Cannon believed some quatrains referred to modern pandemics 48 . In recent history, we have indeed seen new plagues: the HIV/AIDS crisis emerged in the 1980s, and Cannon herself noted Nostradamus predicting viruses “skittering out of the rain forests” 30 (possibly alluding to Ebola or other zoonotic viruses). Fast forward to the present – the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020s) fits squarely into this theme. A novel coronavirus spread globally, causing millions of deaths and social upheaval. While Nostradamus did not specifically name COVID, one could argue it fulfills the envisioned “pandemics covering the earth.” In fact, an article summarizing Cannon’s Nostradamus interpretations lists “Pandemics covering the Earth” as a key prophecy, noting Nostradamus foresaw worldwide disease outbreaks 39 49 . The COVID crisis demonstrated how a modern plague can indeed destabilize the world – collapsing economies, overwhelming health systems, and even contributing to political unrest. Additionally, antibiotic- resistant “superbugs” and other potential pandemics (bird flu strains, etc.) loom as ongoing threats. Public health experts widely agree that the frequency of outbreaks is increasing due to global travel, ecological disruption, and climate change. The World Health Organization has warned that future pandemics are likely, and we must improve preparedness. Cannon’s warnings about disease were thus prescient in capturing a real and present danger. They reinforce how crucial it is for global institutions to heed scientists’ advice on pandemic preparedness – an insight not to ignore, as the cost of complacency was made tragically clear in 2020.

• Environmental disruption: Decades ago, Dolores Cannon relayed Nostradamus’s stark message that human actions would poison the land and sea and darken the sky – originally thought to be metaphorical, but which she interpreted as predictions of environmental destruction via pollution and climate change 39 50 . Indeed, Nostradamus’s words “the land and sea will be poisoned” resonate strongly with the real environmental crises unfolding now. Since the late 20th century, we have witnessed increasing pollution (oil spills poisoning oceans, industrial waste contaminating soil) and a burgeoning climate crisis that is literally darkening skies with wildfires and smog. Cannon suggested Nostradamus foresaw the climate crisis long before it was on the public radar 39 . This claim gains credibility when we consider that by the 1990s – when Cannon’s books were out – climate change was only beginning to be widely acknowledged; yet Nostradamus (1550s) could be interpreted to have envisioned environmental collapse.

Today, the evidence of environmental upheaval is undeniable. The planet has warmed approximately 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, with 2023 confirmed as the warmest year on record at about 1.2°C hotter than mid-20th-century averages 51 . This has led to more extreme weather: catastrophic wildfires from Australia to California, record-breaking heatwaves on multiple continents, stronger hurricanes and typhoons, and devastating floods. For instance, the summer of 2023 saw unprecedented heat that scientists called “off the charts,” and Canadian wildfires sent smoke that darkened skies across North America. Sea levels continue to rise, and biodiversity is plummeting with mass species extinctions – effectively “poisoning” Earth’s biosphere. Nostradamus’s vision of a darkened sky could even allude to nuclear winter or volcanic ash, but climate-induced effects (smoke, pollution haze) match as well. Cannon also mentioned increased earthquakes and volcanic activity. Statistically, geological activity hasn’t spiked dramatically (earthquakes and eruptions happen regularly), but the impact of such events is higher now due to larger human populations in hazard zones. We have seen some extraordinary disasters: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti quake, the 2011 Japan quake/tsunami (with Fukushima nuclear accident – literally land and sea poisoned by radiation). Also, volcanoes like Eyjafjallajökull (2010) disrupted global air travel, and “high threat” volcanoes like Yellowstone or the Canary Islands are closely monitored. In Cannon’s time, she noted

6 Mammoth Mountain’s unrest as a harbinger 30 , and indeed volcanic and seismic monitoring today raises frequent alarms.

The present state of global environmental health sadly validates the thrust of Cannon’s warnings. Climate scientists stress that the next couple of decades are critical to avert the worst outcomes. This aligns with Cannon/Nostradamus urging humanity to change course to avoid disaster 34 35 . One positive note from her work is that Nostradamus didn’t give these warnings to doom us, but to help us prevent them 32 33 . Cannon often emphasized that the future is not fixed; collective action and spiritual growth could mitigate or entirely avoid the most dire timelines. In the 1990s she believed we might avert the worst of World War III by “getting spiritually right with the planet” 33 . Arguably, humanity did step back from certain cliffs – e.g. the Cold War ended peacefully in 1991, and some environmental progress has been made (like fixing the ozone layer by banning CFCs). However, new challenges arose to take their place. Currently unfolding trends like the renewable energy revolution and global climate agreements (Paris Accord) are attempts to course-correct away from Nostradamus’s bleak environmental outcome. It remains to be seen if these efforts will be enough.

On the horizon, Cannon’s material suggests two divergent possibilities: (1) if we ignore the warnings, further global upheaval will occur – potentially a large war, perhaps involving nuclear or other weapons, and accelerating climate catastrophes leading to massive depopulation and the collapse of many societies; or (2) if humanity heeds the call to change consciousness and behavior, we could experience a less violent transition into a stable and peaceful era. Notably, Nostradamus predicted that after the period of tribulation, a “Great Genius” or enlightened leader would help rebuild and bring a Golden Age (more on this in the next section) 33 27 . In a way, this mirrors the scientific idea that after crises, innovation and unity can lead to a better future.

To gauge where we might be heading, consider present signposts: the risk of nuclear war, while the highest in decades, has also galvanized renewed anti-nuclear activism; the shock of COVID-19 has prompted reforms in global health surveillance; the palpable effects of climate change are driving a young generation to demand drastic action. These are hopeful responses amidst the chaos. Cannon would likely say that these positive actions are exactly what Nostradamus was trying to provoke by giving us a peek at a possible horrible future – so that we choose a different path.

Patterns and correlations: The pattern is clear – many elements of Cannon’s global disaster prophecies have parallels in real events (war, terror, plague, natural disasters) from the 1990s through the 2020s. In some cases, timing or specifics differed, but the broad strokes (e.g. “widespread plague” – COVID; “great war brewing” – regional wars and global tensions; “climate chaos” – exactly what we see) are unmistakably on point. This lends a degree of credibility to her work, at least in terms of foresight on world issues. It may be that she tapped into a general trajectory that anyone paying attention could extrapolate – but one must recall that in the 1980s, few were shouting about climate doom or a global Islamist-Western conflict the way these later manifested. Her information, whether through paranormal means or intuition, anticipated key themes of the early 21st century.

Crucially, Cannon’s consistent message was not to accept these disasters fatalistically, but to awaken and respond. As Nostradamus allegedly told her, prophecy is given so that we can change it 32 33 . In the context of global upheaval, that translates to taking warnings about war, disease, and environment seriously. The insights here that should not be ignored are: the fragility of peace, the reality of pandemic threats, and the severity of environmental degradation. Cannon’s work, dramatic as it is, basically implores

7 humanity to wake up – a sentiment echoed by scientists and activists today who warn that our current trajectory is unsustainable. Whether one believes in prophecy or not, the convergence of her predictions with real trends is a call to action. It urges international cooperation to prevent war (as the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists urges 52 ), investment in public health, and aggressive moves to combat climate change. In short, many of Dolores Cannon’s dire prophecies have begun to come true; how far they go from here is up to us.