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"To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger-and its immediacy." (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists/Facebook)
Approaching the Apocalypse, the Doomsday Clock Moves Forward
It’s time to abolish nuclear weapons.
Jan 26, 2018
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has just moved their Doomsday Clock forward to two minutes till midnight. Midnight represents nuclear apocalypse. The Clock is recognized around the world as an indicator of the world's vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies. Each year the decision to move the Clock, or not, is determined by the Bulletins Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors which includes 15 Nobel laureate's.
In making this year's move to two minutes till midnight, the Bulletin stated that "in 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threat of nuclear war and climate change, making the worlds security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago-and as dangerous as it has been since World War II".
In recent years the Bulletin has added climate change to nuclear weapons as a major risk of global conflict. This year the greatest threat remained that of nuclear conflict with the ongoing North Korea crisis with the dangerous rhetoric and actions coming from both sides that have done nothing to calm matters increasing the risk of nuclear war either by accident or miscalculation.
Coupled with deteriorating relationships between the world's nuclear powers, with US and Russian relations at the lowest point in decades and rising tensions between the US and China, all while the United States plans to rebuild its nuclear arsenal prompting all of the other nations to follow suit. The situation is further undermined from a diplomatic standpoint by an understaffed and demoralized US State Department and thus the Clock ticks forward.
The Board stated, "To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger-and its immediacy."
It was also emphasized that this urgent warning of global danger described a future that did not have to be, but in order to change demanded action now from the citizens of the world. We have the ability and now the legal framework with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to abolish nuclear weapons, just as we have the ability to address climate change.
What is necessary is the political will for change arising from the people across the globe demanding this action now.
At this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony ICAN leader Beatrice Fihn said regarding abolishing nuclear weapons, "those who say that future is not possible need to get out of the way of those making it a reality". It's time to abolish nuclear weapons. It's two minutes till midnight.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Robert Dodge
Robert Dodge, MD, is a retired family physician living in Ojai, California. He serves on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles (www.psr-la.org), and serves as the co-chair of the Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons of National Physicians for Social Responsibility (www.psr.org). Physicians for Social Responsibility is the US affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War who received the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize and is a partner organization of ICAN, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He also serves on the Back From the Brink (www.preventnuclearwar.org) steering committee.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has just moved their Doomsday Clock forward to two minutes till midnight. Midnight represents nuclear apocalypse. The Clock is recognized around the world as an indicator of the world's vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies. Each year the decision to move the Clock, or not, is determined by the Bulletins Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors which includes 15 Nobel laureate's.
In making this year's move to two minutes till midnight, the Bulletin stated that "in 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threat of nuclear war and climate change, making the worlds security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago-and as dangerous as it has been since World War II".
In recent years the Bulletin has added climate change to nuclear weapons as a major risk of global conflict. This year the greatest threat remained that of nuclear conflict with the ongoing North Korea crisis with the dangerous rhetoric and actions coming from both sides that have done nothing to calm matters increasing the risk of nuclear war either by accident or miscalculation.
Coupled with deteriorating relationships between the world's nuclear powers, with US and Russian relations at the lowest point in decades and rising tensions between the US and China, all while the United States plans to rebuild its nuclear arsenal prompting all of the other nations to follow suit. The situation is further undermined from a diplomatic standpoint by an understaffed and demoralized US State Department and thus the Clock ticks forward.
The Board stated, "To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger-and its immediacy."
It was also emphasized that this urgent warning of global danger described a future that did not have to be, but in order to change demanded action now from the citizens of the world. We have the ability and now the legal framework with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to abolish nuclear weapons, just as we have the ability to address climate change.
What is necessary is the political will for change arising from the people across the globe demanding this action now.
At this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony ICAN leader Beatrice Fihn said regarding abolishing nuclear weapons, "those who say that future is not possible need to get out of the way of those making it a reality". It's time to abolish nuclear weapons. It's two minutes till midnight.
From Your Site Articles
Robert Dodge
Robert Dodge, MD, is a retired family physician living in Ojai, California. He serves on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles (www.psr-la.org), and serves as the co-chair of the Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons of National Physicians for Social Responsibility (www.psr.org). Physicians for Social Responsibility is the US affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War who received the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize and is a partner organization of ICAN, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He also serves on the Back From the Brink (www.preventnuclearwar.org) steering committee.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has just moved their Doomsday Clock forward to two minutes till midnight. Midnight represents nuclear apocalypse. The Clock is recognized around the world as an indicator of the world's vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies. Each year the decision to move the Clock, or not, is determined by the Bulletins Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors which includes 15 Nobel laureate's.
In making this year's move to two minutes till midnight, the Bulletin stated that "in 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threat of nuclear war and climate change, making the worlds security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago-and as dangerous as it has been since World War II".
In recent years the Bulletin has added climate change to nuclear weapons as a major risk of global conflict. This year the greatest threat remained that of nuclear conflict with the ongoing North Korea crisis with the dangerous rhetoric and actions coming from both sides that have done nothing to calm matters increasing the risk of nuclear war either by accident or miscalculation.
Coupled with deteriorating relationships between the world's nuclear powers, with US and Russian relations at the lowest point in decades and rising tensions between the US and China, all while the United States plans to rebuild its nuclear arsenal prompting all of the other nations to follow suit. The situation is further undermined from a diplomatic standpoint by an understaffed and demoralized US State Department and thus the Clock ticks forward.
The Board stated, "To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger-and its immediacy."
It was also emphasized that this urgent warning of global danger described a future that did not have to be, but in order to change demanded action now from the citizens of the world. We have the ability and now the legal framework with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to abolish nuclear weapons, just as we have the ability to address climate change.
What is necessary is the political will for change arising from the people across the globe demanding this action now.
At this year's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony ICAN leader Beatrice Fihn said regarding abolishing nuclear weapons, "those who say that future is not possible need to get out of the way of those making it a reality". It's time to abolish nuclear weapons. It's two minutes till midnight.
From Your Site Articles
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