Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer to Midnight
Sometimes those of us in the preparedness industry get labeled as doomsday prophets.
I get it. We inform the public about many potential problems we face in this chaotic world.
Problems such as power outages occurring from extreme weather. Supply chain issues resulting in food shortages and high prices. Water contamination from lead pipes and flooding.
But we don’t wear tinfoil hats and march around carrying “The End Is Near” signs. Instead, we provide solutions for emergencies likely to occur in the near future.
89 Seconds to Self-Annihilation
But there is an organization that spells out “Doomsday” in its periodic communications. Are you familiar with the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists?
It’s not exactly the type of light reading you’d find in a doctor’s or dentist’s office. It’s a non-technical academic journal. Covering global security and public policy issues.
Those issues focus on dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction. Plus extreme weather and emerging technologies and diseases.
The Bulletin is best known for its “Doomsday Clock.” Especially when it inches closer to midnight. When the clock reaches that hour, nukes might be flying. Oceans will start drying up. And a pandemic will spiral out of control.
The Bulletin describes it this way. The hands of the clock are a “metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation.” In other words, when it reaches midnight, life as we know it will be over. Forever.
First Clock Movement in 2 Years
Late last month, the Doomsday Clock was moved to 89 seconds before midnight. By the Bulletin’s scientists, security experts, and their board of sponsors. The board includes 10 Nobel laureates. This is the closest we’ve ever been to midnight.
It’s been at 90 seconds before midnight for the past two years. After having been at 100 seconds prior to midnight since early 2020.
At that time, the scientists cited “reckless language” by some political leaders. Including Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding nuclear weapons.
They also blamed leaders’ disregard of “scientific expertise on climate change.”
Ukraine Invasion Jolted the Clock
Back in 2017, the scientists declared that the clock had moved forward. To 2½ minutes before midnight.
That marked the closest to midnight the clock had been moved. Dating back to Cold War threats between the U.S. and the former USSR.
The 10-second movement in 2023 was explained by Putin’s nuclear threats. In connection with the war in Ukraine. And the growing climate crisis.
They said the movement was “due largely… to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And the increased risk of nuclear escalation.”
Scientists Blame Too Little Progress
What prompted the recent one-second move of the Doomsday Clock?
Daniel Holz is the Bulletin’s science and security board chair. And a professor in the department of physics astronomy and astrophysics. At the University of Chicago. He said...
Daniel Holz, Bulletin’s science and security board chair.
Einstein Was a Founder
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists was established by Albert Einstein. And other former Manhattan Project physicists. After the atomic bombing of Japan. The clock was set at seven minutes before midnight.
Now it’s only 89 seconds before midnight. They say “the probability of global catastrophe is very high.” And that the earth could be made uninhabitable.
The threat of a nuclear war is certainly worth discussing. But there are many other immediate concerns. Each of which could make our lives challenging to deal with.
Such as a collapse of the electrical grid. For all we know, the Doomsday Clock could be at 11:59:59 p.m. for that possibility.
But at least this is something we can – and should – prepare for. By stockpiling survival food, water, and other essential items. And by acquiring a water purification device and a solar generator.
That way we can provide for ourselves and our families in a worst-case scenario. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist – or even an atomic scientist – to figure that out.
The Best Response? Be Prepared!
A committee of scientists has moved the second hand of an imaginary clock one second forward. But that doesn’t mean we should go into panic mode.
But this clock movement is a wake-up call for those who need to prepare for an uncertain future. Extreme weather is increasing in frequency and intensity. The country’s aging and vulnerable infrastructure is under attack. Water contaminations are getting worse.
The Doomsday Clock may never get closer to midnight than 89 seconds. But I strongly encourage you to prepare the best you can.
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