Doomsday Clock moves two minutes closer to midnight

[Ykcutnek]

The iconic Doomsday Clock, considered a metaphor for the dangers faced by the world, was pushed ahead by two minutes over concerns about worsening climate change and the world's failure to reduce nuclear weapons, a trans-Atlantic group of prominent scientists announced.

Every year, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists analyzes international threats, particularly nuclear arsenals and climate change, and decides where the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock should rest. The closer it is to midnight, the closer the world is to doom.

The last time the clock moved was in 2012 when the Board set the minute hand at 11:55 p.m. over concerns about the state of nuclear arsenals around the world. It also was concerned about the Fukushima nuclear meltdown and the outbreak of H5N1 flu. It hasn't moved this much since 2007, when the Board warned that "the world stands on the brink of a second nuclear age." It also cited climate change which it called "a dire challenge to humanity."

Those two issues again took center stage as the Board announced it would bump the clock two minutes ahead, to 11:57 p.m.

"Today, unchecked climate change and a nuclear arms race resulting from modernization of huge arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity," Kennette Benedict, executive director of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, told reporters. "And world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe. These failures of leadership endanger every person on Earth."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/doomsday-clock-moves-two-minutes-closer-to-midnight/

[CrispyQ]

1. God will save us.

(just in case)

[CrispyQ]

2. On a more serious note,

I watched the two vids at this link today, shared by another DUer. Worth the time.

The Fuse is Blown
http://climatecrocks.com/2015/01/22/the-fuse-is-blown-glaciologists-jaw-dropping-account-of-a-shattering-moment/

[CrispyQ]

5. The ridicule was in my first post, not my second. -nt

[longship]

6. My apologies, iPhone display. nt

[CrispyQ]

7. No worries.

Call me a pessimist, but I agree with the scientists who are beginning to mention the E word.

You should repost the link.

[longship]

8. Look downthread, ;-) nt

[longship]

3. Get it from the horse's mouth.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Here's the whole announcement. The clock moves closer to catastrophe

I would not expect any news organization to get this one right. It is better to read it at the source.
R&K