The Doomsday Clock Is Moving Forward

[AssMan]

The keepers of the "Doomsday Clock" plan to move its hands forward next Wednesday to reflect what they call worsening nuclear and climate threats to the world.

The symbolic clock, maintained by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, currently is set at seven minutes to midnight, with midnight marking global catastrophe.

The group did not say in which direction the hands would move. But in a news release previewing an event next Wednesday, they said the change was based on "worsening nuclear, climate threats" to the world.

"The major new step reflects growing concerns about a 'Second Nuclear Age' marked by grave threats, including: nuclear ambitions in Iran and North Korea, unsecured nuclear materials in Russia and elsewhere, the continuing 'launch-ready' status of 2,000 of the 25,000 nuclear weapons held by the U.S. and Russia, escalating terrorism, and new pressure from climate change for expanded civilian nuclear power that could increase proliferation risks," the release reads.

The clock was last pushed forward by two minutes to seven minutes to midnight in 2002 amid concerns about the proliferation of nuclear, biological and other weapons and the threat of terrorism.

When it was created by the magazine's staff in 1947, it was initially set at seven minutes to midnight and has moved 17 times since then.

It was as close as two minutes to midnight in 1953 following U.S. and Soviet hydrogen bomb tests, and as far away as 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 after the superpowers reached agreement on a nuclear arms reductions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070112/sc_nm/doomsday_clock_dc

 

[Sarge 2.0]

We're at seven minutes to midnight now...

I wonder how far they're going to move it.

 

[04nbod]

another day another end of the world thread on the hype. you'd think we all want to die by nuclear bombs or asteroids

 

[Lord Valumart]

does this clock really matter?

i mean come on...anything could happen at anytime and we can;t all die until the doomsday clock says so? or if it doesn't happen then, do we all commit mass suicide?

ok...i didn;t read most of it...

 

[Sarge 2.0]

does this clock really matter?

i mean come on...anything could happen at anytime and we can;t all die until the doomsday clock says so? or if it doesn't happen then, do we all commit mass suicide?

The "clock" moves forwards and backwards depending on the events in the world. For example, when it was two minutes to midnight in the fifties, it was a time where the world could very well have gone to nuclear war. In the nineties, it was 17 minutes to midnight because the fear of nuclear armageddon was low. It's symbolic, and only represents the feelings of scientists who observe these events and try to keep the world aware of the threat of nuclear armageddon.

 

[Lord Valumart]

The "clock" moves forwards and backwards depending on the events in the world. For example, when it was two minutes to midnight in the fifties, it was a time where the world could very well have gone to nuclear war. In the nineties, it was 17 minutes to midnight because the fear of nuclear armageddon was low. It's symbolic, and only represents the feelings of scientists who observe these events and try to keep the world aware of the threat of nuclear armageddon.

the entire thing lost all meaning to me when that word popped up...

 

[Sarge 2.0]

the entire thing lost all meaning to me when that word popped up...

Why? Does the fact that the clock is symbolic for current events make it any less of a warning?

 

[Eros]

Their is no doomsday comeing, so a clock counting down to a event which will never come to pass is pointless.

 

[Lord Valumart]

Why? Does the fact that the clock is symbolic for current events make it any less of a warning?

yes...it's only symbolic

i could say a dead chicken is symbolic of the american president but it would make no difference to anyone.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

Their is no doomsday comeing, so a clock counting down to a event which will never come to pass is pointless.

So nuclear armageddon won't happen if we decide to start ****ing with Iran?

Too many people just read the thread title and don't know what the clock actually does.

yes...it's only symbolic

i could say a dead chicken is symbolic of the american president but it would make no difference to anyone.

That's ******ed and has nothing to do with the relevance of the clock.

 

[Lord Valumart]

That's ******ed and has nothing to do with the relevance of the clock.

i'm pointing out that the clock is meaningless, much like my statement

 

[Sarge 2.0]

i'm pointing out that the clock is meaningless, much like my statement

Dude.

The point of a symbol...is that it has meaning.

In order for it to be considered a valid symbol, it has to mean something. And if you were reading what I posted earlier, it does mean something.

 

[Badger]

2015, that is all.

 

[Sofa]

Whatever.

 

[Ice-man]

hmmmm, so what exactly will happen in 4 days?


ah what our world is coming to, the only thing we really have to worry about is the whole 12/21/12 at 11:11 thing..

 

[hippie_hunter]

The Second Nuclear Age is inevitable. We are moving into the day where any nation can obtain the bomb. First Pakistan. Then North Korea. Next Iran. Next we'll be seeing Saudi Arabia, Japan, and others both major powers and third world countries obtain them.

It'll be the next destructive weapon that will create a new policy of deterrance.

 

[Eros]

The Second Nuclear Age is inevitable. We are moving into the day where any nation can obtain the bomb. First Pakistan. Then North Korea. Next Iran. Next we'll be seeing Saudi Arabia, Japan, and others both major powers and third world countries obtain them.

It'll be the next destructive weapon that will create a new policy of deterrance.

That sounds like a prologue to a Tom Clancy Novel.

 

[The Apocalypse]

Doesn't bother me...i'll be watching Beauty and the Geek on Wenesday

 

[Ice-man]

untill you see a huge flash of light, than anything within 10+ miles gets insinorated by nucular shockwaves.

that is if we **** sumin up and get nuked.

 

[CConn]

Look gang! I couldn't care less.

 

[WeaponZ2]

Do you think Newfoundland having the bomb had anything to do with this??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTfzvmhB5gE