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Five Minutes to Doom

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has advanced the minute hand of its Doomsday Clock by two minutes. It now shows five minutes to a catastrophic midnight.

Current nuclear worries touched on by the speakers included the ambitions of North Korea and Iran, the nuclear rivalry between Pakistan and India, new initiatives to expand nuclear power plants around the world and the lack of progress toward realizing the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The board also added climate change to their list of doomsday concerns, because "it could cause irremediable harm to the habitat humanity needs for survival."

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  • Display: Sort:
    This (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by aw on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:22:34 AM EST
    elephant in the room is so big we think it is the room.  We can't see it, can't hear it.  We're too busy fighting each other for reasons that won't matter come doomsday.

    The List (1.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Gabriel Malor on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:49:33 AM EST
    Lemme just add this to my list:

    Overpopulation
    Starvation
    HIV
    Y2K
    Ebola
    Shark Attacks
    Heat Stroke
    Anthrax
    Missing Children
    Weapons of Mass Destruction
    Killer Bees
    Mad Cow Disease
    Militias
    Flooding
    Breast Implants
    Rising Crime
    Airline Crashes
    Bird Flu
    Forest Fires
    West Nile Virus
    SARS
    Global Freezing
    Global Warming
    "new initiatives to expand nuclear power plants around the world"∗
    "lack of progress toward realizing the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty."∗

    These are things that I am concerned will lead to the death of us all. Sometime. Maybe. I mean, it could happen, I've been told.

    ∗recently added

    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by aw on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 11:00:50 AM EST
    the last man standing will be wearing a stuffed shirt, still trying to explain why there's nothing to get worked up about.

    Parent
    Egad, you ARE young (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Dadler on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 11:58:11 AM EST
    There is no there there with your response.  If you want to fiddle while Rome burns then you certainly may.  But just say so and save us the time.

    Parent
    You forgot a couple. (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 10:52:50 AM EST
    Bush.

    Imperialism.

    Parent

    edger... I'lladd (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 07:13:11 AM EST
    terminal in growing toenails.

    flat feet

    bad breath

    too hot coffee

    Parent

    The point of the (none / 0) (#18)
    by Edger on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 10:26:09 AM EST
    Doomsday Clock is to try to enhance awareness of some serious problems that need addressing that affect the entire world.

    Think of it as the anthithesis of burying your head in the sand or elsewhere, Jim.

    That is one of the problems it attempts to highlight....

    Obviously it doesn't work on everyone. See Gabes comment, for instance, and yours.


    Parent

    Edger... as you knew.... (none / 0) (#21)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 01:25:41 PM EST
    I am aware that it is a device that is suppose to make us tremble and give up our right to think for ourselves..

    I just don't buy into it.

    Parent

    You mean (none / 0) (#22)
    by Edger on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 01:57:57 PM EST
    Bush invented the Dumbsday, sorry, I mean Doomsday, Clock, Jim???

    Nooooo.... really?

    Parent

    don't forget the duct tape ... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Sailor on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 03:40:54 PM EST
    saddam's bio weapons.
    saddam's drones of mass destruction.
    saddam's chem weapons.
    saddam's nukes.
    saddam's connection to 9/11.

    At least the doomsday clock is based on actual events.

    Parent

    You forgot (none / 0) (#12)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:39:52 PM EST

    You forgot the world running out of oil.

    Parent
    Something Scary (none / 0) (#6)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 02:29:34 PM EST
    Nothing beats having something scary for selling newspapers, getting grant money or soliciting contributions to the Great Cause(TM) of the moment.  P.T. Barnum was right on.

    Why is everybody scared all of a sudden? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Slado on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 05:12:30 PM EST
    Since when did the angry left become the scared out of their mind left?

    I thought we were worried about the tyrannical Bush administration?  Now all the sudden we're supposed to be worried about North Korea and Pakistan?

    I don't log on for a couple days and the whole world outlook changes.  Wow.

    Hahahha (none / 0) (#9)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:46:18 PM EST
    Since when did the angry left become the scared out of their mind left?

    You wish. It isn't working anymore. You guys have a big credibility problem....just a bunch of bedwetters and few chicken littles to keep them damp.

    Parent

    Bedwetters? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Gabriel Malor on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 06:58:35 PM EST
    Oh, come on!

    A bunch of guys just adjusted the time on something they named the "Doomsday Clock", in part because of "new initiatives to expand nuclear power plants around the world and the lack of progress toward realizing the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty."

    Clearly there is plenty of bedwetting going around.

    Parent

    Nice try (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:05:45 PM EST
    Yes bedwetters. And you are right up there.

    Maybe that is the difference between immoral right wing lawyers and morally responsible Scientists concerned about what the right wing lawyers have done with their discoveries.

    Parent

    Pee on me (none / 0) (#13)
    by aw on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 07:47:26 PM EST
    Do it Gabe, pee on me.  I'll even open my mouth.


    Parent
    Curious (none / 0) (#27)
    by Peaches on Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 08:22:52 AM EST
    I saw this yesterday and I've been is a state of bewilderment ever since. The image accompanying this is startling and slightly bothersome. I don't want to make a judgement or do any sort of psychoanalisis over the net. But, I supposed I should be affirmed in my conviction that we ase a diverse and very curious species. Doomsday or not, there is plenty of drama and mystery along the way.

    btw, I saw 20-30 Robins in my front yard Maple tree over the weekend. I live in Minnesota. Robins go away in the winter. The sighting of Robins has always meant the beginning of Spring. It was January 20.

    Parent

    Good metaphor, aw. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 09:17:55 AM EST
    Gave (none / 0) (#16)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 07:16:55 AM EST
    Yeah, but they speak truth to power..

    Parent
    squeaky (none / 0) (#15)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 07:16:15 AM EST
    Spoken by someone who has never been in the military...

    He did, however, get a cold cup of coffee the other day from Starbucks.

    Parent

    Whose scared? (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 08:58:04 AM EST
    Maybe these scientists are merely concerned?

    And what are Americans concerned about?  Muslim hoardes on the shores, Mexican gardener's children in the schools, child predators next door, married homosexuals?

    The scientist's list is more impressive.  

    My money is on a giant meteor though...lol.

     

    Parent

    We're just standing around (none / 0) (#8)
    by aw on Sun Jan 21, 2007 at 05:52:03 PM EST
    with a glass of wine, observing dispassionately.  Where are those scared leftists you speak of?

    from Shot in the Dark (none / 0) (#19)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 12:06:12 PM EST

    "Among enthusiasts, global warming (like so many other of the millenarian left's pet causes) has taken on all of the worst aspects of organized fundamentalist religion; unassailable dogma (enforced by ostracism or worse), paranoia about dissenters, and downright anger about probing the "faith's" origins."

    Keep the "faith" - the millenarian left (none / 0) (#23)
    by Edger on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 03:30:05 PM EST
    WASHINGTON - The chief executives of 10 major corporations, on the eve of the State of the Union address, urged President Bush on Monday to support mandatory reductions in climate-changing pollution and establish reductions targets.
    ...
    Members of the group, called the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, include chief executives of Alcoa Inc., BP America Inc., DuPont Co., Caterpillar Inc., General Electric Co., and Duke Energy Corp.
    ...
    "It must be mandatory, so there is no doubt about our actions," said Jim Rogers, chairman of Duke Energy. "The science of global warming is clear. We know enough to act now. We must act now."



    Parent
    GW skeptics (not!) (none / 0) (#25)
    by Sailor on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 04:14:18 PM EST
    In previewing the State of the Union address the president will deliver tomorrow, administration officials have strongly hinted that Bush would outline steps the government will take to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which most scientists believe contribute to global warming.

    and the EPA
    Scientists know for certain that human activities are changing the composition of Earth's atmosphere. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2 ), in the atmosphere since pre-industrial times have been well documented. There is no doubt this atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is largely the result of human activities.

    It's well accepted by scientists that greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and tend to warm the planet. By increasing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, human activities are strengthening Earth's natural greenhouse effect. The key greenhouse gases emitted by human activities remain in the atmosphere for periods ranging from decades to centuries.

    A warming trend of about 1°F has been recorded since the late 19th century. Warming has occurred in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and over the oceans. Confirmation of 20th-century global warming is further substantiated by melting glaciers, decreased snow cover in the northern hemisphere and even warming below ground.




    Parent
    Dadler (none / 0) (#20)
    by jondee on Mon Jan 22, 2007 at 12:35:49 PM EST
    those elbows are going in and out, but it aint fiddling.

    The last scare (none / 0) (#26)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 07:09:32 AM EST
    Ah... Global Freezing... yes we must do something..

    Wait! That was the last scare......