The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) will hold an online press conference at 10 AM EST (10 PM Vietnam time) on January 24, 2023, to announce the Doomsday Clock for 2023.
The announcement regarding the Doomsday Clock will feature speakers from BAS and members of The Elders – an independent organization of global leaders, founded by the late South African President Nelson Mandela. These individuals advocate for peace, justice, and human rights.
According to Newsweek, the BAS meeting aims to inform: Whether the time on the symbolic Doomsday Clock will change as we enter 2023.
Image of the Doomsday Clock – (Photo: VOX).
The Doomsday Clock: A Historical Overview Since 1947
The Doomsday Clock was first announced by BAS at the beginning of the Cold War in 1947, set at 7 minutes to midnight. Midnight is regarded as the time of humanity’s extinction.
Since then, nuclear scientists and experts have been timing the Doomsday Clock. Each year, BAS assesses the state of the world to determine if the clock’s hands will move forward, backward, or remain in place.
This adjustment serves as a reminder for people to reflect on the events of the past year. The goal is to evaluate whether these events have brought humanity closer to or further from destruction.
The farthest point from midnight was in 1991, after the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons. At that time, the clock was set at 17 minutes to midnight.
The Doomsday Clock Now Stands at 100 Seconds to Midnight
In 2020, the clock was set at 100 seconds to midnight – the closest it has ever been. Subsequently, in 2021, the hands have remained stable at that time up to now.
“Nuclear war is a real possibility that could end civilization. Additionally, the ongoing climate change that could devastate the planet is undeniable,” stated John Mecklin, editor of BAS, after the clock’s time was announced in 2020.
After a year of escalating tensions between Russia and the West, will the hands of the clock move closer to midnight? To follow the meeting, readers can visit the BAS Facebook page or website using the links below:
https://www.facebook.com/BulletinOfTheAtomicScientists/?ref=bookmarks
https://thebulletin.org/2023/01/watch-the-2023-doomsday-clock-announcement-on-jan-24/
