Thursday, September 28, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

Doomsday Clock stuck at 100 seconds to midnight

AFPbyAFP
January 22, 2022, 12:10 am
in Columns, Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

The “Doomsday Clock,” representing the judgment of leading science and security experts about perils to human existence, remains at 100 seconds to midnight this year, with advances like COVID-19 vaccines balanced by rising misinformation and other threats.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists president Rachel Bronson declared Thursday the world was no safer this year than two years ago, when the clock’s hands were moved to their current position.

“If humanity is to avoid an existential catastrophe, one that would dwarf anything it has yet seen, national leaders must do a far better job of countering disinformation, heeding science and cooperating,” she told reporters on the 75th anniversary of the clock’s initial unveiling.

The fact that it hasn’t shifted closer to midnight does not imply threats have stabilized, the group said in a full statement.

“On the contrary, the Clock remains the closest it has ever been to civilization-ending apocalypse because the world remains stuck in an extremely dangerous moment.”

The Bulletin was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J Robert Oppenheimer, and other scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project which produced the first nuclear weapons.

The idea of the clock symbolizing global vulnerability to catastrophe followed in 1947.

Its time is set by the organization’s board, with the support of its board of sponsors, which includes 11 Nobel laureates.

In its statement, the Bulletin noted hopeful developments at the start of 2021, including the renewal of the New START arms control agreement between the United States and Russia.

But international tensions continue to loom ominously, including most recently over Ukraine. The United States, Russia and China meanwhile continue their march to develop hypersonic weapons.

Nice words, but little climate action

No country meanwhile remains immune to threats to democracy, the Bulletin said, “as the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol demonstrated.”

More than 10 percent of those charged with crimes related to the riot were active or retired service members, underscoring extremism in the military.

On climate, COP26 in Glasgow offered positive rhetoric but relatively little action.

Encouragingly, several countries announced net-zero carbon dioxide targets by 2050, but getting there would require immediate divestment from fossil fuels, investment in renewables, upgrading infrastructure and shifting land use and agriculture practices.

“The past year has seen a staggering onslaught of climate disasters,” said Raymond Pierrehumber, a professor of physics at the University of Oxford.

“We’ve had the heat dome over North America, worldwide fires, drought, floods, but this is just a sample of what is to come if we don’t get the emissions of carbon dioxide to zero.”

And while COVID-19 has focused the world’s scientific attention, governments must be prepared for other biological threats—from weapons programs to the rise in antibiotic resistance, which the Bulletin said could trigger a new pandemic within a decade.

The Bulletin particularly highlighted how disinformation—much of it stoked by politicians in high office—is undermining faith in science and handicapping the world’s ability to confront its challenges.

“A particularly invidious threat is the intentional undermining of the public’s ability to sort out what’s true from what’s patently false by information warfare,” said Sharon Squassoni, co-chair of the board and a research professor at George Washington University.

“This subverts our ability to arrive at consensus on the solutions needed to achieve positive change,” she added.

The Bulletin called on Washington and Moscow to expand the scope of nuclear reduction, and for the world’s leading polluters to accelerate decarbonization.

“China should set an example by pursuing sustainable development pathways—not fossil fuel-intensive projects” in its global infrastructure initiative known as Belt and Road, it said.

The United States and other leading countries should meanwhile heighten cooperation through the World Health Organization to reduce biological risks.

This would involve improving monitoring of animal-human interactions, increasing international disease surveillance, and ramping up production and distribution of medical supplies.

Tags: COVID-19Doomsday ClockRachel Bronsonvaccines
ADVERTISEMENT
AFP

AFP

Related Posts

Protecting human rights defenders

byManila Standard
September 28, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Protecting human rights defenders

If human rights defenders are an endangered species, Senator Risa Hontiveros believes what they need is adequate protection from harassment...

Read more

Bliss or bore

byLito Banayo
September 28, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
A crisis president

"Through the bliss or bore, the saddest element is to note the deterioration of our once beautifully livable country into...

Read more

The MUP pension debate

byFlorencio Fianza
September 28, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Money matters

"There are people in both the military and police who are anxiously waiting for the final outcome so they can...

Read more

Investing for the future

byMelandrew Velasco
September 28, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
RSA: Mr. Malasakit, the environmentalist

"SMC’s noble purpose and commitment to invest in the Filipino future is commendable" Every  year one learns about performances of...

Read more

China’s floating barriers

byManila Standard
September 27, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
China’s floating barriers

Incredible accomplishment. That one, after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a “floating barrier” installed by China southeast of Bajo de...

Read more

Train extensions – when will they be operational?

byJenny Ortuoste
September 27, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8

It’s time for priority to be given to commuters — the workers who are the lifeblood of industry, the students...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • PPP Code nears enactment
  • Finastra, Tonik renew digital banking tie-up in the Philippines
  • DBM welcomes speedy House approval of 2024 budget
  • Trump’s business empire threatened by judge’s ruling
  • Talk shows coming back after Hollywood writers’ strike ends
  • Deloitte acquires Philippines-based financial advisory firm Primeiro
  • Meta putting AI in smart glasses, assistants and more
  • NKorea makes nuclear weapons status part of constitution

Advertisement

Latest News

Deloitte acquires Philippines-based financial advisory firm Primeiro

byManila Standard Business
September 28, 2023, 9:59 am
0
8
Deloitte acquires Philippines-based financial advisory firm Primeiro

Global professional services group Deloitte acquired Philippines-based financial advisory firm Primeiro Partners (Primeiro) to establish and stamp its leadership in...

Read more

Meta putting AI in smart glasses, assistants and more

byAFP
September 28, 2023, 9:00 am
0
8
Meta putting AI in smart glasses, assistants and more

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said the tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses...

Read more

NKorea makes nuclear weapons status part of constitution

byAFP
September 28, 2023, 8:00 am
0
8
NKorea makes nuclear weapons status part of constitution

North Korea's rubber-stamp legislature has enshrined the country's status as a nuclear weapons power in the constitution, state media reported...

Read more

‘PH shuns war, but will fight for territory’

byMacon Ramos-Aranetaand2 others
September 28, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Marcos signs ‘Trabaho’ Act into law to craft job generation masterplan

“We do not want war, but it’s our territory that they want to get.” With these words, Defense Secretary Gilbert...

Read more

House to realign intel funds to agencies involved in WPS

byMaricel Cruzand1 others
September 28, 2023, 12:45 am
0
8
House to realign intel funds to agencies involved in WPS

The increasing threats from China in the West Philippine Sea have prompted the House of Representatives to reallocate confidential and...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Pets
  • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Cravings
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App