Doomsday Clock reads 5 minutes to midnight

The caretakers of the well-known Doomsday Clock on Wednesday moved its symbolic hands two minutes closer to midnight — citing nuclear proliferation and, for the first time, global warming.

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clockface maintained since 1947 by the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago. It uses the analogy of the human race being at a time that is "minutes to midnight" where midnight represents destruction by nuclear war.

It was the fourth time since the end of the Cold War that the clock has ticked forward, this time from 11:53 to 11:55, amid fears over what scientists are describing as “a second nuclear age” prompted largely by atomic standoffs with Iran and North Korea…

“As scientists, we understand the dangers of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects, and we are learning how human activities and technologies are affecting climate systems in ways that may forever change life on Earth,” said BAS member Stephen Hawking, the renowned cosmologist and mathematician.

“As citizens of the world, we have a duty to alert the public to the unnecessary risks that we live with every day, and to the perils we foresee if governments and societies do not take action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and to prevent further climate change.”…

Since it was set to seven minutes to midnight in 1947, the hand has been moved 18 times, including Wednesday’s move.

It came closest to midnight — just two minutes away — in 1953, following the successful test of a hydrogen bomb by the United States. It has been as far away as 17 minutes, set there in 1991 following the demise of the Soviet Union.

Darfur awareness

Most of us have heard the name Darfur but we aren’t quite sure where it is and what’s really going on there. Genocide? Displaced refugees? Rape? Murder? Huh?

Well here’s one way you can help and become a little more aware at the same time. Graphic artist Milton Glaser (he’s the dude who created the iconic “I LOVE NY” design) has teamed up with the International Rescue Committee to create a very special posters whose sale benefit the organization. It’s only $35, so if you have the cash, why not? Or download a free screensaver and read up on the crisis at theIRC.com.

"With more than 2 million people driven from their homes, Darfur has been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, fighting is increasing across the region and the people of Darfur are suffering violence, atrocities and abduction. Amid desperate conditions, the International Rescue Committee delivers lifesaving aid, protects women and girls, and speaks out for global action on behalf of the Sudanese people."