Turn back the clock

On Thursday my emails brought some good news and some very bad news. I’ll start with the bad news. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists announced it has moved the hand of the Doomsday Clock 20 seconds closer to midnight, from 2 minutes to 100 seconds to midnight. The Bulletin scientists announced the world is less secure than ever due to lack of leadership, especially in the United States, to reduce the threats of nuclear disaster and climate change with the added danger of cyber activity which could hinder the ability to fight the two major threats.

The good news is that Beatrice Fihn, director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, announced one more country has ratified the International Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons, meaning the treaty needs only 15 countries to ratify the treaty and international law to ban owning or working to own nuclear weapons. None of the nine nations that together possess nearly 14,000 nuclear weapons has ratified the treaty, citing their need for deterrence.

My hope for turning the clock back from the brink of a midnight disaster is in the millions of people worldwide who are working for peace and who are rallying today for No War with Iran, and for Greta and the young people rallying to stop climate change.

What can we do in Arkansas to turn back the clock? For starters, we can attend the 4 p.m. rally for No War with Iran today on the steps of the state Capitol or the rally in Fayetteville. Join one of the groups sponsoring the rally. Call Washington. Tell Congress to pass HR921 (No First Use of Nuclear Weapons), and repeal AUMF, which gives the president sole authority to declare war. Vote in November, and much more.

The Bulletin scientists have sent us a wakeup call we can’t ignore! JEAN GORDON Little Rock