It would be perilously foolish to not get away from danger after seeing it, but instead head towards it. As idiotic as it sounds, this is exactly the situation the world finds itself in today.
As if being at the doorstep of doom was not enough—let alone getting away from it—the world has instead chosen to go one step further and knock at the door of destruction.
The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation that measures humanity’s nearness to catastrophic devastation, has this year been moved to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been in its history. After remaining at 90 seconds for two years, this latest adjustment has brought the world further close to the brink of disaster.
Maintained by the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock was established in 1947 and is updated every year in January after assessing various factors that influence the course of global events, with midnight in the Clock representing a complete apocalypse.
Since its introduction, the Clock has been adjusted 26 times—both forward and backward—with the farthest being 17 minutes to midnight in 1991. However, the last decade has seen a consistent and alarming trend, where the clock hands moved stubbornly closer to midnight, reflecting the fraying fabric of global security and increasing likelihood of a calamitous war.
Major threatening factors
In issuing the renewed warning, the Bulletin cited numerous factors that caused the Clock to move closer towards midnight—or more specifically—the world towards destruction.[1]
The ongoing conflicts around the world, especially the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, have all the potential to escalate into a nuclear war. To add to this already vulnerable situation, wars always bring with it inflammable elements such as rash decisions and miscalculations, making matters even more precarious.
Similarly, the frail balance of the environmental equilibrium continues to be threatened by climate change, while most governments have fallen short of taking adequate actions to mitigate its effects.
Likewise, emerging and re-emerging diseases on the one hand, and proliferation of high-containment biological laboratories with inadequate oversight facilities on the other bring in all the ingredients for the recipe for a devastating human pandemic.
Moreover, the world has witnessed the rapid advancement of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence—or worse—integration of such domains into military activities.
All these dangers are greatly exacerbated by yet another threat multiplier: the spread of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories. When this hazardous verbal weapon joins hands with the factors listed above, the communication ecosystem of the world becomes disrupted and truth—which indeed is the last string of hope—gets buried under the rubble of lies and propagandas. As a result, the world finds itself closer to doom.
Two decades of ignored warnings
Undoubtedly, the situation is beyond critical, and as such, the message of the Bulletin is serious and unambiguous:
“In setting the Clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal: Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.”[2]
The world’s fate, they added, rests in the hands of global leaders—particularly those of the super powers—who collectively possess the power to destroy civilisation.
This urgent call to action eerily echoes the warnings of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who has been steadfastly cautioning against the looming global catastrophe for over two decades.
In his 2012 address at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, His Holiness said:
“We must leave aside our personal and national interests for the greater good and instead we must establish mutual relations that are based entirely on justice. Otherwise… it is not unlikely that disorder will continue to increase in the world, which will ultimately lead to a huge destruction.”[3]
Addressing the threat of global nuclear warfare, His Holiness said during Peace Symposium 20.. in the UK:
“What causes great fear is the knowledge that such nuclear weapons could end up in the hands of such people who either do not have the ability or who choose not to think about the consequences of their actions… Thus, it is my ardent wish and hope that the leaders of all major nations come to understand this dreadful reality, and so instead of adopting aggressive policies and utilising force to achieve their aims and objectives, they strive to adopt policies that promote and secure justice.”[4]
His Holiness also highlighted the impact of warfare on the climate:
“A major focus of the international community is climate change and a desire to keep the air that we breathe clean. Is there anyone who thinks that heavy bombardment has no effect on the atmosphere? Furthermore, if peace ever does prevail in the war-torn countries, their towns and cities will have to be rebuilt from scratch, and this in itself will be a huge industry that will cause an increase in harmful emissions and pollution. Thus, on the one hand, we are trying to save the planet, yet with our other hand, we are senselessly destroying it. In light of all of this, I firmly believe that world powers are being blinded by short-sightedness and tunnel-vision.”[5]
Then, in a letter to world leaders, in which he urged them to act equitably in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Caliphaba said:
“Your government should strive to ensure the peace and security of society, both within your country and at a broader, international level. I sincerely request that you uphold the demands of justice and integrity by seeking to fulfil the rights of your own people and of all other nations… If history teaches us anything it is that when governments selfishly prioritise their own national interests over and beyond the collective interest the results are invariably catastrophic.”[6]
As the Doomsday Clock ticks closer to midnight, the urgency for collective action cannot be overstated. It is imperative that world leaders, policymakers, and individuals alike take heed of these warnings of the Ahmadiyya Caliph and work towards reversing the destructive trends that threaten our very existence. We must strive for a future where diplomacy, cooperation, and sustainability guide our actions, and where the pursuit of peace and justice becomes our collective priority. The time to act is now—for the sake of our planet, our children, and the future of humanity itself.
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