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Islands of Refuge: The Five Places on Earth Where You Can Survive a Nuclear Winter

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By Akerele Christabel

February 20, 2023
10:15 am
Los Angeles, CA

"If you’ve been waiting for an invitation, this calligraphy is it. Commissioned by Facebook, this is a hand-lettered design for a poster. Quote is Facebook mine "

- Massimo Vignelli

As the Doomsday Clock inches towards midnight, scientists have revealed the countries likely to survive a nuclear winter. A recent study has earmarked New Zealand, Vanuatu, Iceland, Solomon Islands, and Australia as the beacons of hope for humanity in the case of a nuclear winter. This study comes after the Doomsday Clock has been set closest to midnight since 1947. The study also predicted that in the event of a nuclear apocalypse, China, Russia, and the US could see food production fall up to 97 percent under nuclear winter models and would be forced to rely on new food production technologies. The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a global catastrophe. It was first introduced by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, just

As the Doomsday Clock inches towards midnight, scientists have revealed the countries likely to survive a nuclear winter.

A recent study has earmarked New Zealand, Vanuatu, Iceland, Solomon Islands, and Australia as the beacons of hope for humanity in the case of a nuclear winter. This study comes after the Doomsday Clock has been set closest to midnight since 1947.

The study also predicted that in the event of a nuclear apocalypse, China, Russia, and the US could see food production fall up to 97 percent under nuclear winter models and would be forced to rely on new food production technologies.

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a global catastrophe. It was first introduced by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, just two years after the first successful nuclear weapons test. The clock visually represents the world’s proximity to a global catastrophe, with midnight signifying a catastrophic event and the end of civilization as we know it.

Over the years, the clock has adjusted several times, reflecting changing global political and technological developments. As of 2023, the clock currently stands at 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to a catastrophic disaster. The primary drivers behind this latest adjustment include the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons, the lack of progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing the global climate crisis. The Doomsday Clock is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to address these and other global challenges before it is too late.

The possibility of a nuclear war becomes more plausible with every passing moment. The Russo-Ukrainian war, China’s dispute with Taiwan, and North Korea’s increasingly aggressive stance are all precursors of what is to come. The world as we know it currently sits under Damocles’ sword of a global apocalypse.

With the Doomsday Clock 100 seconds from midnight, scientists have identified potential safe havens where humanity can seek refuge from a nuclear winter and reboot civilization.

A large-scale nuclear war could cause the Earth’s climate to change dramatically and become inhospitable to human life. The theory suggests that the smoke and ash from fires caused by nuclear weapons explosions would be lifted into the atmosphere and block out the sun’s rays, causing a sudden drop in temperature and widespread cooling. This cooling would be further exacerbated by the reduction of photosynthesis, which would decrease the food supply and potentially cause mass starvation.

The concept of nuclear winter was first proposed in the 1980s and has since been the subject of much scientific investigation and discussion. While the exact consequences of a nuclear war remain uncertain, it is widely agreed that the effects would be catastrophic and could potentially lead to the extinction of the human race. The idea of nuclear winter has led to increased efforts to reduce the global stockpile of atomic weapons and to promote international cooperation to prevent using these weapons.

The study’s results, published in the journal Risk Analysis, identified five island nations as safe zones in the case of nuclear war because they can keep producing enough food to feed their population even with the reduction of photosynthesis. Thirty-eight island nations were tested on thirteen factors that could determine their survival chances in an apocalyptic world. Among such factors are the following;

– Geographical location: These island nations are relatively isolated from the rest of the world, which could help reduce their exposure to the direct impacts of a nuclear winter.

– Climate: Some island nations, like Iceland and New Zealand, have relatively moderate temperatures, making survival easier compared to regions with harsher climates.

– Access to resources: Island nations with abundant resources, such as fresh water, food, and fuel, would have a better chance of survival than those that rely on imports.

– Infrastructure: Well-developed infrastructure, such as hospitals, communication networks, and transportation systems, can help support recovery efforts and ensure the survival of the population.

Other factors include food production, energy self-sufficiency, trade relations, and population size. These island nations might be able to salvage what is left of humanity. However, surviving a nuclear fallout is a daunting task for any country, and the best way to survive is to prevent any chances of one occurring.