Sir – John Tanner’s letter (August 20) could have been written at any time since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945), with the distressing realisation that those two small bombs of mass destruction were just the starting-gun for a proliferation in ever-more-powerful weapons of mass destruction which continues unchecked to this day.

Mr Tanner will know that in 1945 University of Chicago scientists who had helped create the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan project set up the ‘Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’.

In 1947, these scientists created the Doomsday Clock, set before midday, such that each year a decision is made on whether the minute hand should be moved forward or be left put. Last year, the minute hand was set at five minutes to midnight, this year at three minutes to midnight. T

he current board of the ‘Bulletin’, including 17 Nobel laureates, recently warned: “The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon.”

To the threat of nuclear weapons we now have to factor in climate change and the consequences of new technologies. The ‘Bulletin’ board members have further warned: “We can manage our technology, or become victims of it. The choice is ours, and the clock is ticking.”

Bruce Ross-Smith
Headington