Unit 8, exercise 25b It’s 100 seconds to midnight The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has been updating its ‘Doomsday Clock’ since 1947. The clock conveys how close we are to destruction (or ‘midnight’) and identifies the ways that humans could obliterate themselves. In 2020 the clock moved closer to midnight than ever before. The existential threats of nuclear weapons and climate change have intensified in recent years because of a threat multiplier: the corruption of the information ecosphere on which democracy and public decisionmaking depend. The Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up call. Disinformation has led leaders and citizens alike to reject scientific advice – with tragic results. Unchecked internet disinformation could have even more drastic consequences in a nuclear crisis, perhaps leading to a nuclear war that ends world civilization. Disinformation efforts across communications systems are at this moment undermining responses to climate change in many countries. However, we see positive developments. The new US government acknowledges climate change as a threat and supports international cooperation and sciencebased policy and has offered to extend the New START arms control agreement with Russia. Group B Unit 9, exercise 4b A B C 1 Where is the clock and what is its purpose? 2 What areas of risk affect the time shown on the clock? 3 What reasons do people have to be slightly optimistic? 4 Mark any points you agree and disagree with. Work in A/B/C groups. Group A, look at advert A. Group B, look at advert B. Group C, look at advert C. 1 What effect do the adverts suggest the drink has on people? 2 What qualities do you think they promote? What do the people represent? 3 How old do you think the adverts are? How do you know? Work with students from the other groups. Look at all the adverts together. 1 Put the adverts in chronological order. What helped you decide? Which advert is clearly linked to a particular time? 2 Match these qualities to the adverts. 3 Which advert is associated with a particular: A moment or feeling? B pleasure or leisure activity? C country? 4 How are women presented in the adverts? Do you think the presentation of women in advertising has changed? 5 Which advert do you think is most effective? Why? 6 Can you think of another Pepsi ad? Describe it. energy popularity attractiveness taste health friendship refreshment success youth 219 A Activities Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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