Nuclear winter
“Nuclear winter is a theoretical concept. In short, many scientists believe that a large scale nuclear war would change the global climate in great proportion” (Roberts, p1). There are many things you would need to survive a nuclear winter, such as food, water, shelter and clothing as described in “How to Survive Nuclear Winter”. But there are also many elements that you would need to survive that aren’t necessary for physical survival, but you would need for survival of the soul and the mind as are described In “The Portable Phonograph” Both would be needed to truly survive and prosper during a nuclear winter.
Nuclear winter would be a cold, desolate place to live in. There would be little sunlight; the ground would be rutted from tanks and military vehicles. There would be great pits in the ground. “These pits were such as might have been made by falling meteors, but they were not. They were the scars of giant bombs, their rawness already made a little natural by the rain, seed, and time.” (Clark. p177) There would be large areas of high radioactivity, near where the explosions took place. Ozone depletion would let more of the sun’s harmful rays through, which can cause skin cancer and eye problems. The cold though would be the worst, fuel sources like gas, oil and coal would be gone as there would be no one to get it out of the ground. The only sources of energy in this cold new world would be burning what was left of the tattered cities and environment or whatever you had on hand when the blast struck. Living in a nuclear winter environment would be difficult and you’d need a lot of supplies.
To thrive in a nuclear winter environment you would need the obvious things like food, water, clothing and shelter. “Finding ways to produce food on your own or within your social network would likely become vitally important” (Roberts, p3) But there’s another element that most people probably don’t consider, something to keep you sane and to keep you going during hard times. You may want to bring something such as music, or literature to read and keep you entertained. In the portable phonograph the things the old man has brought along, even though technically not essential for survival, are the most valuable for keeping the men sane and keeping their soul going. “You will have a little soul left until you die” (Clark, P.179) said one man in the story.
Therefore, surviving the hostile wasteland of a nuclear winter would not only be difficult physically, but would be hard on the mind and soul. You would need things to keep your body going and things to keep your mind and soul going. In harsh post-apocalyptic world, things that were once common place and not very valuable may become the things most sought after, like books and music. No one wants a nuclear winter to be a reality, but the truth is that some countries have the power to make it a reality one today. Over 2000 nuclear weapons have been tested worldwide but only two have ever been used in combat because of the horrendous effects.
“Nuclear winter is a theoretical concept. In short, many scientists believe that a large scale nuclear war would change the global climate in great proportion” (Roberts, p1). There are many things you would need to survive a nuclear winter, such as food, water, shelter and clothing as described in “How to Survive Nuclear Winter”. But there are also many elements that you would need to survive that aren’t necessary for physical survival, but you would need for survival of the soul and the mind as are described In “The Portable Phonograph” Both would be needed to truly survive and prosper during a nuclear winter.
Nuclear winter would be a cold, desolate place to live in. There would be little sunlight; the ground would be rutted from tanks and military vehicles. There would be great pits in the ground. “These pits were such as might have been made by falling meteors, but they were not. They were the scars of giant bombs, their rawness already made a little natural by the rain, seed, and time.” (Clark. p177) There would be large areas of high radioactivity, near where the explosions took place. Ozone depletion would let more of the sun’s harmful rays through, which can cause skin cancer and eye problems. The cold though would be the worst, fuel sources like gas, oil and coal would be gone as there would be no one to get it out of the ground. The only sources of energy in this cold new world would be burning what was left of the tattered cities and environment or whatever you had on hand when the blast struck. Living in a nuclear winter environment would be difficult and you’d need a lot of supplies.
To thrive in a nuclear winter environment you would need the obvious things like food, water, clothing and shelter. “Finding ways to produce food on your own or within your social network would likely become vitally important” (Roberts, p3) But there’s another element that most people probably don’t consider, something to keep you sane and to keep you going during hard times. You may want to bring something such as music, or literature to read and keep you entertained. In the portable phonograph the things the old man has brought along, even though technically not essential for survival, are the most valuable for keeping the men sane and keeping their soul going. “You will have a little soul left until you die” (Clark, P.179) said one man in the story.
Therefore, surviving the hostile wasteland of a nuclear winter would not only be difficult physically, but would be hard on the mind and soul. You would need things to keep your body going and things to keep your mind and soul going. In harsh post-apocalyptic world, things that were once common place and not very valuable may become the things most sought after, like books and music. No one wants a nuclear winter to be a reality, but the truth is that some countries have the power to make it a reality one today. Over 2000 nuclear weapons have been tested worldwide but only two have ever been used in combat because of the horrendous effects.