Pugwash NEWSLETTER

issued by the Council of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs Nobel Peace Prize 1995

Nuclear Impasse?

Volume 37 Number 1 June 2000 To the Pugwash Community

New Directions for Pugwash Pugwash Study Group on Intervention and Sovereignty

he beginning of the year 2000 witnessed a num- This newly created study group met for the first time in ber of developments that set in train a wide- Venice, Italy in December 1999 to discuss ways of build- Tranging review of where and how Pugwash ing greater international support on the issue of when and should be devoting its efforts regarding major threats to where the international community should intervene in the global peace and security. internal affairs of a nation state. Papers from the Venice In the realm of nuclear weapons, Secretary General workshop were published in a new publication series, the George Rathjens convened two high-level consultations to Pugwash Occasional Papers (also available on the web) help him and the Pugwash Executive Committee think and a report on the workshop can be found on page 24. through just where Pugwash can marshal its resources to With the recent experiences of Kosovo and East Timor help the international community reverse a number of seri- freshly in mind, and with the global community facing ous recent setbacks to the control and elimination of new challenges in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic nuclear weapons. His report on these consultations, held of the Congo, and elsewhere, the Pugwash study group in La Jolla in January and in London in March, can be will work over the next several years to devise consulta- found on the pages following, and members of the tion and implementation strategies by which the interna- Pugwash community are invited and urged to respond tional community can respond in more timely fashion to with their thoughts and suggestions (via the Pugwash avert and reverse humanitarian disasters. Future meetings Online Forum on the Pugwash website, at are planned for Como, Italy in September 2000 and in www.pugwash.org). Castellón de la Plana, Spain in the spring of 2001. Also in London in March, the Pugwash Executive Committee met and decided to create a five-member Pugwash Newsletter on the Web Pugwash Review Committee that will review the structure More and more material published in the Pugwash and operations of Pugwash and report their recommenda- Newsletter is posted on the Pugwash website, usually tions to the Pugwash Council prior to the holding of the months in advance of appearing in print. We urge all 50th Pugwash Conference in Cambridge, UK from 3-8 members of Pugwash who are content to read the August 2000. Newsletter via the web to let us know Members of the review committee include the four ([email protected]) so that we can reduce the size of officers of Pugwash - George Rathjens, Michael Atiyah, our mailings and save greatly on printing and postage Francesco Calogero, and Ana María Cetto - and Joseph costs. Rotblat, President Emeritus. Here again, members of For their support of Pugwash in general and the Pugwash have had the opportunity to inject their Pugwash Newsletter in particular, we would like to thank sentiments and suggestions into the review process via the the Italian National Research Council (Consiglio website. Having been posted on the web since December Nazionale delle Recherche – CNR), the John D. and 1999, the Pugwash Survey has elicited dozens of Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Cyrus Eaton responses, most of which can be read (and responded to) Foundation. on the Pugwash Online Forum.

The Editors Nuclear Weapons and the Pugwash Agenda: A Commentary

Commentary 1999. I am aware that I write this had been agreed among the NATO memo before the outcome of the allies. The first part of the statement by Jan Prawitz NPT Review Conference 2000 is was an expected result of the NPT known. negotiations while the last part is dis- aving read with great The universality of the most turbing: that the NPT would lapse in interest the Secretary basic of all nuclear arms control wartime. Sweden gave up its nuclear HGeneral´s recent report on treaties, the NPT, is now almost option for a variety of reasons, but ”Nuclear Weapons Issues and the established. Only six states of the one was that our European Pugwash Agenda”, I feel compelled world are non-parties (as of May 1, neighbours would do the same. If to respond to the invitation to com- 2000), but three of them belong to that were so only in peacetime but ment. The report addresses primarily the family as parts of nuclear- not in wartime when it would be the weapons and doctrines of weapon-free zones. The remaining most needed, the Swedish rationale nuclear-weapon powers, of Russia three are the well-known threshold would lose value. and the USA in the first place. There states of India, Israel, and Pakistan, Almost unnoticed, however, the are good reasons to do so, both the adherence of whom to the NPT third NPT Review Conference in because the fundamental problems would not be a matter of routine. 1985 agreed in its Final Declaration originate there and because those With the important exception of five ”that the strict observance of the states are the ones which can recognized nuclear-weapon states terms of Articles I and II remains cen- contribute more than others to reach with a treaty right to possess nuclear tral to achieving the shared objectives the ultimate goal: a nuclear-weapon- weapons, non-possession of nuclear of preventing UNDER ANY free world. But I think that the many weapons is becoming a customary CIRCUMSTANCES (emphasis non-nuclear-weapon states can also norm. added) the further proliferation of have both interests and a role, by There is, however, a substantial nuclear weapons ...” (Document requesting arms control important to issue remaining to be solved before NPT/CONF. III/64/I, Annex I). This them through negotiations with the total universality would be achieved. language is politically rather than nuclear-weapon powers and more When the NPT was up for ratifica- legally binding upon the NPT Parties important by undertaking themselves tion hearings in the US Senate in July and should be reinforced and codified. restrictive measures within their 1968, Secretary of State Dean Rusk Obviously Mr Rusk´s statement capacity. Because so many non- explained in his prepared statement in 1968 referred to the East-West nuclear-weapon states would be that there would be no contradiction conflict dominating at the time. But involved, Pugwash would be a most between the provisions of Article I the end of the Cold War and the appropriate forum for professional and US ”arrangements for deploy- prospects for local wars in the future discussion of such issues. ment of nuclear weapons within now makes the more restrictive 1985 I have touched upon these issues Allied territory, as these do not interpretation the only reasonable before in my chapter in the Pugwash involve any transfer of nuclear one. In 1991, the UN Security monograph Nuclear Weapons: The weapons or control over them unless Council did indeed confirm the 1985 Road to Zero, and in my paper and until a decision were made to go approach in its resolution on Iraq. Towards a NWFW: Small Nation to war, at which time the treaty The opposite interpretation would be Roles and Priorities presented to the would no longer be controlling” beyond reason — that Iraq´s involv- 28th Pugwash Workshop on Nuclear (Documents on Disarmament 1968, ment first in a war with Iran and later Forces in Como, Italy, 9-10 July ACDA, pp. 478–495). This language in the Gulf War would have entitled

2 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 Pugwash Meeting #253 her to aquire nuclear weapons, or referred to above. Non-nuclear- France and the UK later undertook that India and Pakistan could acceed weapon states can continue this similar measures. These most impor- to the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon development unilaterally, but should tant measures have more or less emp- states but continue their weapons urge the nuclear-weapon states to be tied Europe and its adjacent sea areas programmes claiming that there is a more forthcoming in supporting and as well as many other areas of the war going on in Kashmir. extending guarantees to new zones. world of deployed theatre nuclear With the NPT membership So far some of the nuclear-weapon weapons. They did in fact remove almost complete, the more restrictive states have been oversensitive to from operational status precisely measure of nuclear-weapon-free details, for instance when refusing to those nuclear weapons that could be zones have become the dynamic ele- sign the Bangkok Treaty Protocol targeted on the smaller states and ment of the non-proliferation regime. and forcefully discouraging the estab- thus also removed the immediate The five nuclear-weapon-free zones lishment of NWFZs in Europe. threat against them of direct nuclear (NWFZ) established so far cover Furthermore, it should be attack. These measures are, however, more than half of the world´s land- based on unilateral declarations and mass (70 % of all land outside the are thus not legally binding nor do nuclear-weapon states), including 99% they have a permanent duration in For the many small and medium of the Southern Hemisphere land force. Codification of these declara- areas. They encompass 112 states sized states in the world, the most tions, as modified to meet precise cri- (out of a total of some 195) and 18 teria of security and verification, has important nuclear reduction other territories with 1.8 billion been proposed a few times. But most inhabitants. Two more NWFZs are measures agreed so far are the of the political energy devoted to currently being developed, i.e., the 1991 unilateral declarations by the nuclear arms control is today Central Asian NWFZ of five former directed towards the strategic systems USA and the USSR that led to the Soviet republics, and the single state and the START agreements. A sepa- zone of Mongolia. When a new withdrawal of most sub-strategic rately negotiated treaty, possibly NWFZ is established, the territory involving all nuclear weapon powers nuclear weapons from theatres of available for nuclear weapon deploy- and prescribing the elimination of all ment is correspondingly reduced. deployment and from general sub-strategic nuclear weapons would It thus seems reasonable to sug- purpose naval ships. be a measure of prime interest to the gest that the NWFZ concept should many small and medium-sized non- be emphazised in the future. Two nuclear-weapon states. In addition, zones on the agenda for decades, the such an elimination would be a most Middle East and South Asia, should observed that for the many small and effective step towards a nuclear- now be further emphasized and medium sized states in the world, the weapon-free world and could in one agressively pursued. If established, most important nuclear reduction step achieve a major part of what the the threshold state problem would be measures agreed so far are the 1991 many proposed nuclear-weapon-free solved. When the NPT was negoti- unilateral declarations by the USA zones would accomplish. ated in the 1960s, all efforts focused and the USSR that led to the It would also remove nuclear on Europe, disregarding other withdrawal of most sub-strategic threats projected from the sea. Small regions in the world. Some other nuclear weapons from theatres of states, generally speaking, have two regions were dissatisfied with the deployment and from general pur- kinds of interests in the maritime NPT and solved their nuclear security pose naval ships. Many of those domain. One is a need for a reason- problem regionally, i.e., by establish- weapons are now being dismantled, able ”seabord security” not to be ing their own nuclear-weapon-free particularly in the USA, others will be threatened from the sea. The other is zones with the accumulated result kept in centrally located storages. the interest of unimpeded use of the

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 3 Pugwash Meeting #253 freedom of the seas that all states of siderations and more linked to the (CSBMs) regarding nuclear weapons. the world are entitled to. contradiction of principle between A related measure that would Therefore, nuclear weapon arms control restrictions and the long meet the general security interests of restrictions at sea would be instru- time tradition of the freedom of the smaller states with activities at sea, mental both to promote the interests sea, and also to the fact that so many would be an upgrade of the current of smaller states and to pursue the parties would be involved in negoti- negative security assurances to final approach towards a nuclear- ating measures of this kind. The lat- include also a commitment not to use weapon-free world. After all, the seas ter fact is a good reason to promote or threaten to use nuclear weapons and oceans of the world occupy maritime issues within Pugwash. against targets at sea. It is obvious about 70 % of the surface of the Pending a permanent removal of that a nuclear explosion at a point at world. Establishing a restrictive nuclear weapons from the seas and sea where vessels of all nations of the regime applying to the seas and oceans, non-nuclear ”seaboard secu- world would have the right to cruise oceans could be both complicated rity” for smaller coastal states could would severely infringe upon the and difficult, however. The difficul- be achieved by means of confidence- rights of the majority of states not ties may be less due to military con- and security-building measures parties to a conflict.

4 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 PUGWASH ACTIVITIES

Report of the British Pugwash Group threshold by bodies such as ICRP. The Effects of Low Level Radiation Yet, says, ICRP, there is no threshold. There are two ways of looking at 18 April 2000 the evidence:

• The epidemiological. For A-bomb hazards” and “the probability of Chair: Sebastian Pease. survivors we have data down to 50- developing radiation-dependent dis- Rapporteur: Peter Nicholls 100 mGy (milligrays). It is argued British Institute of Radiology, eases, characteristically cancers, is that there are no excess cancer London, UK directly proportional to the dose cases at these levels (some say received”. That is, there is no thresh- below 200 mGy). We may note that old. By the late 1970s the question the average “natural” background oger Clarke (Chair, Inter- had become one as to what is ‘rea- is 3 mGy for a lifetime exposure of national Commission on sonable’. Utilitarian cost-benefit about 200 mGy. For radium work- Radiological Protection) analysis was in vogue. The key ques- R ers we have data at similar levels. spoke first on “Low level radiation”. tions were seen as: How many lives No definable risk can be demon- Less than a year after the discovery of will be saved? What will it cost? strated at low doses although some X-rays by Roentgen (1895), guide- Protect society, it was thought, and have found that risks in utero lines to prevent dermal burns were the individual WILL be protected. increase for exposures as low as 10 developed by Fuchs. Serious interna- But by the time the 1990s arrived mGy. As Joseph Rotblat pointed tional efforts had to await the end of the emphasis had changed. A concern out in the discussion, the numbers WWI. In 1934 the accepted limit was for individual risk was uppermost. of such cases (both populations and set at 0.2 roentgens/day—about 25 An important question was that of victims of disease) are too low for times the level deemed acceptable inequity. It was not acceptable if a statistics to tell us anything reliably today. In those days and for some single individual was at high risk one way or the other. time thereafter (the reporter has seen even if the population at large were recent colour TV footage of people relatively safe. Standards must there- • The molecular biological. DNA is sitting in abandoned US uranium fore address the question of the indi- the target. The cell can repair dam- mines ‘for their health’) low levels of vidual risk. aged DNA. But only single strand radiation and radioactivity were Now that we are in the 2000s the breaks in the double stranded mate- regarded as beneficial (radioactive focus has become one of looking at rial can reliably be repaired. Double underwear was the rage...). individual risks, sometimes from sin- breaks (common from radiation After the bombs everything gle sources. But the threshold effect is ‘hits’) can leave the molecule dam- changed. By 1955 it was recognised still debated. The French Academy aged or mutated. Under such condi- that for at least two groups of (the reporter notes the dependence of tions the probability of cancer exposed victims—radiologists them- French industry upon nuclear power seems to be increased for a single selves and the survivors of Hiroshima and of French military prestige upon mutation. Hence, no threshold. The and Nagasaki—cancer (especially nuclear weapons) has produced a cell engages in adaptive responses leukemia) risks were increased. report that says such a threshold to insult (“hormesis”). This, Now the ICRP guidelines are exists. In the US Senate, Sen. Pete together with evidence for radia- that “any risk must be kept much Domenici has introduced a resolution tion-induced changes in apoptosis smaller than that from other demanding recognition of such a (controlled cell death) and immune

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 5 surveillance, has suggested that low Or shellfish? Note that some organ- giving possible rise to both chemical levels of damage may actually be isms are much less sensitive to radia- and radiological effects. advantageous to the tissue or at tion than are human beings What are the chemotoxicity dan- least unthreatening (radioactive (cockroaches are the famous exam- gers? Uranium is a heavy metal like a underwear makes a come-back??). ple) but others more so (including number of others (lead, cadmium some plants and perhaps trees). etc.) and 1mg is dangerous for kidney Nonetheless in Clarke’s view no But justifying acceptable levels of function. But to get 1mg U to the kid- evidence at the cellular level is avail- radiation involves invoking more ney 50mg would have to be inhaled, able seriously to challenge the ICRP than science; it is also a matter of pol- an amount not likely to be taken up position of ‘no threshold’. In the new icy into which technical radiological by anyone other than an unfortunate era of ‘equity-based ethics’ individu- issues are but a minor input. At the crew member of a stricken tank. In als have acquired ‘rights’ to certain moment all we can say technically is: any case the description of ‘Gulf War levels of protection—how much, the (i) we must control doses to all those Syndrome’ illnesses does not include ‘stakeholders’ themselves must most exposed to risk; and, (ii) such kidney-related complaints. decide, not the experts or the govern- doses must be ALARP (as low as rea- What are the radiological dan- ment. Protect the individual, we now sonably practical). gers? 238U has a half life of 4.5 byr, say, and society will automatically be In discussion this reporter was and 235U of 0.71 byr compared to protected—a reversal of the older surprised to hear that there seem to 24 kyr for 239Pu. This means that doctrine. The result? The maximum be no firm guidelines as to acceptable 238U, and even 235U are hardly dosage is now set at 0.3 mSv levels of radionuclides in consumer radioactive (the weapons’ explosive (millisieverts), giving a possible can- products. Some, of course, are delib- effect is due to nuclear fission, quite a cer risk (assuming no threshold) of erately radioactive (e. g. smoke different process). Still, what radioac- 1:10^5 and amounting to 10% of the alarms), others by accident (news- tivity there is involves alpha- 3 mSv natural background exposure. print a possible case). There is a vol- emission, a possible inducer of But note that on Cornish granite the untary code but no governmental ‘genomic instability’, as discussed by natural exposure goes to 10 mSv or instructions. The National Radio- Dr. Clarke. But 100mg of U would be even to 100 mSv in some pockets of logical Protection Board (of which needed for a significant radiation radon accumulation. Those of us Dr. Clarke is Director) does regularly dose and the descriptions of ‘Gulf who take international flights may or monitor the air, food samples and War Syndrome’ suggest a pattern of may not wish to be reminded that public water samples for us. multiple causes, to which the indis- that gives a substantial added ‘nat- Whatever comfort that provides. criminate use of insecticides inside ural’(?) exposure—possibly of great- Douglas Holdstock (Secretary, tents and the injection of anti-nerve est concern in the case of flight crews. Medact) then dealt with the specific gas cocktails including substances The rules require continuous dia- question of “Depleted Uranium”. like prostigmine are the most likely logue. Assessment of risks as a per- Depleted uranium (DU), left over major contributors. The reported centage of natural background may after weapons or reactor 235U has symptoms reminded Dr. Holdstock be the most useful. This then also been extracted, contains 99.8% of the recognized syndrome suffered enables us to consider the question of 238U (‘natural’ uranium is 99.3% by farmers exposed to extensive environmental radiation protection 238U, 0.7% 235U and a small amounts of sheep dip chemicals. policy—an area which current amount of 234U). 300 tons of DU Should then DU be banned from human-focused guidelines do not were released in the second Gulf War weapons? There is an inhumane address. Because the environment is and about 7-10 tons in Kosovo. It is weapons convention. The use of any not one of individuals, such risks are not a reactor product and contains weapon must pass the ‘principle of direct and not statistical in nature. no fission products. DU shells release justification’. The reporter notes that What will be the effect on oak trees? up to 1kg of burning dust on impact, some military authorities or services

6 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 have decided against using DU, per- STUDENT/YOUNG PUGWASH haps because their own personnel are uncomfortable about it—but good Report of the Student Pugwash USA Conference can be done by stealth. It seems therefore not to be seen as militarily Peace, Science and Humanity: decisive. Although it may not be as Choices for the Next Generation poisonous as some think, it is, even Chicago, IL, 2 April 2000 just as a weapon, unpleasant or ‘unknightly’ (the occupants of an encouraged the audience including by Anna Moden attacked tank have little opportunity many students as well as senior of surrender). Its use blurs the Associate Director, Student Pugwash USA Pugwashites to forget the differences distinctions between conventional, between people and political persua- chemical and nuclear weapons. The he benefits of the growing sions and use science and technology absence of any preceding discussion collaboration between for the benefit of humankind. of its development at civilian levels Pugwash and Student Student Pugwash USA organized this (our knowledge of its existence may T Pugwash were clearly evident at an day because we believe that the way have come courtesy of a sharp-eyed event sponsored by Student Pugwash to create a more secure world is to Gulf reporter and a talkative soldier) USA entitled “Peace, Science and build bridges between current and was another indication of failed civil- Humanity: Choices for the Next future concerned leaders and scien- ian control of the military. A ban may Generation.” Around 75 people par- tists. The event was co-sponsored by therefore be a political as much as an ticipated in this exciting event which The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ethical desirability. But doubtless the was held in Chicago on April 2, and Physicians for Social debate will continue. 2000. Responsibility. Professor Joseph Rotblat, who In his speech, Professor Rotblat References spoke on the topic “Science and provided an overview of the human Clarke, R. H., & Holdstock, D. Civilization in the Coming Decades” condition in the 20th century, using (2000) Summaries (British Pugwash Group, 63A Gt. Russell St., London WC1B 3BJ, UK).

Fetter, S., & von Hippel, F. (1999) Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 55, #6, 42-45, and, for another set of viewpoints:

Laka Foundation (1999) Depleted Uranium: a post-war disaster for environment and health. (Laka Foundation, Ketelhuisplein 43, 1054 RD Amsterdam, Netherlands).

Peter Nicholls, Department of Biological Sciences, Central Campus, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, From the left: Bob Musil, executive director, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Heather Stewart, Audrey Nash, Jo Rotblat, Chitra Kumar, Anna Moden Colchester, CO4 3SQ, England. e-mail: [email protected]

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 7 the UN Human Development Index pledge coordinator at Student secretariat delivered greetings from to make his point that developments Pugwash USA, spoke about the the Pugwash Conferences and talked in science and technology have pro- importance of young people being about recent and upcoming activities, vided better health, better food, safer involved in nuclear weapons issues, and Anna Moden, Student Pugwash industry, fewer day-to-day chores, how to increase interest in these USA’s associate director, emceed the more education, and many other ben- issues, and what it is like to be a stu- event. efits to humanity as a whole. Rotblat dent caring about nuclear weapons Student Pugwash USA holds sev- said that these indicators should and arms control. eral regional events in different parts serve as a reason for optimism. Hugo Estrella, coordinator of of the United States each spring. Next However, he continued, we will be International Student/Young Pugwash on Student Pugwash USA’s agenda faced with tough decisions as we spoke about exciting new plans for was “Deciding on Disarmament: A enter the 21st century. As science the establishment of an international Day at the UN’s Non-Proliferation proceeds in fields such as biotechnol- Student/Young Pugwash secretariat Treaty Review Conference,” held in ogy and communications technolo- and the importance of student move- New York City on April 24 in con- gies, young people must be prepared ments around the world [see below]. junction with the opening of the NPT to make choices about how to use Jeffrey Boutwell from the Pugwash review conference. these new technologies. He prompted the audience to remember the histori- cal relationship between science, The Hidden Power technology, and society in the 20th century as we face the coming chal- lenges. Victor Rabinowitch, senior Commentary Therefore, it challenges power, or at vice president at the John D. and by Hugo Estrella least people in power. Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation International Student/Young and a Pugwashite, provided Pugwash Coordinator Myths comments after Professor Rotblat’s We can learn a lot from the traditions speech. Professor Rotblat attended s teenagers, we live through of ancient cultures, and these have the whole event and also took the a usually uncomfortable, several warnings for those seeking opportunity to share his thoughts Aquestioning time: we ques- knowledge and for what we can do with students during lively lunch- tion our parents, the world’s unfair- with the knowledge we acquire. time conversations. Ruth Adams, ness, and many times feel every injus- Sometimes those warnings are intel- Pugwashite and a long-term tice translated into personal terms. lectually challenging, some other supporter of Student Pugwash USA, When we arrive at university is when times they are scaring: a manifesta- also joined us for the day. the big change in our lives happens. tion of the other powers, trying to Another panel examined the We are never going to be the same. maintain knowledgeable people topic “Scientists, Young People, and We have earned the ability to ques- within their “proper” limits. Nuclear Weapons.” Stephen tion the world, but this time in a sys- The message seems to be: “Be Schwartz, publisher of The Bulletin tematic, scientific way. careful, you are too small and weak of the Atomic Scientists, Bob Musil, And science is a quest for for making your own decisions. Let executive director of Physicians for answers, or, as Bertrand Russell said, us guide you, and keep you safe and Social Responsibility, Clayton Nall, a “the ability to formulate the proper warm”. I can recall two myths about member of Student Pugwash USA’s questions”. In that way we change this: the punishment for eating from board of directors and a student at ourselves, we improve our the tree of knowledge, and good and the University of Madison– knowledge, and the outcome of it all evil, better known as the Fall. The Wisconsin, and Heather Stewart, is the ability to modify reality. other myth, my preferred one, is that

8 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 of Prometheus, who built some funny less often present, and the fascination society. Society knows that universi- mud creatures, and felt sorry for for technology and its ability to cre- ties and scientists are able to look for them, suffering cold, unable to find a ate wealth, seemed to act as a sort of the solution to their problems. way to warm themselves. So he stole anaesthesia. Therefore those people educated at a the fire of knowledge from the university level are citizens, citizens Olympic gods, and gave it to his crea- Questioning in a scientific way with an important role to play. For tures. The Gods were really mad at Universities inherited and improved what they know, and for what the him, and meted out a horrible pun- that ability for challenging power. others know they know. ishment for his action. In any event, But something very interesting hap- And that line of thinking led uni- throughout history humans acquired pened with those who entered them: versity people to be in the forefront more and more knowledge and lost they became part of a small commu- of every single progressive movement their fear, up to the point that we no nity with a universal view. This com- in the world. longer believe in Zeus, once the thun- Protesting for freedom, for ratio- derbolt thrower, and Olympus itself nality in a world rarely led by Reason. became a small, irrelevant mountain. At a time when Modernity and its This doesn’t mean there was no Somehow, as soon as ideals are challenged, we must price to pay for questioning authority. [technological] developments remember the motto of the French A few days ago we commemorated revolution and how it led to a dream became possible, probable and Giordano Bruno, burnt at the stake of a better world, which has some- 400 years ago after six years of tor- eventually real, ethical concerns how been achieved: Liberty, Equality ture, for affirming that according to and Fraternity. All three of them are were less often present, and the evidence, the Universe is infinite, and needed for human-centred action. We Earth is not its centre. fascination for technology and its need liberty for inquiry at the very There have been other warnings, ability to create wealth, seemed to basis of science; we need to move to a more challenging, more appealing to more equal situation specially achieved act as a sort of anaesthesia. scientific minds. I would point out by spreading education; and we need the ones that were expressed in artis- to behave fraternally to each other. tic, literary terms as a result of those There is no better way to feel safe that were held inside the scientific munity has survived through the cen- than relying on our fellows. That is community. These had much to do turies, dating even prior to the Fraternity. And that is a wonderful with the rare ability science and existence of nation-states. My univer- message and life example we get from technology showed for shaping and sity for instance, Cordoba, was people like Professor Rotblat and rapidly changing the world as it founded in 1613, before the colonial those who have acted in Pugwash: we was known in some stages of the organisation of “Virreinato del Rio cannot rely on just our national modern Era. de la Plata” (1776), and centuries boundaries, on our wealth, on our I can think of some examples, like before Argentina itself (1816). And governments, or even on a nuclear Brave New World, 1984 or Fritz even in those founding times, univer- arsenal to survive. Lang’s movie Metropolis. They raised sities were integrated into that long You can only rely on others, on an ethical concern for developments lasting tradition that made science those with whom we share our char- that were then considered almost possible: THE QUEST FOR acters as human beings, and impossible, like interactive media, TRUTH. It included the sense of especially on those who share our human cloning or robotization. But, belonging to a community, the high privilege of having been admitted somehow, as soon as those develop- level of responsibility for the into knowledge. ments became possible, probable and outcome of that relation with knowl- And I hope students from all over eventually real, ethical concerns were edge, a commitment to the rest of the world are able to learn and feel

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 9 Pugwash Meeting #253 this message. I believe it will happen, have over 20 national student/young bers and energy, but the best of our because there is something wonderful groups all over the world. We know mentors, the wise men and women of with universities and their students we can make a difference. We can our communities, are with us. all over the world. recreate that spirit of responsibility as I would like to finish using Wherever a dictatorship is ques- another artistic example: Many of tioned, the justification of a war is you may have seen the movie, The publicly discussed, or a movement Pugwash is a wonderful Truman Show. I think it’s a good for democracy or defending the envi- example of how many of us feel. We movement that gives us the ronment is started, no doubt you will must abandon a wonderful “warm find that university students are in unique opportunity of thinking world” set up for us to feel comfort- the forefront. in new ways. able and safe, but in which we are It happened in the 1960s in not really able to decide. Let’s open Cordoba, Mexico, Paris, Prague, the door to a real world, let’s take the Berkeley and London. It happened in scientists, as citizens, as human challenge of shaping our own life, the last ten years in Prague again, beings. We can recall what has been relying on our personal capacities Belgrade, Tian-An-Men and Jakarta. our secret for generations: students and the fraternal behaviour of our And even though the price we had may be in the forefront due to num- fellow humans. to pay was very high, it was worth it: Indonesian dictator Suharto, who had been in power for more than 30 years, was pulled down mainly by STUDENT/YOUNG PUGWASH the effect of students’ protests. Milosevic˘’s regime was more success- Report of the Swiss Student Pugwash National Conference fully challenged by the massive protests of Belgrade University stu- Thinking in New Ways: Youth, dents, than by the NATO bombings. Responsibility and Science And students did not destroy bridges, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland, 7–9 April 2000 factories, or mistakenly attack civil- ian targets. All this is just to say how much wiss Student Pugwash held its focused on the social responsibility of we have been able—and are able—to first ever national conference, scientists, tracing developments from do with what we learn, with the Sfrom 7–9 April, 2000 at the Manhattan Project of 1941-45 to knowledge we inherit, and the CERN in Geneva. Eva Haden and the Russell-Einstein Manifesto of knowledge we create. Shahnaz Radjy, president and trea- 1955 to the birth of Pugwash in Pugwash is a wonderful move- surer respectively of Swiss Student Nova Scotia in 1957. Dr. Harigel ment that gives us the unique oppor- Pugwash, organized the event, which recounted how the danger and threat tunity of thinking in new ways. We drew some participants. of nuclear warfare evolved in the sec- are allowed to interact with remark- The conference opened with ond half of the 20th century, and able scholars and learn something remarks from Prof. Jean-Henri what international groups of scien- that is unfortunately not very often Stroot, President of the Board of the tists such as Pugwash have done to taught in Academia. We can work Geneva International Peace Research support arms control treaties and the with people who feel the same Institute, and Dr. Gert Harigel, senior ultimate abolition of nuclear responsibility in distant and different professor emeritus at CERN. weapons. places. We have been able to meet in In his talk, Comment et The conference had four separate many opportunities, to network, to Pourquoi Pugwash, Prof. Stroot Working Groups: (1) Weapons of

10 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 Mass Destruction, (2) The Environment, (3) Development, and (4) Ethics, Science and Technology. After meeting as working groups, each delivered a report to the confer- ence plenary session. During the conference, there was a panel discussion on the topic, “The Future of Swiss Student Pugwash,” chaired by Alex Neil (International School of Geneva), while the closing plenary speech was given by Dr. Martin Kaplan, former Secretary- General of Pugwash. A full report of the conference is available on the website of Swiss Student Pugwash, www.student-pug- Participants at the Swiss Student Pugwash Conference in CERN. wash.org/swiss.

NEWS FROM ISODARCO

21st Isodarco Summer Course Nuclear Weapons in a Vulnerable World Rovereto, Italy, 9–18 August 2000

The 2000 Isodarco summer session in Rovereto, Italy FUTURE ISODARCO EVENTS will trace the development of the nuclear age, from the 7th Isodarco Beijing Seminar on Arms Control origins of the Manhattan Project and the use of Xi’an, China nuclear weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki to 8–12 October 2000 the current challenges facing the control and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. Organized by Ruth 14th Isodarco Winter Course Adams of the University of California, San Diego, the Andalo, Italy Isodarco meeting will focus on a wide range of politi- 21–28 January 2001 cal, military, economic and social components of the nuclear weapons dilemma. Speakers include Martin Sherwin, David Holloway, Michael May, and For more information contact Kennette Benedict (US), Sergei Kapitza and E. Prof. Carlo Schaerf Bazhanov (Russia), Pervez Hoodbhoy (Pakistan), Dept. of Physics, University of Rome Avner Cohen (Israel), Gert Harigel (Switzerland), and Phone: 39-06-7259-4560; fax: 39-06-204-0309 David Carlton (UK). Email: [email protected]

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 11 BOOKS

Brock Chisholm—Doctor to the World by Allan Irving

Review is these overseas distinctions, initially at the United Nations and by S. William Gunn subsequently at the World Health ISBN 1-55041-1846, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Markham, Canada 1998, Organization and in the world at 149 pages large, that constitute his undoubted fame worldwide, and which earned him an invitation from Lord Russell s a young surgeon practis- to the initial historic meeting at ing in Nova Scotia, Pugwash. APugwash was not After having fully contributed to unknown to me but the surprise was the growth of his country, the coun- great when the news spread that this try that Chisholm was now working sleepy village was holding a high- for was the entire world, with its level scientific meeting hosted by strengths and weaknesses, its myths Cyrus Eaton. The little fishing com- and realities, accords and rivalries munity, however seemed less Santa Claus”. His biography has and tensions, the international com- surprised as, for them, their local boy recently been published by the munity and the promise of youth, the now a famous American tycoon, Hannah Institute for the History of world population of the healthy and receiving scientists from around the Medicine in Toronto. the sick, the rapprochement of the world, “could do anything”. Indeed Brock Chisholm—Doctor to the wealthy and the poor, the contribu- more than that, it became evident World traces quite chronologically tion of health as a bridge to peace, over the years that the 22 guests ini- the life of this Canadian, born in and the action of men and women for tially gathered there to discuss the 1896 and died in 1971, after a full a more just society. And that for him Russell-Einstein Manifesto could also career of medical and social, military was the World Health Organization. do great things, their brainstorming, and pacific, national and inter- It still is, as his legacy. Here he firmly enlightened advocacy and continuous national achievements. It describes anchored his revolutionary concept action eventually being rewarded by his growth and maturation, his brav- of “health”, ably moulded a multina- the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995. ery in World War I, his medical stud- tional esprit de corps, broke down Among that first Pugwash group ies, general practice and interest in imperialistic and nationalistic bound- was a Canadian physician, Dr. psychiatry until World War II, his aries—at least as far as health was George Brock Chisholm, well known distinguished administrative career concerned, and affirmed the convic- and respected worldwide as one of and military ascension to the rank of tion that there can be no real peace the architects of the United Nations, Major General, and thence to higher unless mankind took its destiny in its first Director-General of the World civil service as Deputy Minister of own hands in an enlightened way. Health Organization and a freethink- Health. These national contributions This was the message besides, of ing internationalist, less known or would be remarkable for any man, course, the technical aspects of world perhaps wrongly remembered in yet Chisholm enriched and expanded health for which WHO was primarily Canada as “the man who killed them with international service and it set up. There was no dichotomy

12 Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 between pragmatic and idealistic WHO, his friends in Geneva, the UN, Union), became a director of the action; as in the 50th Anniversary youth, weapons of mass destruction Canadian Peace Research Institute Brock Chisholm oration when and peace, his legendary modesty (with Nobel Prize associations Director-General Emeritus Halfdan gave no hint at all of his having through Lester Pearson as, later, with Mahler qualified Chisholm’s mission received, that very day, the country’s Pugwash), urged the creation of an as being both “soaring and down to highest accolade, Companion of the international police force (as now earth”. Order of Canada, that I only learned being envisaged by Kofi Annan of the Present at the United Nations of as I read the papers on the ferry UN) and emphasized the necessity of from its embryonic days (San back to Vancouver. Yet some people international humanitarian action (as Francisco Conference, 1945), found him complex. later established through the Depart- through the Technical Preparatory Irving devotes a little under half ment of UN Humanitarian Affairs Committee (1946) discussing post- of the book to Chisholm’s interna- and, more recently the foundation of war health reconstruction, the tional life. The facts are recorded, the International Association for interim Commission (1946-48) and but considering the special importance Humanitarian Medicine that bears finally at the first World Health of this sector of the man’s life and his name). To borrow a term from Assembly (1948) when he was contributions, a more extensive and another Canadian internationalist, he elected Director-General, Chisholm analytical study could have been was truly a physician peacemonger. toiled tirelessly to establish, ensure expected. Chisholm was well versed Pending a deeper study of this supe- and strengthen the mission of the in receiving from all parts of the rior man, Irving’s slim volume pro- new Health Organization which even world health reports and acting on vides considerable information on owes its name “World” to him. them. But the devastating reports this remarkable Pugwashite. Once a military leader, now a health from Hiroshima and Nagasaki could promoting and peacemaking chief, he not fit into a cold organigram pattern S. William Gunn, a Canadian physi- undertook the task systematically, and an increasingly peace-promoting cian who joined WHO, is currently relentlessly, diplomatically yet firmly, anti-nuclear stand had to be taken, President of the International putting mankind always in the mid- which Chisholm did with growing Association for Humanitarian dle of his preoccupations. Witness conviction. He energetically promoted Medicine Brock Chisholm, in his speech at the first Pugwash gath- World Federalism (that is now in part Switzerland. ering: one of two medical men being answered by the European among a predominantly physicists’ galaxy, Chisholm began his contribu- tion right away by saying “I want to talk about another kind of background, other than radiation”, the background of human and social well-being. And throughout all his work and pronouncements, his dig- nity and humility are recounted by all who met him. I recall being impressed by this when, before join- ing WHO I paid him a courtesy call in his peaceful retirement home near Victoria, British Columbia. In our Participants at the first Pugwash meeting in 1957. Brock Chisholm is 10th from left. conversation on the mission of

Pugwash Newsletter, June 2000 13 OBITUARIES

General Charles Georges Fricaud-Chagnaud

General Fricaud-Chagnaud passed away on 18 enemy, create a New Europe seeking Security and Peace. November 1999. He was a member and a friend of CIR- He was a member of Pugwash, who brought great military PES, and we are deeply saddened by this news. He became knowledge and conviction to interventions, conferences an orphan early in his life, and when only an adolescent, and articles, revealing his strong views: the need for a he was involved in the Resistance, which was the begin- “Rapid Action Power,” and “concerted” deterrence. ning of his military career (as Marine Troop Officer). His He was a man of progress, a republican and a human- commitment to ensuring security in Europe (postings in ist, left-wing, tolerant and intellectually sincere, which Washington, negotiations of Arms Control and NATO) forced him to speak his mind, and we will all remember was the basis of new activities of the Studies of National him with affection. Defense Foundation. He fought for a France that was proud, and that could, together with its former German —Venance Journé

14 Pugwash Newsletter, April 2000