Joseph Rotblat Founding the Pugwash Movement

Joseph RotblatJoseph RotblatFounding the Pugwash Founding the Pugwash

MovementMovement

Kit HillKit HillBritish Pugwash and author, “Professor Pugwash”British Pugwash and author, “Professor Pugwash”

Sandra Ionno ButcherSandra Ionno ButcherPugwash History ProjectPugwash History Project

BSHS, Exeter, July 2011

Hiroshima 1945Hiroshima 1945

NagasakiNagasaki

1955: News of his family – after 6 1955: News of his family – after 6 yearsyears

Jo’s mother, his two brothers, and Jo’s mother, his two brothers, and other members of the family other members of the family survived the war, eventually survived the war, eventually

coming to join him in England.coming to join him in England.

But his wife, Tola, had died in the But his wife, Tola, had died in the Nazi extermination camp at Nazi extermination camp at

MajdanekMajdanek

19461946

Rotblat Co-foundsRotblat Co-founds

Atomic Scientists Atomic Scientists AssociationAssociation

1946-471946-47

Nuclear Physics Sub-Nuclear Physics Sub-committeecommittee

ofof

Cabinet Advisory CommitteeCabinet Advisory Committee

on Atomic Energyon Atomic Energy

1949 (delayed to 1950)1949 (delayed to 1950)

Professor of PhysicsProfessor of Physics

as Applied to Medicineas Applied to Medicine

St Bart’s HospitalSt Bart’s Hospital

Medical SchoolMedical School

The Lucky The Lucky DragonDragon

1 March 19541 March 1954““The sky in the west The sky in the west suddenly lit up and suddenly lit up and the sea became the sea became brighter than day…brighter than day…We watched the We watched the dazzling light, which dazzling light, which felt heavy.”felt heavy.”

Lucky Dragon crew Lucky Dragon crew member Yoshio Misakimember Yoshio Misaki

(Delayed until) March (Delayed until) March 19551955

““The Hydrogen-Uranium The Hydrogen-Uranium Bomb”Bomb”

J RotblatJ Rotblat

Atomic Scientists JournalAtomic Scientists Journal

Panorama – Rotblat & Panorama – Rotblat & Russell MeetRussell Meet

•April 13, 1954•Begin to educate the British public on the new hydrogen bomb•The two stay in close contact over the years

Man’s Peril, 1954Man’s Peril, 1954

““I appeal, as a human I appeal, as a human being to human being to human beings: remember beings: remember your humanity, and your humanity, and forget the rest.” forget the rest.”

Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell

6 to 7 million people 6 to 7 million people heard the broadcastheard the broadcast

Russell Writes EinsteinRussell Writes EinsteinFebruary 11, 1955

Einstein’s Final Act

“[T]he last message from the man who was the symbol of the great heights the human intellect can reach, imploring us not to let all this be destroyed by human folly.”

-- Joseph Rotblat

The Russell-Einstein Manifesto The Russell-Einstein Manifesto (extract):(extract):

In the tragic situation which In the tragic situation which confronts humanity, we feel confronts humanity, we feel that scientists should assemble that scientists should assemble in conference to appraise the in conference to appraise the perils that have arisen as a perils that have arisen as a result of the development of result of the development of weapons of mass destructionweapons of mass destruction

Russell Einstein Manifesto: Russell Einstein Manifesto: 9 July 19559 July 1955

Caxton Hall, London Rotblat Caxton Hall, London Rotblat chairingchairing

A New Role for A New Role for Scientists?Scientists?

““[T]he idea that scientists should take [T]he idea that scientists should take an active part in world affairs was an active part in world affairs was evidently approved by public evidently approved by public opinion.”opinion.”

Joseph RotblatJoseph Rotblat

July 13, 1955TransAtlanticAir Mail

My Lord: Your brilliant statement on nuclear warfare has made a dramatic world-wide impact. …Could I help toward the realization of your proposal by anonymously financing a meeting of the scientists in your group at Pugwash, Nova Scotia? I have dedicated a comfortably equipped residence there by the sea to scholarly groups….

Eaton’s Invitation

CourageCouragethe “McCarthy witch the “McCarthy witch hunt was still in the air. hunt was still in the air. … For many American … For many American scientists, participation scientists, participation in the Conference might in the Conference might have spelled the end of have spelled the end of their professional career their professional career … …

It was only a fearless It was only a fearless person like Cyrus Eaton, person like Cyrus Eaton, who broke the taboo, who broke the taboo, and made the and made the Conference possible.” Conference possible.”

--Joseph Rotblat --Joseph Rotblat

First Pugwash First Pugwash Conference Conference

July 1957, Pugwash, Nova ScotiaJuly 1957, Pugwash, Nova Scotia

“I came here with hope, but also prepared that it was going to be a complete fiasco.” Joseph Rotblat

Joseph RotblatAnd

Ruth AdamsAt Pugwash,

“Pugwash”Native American:

pagwechk –shallow waters

Chisholm, Eaton

Rotblat, Szilard

Lacassagne, Rotblat, Eaton, Skobeltzyn

Rotblat, Powell

Pugwash ConferencesPugwash Conferenceson Science and World on Science and World

AffairsAffairs

An Innovative An Innovative ‘Transnational ‘Transnational Organization’Organization’ People in individual capacitiesPeople in individual capacities

Non-attribution (Chatham House Non-attribution (Chatham House rules)rules)

People with access to corridors of People with access to corridors of powerpower

Scientific integrityScientific integrity

Nobel Peace Prize 1995Nobel Peace Prize 1995

To Pugwash and to Joseph To Pugwash and to Joseph Rotblat Rotblat

““for their efforts to diminishthe part played by nuclear armsin international politics and in the longer run to eliminate such arms.”

www.pugwash.orgwww.pugwash.org

www.pugwashhistory.blogspwww.pugwashhistory.blogspot.comot.com

Official historian: Sandy Official historian: Sandy ButcherButcher