In June 2022 NATO members adopted an updated Strategic Concept (the preceding Concept having been adopted in 2010). There was reason to hope that in the updated Concept NATO members would envisage using nuclear weapons only in response to their first use by a nuclear-armed adversary. That reason lay in remarks made by President Biden […]
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On ending the Ukraine conflict and reducing nuclear dangers
Published on 21st October 2022 in Uncategorised, Nuclear Weapons, International Peace & Security
Note by the President and the Secretary General of Pugwash 1. We note with great concern the worsening situation in the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The annexation of areas currently controlled by the Russian military will exacerbate tensions as Ukraine seems determined to recover the occupied regions and is supported by […]
The Extension of Russian Nuclear Weapon Use Risk to the Ukrainian Theatre, a British Pugwash Note
Published on 12th October 2022 in Uncategorised, Nuclear Weapons, International Peace & Security
On 21 September President Putin said: “If the territorial integrity of our nation is threatened, we will certainly use all the means that we have to defend Russia and our people.” On 30 September he reiterated the point at the signing of treaties for the accession to the Russian Federation of the Donetsk and Lugansk […]
Webinar 29th September: Nuclear arms control, disarmament, and the future of the NPT
Published on 16th September 2022 in Uncategorised, Nuclear Weapons, Disarmament, NPT, Forthcoming events, Student Young Pugwash Upcoming Events
Join British Pugwash for our latest webinar on 29th September at 17:00. Aidan Liddle and Dr Rebecca Johnson will be speaking on the current challenges involving nuclear arms control and disarmament. Chairing the meeting is Peter Jenkins, Chair of British Pugwash. You will have the opportunity to pose questions to our expert panel. British Pugwash […]
Pugwash note on the outcome of the 10th NPT Review Conference
Published on 1st September 2022 in Nuclear Weapons, Disarmament, NPT, International Peace & Security
Pugwash notes with regret that the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) have not been able to achieve consensus on a Final Document at the Tenth Review Conference. The NPT is an important element of the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and all Parties must continue to support it in […]
A reminder of why nuclear weapons must never be used (VIDEO)
Published on 28th April 2022 in Nuclear Weapons, International Peace & Security
In the video below, Dr Ira Helfand, co-chairman of the Nuclear Weapons Abolition Committee of Physicians for Social Responsibility, offers a timely reminder of the horrifying power of thermonuclear weapons and of the dire consequences of the political irresponsibility that has left Russia and the United States in possession of 10,000+ nuclear warheads thirty years […]