On 25 May 2009 Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon delivered the annual Rotblat lecture at the Hay Festival, co-sponsored by British Pugwash and the WMD Awareness Programme. Paddy Ashdown was leader of the Liberal Democrats (1988-1999) and International High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2002-2006).
British Pugwash Annual Report 2009
Published on 1st May 2009 in Nuclear Weapons, Disarmament, NPT, Fissile Materials, Annual reports, BRINDI
Top issues: UK related nuclear weapons issues, particularly government’s decision to proceed with renewing Trident; non-proliferation and disarmament issues.
Prospects for Dialogue in the Middle East
Published on 30th April 2009 in Events 2006-2009, International Peace & Security
At a British Pugwash discussion meeting on 30 April 2009 Pugwash Secretary General Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, Andreas Persbo (VERTIC), Middle East expert Nomi Bar-Yaacov and Olive Tree Programme Director Rosemary Hollis addressed ‘Prospects for Peace in the Middle East, post-Gaza and the Israeli election’.
The validity of the rationale for UK’s possession of nuclear weapons
Published on 1st February 2009 in Nuclear Weapons, Publications 2006-2009
‘The validity of the rationale for UK’s possession of nuclear weapons’ (January 2009) Professor Robert Hinde argues that “the basic reasons that have been given for retaining or improving our nuclear weaponry have remained surprisingly similar across the years”. Read the article
UK does not need a nuclear deterrent – Letter
Published on 16th January 2009 in Nuclear Weapons, Publications 2006-2009
Field Marshal Lord Bramall, General Lord Ramsbotham, General Sir Hugh Beach (member BPG Executive Committee) ‘UK does not need a nuclear deterrent: Nuclear weapons must not be seen to be vital to the secure defence of self-respecting nations’. Letter, The Times 16 January 2009.
Progressing the nuclear disarmament agenda – Policy, diplomacy and science
Published on 10th December 2008 in Events 2006-2009, Disarmament
Honouring the centenary of Joseph Rotblat’s birth, this seminar, held on 10 December 2008, explored concrete suggestions for creating and developing the political and technical environments conducive to the eventual attainment of a nuclear weapons free world.