Joseph Rotblat
By Melissa Eileen Kane

One might be surprised to find the numerous crusaders for peace in a century torn with war and destruction. The heroes of the last century are not the great military leaders or the political leaders who marched us into war, but those who averted conflict and strove for world peace. In particular, those who strove for the end of the nuclear arms race can be commended. These heroes are often found in the scientists who helped create nuclear weapons. My 20th Century peace hero is Dr. Joseph Rotblat, winner of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.

Rotblat and the Pugwash Conference were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and in the longer run to eliminate such arms.” Rotblat as leader of the Pugwash Conference has led the fight against nuclear weapons since 1957. The conference has chosen the most important aspect of nuclear warfare, its use in politics. During the cold War, every citizen of the world feared destruction by nuclear weapons and the superpowers manipulated the threat of nuclear warfare for their own benefit. The harmful effects of this type of politics are clear, and are exactly what Rotblat fought.

The nuclear arms race began in World War II with the advent of the “atom bomb” by the United States. The argument still ensues if the bomb was necessary to defeat the Japanese Empire, or merely a show of strength to our developing enemy, Russia. Despite the destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the leaders of the superpowers did not end nuclear warfare there. Development of weapons continued and threat of destruction came ever closer to both nations. The threat of nuclear warfare was used in most of the Cold War conflicts, such as those in Korea, Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Since the leaders could not be swayed to work for peace, those with the most knowledge concerning the nuclear weapons chose to fight them.

Like many crusaders for peace in the 20th Century, Rotblat began his “nuclear career” with work on the Manhattan Project in 1944. Similar to Albert Einstein, Rotblat regretted his contribution to the project, and was the only scientist to quit before its completion.

Rotblat founded the Atomic Scientists Association early in the nuclear race (1946) and held an exhibition on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy called the “Atomic Train” in 1947. Rotblat then chose to focus extensively on the biological and medical applications of nuclear physics, serving as the Chief Physicist at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College at the University of London.

Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein warned “there can be no winners in a nuclear war.” Rotblat agreed, and in 1955, he signed the Russell-Einstein Manifesto asking scientists for all nations to create ways to avoid nuclear conflict. The Manifesto also asked governments to settle conflicts peacefully as humanity had entered a “new era.”

Following the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, Rotblat began the Pugwash conference and then the UK Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Rotblat’s work has opened doors for any with new ideas and peaceful solutions, his leadership abilities contributed to many organizations and conferences such as, the Stockholm international Peace Research Institute, the Moscow forum of Scientists, and the Scientists Association of Great Britain.

Rotblat’s campaigns not only appealed to the scientific community and political leaders to find means of peace, but also to the public. He sought to educate the masses on the terrors of nuclear war, and helped arouse awareness in the average person. Our current individual aversion to nuclear weapons and warfare can likely be attributed to the work of Joseph Rotblat.

Rotblat did not accept the Cold War’s doctrines of nuclear deterrence. Where many would have accepted them as a “step in the right direction,” Rotblat insisted that the only path to lasting peace is the eradication of nuclear weapons and finally, general disarmament.

Rotblat is deserving of the title of “peace hero” not only for his work against nuclear warfare, but for his fantastic contribution to the conscience of scientists. Rotblat has set the stage for scientists with social responsibility. He has inadvertently insisted through his work that a scientist’s work is not only discovery and creation, but also discovery of uses beneficial to his fellow man. Rotblat feels that scientists should be carefult hat their work does not harm society or the environment.

Rotblat does not accept the end of the Cold War as a final victory for his crusade. He warns that we should not see this victory as the end of the nuclear age. He persists that though the end of the arms race is a great victory, the nuclear problem has not been solved. Rotblat insists that we each have a duty to ensure the continuance of human life and enrichment.

When I think of peace heroes, I admittedly think of the obvious choices, Mother Theresa, Mahatma Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, but when I read the list of Nobel Laureates, I discovered many heroes, nearly forgotten by the masses. Joseph Rotblat is not a household name, and hardly mentioned in any history text. However, Rotblat is a prime candidate for all that he has received. There is no better Nobel Laureate than a man who will not accept mere nuclear deterrence, but only disarmament, peaceful solutions, and positive uses of nuclear power. His crusade is inspiring to those who seek comfort and security in the future which holds only uncertainly and hope.