Pugwash Conferences on Science and World AffairsThe international Pugwash Conferences take their name from the small fishing village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, where the first Pugwash meeting involving eminent scientists from East and West was held in 1957 to address the threats of nuclear war. Since 1957, the Pugwash organisation has contributed significantly in laying the groundwork for a number of nuclear arms control treaties, including the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention. In its 39-year history, the Pugwash organisation has sponsored more than 200 conferences and workshops on a wide variety of international security issues, including nuclear weapons, chemical and biological warfare, the global trade in conventional weapons, and ethnic and regional conflict. Formal governance of the organisation is by a 25-member Council elected at the quinquennial conferences held every five years since 1962. The current international Pugwash officers are Professor Joseph Rotblat (UK, President and Founder of Pugwash), Professor Francesco Calogero (Italy, Secretary-General), Professor John Holdren (USA, Chair of the Executive Committee), and Professor Maciej Nalecz (Poland, Chair of the Council). The operation costs of the Pugwash Movement are met by a combination of donated services, contributions from individuals and foundations, and assessments levied on the national Pugwash Groups. No honoraria or other fees are paid to participants in Pugwash meetings. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded by the King of Norway on 10 December 1995 in Oslo. The Prize was jointly awarded to Professor Rotblat and to the Pugwash Movement. On behalf of Pugwash, the Nobel Peace Prize was accepted by Professor Calogero, Professor Holdren and Professor Nalecz. | ||