Sixty years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The two mushroom clouds at Hiroshima and Nagasaki punctuated the end of the world war -- unprecedented in scale, ferocity and destructiveness. After the second world war was over, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell realised very well the long lasting effects of the applications of weapons of mass destruction like the atom bomb, and deemed it fit to get a statement of men of the highest eminence, communists and anti-communists, western and eastern, about the destructiveness of the atomic bombs. Accordingly, the manifesto known as the Russell-Einstein manifesto was signed on 9th July 1955 by the congress of 11 internationally reputed scientists, Max Born, P. W. Bridgman, Albert Einstein, L. Infeld, J.F. Joliot-Curie, H.J. Muller, L. Pauling, C.F. Powell, J. Rotbalt, Bertrand Russell, Hideki Yukawa. The galaxy of Nobel Laureates included in the list appealed to the scientists of the world and the general public to subscribe to the resolution: "In view of the fact that in any future world war nuclear weapons will certainly be employed, and that such weapons threaten the continued existence of mankind, we urge the governments of the world to realise, and to acknowledge publicly, that their purposes cannot be furthered by a world war, and we urge them, consequently, to find peaceful means for the settlement of all matters of dispute between them".
Following the release of the manifesto, an international conference was held in the summer home of Cyrus Eaton in a fishing village named Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 17th July, 1957. From this first meeting, the Pugwash Conference has evolved into an international organisation with national groups in more than 50 countries, which, by the summer of 2001, had organised 265 meetings, involving more than 3500 individual scientists, academics, and policy specialists. In recognition of its efforts to eliminate the nuclear threat, Pugwash and its the then President, Joseph Rotbalt, were jointly awarded the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. This year, the 55th Pugwash conference on science and world affairs took place in Hiroshima, Japan, 22-27 July. The previous such conference in Hiroshima was held in 1995. The author was invited to attend this year's Pugwash conference. Before describing its salient features (which included topics like terrorism, human rights and international security, and the Islamic world and relations with the West) it would be proper to communicate the feelings of a survivor who was present at the meeting. "I am greatly honoured -- as one of the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima -- to make this speech on the occasion of this important conference, and on the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. I was 13 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Because I was sick that day, at the moment of the bombing I was sleeping at home. When I came to my senses, I found that I was trapped under my crushed house. I struggled and wriggled, and was at last able to crawl out of the piles of broken wood and plaster.
"When I stood upon my crushed house, the world I found was like night -- the morning sunshine blocked by dark brown air that changed to yellow and then white, and finally became clear. I was shocked to find the city of Hiroshima was flattened as far as I could see. I could not grasp what had happened. Immediately, I heard my mother call my name. My mother said that she was unable to move, that her legs were caught between big beams or pillars. But it was far beyond my ability to free her. I called out in vain to adults for help, but those wounded could do nothing more than find a safe place for themselves. I did not notice the fire at first, but it was spreading gradually. When I told my mother of the approaching fires, she told me, "you should survive, you should become a good person by studying well." Though she could not see the fire, which was growing stronger, she said, "that's enough, never mind your mother. Get away from here!" And when a large fire storm arose, my mother said, "Get away right now." It seemed faint, but it was strong, and so I decided to leave without her. As I escaped, I said, "Forgive me, mother!". That was the last conversation I had with my mother.
"There was no road, and amidst the flames and smoke I could see only piles of houses, and badly burned people escaping. At last I reached the riverside, and swam across the river, and stayed on the dry riverbed watching the burning town from the other side. The smoke and flames became a cloud over my head. When I thought of my mother beneath the flames, my heart was broken, and I thought, "Was there not something I could have done to save her?" I had tears of regret and repentance in my eyes. Even now, the same feeling comes over me whenever I think of my mother."
The survivor was no other than Shoji Sawada, a reputed high-energy physicist in Japan. In the words of the survivor's mother were echoed the feelings of the universal mother. Another atom bomb survivor Akihiro Takahashi, former Director of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, made an appeal, "I would like to vigorously appeal to you for the abolition of nuclear weapons at the earliest possible date. Though 60 years have already passed since the end of World War II, I still feel the need to petition to you to achieve lasting world peace without further delay."
No wonder, the Russell-Einstein manifesto was revisited at the Hiroshima conference. It was felt, that even after 60 years of the Hiroshima bombing, the concern over the deployment of nuclear weapons has increased rather than decreased in view of the fact that the number of nuclear states is increasing and that the planet has amassed thirty thousand nuclear arsenals. More than ten thousand nuclear arsenals are believed to exist in US itself, and the US public don't seem to be aware of the consequences of this. In a poll, a section of the American public held the view that the US would need at least two hundred nuclear arsenals for its safety!
The idea, therefore, arose that Pugwash, in spite of its earlier successes with NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), and SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty), should involve itself in a much bigger measure towards mobilising world opinion in favour of the dismantling of nuclear arsenals on an immediate basis. The idea of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons was discussed and it was felt that non-proliferation should be total, that is, it should be aimed at not only horizontal non-proliferation but also vertical non-proliferation. The policy of NPT cannot succeed unless the "double-standard" that exists at present, is avoided. The existing veto system of the United Nations also came under discussion, and it was felt, that in order to make the UN a real instrument of peace, the veto system must be done away with.
As mentioned earlier, the issue of terrorism and the relationship of Islam with the west was also reviewed in working groups. It was agreed that the root causes of terrorism must be found out and terrorism should not be fought with terrorism. It was felt by many that regardless of the genesis of the problem, the resolution of the Palestine-Israel conflict and the balancing of the United State's unqualified support of Israel would go a long way in convincing the Muslim world of the official Washington position that the United States is not anti-Muslim. The participants in the working group on terrorism, human rights and international security summarised that prevention of nuclear terrorism is a priority, and a co-operative international effort would improve that chances of success. Immediate, rather than gradual, de-enrichment of HEU (Highly Enriched Uranium) is a priority, so that the chain of supply of potential bomb material can be broken. The so-called "war on terror" has been misconceived, and the reaction of the U.S. has created new enemies and more terrorist supporters. The terminology "Islamic terrorist" is inflammatory and counter-productive because it labels a diverse community of 1.5 billion Muslims. More resources should be supplied to alleviate the impoverishment and insults to human dignity that characterise terrorism in failed or fragile states. Justice must replace injustice.
All sources of influence and power, including states, NGOs, multinational enterprises and individuals have a responsibility to participate in these efforts. Since terrorists in developed countries have been displaced from their cultural roots and not integrated into society's mainstream, their mistrust must be replaced by understanding through integration of multicultural communities. To have hope for the future, it is essential to believe that terrorism is temporary, work case by case to understand the problem and apply an appropriate remedy.
All in all, the participants from all over the world concluded that both within and outside, Pugwash must make relentless efforts with the cooperation of all concerned -- politicians, scientists, intellectuals and the public alike -- and should make the world community understand the essence of the Russell-Einstein manifesto: There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal, as human beings, to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; if you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death.
Dr M Shamsher Ali, a theoretical nuclear physicist and founding Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, presently is the Vice-Chancellor of Southeast University.