A scientist who is worth remembering
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A scientist who is worth remembering
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Joseph Rotblat: The scientist who left the construction of the bomb on Hiroshima Date of publication: 07/08/2012 Panos Trigazis * The Rotblat dedicated to nuclear research for medical p
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A scientist who is worth remembering
posted at 8/8/2012 4:33 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 579
First: 8/6/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Joseph Rotblat: The scientist who left the construction of the bomb on Hiroshima Date of publication: 07/08/2012 Panos Trigazis *The Rotblat dedicated to nuclear research for medical purposes and in the struggle for peace, he collaborated with Bertrand Russell on the signing and viewing of "Einstein Manifesto - Russell" in 1955 and 1957 led to the founding of the movement «Pugwash», which rallied Scientists from around the world in the fight against nuclear arms.The responsibility of scientists engaged in nuclear research programs or directly to test nuclear weapons and is a hotly debated topic.The path of the struggle for nuclear disarmament illuminate great figures of the scientific world, who promptly saw the danger of complete destruction of humanity than nuclear. It is worth remembering the Einstein and Russell, who starred in the development of the global antinuclear movement, and the British-Polish Joseph Rotblat, the only nuclear scientist who retired in 1944, the manufacturing center of the first atomic bomb at Los Alamos, USA.Let's go back many decades. The rise of fascism in Europe had led many scientists in exile, the main U.S. destination. This resulted in shifting the focus of scientific progress across the Atlantic. Progressives and fascists are many of the leading scientists, had an intense desire to defeat Hitler and this made them supporters of the idea to build the atomic bomb by the U.S.. Einstein himself wrote to President Roosevelt, in 1939, to encourage him in that direction. "In a tragic way, the nuclear war he was a child of anti-fascism," writes Chompsmpaoum.The Rotblat was living in London, but came from Poland, who received the first attack of Hitler 1 by September 1939. "We started to work in England, said in an interview with Radio Netherlands in 2004 - and in 1940-41 we demonstrate the scientific potential for the bomb." But because Britain in 1941 was already at war, could not bear the weight of such a venture, "that paved the way for Americans," who began working in 1942, based on the "Manhattan Project" in Los Alamos.The Rotblat participated in this program with the British team, but became concerned about the feasibility of building the bomb, lost ground after the initial assumption that there was danger that the Germans to build first. "I thought--Rotblat says that if the United States, with all the technological power and without being bombarded, it took so long, the Germans in circumstances that, with air raids day and night, etc., there was no way to build the bomb. I thought that if the Germans did not create it, what am I doing here? "The turning point was in November 1944, when the head of the British mission Chadwick gave the information that the Germans had abandoned its nuclear plan. And so, Rotblat arrived in bold decision to resign from the program of construction of the bomb, which was suspected by U.S. authorities who put him under surveillance and his correspondence.Then Rotblat dedicated to nuclear research for medical purposes and in the struggle for peace, he collaborated with Bertrand Russell on the signing and viewing of "Einstein Manifesto - Russell" in 1955 and 1957 led to the founding of the movement «Pugwash», which brought together scientists from around the world in the fight against nuclear arms. "Few can match the Russell-writes for Polish-Jewish partner, to the courage and integrity and complete dedication with which he abandoned his career to devote himself to the fight against nuclear danger."The example of Rotblat, who won the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize as president of the movement «Pugwash», is a great source of inspiration.Had contact with him in May 2005 on the occasion of 50 years since Einstein Manifesto - Russell and Einstein's death. We asked the preface to the book "Dear Einstein" (Taxideftis versions), prepared by Professor of Philosophy Efthimis Papadimitriou as a contribution to these anniversaries and responded immediately."Morality, writes in the preface, is the core of the nuclear problem will be based in our world or a culture of peace in a culture of violence? Nuclear weapons are fundamentally immoral: act indiscriminately, killing people alive today and generations who have not born. And the consequence of their use may be the end of mankind. We do not believe that people in the world accept a policy from the immoral nature of which could result in disaster. "A few months later, early September, Rotblat died in the 97 years. Had managed a month ago to sign a joint appeal with the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for a world free from nuclear weapons. * Panos Trigazis CCI is a member of PLUS and a member of the European Network for Peace and Human Rights |
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Re: A scientist who is worth remembering
posted at 8/8/2012 9:16 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2060
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Francis Crick was another scientist who changed their professional course after war service. He designed mines for the Admiralty Research Laboratory, and moved from physics to biology with world shaking results on DNA in cooperation with Watson. I'm sure that, without any denigration of Rotblat, there are many other examples. John |
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Re: A scientist who is worth remembering
posted at 8/8/2012 10:28 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
There is no doubt that nuclear weapons are fundamentally immoral: act indiscriminately, killing people alive today and generations who have not born. And the consequence of their use may be the end of mankind. We do not believe that people in the world accept a policy from the immoral nature of which could result in disaster. Joseph Rotblat's work is partcularly important in attempts to create a world free from nuclear weapons. |
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Re: A scientist who is worth remembering
posted at 8/8/2012 10:30 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 579
First: 8/6/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
This is from wikipedia : The first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945, in the Trinity test in New Mexico; Oppenheimer remarked later that it brought to mind words from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." |
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