Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Also known as “Pugwash”, the organization was created by English philosopher Bertrand Russell and Polish physicist Joseph Rotblat in 1957. The purpose was to bring scientists and political figures from all around the world to discuss the dangers of weapons of mass destruction, i.e. atomic bombs. This was two years after the issuing of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, a document requesting nations to seek more positive ways of working out their conflicts besides nuclear weapons. The manifesto demanded in it a meeting to help facilitate this. The first-ever conference took place in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, at the birthplace of philanthropist Cyrus Eaton. Each time, the conferences grew in size and recognition- by the time of the tenth meeting, it was held in London, and attended by prominent figures such as John F. Kennedy, who advocated for the “suspension of nuclear tests”(Unknown Author for The New York Times, Kennedy Urges Science Parley Seek Cause of Test-Ban Treaty).