A Student Initiative Launched by Dr Hans Blix,
in close partnership with
The World Academy of Art and Science
Dr Hans Blix´s
Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World Seminar
at the Palais des Nations in Geneva is in progress.
On 'UN Day', 24 October 2007, Dr Hans Blix, President of The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), launched an initiative to engage students, from diverse academic disciplines, in preparation for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 8th Review Conference, 2010 – the most important conference on global disarmament in coming years.
Dr Blix, chairman of the 2006 Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission report, is working alongside The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) - an international association for exploring major concerns of humanity - and a group of civil society organizations all dedicated to ensuring that a world free of nuclear weapons becomes a reality.
Students around the world are doing independent research and analyze the case for nuclear disarmament. Hunderts have addressed the following question:
''What do you think can lead governments to stay away from, or do away with,
nuclear weapons?'
The 15 students (see picture below) who submitted the best essays, videos and poster have been awarded an airfare and accommodation to attend the Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World Conference, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, from July 13th to 16th 2008. For a first-hand impression watch Django Merope-Synge from Australia talk about his first day at the SNWFW Conference.
From left to right: Rushaine Cunningham (Jamaica), Catrina Helen Elizabeth Standfield (Australia), Brian Chan (Malaysia), Emily Gleason (United States), Sven Sobrie (Belgium), Diana Rozhnova (Russian Federation), Alen Toplisek (Slovenia), Francesca Yabraian (United States), Robert Berg (WAAS), Hans Blix (WFUNA), John Cox (WAAS), Django Merope-Synge (Australia), Wong Yeung Kong (China), Pin-Quan Ng (Singapore), Nicolas Forero Villarreal (Colombia), Terhemba Aindigh (Nigeria), Wilson Chun Hei Chau (New Zealand), Olasoji Fagbola (Guest, Nigeria).
Official Partners
Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Disarmament
Simons Foundation
NGO Committee on Disarmament
Project for Nuclear Awareness
Also take note of the 2008 Isaac Roet Prize essay contest about the promotion of world peace through economic integration. A prize of Euro 5,000 will be offered for the best essay on the theme: Resource access and world peace; policies to promote global stability in view of growing scarcity of non renewable natural resources.
The 2008 Isaac Roet Prize essay contest is open to students from economic faculities at universities all around the globe. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2008. Details can be found on www.roetprize.org.
