The Albert Schweitzer Institute hosted a daylong conference, “Albert Schweitzer’s Legacy: The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons,” on Sept. 27.
The conference commemorated the 50th anniversary of Albert Schweitzer’s call for an end to nuclear weapons. Schweitzer was a philosopher and humanitarian who received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize.
The conference culminated with a panel discussion, “The Voices of Experience,” at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall with Jonathan Granoff, president of the Global Security Institute headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and two atomic bomb survivors: Kohta Kiya, secretary general of Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Network, and Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Network.
Granoff also is co-chairman of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nuclear Nonproliferation and senior adviser to the National Security Committee of the international law section of the American Bar Association. Granoff is a fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences and has represented the International Peace Bureau at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome every year since 2002. He earned a law degree from Rutgers University.
The conference featured panel discussions by international experts and Quinnipiac faculty members.
Conference Schedule
9:30 a.m.
"Schweitzer’s Declaration of Conscience on the Dangers of Nuclear Weapons."
Quinnipiac philosophy professor Benjamin Page plays the part of Albert Schweitzer.
11 a.m.
"The Language and Politics of Weapons and War"
Panel discussion with assistant professor of education Kevin Basmadjian, assistant professor of English Basuli Deb and English professor Robert Smart.
12:30 p.m.
"Peace Games: Nuclear War Prevention Strategic Simulation"
Interactive presentation by faculty members and students. Created by visiting assistant professor of political science Colleen Driscoll and Quinnipiac student Eric Lind.
2 p.m.
"Understanding the Threat of Nuclear Explosions: How Real Is It?"
Discussion with Dr. Neil Arya, former vice president of the organization International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize, based in Cambridge, Mass., and Randy Rydell, senior politcal affairs officer in the Office of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations.
3:30 p.m.
"The Roads to Peace"
Discussion with Anat Biletzki, newly appointed Albert Schweitzer professor of philosophy from Tel Aviv University in Israel, and Ira Helfand, co-founder and past president of the Physicians for Social Responsibility.
8 p.m.
"The Voices of Experience"
Panel discussion with Jonathan Granoff, president of the Global Security Institute, and two atomic bomb survivors: Kohta Kiya, secretary general of Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Network, and Hirotami Yamada, secretary general of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Network.
9:30 p.m.
"What Can We Do Now?"
Representatives from the following local peace groups distributed information in Alumni Hall:
- American Friends Service Committee
- Military Families Speak Out
- No Nukes No War
- City of New Haven Peace Commission
- Greater New Haven Peace Council
- Quaker Meeting, New Haven
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
- United Nations Association
- League of Women Voters