Prom Talk – Cathy Eaton
This sacred place is a place of many firsts. The first Pugwash Peace Conference was held here. Last year the prom goers had their photos taken here for the first time. Tonight it is the first time that the prom has been held at the Lobster Factory. And this is the first prom I have ever attended.
My best friend is here and she advised me to breathe, and that is my advice to you. Breathe in the serenity of Northumberland Straights. Look around you and absorb the fresh salt air and the glorious sunshine.
Fifty years ago, my grandfather Cyrus Eaton told me he thought I should be an ambassador. I believe that I am here this evening as an ambassador of peace and an ambassador celebrating what your community has done to contribute to peace in this magical setting.
There’s a sign you might have noticed as you strolled onto the grounds in your beautiful dresses and handsome tuxedos on the way to Thinkers Lodge.
In 1957, at the height of the cold war, the first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs took place in this serene setting. Hosted by my grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, who was born and raised Pugwash River and Pugwash Junction, extraordinary nuclear scientists from both sides of the iron curtain met to discuss the threat of nuclear weapons. They passionately believed that it was the responsibility of scientists to work to eliminate this threat. I suggest that it is also our responsibility. This controversial and groundbreaking meeting launched the Pugwash movement that became influential in advocating nuclear disarmament.
You might ask how did such a small village have such a large impact on the quest to achieve peace and end the dangers of nuclear war. Look around you. As people walked through the village to the high school and Masonic Lodge where the meetings were held, as they shared cups of tea and feasted on salmon and lobster, as they had picnics and boat rides, they began to relax in this beautiful place. I would suggest to you that It is the people of Pugwash who opened their hearts and good will and helped the scientists to come to trust each other and to listen to each other. AS you breathe in the salt water and you relax into the serenity of this place, perhaps you too feel how it is A place of inspiration and reflection, This is why Thinkers Lodge remains a symbol of the Pugwash movement and the goal of world peace.
For four years I have been working to create a website of oral histories that captures the lives of the people who worked behind the scenes for the conferences. Your wonderful history teacher Teresa Kewachuk is inspiring her students to understand and to carry on the legacy of Thinkers Lodge. So I thought it only fitting to use their words.
William Blaikie, who plans to apply at the pharmacy school at Dalhousie University after his first year at Acadia, said “I didn’t realize just how revolutionary the conferences were. In a time when open communication between residents of “enemy” nations was almost impossible and discouraged by governments, Pugwash broke down the barriers between enemies and brought people together from all corners of the globe to have positive discussions and form friendly relationships.”
Camille Bertoux, an exchange student from Belgium, explained that Teresa’s course “made me aware that there are too many nuclear weapons in the world and that they don’t solve any problems.”
Justin Brownell added, that the nuclear weapons “could be used to destroy life and the world itself.” That’s a sobering thougth He said that the project has changed him, showing that the world could be here today and gone tomorrow" because of the massive destructive capacity of nuclear warfare.
Hayley Jamieson, hopes to help build homes and schools, said that “Pugwash played the role of the peacekeeper.” She thought it was amazing that "Cyrus Eaton, a man from our very own town, decided that he wanted to make a difference and offered Thinkers Lodge to scientists from BOTH sides of the iron curtain, and that he paid for the conferences." So that they could attend.
(On a more optimistic note) When asked how she wanted to make a difference in the world, Wenzy Rose Belmes wrote, “I have always wanted to travel the world and in my travels I plan to help build schools, hospitals, and homes. I also want to be a member of 3 or maybe 4 different organizations that focus on helping people in third world countries. I want to help fund raise, raise awareness, help give fresh water, and help children get to school."
Tim Tuttle explained how “Pugwash was a quiet, little village; there was little media attention and scientists from both sides of the Iron Curtain were able to meet without fear of being jailed or killed.”
Daniel McLearn, who is studying Applied Sciences at Acadia University, reflected on how the “people of Pugwash created a very homey welcoming environment; this allowed the delegates to relax and open themselves up and express their views.”
Joseph Rotblat said, (nobel peace prize) shared with Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, said
Life is our precious commodity. We cannot imagine that it will come to an end, least of all by the action of men. Yet this unimaginable has now become a possibility. The human species is an endangered species.”
But Joseph Rotblat was an optimist and he believed in the goodness of people, like those in this prom class, like their parents and families.
“I am a man of peace; I am a pacifist; I abhor violence. “
I believe that A concept that seems impossible like world peace can be achieved if enough people will expend the effort to dedicate themselves to that dream.
Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Stay safe. Breathe in the peace.
This sacred place is a place of many firsts. The first Pugwash Peace Conference was held here. Last year the prom goers had their photos taken here for the first time. Tonight it is the first time that the prom has been held at the Lobster Factory. And this is the first prom I have ever attended.
My best friend is here and she advised me to breathe, and that is my advice to you. Breathe in the serenity of Northumberland Straights. Look around you and absorb the fresh salt air and the glorious sunshine.
Fifty years ago, my grandfather Cyrus Eaton told me he thought I should be an ambassador. I believe that I am here this evening as an ambassador of peace and an ambassador celebrating what your community has done to contribute to peace in this magical setting.
There’s a sign you might have noticed as you strolled onto the grounds in your beautiful dresses and handsome tuxedos on the way to Thinkers Lodge.
In 1957, at the height of the cold war, the first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs took place in this serene setting. Hosted by my grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, who was born and raised Pugwash River and Pugwash Junction, extraordinary nuclear scientists from both sides of the iron curtain met to discuss the threat of nuclear weapons. They passionately believed that it was the responsibility of scientists to work to eliminate this threat. I suggest that it is also our responsibility. This controversial and groundbreaking meeting launched the Pugwash movement that became influential in advocating nuclear disarmament.
You might ask how did such a small village have such a large impact on the quest to achieve peace and end the dangers of nuclear war. Look around you. As people walked through the village to the high school and Masonic Lodge where the meetings were held, as they shared cups of tea and feasted on salmon and lobster, as they had picnics and boat rides, they began to relax in this beautiful place. I would suggest to you that It is the people of Pugwash who opened their hearts and good will and helped the scientists to come to trust each other and to listen to each other. AS you breathe in the salt water and you relax into the serenity of this place, perhaps you too feel how it is A place of inspiration and reflection, This is why Thinkers Lodge remains a symbol of the Pugwash movement and the goal of world peace.
For four years I have been working to create a website of oral histories that captures the lives of the people who worked behind the scenes for the conferences. Your wonderful history teacher Teresa Kewachuk is inspiring her students to understand and to carry on the legacy of Thinkers Lodge. So I thought it only fitting to use their words.
William Blaikie, who plans to apply at the pharmacy school at Dalhousie University after his first year at Acadia, said “I didn’t realize just how revolutionary the conferences were. In a time when open communication between residents of “enemy” nations was almost impossible and discouraged by governments, Pugwash broke down the barriers between enemies and brought people together from all corners of the globe to have positive discussions and form friendly relationships.”
Camille Bertoux, an exchange student from Belgium, explained that Teresa’s course “made me aware that there are too many nuclear weapons in the world and that they don’t solve any problems.”
Justin Brownell added, that the nuclear weapons “could be used to destroy life and the world itself.” That’s a sobering thougth He said that the project has changed him, showing that the world could be here today and gone tomorrow" because of the massive destructive capacity of nuclear warfare.
Hayley Jamieson, hopes to help build homes and schools, said that “Pugwash played the role of the peacekeeper.” She thought it was amazing that "Cyrus Eaton, a man from our very own town, decided that he wanted to make a difference and offered Thinkers Lodge to scientists from BOTH sides of the iron curtain, and that he paid for the conferences." So that they could attend.
(On a more optimistic note) When asked how she wanted to make a difference in the world, Wenzy Rose Belmes wrote, “I have always wanted to travel the world and in my travels I plan to help build schools, hospitals, and homes. I also want to be a member of 3 or maybe 4 different organizations that focus on helping people in third world countries. I want to help fund raise, raise awareness, help give fresh water, and help children get to school."
Tim Tuttle explained how “Pugwash was a quiet, little village; there was little media attention and scientists from both sides of the Iron Curtain were able to meet without fear of being jailed or killed.”
Daniel McLearn, who is studying Applied Sciences at Acadia University, reflected on how the “people of Pugwash created a very homey welcoming environment; this allowed the delegates to relax and open themselves up and express their views.”
Joseph Rotblat said, (nobel peace prize) shared with Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, said
Life is our precious commodity. We cannot imagine that it will come to an end, least of all by the action of men. Yet this unimaginable has now become a possibility. The human species is an endangered species.”
But Joseph Rotblat was an optimist and he believed in the goodness of people, like those in this prom class, like their parents and families.
“I am a man of peace; I am a pacifist; I abhor violence. “
I believe that A concept that seems impossible like world peace can be achieved if enough people will expend the effort to dedicate themselves to that dream.
Have fun. Enjoy yourself. Stay safe. Breathe in the peace.