AT its meeting in London on March 4-5, the Pugwash Executive Committee decided to create a Review Committee to evaluate the overall operation and structure of Pugwash in four areas:

• the Pugwash Agenda
• Meetings (the annual conference and workshops/symposia)
• Publications
• Organization of National Groups.

The Executive Committee believes such a review of Pugwash is important and timely for a number of reasons. First and foremost are recent challenges to global security in general and to nuclear weapons arms control in particular. As Pugwash nears its 50th Conference, it was thought appropriate to evaluate the current strengths and weaknesses of how Pugwash operates, especially in a global security environment that is rapidly changing. Moreover, such a review is a natural extension of the Pugwash Survey initiated in November 1999 that seeks input and advice from the entire Pugwash community on how to keep Pugwash vital and relevant in the new century.

The Review Committee will consult over the next several months and prepare a report with recommendations for consideration by the Pugwash Council at its meetings in Cambridge, England during the 50th Pugwash Conference from August 3-8, 2000.

Members of the entire Pugwash community were urged to be part of this process by filling out a survey so that their recommendations could be taken into account by the Review Committee .

Thank you very much for your interest and involvement in the Pugwash review process.