Sent: 12/21/2008 12:57:42 Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: [Pugw:Forum] Congratulations!
National Pugwash Groups: If appropriate, please forward this message to the members of your group.
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Dear Goetz --
Many thanks for this message. I greatly appreciate it, along with the many
others I have received from my friends in Pugwash. Much of my early
exposure to global perspectives on how to reduce the dangers from nuclear
weapons, as well as on other important aspects of the intersection of
science with world affairs, happened in the context of Pugwash meetings and
the friendships developed there. I will always be grateful for that, as
well as for the special relationship I have had with the German Pugwash
Group. My sabbatical stay in Starnberg in 1987 was an important part of
building that relationship (including the beginning of my friendship with
you). I hope I will be able to take advantage of all my international and
especially Pugwash scientific connections as I work to help our
extraordinary new U.S. President (until January 20, President-Elect) bring
insights from science and technology back into the center of what the U.S.
government says and does.
My best,
John
JOHN P. HOLDREN
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Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy
Director, Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
John F. Kennedy School of Government
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Professor of Environmental Science and Policy
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
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President and Director
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THE WOODS HOLE RESEARCH CENTER
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National Pugwash Groups: If appropriate, please forward this message to the
members of your group.
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Dear John,
On behalf of the German Pugwash group let me join others in congratulating
you for this important appointment.
You always had strong and fruitful relations to us in Germany. I´m looking
back to your involvement in European security matters in the late 1980ies
where you stayed for half a year in Starnberg at the Max-Planck-Society
working group of C.F. von Weizsäcker, A. A.C. von Müller and H. Afheldt.
Additionally, you always suppported the work of young German scientists
which decided to stay in the field of science and politics. Without our
acquaintance I wouldn´t have stayed in the field of arms control and
security issues either. We remember your talk at the annual meeting of the
Federation of German Scientists (VDW) and many contacts we had in the
1990ies on security issues.
Now you have the extraordinary chance to implement important ideas, which
were developed in the last decade by many scientists, on a very high level.
The spectrum is very broad and spans from nuclear disarmament, missile
defense, space arms control, energy issues and climate problems. You can be
sure that we all will work very hard in our spheres of influence and
knowledge to support your work. The world needs audacious action on a
scientific and knowledgable basis. Joseph Rotblat, an early supporter of
you, would be very proud on what you have already achieved and what can be
done in the future.
We wish you all the best, good luck, good health and assertive leadership to
advise the new President to reach our common goals. The expectations are
high, and so is the need to make the world a better place.
Götz Neuneck
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Götz Neuneck
Chair German Pugwash Group
Deputy Director IFSH
Hamburg, Germany
