1938
Overview:
Helen Caldicott knew what she wanted and didn’t stop until something was done about it. In her case, it was the banning of nuclear tests in the South Pacific. After that it became all things nuclear, from weapons to power plants. She worked against them all.
Country:
Australia
Type
of hero: Environmental, Cultural and Development Rights
Attributes:
Peace worker, Environmentalist
Biography:
Helen Caldicott was born in Australia. It is said that her interest in fighting the nuclear threat began at a young age when she read Nevil Shute’s novel – On The Beach (1957)
She studied at the University of Adelaide Medical School and qualified as a general practitioner. After 1972, following time with a fellowship at Harvard Medical School, she specialized in paediatrics – in particular, with cystic fibrosis.
Her recognition of the threats posed by nuclear energy led to her leading a successful campaign against nuclear tests performed by the French in the South Pacific. At the time, traces of radiation from the testing were showing up in Adelaide so there was obvious concern about the extent of the problem over the rest of the pacific. She was also involved in campaigns to prevent Australian exports of Uranium.
In 1977, Helen moved to the United States to work at Harvard University. There she became co-founder of the Physicians for Social Responsibility. Initially consisting of only 10 members in 1979, the organization has since grown and evolved into the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). She was president of the organisation until 1983 when she resigned because of her opposition to all nuclear power – not just nuclear weapons.
Besides being the inspiration for the IPPNW, she founded the Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament and has served as the Director of the Stanley Foster Foundation, an organization dedicated to the promotion of environmental education.
Citations
& References:
Links:
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/australians/caldicott.htm
http://www.noradiation.org/caldicott
http://www.wic.org/bio/caldicot.htm
http://www.napf.org/hero/helen_caldicott.html
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