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Another Petition
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In early 1961, with the help of a small group of activist friends, the Paulings drafted another petition, this once calling for a halt in plans to provide nuclear weapons to NATO, a move toward universal disarmament, and strengthening the United Nations as a force for world peace. Their "Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons" was sent out to two thousand scientists who had signed their earlier petitions. Within a month Pauling collected more than seven hundred signatures, including those of thirty-eight Nobel laureates. He presented the results once again to the United Nations, and used the publicity to put out a call for several hundred thousand more signatures from around the world. A petition effort this large had never been mounted. But even that was not enough. Pauling immediately turned his attention to creating a new forum for discussion of his issues -- an international peace meeting in Oslo.

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Video Clip  Video: Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons. 1977. (0:26) Transcript and More Information



See Also: Signature form: "An Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons." January 15, 1961. 
See Also: Letter from Linus Pauling to Dag Hammarskjold. February 16, 1961. 
See Also: "Notes on Meeting." February 23, 1961. 
See Also: Letter from Linus Pauling to Dag Hammarskjold. April 19, 1961. 

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Picture
Linus Pauling holding a copy of "An Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons". 1961.


Page 1
"An Appeal to Stop the Spread of Nuclear Weapons" (first draft). January 6, 1961.

"What, more petitions! Won't you be, and stay, intimidated? You must really annoy Sen. Dodd. Here it is [my signature], and I hope it does some good."

Edward Condon
January 17, 1961
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