7th WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES
Rome – 17-18 November, 2006
“ATOM FOR PEACE OR ATOM FOR WAR?”

It took only forty-three seconds, less than a minute, to cause the disappearance of a city, with its dwellers and centuries-old history. One hundred and fifty thousand people literally vanished, vaporized. The apocalypse took its toll just three days later in another city. That immense devastation was caused by the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945.
While the tragedy of the two Japanese cities put an end to the Second World War, it also inaugurated the beginning of a new conflict. It was a novel war. Based on fear. United States or Soviet Union? Who would push the button first, to use nuclear weapons? The nightmare of self-destruction did not dissolve with the end of the Cold War in 1989: the use of atomic energy for warfare remains one of the major dangers for mankind.
Even for peaceful purposes, nuclear energy remains the object of harsh debates, especially in Europe; twenty years after Chernobyl, many countries still pay the price of the reactor number 4 explosion. Yet, in 2004 about 440 nuclear power plants have supplied, in thirty countries, 16% of the world electric power requirement. Of these plants, 140 are located in the United States, 60 in France. By the end of 2004, 26 new nuclear power plants were under construction, 18 of which in Asia.

Atomic energy, its influence on the force relationships among countries and the world outlook with the use of alternative energy sources : this topic will be addressed during the 7th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates . The Summit will discuss a draft “Charter for a non violent world”. A fundamental document for a conflict-free planet, to be promoted by Nobel Laureates with every major international institution.