Joseph Rotblat passed away in his sleep last night. I know this may seem insignificant in light of the tragedy on the Gulf Coast, but for those who knew him this is sad news indeed.
Joseph Rotblat was the only scientist to quit the Manhattan Project on moral grounds. Following that decision he became one of the leading advocates of a nuclear-weapons-free world. He was the founder of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. In 1995 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons. I had the pleasure to get to know him in his later years, and well into his 90s we worked tirelessly to end war and to educate young people on the importance of being socially responsible both in our professional and personal lives. His warmth, passion, and humor will be missed.
You can read more about him here:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/09/01/rotblat.obit.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest