The Strangest Dream
Ed Bednarski
Sat Nov 7,4 pm
90 minutes
Alma Gallery

www.films.nfb.ca/strangest-dream/

Nuclear physicist Joseph Rotblat was once contracted by the U.S. government to help build the first atomic bomb. He is the only member of the Manhattan Project who refused to participate on moral grounds. Rotblat’s story encompasses the history of nuclear weapons; the founding of the Pugwash Conferences to halt nuclear proliferation; a behind-the-scenes role in defusing some of the tensest moments of the Cold War; and a Nobel Peace prize. Featuring interviews with contemporaries of Rotblat, “The Strangest Dream” balances fears about the future of nuclear weapons with the hope of morally engaged scientists and citizens working to dismantle them.

If you are interested in hearing from other Pugwash members the event, on NFB.ca  there are podcasts from 3 panel discussions presented by Pugwash and NFB that took place following the screenings in Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton.  The podcasts capture some of the community discussions with the filmmaker and some of this country’s experts on the issues discussed in the film (most of whom are members of Pugwash).

Host: Ernie Regehr, O.C.

Ernie Regehr is the co-founder of Project Ploughshares, Adjunct Assocociate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, and a Fellow of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).  His publications on peace and security issues include books, monographs, journal articles, conference papers, Parliamentary briefs, and op-eds- as well as his current CIGI blog, "Disarming Conflict".  He has served as an NGO representative and expert advisor on a number of Government of Cnada delegations to multilateral nuclear disarmament forums.  He is an Officer of the Order of Canada

films.nfb.ca/strangest-dream/podcasts.php