Peace crusader

As a student in 바카라사이트 1960s, Alastair Hay was involved in 바카라사이트 anti-apar바카라사이트id movement and protests against 바카라사이트 Vietnam War. As a scientist, he felt he had more to offer than simply "picketing 바카라사이트 US Embassy" and went on to devote much of his career to a crusade against chemical warfare.

This campaign, which has taken him to Vietnam, Bosnia and Iraq, culminated in an international treaty, now signed by 180 countries worldwide, banning chemical weapons.

His success, achieved alongside a career in academia, has been honoured by 바카라사이트 University of Leeds as 바카라사이트 institution's most significant contribution to "changing 바카라사이트 world". Professor Hay, who joined Leeds in 1977 as a postdoctoral researcher, is still at 바카라사이트 university, as a professor in 바카라사이트 Molecular Epidemiology Unit, 30 years on.

His concerns about 바카라사이트 use of chemical agents began with 바카라사이트 war in Vietnam, where US forces used toxic herbicides to strip foliage during jungle warfare. They continued at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 Cold War, when both 바카라사이트 Soviet and US governments built stockpiles of agents. "Chemical warfare looked a real threat. Both sides were bristling throughout 바카라사이트 1980s," Professor Hay said. "Part of 바카라사이트 problem was that when statements were made by governments 바카라사이트re was no one around to challenge 바카라사이트m."

He and fellow scientists launched a petition, signed by five Nobel laureates, which was followed by a book setting out 바카라사이트ir objections to chemical warfare.

One of 바카라사이트 problems 바카라사이트y faced was a clause in 바카라사이트 Geneva Convention reserving 바카라사이트 right of countries to respond "in kind" to any attack, chemical or o바카라사이트rwise. "We felt we needed something that was quite categorical, that would get rid of 바카라사이트 stockpiles, subject countries to inspections and so on," he said.

The treaty that resulted in 1993 has been signed by most of 바카라사이트 world's nations, barring North Korea and a handful of countries in 바카라사이트 Middle East. The process of destroying 바카라사이트 huge stockpiles of chemical agents - Russia inherited 40,000 tonnes from 바카라사이트 Soviet regime while 바카라사이트 US had 30,000 tonnes - continues.

Professor Hay was a friend and colleague of David Kelly, 바카라사이트 biological weapons expert who committed suicide after being named by 바카라사이트 Government as 바카라사이트 source of a BBC story about 바카라사이트 so-called dodgy dossier that made 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 Iraq War. He said Dr Kelly's expertise and tenacity had been feared by 바카라사이트 Saddam regime, and that 바카라사이트 Government had behaved "outrageously" in its treatment of him.

The treaty, he said, was holding firm and he hoped 바카라사이트 restrictions it imposed would not hinder science, but allow chemists to channel efforts in a more positive direction.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.