News Release

Oct. 24, 2006
 

Former Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector Hans Blix Speaks March 12 at Boise State University
Free lecture is part of Distinguished Lecture Series

Hans Blix, who led the United Nations’ efforts to search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq prior to the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, will speak March 12, 2007, at Boise State University as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

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Blix’s lecture, “Looking Ahead: Controlling Weapons of Mass Destruction,” is at 7 p.m. in the Morrison Center — a change of venue for the series, which has previously held lectures in the Student Union Building. The lecture is free, and limited seating is available on a first-come basis.

Blix, a Swedish diplomat, was the chief U.N. weapons inspector during the build-up to the Iraq War. His book, “Disarming Iraq,” published in 2004, offers an insider’s view of the events and inspections in Iraq before the U.S.-led coalition began its invasion. The book also explores questions about the war’s inevitability, and the consequences of pre-emptive strikes.

Blix currently serves as chairman of the international Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, an independent body launched by the Swedish government in December 2003 to investigate ways of reducing the dangers from nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons. After two years of study, the commission in June released a 277-page report, “Weapons of Terror,” that analyzes current world risks from nuclear and other weapons and presents a list of 60 recommendations to revitalize global cooperation on disarmament.

“Dr. Blix’s position as chair of the WMD commission involves him in regular consultation with representatives from a wide geographical and political base. No one is in a better position to alert us to the dangers of weapons of mass destruction —and no one is in a better position to inform us about the possibilities of curbing those dangers,” said Helen Lojek, chair of the Distinguished Lecture Series Committee. “We are fortunate that Dr. Blix could work Boise into his schedule, and we look forward to a stimulating discussion.”

The student-funded Distinguished Lecture Series brings to Boise State speakers who have had a major impact in politics, the arts, science, business or in another realm of contemporary significance.

Former speakers in the series include National Book Award winner Jonathan Kozol, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, Nobel laureate in Economics Joseph Stiglitz, religion historian and author Karen Armstrong, biologist E.O. Wilson, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Poland Lech Walesa, hostage negotiator Terry Waite, and others. More information on the series is at http://news.boisestate.edu/dls.

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Contact: Helen Lojek, College of Arts and Sciences, (208) 426-1414, hlojek@boisestate.edu 
Media Contact: Janelle Brown, University Communications, (208) 426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu

Where you see blue, we see the largest institution of higher education in Idaho. For the ninth time in the last 10 years, Boise State University has set an all-time state record with a fall enrollment of 18,876 students. Since 1996, Boise State’s student population has increased 25 percent.




 

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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007