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Alix Schou
Copenhagen, Denmark


Nominated: "Mother of the tour"

Introduction I’m Alexandra Schou and I study medicine in my 2nd year in Copenhagen, Denmark. I have become a member of IPPNW in spring 2009 and have been working in the organising committee of the conference Global Response 2010 about violent conflict and health which took place in January in Copenhagen. Currently I’m trying to gather more knowledge about the dangers and consequences of nuclear weapons and the previous works of IPPNW to be ready for the IPPNW World Congress in Basel, which I’m looking very much forward to!
Motivation IPPNW was founded during the Cold War, where a Third World War with nuclear weapons was nearly about to happen. But though this time seems to be over, none of the countries involved have destroyed these highly dangerous weapons. In 1968, five countries were recognised as nuclear weapon states in the Non-Proliferation-Treaty (NPT): China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Three additional countries that haven’t signed the NPT are now in the possession of nuclear weapons: India, Pakistan and Israel. So according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) there are now officially eight countries with nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Weapons are not a thing of the past! They are a still existing threat and people fighting or living in areas like Afghanistan, Iraq or Kosovo know that a “milder” form of nuclear weapons, fondly called “Depleted Uranium”, is legally being used there to fight the enemy (and unfortunately also themselves).

This really scary information brought me to IPPNW and to this bike-tour! I’ve been enthusiastic about the tour right from the moment I read about it. As a future medical doctor I have the duty to inform people around me about the constant nuclear threats that trigger mutations and illnesses amongst people. I find it necessary to change the legacy about DU-weapons and it is essential that all countries inside or outside the NPT start the abolition of their own nuclear weapons.

An African quote says: “Many small people, who in many small places do many small things can alter the face of the world.” The BAN-tour brings medical students from all corners of the world together and this diverse exchange is very positive for the development of future national and international projects. I’m very honoured to have the chance of being part of the tour and meeting colleagues from all over the world, as I’ve not participated in any bigger IPPNW event yet and am longing to start up or get into some international projects concerning the abolition of Nuclear Weapons and their health dangers.



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