2017-05-15 Mon

On 28th April, Christie’s auction in New York sold a gold Nobel Peace Prize medal that was awarded to Alfonso García Robles in 1982 for his work in nuclear disarmament, for $487,500. The 18-karat gold 2.5-inch medal features the portrait of Alfred Nobel on the obverse. The reverse of depicts three men. Their arms are linked with a Latin legend which translates to “for the peace and brotherhood of all nations.” The edge lettering reads ALFONSO GARCIA ROBLES/PRIX NOBEL DE LA PAIX/1982. The medal recognises Alfonso’s contribution to the peace and security of Latin America and the Caribbean.

García Robles (1911 to 1991) drafted the 14th February 1967 Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in Tlatelolco. Mexico City. The first protocol of the treaty unites nations with territory in the region like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. The second restricts the world’s declared nuclear weapons nations from breaking the treaty. The treaty was signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia. Today, after getting inspired by this Treaty, 114 countries have become nuclear-free zones apart from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis was taking shape which is just 1,500 miles away from the coast of Mexico. Alfonso’s efforts saw the end of these threats of nuclear weapon attacks in Mexico.