The Committee for Nuclear Responsibility was formed as a "political and educational organization to disseminate anti-nuclear views and information to the public".[1] The goals of the organization were a moratorium on nuclear power and the commercialization of alternative energy sources.[1]
John Gofman founded the Committee for Nuclear Responsibility in 1971, as a small non-profit, public interest association with three Nobel Laureates on its Board.[2] These Nobel scientists were James D. Watson, George Wald, and Linus Pauling. Other scientists who were involved included Paul Ehrlich, John Edsall, and Robert Bellman. The Board of Directors included Lewis Mumford, Ramsey Clark, Ian MacHarg, and Richard Max McCarthy. Actor Jack Lemmon endorsed the goals of the Committee for Nuclear Responsibility.[1]
Gofman was Director of the Committee for Nuclear Responsibility for many years and his independent research yielded higher risk estimates from low-level radiation than the estimates presented by various government agencies. His books carefully show how his analyses proceed from raw data to final conclusions, with no hidden steps.[2]