CNN's Ted Turner sets up anti-nuclear body
Washington: Mr Ted Turner, founder of Cable News Network (CNN) has formed a new charitable organization, with a commitment of $250 million over the next five years, dedicated to reducing the global threat of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The billionaire businessman-philanthropist has pledged at least $50 million a year over the next five years in funding.

Former Democratic senator Mr Sam Nunn, who will co-chair the venture with Mr Turner, has said that the new organization would be international in scope, serving as both a catalyst for action and a sponsor of pilot projects that could be replicated on a larger scale. Senator termed the effort "urgent," given the continued risk of a nuclear exchange through accident or miscalculation, compounded by "serious concerns about the security of (stockpiled) weapons and bomb-making materials."

The project was conceived out of a study by Mr Nunn and Mr Charles Curtis, a former US deputy secretary of energy, which assessed the impact a well-funded private organization could have on reducing the risk of use of weapons of mass destruction and stemming the proliferation of nuclear weapons, materials and know-how.
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