Mohamed ElBaradei

Elected three times as head of the International Atomic Energy

Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei advocates for the peaceful use of

nuclear energy and the reduction of nuclear weapons.

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“If the world does not change course, we risk self-destruction.”
Mohamed ElBaradei believes that nuclear weapons may destroy all the people in the
world unless we change our ways. He has dedicated his life to helping the world change
course, and choose a smarter way to use nuclear energy.
Growing up in Egypt, Mohamed ElBaradei was inspired by his father, who fought for
democracy and free speech. Young Mohamed determined to follow in his father’s
footsteps and help make a difference.
First as a lawyer, then as a teacher and diplomat, the younger ElBaradei looked for ways
to promote peace and justice. Then, in the mid-1980s, his life changed... and the whole
world would change as a result!
In 1984, ElBaradei got a job with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
which is a group set up by the United Nations to keep an eye on how countries are using
nuclear technology. After a few years, he was promoted to head of the Agency, and he
began to transform the way it worked.
ElBaradei secured more power for the IAEA, which allowed it to get tougher on
countries that broke the rules. He challenged governments when they tried to lie about
their nuclear weapons programs, or to hide problems with their atomic power plants.