World Threatened with More Nuclear Arms as Modernization of Arsenals Continues
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The growing modernization of the world’s nuclear arsenal is threatening an increase of deadly weapons in the not-too-distant future.
The grim prediction comes from the latest Yearbook released June 13 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2022. [2022-06-13]
Nuclear Weapons Pose the Greatest Immediate Threat to Human Health
By Radwan Jakeem
NEW YORK (IDN) — A Joint International Health Statement for the 1st Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has stressed the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons as a matter of global health and survival. The joint statement expresses a "united voice" of physicians, nurses, public health professionals, and medical students worldwide.
The statement issued on May 2, 2022, provides an "updated evidence" on the catastrophic consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, the acute and growing danger of their use, and the impossibility of any effective humanitarian and health response following nuclear explosions on Parties (1MSP) of the TPNW. [2022-06-11]
U.S. Urged to Intensify Diplomacy to Restore Iran Nuclear Deal
By J.C. Suresh
WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — Arms Control experts are strongly urging President Joseph Biden to immediately redouble efforts to break the stalemate on talks to restore compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi, for example, has warned that efforts to restore the JCPOA will face a “fatal blow” within three to four weeks, after Iran announced on June 9 that it was disconnecting certain cameras monitoring key nuclear facilities. [2022-06-10]
SGI Supports Launch of “Immoral Code” Film
Call for New International Law on Autonomy in Weapons Systems
By Kyodo JBN
This press release was issued by Soka Gakkai International (SGI) on May 25, 2022, and is being re-published with their permission.
TOKYO — Immoral Code, a 23-minute documentary that raises important questions about how far we are prepared to let machines make decisions of life and death, was launched for online viewing on May 24. [2022-06-02]
A Double Veto Against US Resolution on DPRK Reflects New Cold War At UN
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — A US-sponsored resolution to impose additional sanctions on North Korea for its multiple missile tests since January this year failed to get off the ground because of two vetoes by China and Russia.
The double vetoes reflected a growing new Cold War in international politics—and in the UN Security Council chamber—badly in need of a ceasefire. [2022-05-28]
Nuclear Policies Violate Right to Life, Warn Civil Society Organisations
By Jaya Ramachandran
GENEVA (IDN) — While arms control and disarmament efforts have come to a halt, civil society organisations are insisting that nuclear policies contravene the right to life. “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life,” declares Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). FRENCH | ITALIAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF [2022-05-21-05]
ICAN Successfully Promoting the Nuclear-Weapons Ban in Africa
By Jaya Ramachandran
GENEVA (IDN) — 2017 Nobel Peace laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and its partner organisations are carrying out activities across Africa to promote adherence to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and to raise awareness of the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to all humanity. [2022-05-19-04] FRENCH | INDONESIAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF
North Korea Continues to Defy UN with 17 Missile Tests in 2022
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The United Nations, faced with a defiant nuclear-armed Russia in a destructive war with Ukraine now running towards the third month, is fighting an equally unsuccessful confrontation with North Korea which is openly violating multiple Security Council resolutions as it continues launching ballistic missiles threatening neighbouring countries. [2022-05-12-03] ARABIC | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | KOREAN
Ending the War of Attrition in Ukraine
Viewpoint by Jeffrey D. Sachs
This article was issued by Project Syndicate and is being republished with the author's permission.
NEW YORK (IDN) — Wars often erupt and persist because of the two sides’ miscalculations regarding their relative power. In the case of Ukraine, Russia blundered badly by underestimating the resolve of Ukrainians to fight and the effectiveness of NATO-supplied weaponry. Yet Ukraine and NATO are also overestimating their capacity to defeat Russia on the battlefield. The result is a war of attrition that each side believes it will win, but that both sides will lose. [2022-05-11]
Ukraine Proves UN Cannot Singlehandedly Usher in a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The devastating war in Ukraine—now moving towards the third month—has triggered several threats of the “nuclear option”.
The battle, which began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, is between one of the world’s major nuclear powers and a neighboring non-nuclear country. [2022-04-27-02] CHINESE | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | RUSSIAN | SPANISH
