The UK Defies Nuclear Treaties and Strengthens Atomic Arsenal
By Jamshed Baruah
GENEVA (IDN) — Within three months of the UK's complete withdrawal from all institutions of the European Union and from the European Atomic Energy Community on January 31, 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to increase by 40 per cent to 260 the country's nuclear arsenal to "continue to be the leading European Ally within NATO". Disarmament activists and experts as well as world parliamentarians have criticized the decision. [2021-03-22|33] ITALIAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | SWEDISH | THAI
Instead of Increasing Nuclear Stockpile, the UK Should Be Leading The Way on Disarmament
Viewpoint by the Bishop of Coventry
The author is the Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth. He is writing this article on behalf of the Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. This article was first published on March 19, 2021.
LONDON (IDN | Christian CND) — The past several months have seen politicians and civil society, church leaders and groups (Christian CND courageously among them) combine efforts to raise awareness of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and to encourage the UK government to lead the way among nuclear weapons-states in joining this treaty. [2021-03-20]
Gorbachev's Legacy After 30 Years of the Soviet Union's Disintegration
By Andrei Grachev
A Russian historian, political analyst and journalist, Dr Andrei Grachev, was the adviser for Mikhail Gorbachev and official Spokesman of the President of the USSR until his resignation in December 1991. InDepthNews is re-publishing this article courtesy of Other News. Original link > https://www.other-news.info/2021/03/the-time-of-gorbachev
MOSCOW (IDN) — Two books were published practically simultaneously in Great Britain and France to commemorate the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the breakup of the Soviet Union. [2021-03-05]
Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons: The Role of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands
Viewpoint by Moritz Kütt, Jan Hoekema and Tom Sauer *
The English version of this article was first published in The Toda Peace Institute's Global Outlook on February 28, 2021.**
TOKYO (IDN) — On January 22, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force. The new agreement also called the Nuclear Ban Treaty, prohibits member states from developing, producing, testing, and stockpiling nuclear weapons. It similarly restricts the use and the threat of use of these weapons. [2021-03-04]
UN Youth4Disarmament Recognized by 'Billion Acts of Peace'
By Devinder Kumar
NEW DELHI (IDN) — Disarmament is at the heart of the collective security system set out in the United Nations Charter, with its goal to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". In commemoration of the United Nation's 75th anniversaries and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) established the "75 Words for Disarmament Youth Challenge", which was launched on August 12 International Youth Day and closed on September 26, the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. [2021-02-28 | 32] ARABIC | HINDI | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | NORWEGIAN
Nuclear Modernization Race Continues Despite New START
By J C Suresh
TORONTO | WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) — While independent arms control experts around the world heaved a sigh of relief at Joe Biden's signature decision to extend the New START Treaty with Russia through February 4, 2026, Pentagon officials say it is "just the beginning of a larger discussion with Russia and China about placing further limits on nuclear weapons proliferation". [2021-02-28 | 31] GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | RUSSIAN | SWEDISH
The Creative and Destructive Aspects of Homo Sapiens
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte
The writer is Ambassador, former High Representative of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs and current President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
NEW YORK (IDN) — We do not know exactly how many millennia ago human beings started their ascent among other species to become dominant over the planet. We can, however, pinpoint with certainty in the Industrial Revolution the beginning of the rapid development of science, manufacturing techniques, trade and other skills that allowed unprecedented material progress particularly since the second half of the last century. [2021-02-25]
A Beacon of Hope from A Buddhist Leader in the Face of Crises
Viewpoint by Ramesh Jaura
BERLIN | TOKYO (IDN) — Like the United Nations, the global community-based Buddhist organisation Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a beacon of hope to a world shrouded by dark clouds of unprecedented crises. An international association of the Soka Gakkai and an NGO in consultative status with UN ECOSOC, SGI has members in 192 countries and territories around the world. SGI President is Daisaku Ikeda, a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder and educator. [2021-02-18 | 30] JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | SPANISH | THAI
President Biden Should Resurrect the Iran Nuclear Deal
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power*
LUND, Sweden (IDN) — General Colin Powell should know. He was chief of staff of the US military, and later secretary of state under President George W. Bush. When the Syrian civil war broke out and there was an effort in Congress and the media to persuade President Barack Obama to intervene, Powell made an observation, the one posted in pottery shops: ”If you break it you own it”. He had also made the same pithy remark before the first Gulf war but then he went along with leading the invasion. [2021-02-16]
Time to Negotiate for Peace in Space!
Viewpoint by Alice Slater
The writer serves on the Board of 'World Beyond War'.
NEW YORK (IDN) – The US mission to dominate and control the military use of space has been, historically and at present, a major obstacle to achieving nuclear disarmament and a peaceful path to preserve all life on earth.
Reagan rejected Gorbachev's offer to give up Star Wars as a condition for both countries to eliminate all their nuclear weapons when the wall came down and Gorbachev released all of Eastern Europe from Soviet occupation, miraculously, without a shot. [2021-02-09]
