Daily Archives: April 15, 2015

Peace

U.N. Warns of Growing Divide Between Nuclear Haves and Have-Nots

Angela Kane, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, addresses the 2013 session of the Conference on Disarmament. Credit: UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
Angela Kane, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, addresses the 2013 session of the Conference on Disarmament. Credit: UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 13 2015 (IPS) – As she prepared to leave office after more than three years, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane painted a dismal picture of a conflicted world: it is “not the best of times for disarmament.”

The warning comes against the backdrop of a new Cold War on the nuclear horizon and spreading military conflicts in the politically–volatile Middle East, including in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Continue reading U.N. Warns of Growing Divide Between Nuclear Haves and Have-Nots →

Nigeria

Nigeria: On first anniversary of Chibok kidnapping, 20 parents have died

niggirlsOn 14 April, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 275 girls from their local school in Chibok, Nigeria. It was the Islamic extremist group’s largest abduction in a long campaign of kidnappings and it generated global headlines at the time, with even the likes of Michelle Obama speaking up on their behalf. One year on and most of the girls – Open Doors sources say 232 – remain missing, government assurances have come to nothing, and Boko Haram’s violence in the region has intensified. Continue reading Nigeria: On first anniversary of Chibok kidnapping, 20 parents have died →

Peace

Pax Christi statement on world military expenditure

paxOn this Global Day of Action on Military Spending Pax Christi International expresses deep concern about the scandal of excessive military spending in a world where human and ecological well-being are in dire need of investment.

Figures recently published by SIPRI – the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, estimate world military expenditures in real terms for 2014 at roughly $ 1.8 trillion, a significant increase from the already shocking $ 1.75 trillion spent in 2013. Continue reading Pax Christi statement on world military expenditure →

Japan

Japan court bars restart of Takahama nuclear reactors

Asia

The court said the plant was not ready for a major earthquake
The court said the plant was not ready for a major earthquake

A Japanese court has blocked the restarting of two nuclear reactors in the western city of Takahama, after local people raised safety concerns.

 

The plant had already obtained approval from the country’s nuclear watchdog.

But locals had petitioned the court in Fukui prefecture, where Takahama is located, to intervene, saying it would not withstand a strong earthquake. Continue reading Japan court bars restart of Takahama nuclear reactors →