North America

Adopted by the UN in 1996, the treaty can only come into force when 44 specific countries who at the time of negotiations had nuclear technology have ratified it. China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States have yet to do so although during the US election campaign Obama said, “As president, I will reach out to the Senate to secure the ratification of the CTBT at the earliest practical date.”

On Capitol Hill, the Democratic House leadership is pressuring antiwar Democrats to support a $106 billion supplemental war funding bill. In May, fifty-one antiwar Democrats opposed an earlier version of the bill.

Chomsky continues writing for Pressenza in an article in which he reflects on the direction of US policy in the Middle East.

The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. It is a time to reflect on the horror and cost of war and the benefits of peacefully resolving our disputes. This year, I will use this important day to ask Governments and citizens of the world to focus on the important issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The project to shoot a feature film about the life of the leader of the non-violent movement for the struggle for civil rights is an old dream of the director.

Canadian Abousfian Abdelrazik was outsourced to Sudan for torture by Canada. Cleared of all allegations, Canada refuses to let him back home.

*A new administration and the same old war, and expansion of the war in Afghanistan. We cannot afford these wars*, said Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Global peace march proposes an alternative approach

UN Security Council members have agreed on a new round of sanctions in response to North Korea’s recent nuclear test and missile launches. The new measures include asking countries to inspect North Korean vessels carrying suspicious cargo and requiring them to deny the vessels fuel. The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, praised the agreement.

The White House said Monday that Obama and Netanyahu had “constructive” talks by phone ahead of the prime minister’s speech on the Middle East peace process next week.