Region

(IPS) – When U.S. President Obama presides over a meeting of world leaders in the Security Council on Sep. 24, he will provide a high profile political platform for two of the most sensitive
issues at the UN: nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Obama is expected to make his maiden appearance at the U.N. when he addresses the global summit on climate change.

In Mexico, 20 prisoners have been released who, were found guilty of the massacre of 45 residents of Acteal, a village in the southern state of Chiapas. The Supreme Court has ruled that their convictions were unsafe.

The 45 villagers, were murdered in 1997. It is said to have involved a local dispute over land and that the Mexican government played no role in it.

New non violent lights looming on the horizon in Iraq.

It is a far cry from 2006, when a bomb set off at the sacred Shiite shrine in Samarra killed no one, but ignited a fury at the sacrilege that set off two years of sectarian warfare.

This year more than a hundred people were killed, but there was no retaliation.

When we think about the best examples of women’s presence in politics, the Scandinavian countries automatically come to mind. However, Rwanda, a landlocked country found in the heart of Africa, has the highest level of female representation in parliament. No fewer than 56% of representatives are women – a world record.

North Korea has freed a South Korean factory worker who was arrested in March for insulting North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The man was detained at a joint factory site situated just over the border in North Korea. The release of the factory worker is the first goodwill gesture Pyongyang has made to South Korea since conservative President Lee Myung-bak came to power.

After 14 years of political confinement the non-violent activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to another 18 months for an alleged violation of her house arrest, has chosen the freedom of coherence. She stated that she does not feel deprived of liberty since “in an authoritarian state, only the prisoner of conscience is truly free”.

In Argentina, more former army officers have been found guilty of crimes committed under the military dictatorship. Former general Santiago Omar Riveros, who commanded the infamous Campo de Mayo barracks, received the heaviest sentence.

The junta led by General Leopolde Galtieri ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, during which time at least 30,000 people disappeared.

Madagascar’s feuding leaders said on Sunday they had agreed a power-sharing deal and would hold elections on the giant Indian Ocean island within 15 months. A communique issued after talks in Mozambique’s capital said a national unity government would be set up comprised of a prime minister, three deputy first ministers and 28 members.

Mayors for Peace Conference counted with the presentation of NGO projects and experience regarding nuclear disarmament. Rafael de la Rubia presented the proposals of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence together with members of different Japanese and international NGOs, as well as the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to appeal against being sentenced to another one and a half years of house arrest. Her lawyer says the verdict delivered against her has no basis in law. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his disappointment and said it appears that the junta wants to put Ms Suu Kyi out of running for next year’s elections.