Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s active role in disarmament: a case for demilitarization
December 1 marked the 72nd anniversary of Costa Rica’s extraordinary decision to abolish its armed forces. Dr. Carlos Umaña, a Costa Rican from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), explains the background and reflects on the meaning of this action, the real value of resolving conflict through nonviolent… »
International community rallies to support open research and science to fight COVID-19
WHO and Costa Rica launch landmark COVID-19 Technology Access Pool Thirty countries and multiple international partners and institutions have signed up to support the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) an initiative aimed at making vaccines, tests, treatments and other health technologies to fight COVID-19 accessible to all. The Pool was… »
Ellen ‘t Hoen on the initiative of a global patent pool to combat covid-19
Ellen ‘t Hoen, is a lawyer who has been advocating for public health issues for more than 30 years, specializing in policies related to the pharmaceutical industry and intellectual property. She has worked as a consultant to governments, international organizations and civil society organizations. From 2009 to 2012, she joined… »
The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons premieres in Madrid
In a final event to mark Pressenza’s 10th birthday. Photos Ariel Brocchieri On Monday 23 September, as advertised, the documentary “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons” premiered in Spain, in Madrid, at the historic Cine Doré, and was attended by more than 230 people. The event was organized… »
Interview with Elayne Whyte Gómez, Costa Rican ambassador to the UN in Geneva
On June 6th, we at Pressenza premiered our latest documentary film, “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons”. For this film, we interviewed 14 people, experts in their fields, who were able to provide insight into the history of the subject, the process which led to… »
Interview with Carlos Umaña, IPPNW
On June 6th, we at Pressenza premiered our latest documentary film, “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons”. For this film, we interviewed 14 people, experts in their fields, who were able to provide insight into the history of the subject, the process which led to… »
A green and just transition requires democratized public banks – Costa Rica style
Public banks have far greater financial capacity than we think. We need to harness it for the good of people and planet. Thomas Marois for openDemocracy Public banks are resurgent, triggered by the failure of private finance to meaningfully confront the green transformation. But will resurgent public banks… »
Costa Rica, the 11th country to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
On the 7th of July, 2018, Costa Rica deposited its instrument of ratification for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. There are now 11 states parties and 59 signatories. Costa Rica was one of the early champions of the treaty, and its Geneva-based ambassador, Elayne Whyte Gómez,… »
Ban treaty attracts new adherents
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), signed in September 2017, is attracting new adherents. The Treaty was adopted by 122 states to a standing ovation at the UN General Assembly. With Palestine joining the Treaty on 22 March, six UN member states and permanent observers have now… »
Costa Rica has been running with only renewable energy for nearly 3 months
Costa Rica has reached an extraordinary milestone in the history of green energy, with the country operating solely on renewable energy for nearly 3 months. The strong rains in the region have allowed the country to completely give up fossil fuels and feed itself almost entirely with electricity generated by… »