Good News Service #44: May 2016

Posted on May 15, 2016Murray Thomson
  1. Tiny Marshall Islands Republic confronts Britain, India and Pakistan at the World Court
  2. Pope Francis Overturns the Concept of a “Just War”
  3. And what would Mohammad do?
  4. Cows, Cars and Coal: Three Tricks for solving Climate Change
  5. The End of the Road for Fossil-Powered Cars
  6. It’s Lights Out for Coal Power
  7. Women are the driving force for change in India, Bangladesh and Cambodia today
  8. Russians in Syria: mission (actually) accomplished
  9. Ban welcomes joint China-US pledge to sign Paris climate accord in April
  10. Products from the global South reaching the bistros of Autogrill
  11. Have your say on the next UN Secretary-General

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UN’s Kim Won-Soo calls on Canada for disarmament role

Posted on May 3, 2016editor

UN High Representative Calls on Canada to Play Special Role in Nuclear Disarmament

Canada is uniquely placed to play a catalytic role between the nuclear weapons states and the non-nuclear states in promoting nuclear disarmament, UN High Representative for Disarmament Kim Won-soo said in Ottawa on May 3, 2016.

Addressing a Parliamentary Forum organized by Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, Mr. Kim warned that the consequences of not resolving present geopolitical tensions in the world could prove “catastrophic” if nuclear weapons are not eliminated.  He said Canada, with a strong record in nuclear disarmament work over several decades, could play a “bridging role” bringing the nuclear and non-nuclear states closer together on forming common policies.

The High Representative’s two-day visit to Ottawa was elevated by the Government of Canada to official status.  He met with Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, who also gave a luncheon in his honour for officials and civil society representatives.

Mr. Kim also met with the Speaker of the Senate, George Furey and with senior officials in the Prime Minister’s office as well as giving a lecture, “Pursuing a Nuclear Weapon-free World: the Secretary-General’s Five-Point Plan on Nuclear Disarmament,” to the University of Ottawa.  Appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, he urged parliamentarians to activate a motion already passed by the Parliament of Canada calling for progress in getting negotiations started that would lead to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Senator Douglas Roche, former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament, hailed the High Representative’s visit to Ottawa as “an outstanding success in raising the profile in Canada of nuclear disarmament issues at a time when the nuclear states are modernizing their arsenals and also boycotting ongoing talks in Geneva aimed at finding a legal path to the elimination of nuclear weapons.” 

Read the text of HR Kim Won-Soo’s speech here: UN High Representative Calls on Canada to Play Special Role in Nuclear Disarmament

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Good News Service #43: April 2016

Posted on April 27, 2016Murray Thomson
  1. New UN initiative aims to protect millions of girls from child marriage
  2. International Agencies in Rome together commemorate Women’s Day with commitments for achieving World Wide Gender Equity
  3. India: an ethnic armed movement commits to prohibit the recruitment and use of children in hostilities
  4. “Rainbow Ruby” joins UNESCO to support girls’ education
  5. The AVAAZ Movement is alive and well in 18 countries and has nominated Greek Islanders for the Nobel Peace Prize
  6. Icelandic millionnaire gives up after slaughtering hundreds of
    endangered fin whales.
  7. Standing up to crimes in Saudi Arabia: Western parliament votes to ban arms sale to Saudis.
  8. UN Experts say Monsanto’s Glyphosate a likely cause of cancer
  9. Three major companies heed divestment call by Jewish rabbi
  10. Syrian Refugee Children Re-uniting with their Families
  11. Somalia Prime Minister joins call to ban female genital mutilation
  12. Greek Islanders are nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
  13. Fourteen women win case against Guatemala Generals convicted of crimes against humanity
  14. Meet the Visionary who is happy with nothing!

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Minutes to Midnight

Posted on April 3, 2016Murray Thomson

 

MINUTES-TO-MIDNIGHT

Why more than 800 Order of Canada recipients call for Nuclear Disarmament.

By Murray Thomson, O.C.

The genesis for Minutes to Midnight arose from the action of 100 Nobel Laureates who marked the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in 2001 with a newspaper advertisement warning that the security of the world hangs on environmental and social reform. A committee, formed to promote this statement through prominent Canadians, began soliciting the support of Order of Canada recipients. The movement has grown through the years as has the urgency of the global situation. This book is their call for immediate action on Nuclear Disarmament.

[Download a FREE copy of Minutes to Midnight]

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Nuclear Security Requires Nuclear Disarmament

Posted on April 1, 2016Peggy Mason

Leaders from more than 50 countries including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met in Washington on Thursday and Friday at a Nuclear Security Summit dedicated to keeping nuclear bomb making materials out of the hands of terrorists. [read more]

Peggy Mason | April 1, 2016

Peggy Mason, Rideau Institute President and a former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament

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Good News Service #42: February 2016

Posted on February 15, 2016Murray Thomson
  1. Why The Bulletin’s Doomsday Clock matters
  2. Great Bear Rain Forest Agreement: “a gift to the world”
  3. Is Canada entering a new era of Big Diversity?
  4. Human Rights Conference 2016, 1-3 April in Miami, Florida
  5. South Sudan: Poor Yei farmers optimize reap with new machines
  6. Lebanon: ICRC and UNRWA join forces again to help Palestine refugees
  7. Malala urges refugee educational push
  8. United Arab Emirates create “Ministry for happiness & tolerance”
  9. New presidential decree to support media freedom in Afghanistan
  10. Statement with Doomsday Clock decision opens with a warning

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Good News Service #41: February 2016

Posted on February 9, 2016Murray Thomson

10 Good News Stories published by Murray Thomson, O.C.

  1. UN Security Council adopts resolution on youth, peace and overcoming violence
  2. EU signs program worth 3.6 billion Euros with Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States
  3. President creates a Ministry of Indigenous People in Chile
  4. Corporate Knights editorial wins Amnesty International Canada’s human rights reporting award
  5. The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) helps develop rural employment and income in Nepal
  6. Solar powered airports in India inspire officials in Liberia, Malaysia and Vietnam to do likewise
  7. Most researchers on creating clean water at the University of Florida are not just pissing around
  8. Less poaching in South Africa, more spawning in Maine
  9. Putting Climate on the ballot box
  10. Three Minutes to Midnight: Is it the final warning?

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Setsuko Thurlow and the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Voted 2015 Arms Control Person of the Year

Posted on January 9, 2016editor

For Immediate Release: January 6, 2016

(Washington, D.C.)—Setsuko Thurlow and the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki received the highest number of votes in an online poll to determine the 2015 Arms Control Person of the Year.

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