AMCostaRica©
AMCostaRica©
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The country
received a 2019 Champions of the
Earth award, from the UN for its
role in the protection of nature and
its policies to combat climate
change. / Casa Presidencial photo.
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-Published: Friday,
September 27, 2019-
President Alvarado
calls on countries to sign a treaty
for Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
President Carlos Alvarado gave a
speech this Thursday in
commemoration of the International
Day for the Elimination of Nuclear
Weapons, hosted by the United
Nations.
The
president called for urgent
action, since “we are at a
decisive moment in history. A
time when we must take assertive
steps to overcome the two great
existential risks that loom over
the survival of the human race -
nuclear weapons, and the climate
crisis.”
The
president spoke about the
importance of the treaty for the
prohibition of nuclear weapons
and Costa Rica's contribution to
the creation of the treaty.
In
2017, the General Assembly
called on its member countries
to develop a binding instrument
that allowed the prohibition of
nuclear weapons.
The
treaty was created on July 7,
2017, it was led by Elayne Whyte
Gómez, permanent representative
of Costa Rica at the United
Nations.
27
countries out of 50, have
approved the treaty. The
president called on the rest of
the countries to approve and
support the treaty.
According
to President Alvarado,
disarmament is one of the main
reasons for the creation of the
United Nations Organization. The
responsibility of building a
world free of weapons is on the
shoulders of the entire
international community. Not
just the countries where nuclear
weapons are developed.
According
to the UN, the countries that
have developed nuclear weapons
today are Russia, the United
States, China, France, the
United Kingdom, India, and
Israel.
Other
countries that possess nuclear
weapons or with the technology
to develop nuclear weapons are
Pakistan, North Korea, and South
Africa.
On Wednesday, as A.M. Costa Rica
reported, the
President Alvarado called
for less weapons spending
during his speech at the
United Nations.
"Less spending on
armament or accumulation and more
investment in the fight against poverty,
inequality and climate change is the
smartest thing the world could do
today," said President Alvarado.
In his 20-minute speech, President
Alvarado called on all countries to
promote joint peace and progress
projects for humanity.
Throughout his discourse, he mentioned
the threats to democracies, which must
be addressed with agile and concrete
responses. The urgency to put in place
global mechanisms to face the
devastating effects of climate change,
respect for human rights, and the
impulse of economic and social
development to address migratory flows,
and the imperative that all countries
have to transform in the face of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The president also spoke about the
importance of gender equality and the
fight against all forms of
discrimination.
He also referred to the challenges
facing democracy, peace, and human
rights in Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In his speech, President Alvarado gave
his opinion on the need to end the
economic blockade on Cuba.
He also talked about a challenge for the
international community to solve the
migratory flows suffered by millions of
people around the world. According to
Alvarado, this migration is the result
of the effects of climate change,
inequality, poverty and in many cases
violence.
Alvarado also called for members to
think about the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, known as the Information
Revolution.
On Friday, the country received a 2019
Champions of the Earth award, from the
UN for its role in the protection of
nature and its policies to combat
climate change.
President
Alvarado is in the big apple with the
first lady, Claudia Dobles, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs Manuel Ventura and
the Minister of Environment and Energy,
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez among others
Government assistants.
The president and other authorities are
scheduled to return to the country
today.
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Is the total elimination of nuclear
weapons a goal we should aspire to? We would like to know
your thoughts on this story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
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