John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Nuclear ban treaty

Seventy-five years after their destructive power was first unleashed, nuclear weapons are about to be officially and explicitly prohibited by international law. For the average person, it may come as a surprise to know that nuclear weapons, dreadful as they are, weren’t already outlawed. But for the vast majority of nuclear weapons experts, the ban will arrive far sooner than expected.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, informally called the ban treaty, was adopted with the approval of 122 countries at the United Nations in July 2017. It forbids anything and everything related to nuclear weapons, including their development and possession. It also obligates countries that join it to provide support to the victims of nuclear weapons testing and use, and to undertake environmental cleanup.
But to enter into legal force, the treaty needed more than just a v**e at the United Nations; it needed ratification by at least 50 countries. It achieved that mark on October 24, after Jamaica, Nauru, and Honduras deposited the 48th, 49th, and 50th ratifications in rapid succession over the course of several days. Accordingly, the treaty will become official international law 90 days hence, on January 22, 2021.

https://thebulletin.org/2020/10/the-nuclear-ban-treaty-is-set-to-enter-force-experts-explain-what-comes-next/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MondayNewsletter11022020&utm_content=NuclearRisk_BanTreaty_10302020


https://tinyurl.com/yxhth8p8

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

...Accordingly, the treaty will become official international law 90 days hence, on January 22, 2021.

And enforceable, never. Political entities seek out only their individual interests. The treaty is a nice idea that will have no effect except perhaps in aiding victims of a limited outbreak. Notice how well nuclear proliferation has been controlled since WW II.

Ourspolair

At least a small step forward. There may be hope yet.

halraiser

I'd be delighted if we could completely get rid of nuclear weapons. However, the sad fact is that regimes like Iran and N. Korea seem intent on developing them. And Saudi Arabia has said that if Iran gets nukes, they will get them too.

Unfortunately, most any country with reasonable technological resources can make nuclear bombs. The hard work was done long ago, now the main difficulty is acquiring the bomb grade fissile material. That is why the treaty with Iran was so long on hope and so short on reality. Iran was developing the means to concentrate fissile material and the enforcement mechanism in that treaty was lacking. And there is good evidence that N Korea already has some nukes. And Israel's worst kept secret is possession of nukes.

I don't like it, but that seems to be the world we live in.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

As long as there is ONE rogue nation/dictator who wants or has nuclear weapons then others cannot afford to go along with a treaty or "law" like this. Since basically the only thing keeping those bad actors from using them is the threat of being hit back.

Now in my SciFi novels, movies and shows they develop ways to keep them from exploding etc. etc. - but that is in SciFi, not real life.

Of course in SciFi they also have beam weapons capable of destroying asteroids, moons and planets - Death Star anyone?
What is the difference of being destroyed one way or the other.
We don't need those death rays to worry about, nukes are enough as long as some bad actors desire to have them to force others to submit to them.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I don’t think Israel will allow Iran to get Nukes, but reigning in N. Korea is a real problem.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

An article I read speculated that if No Korea launched nukes at someone, esp any US assets China might hit them with a strike or invasion to take over the country just to prove they weren't in on it and keep Kim from d**gging them into a major war.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I would hope that’s the case. Honestly, I think China is the only one that can keep them in check.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Trade with China is the only thing that keeps them alive for the most part. If China cut them off completely the place would start falling apart and any problem (like bad weather during growing season) would collapse their whole country.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Never forget the country run by the Fatboy with the fancy hairdo; he bowed out of the Treaty with Iran and also Russia. He is among a few like N.Korea with a fascination with nukes wanting them used on the battlefield, "Why not?" he once stated. Perhaps in the future even at home to disperse protestors. Unthinkable!!!

You are right there will always be demented leaders, so these treaties are ideals to live up too.

halraiser

The treaty with Iran was an a*********n. Not really enforceable and even its supporters agreed that after ten years it would allow the Iranians to develop nukes.

ad9mac

Both countries violating the treaties and tying our hands to do anything about it.
He didn't send billions of dollars, some in pallets of cash to Iran to be used for their nuke program and terrorism around the world. The last administration did.

Your TDS is showing.

ad9mac

That was directed toward dpullum

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

cbabcock

A ten year delay is better than nothing. It allowed for breathing room, and a chance for diplomacy to work. Of course we gave up on diplomacy four years ago, backed out of the treaty, rattled our swords, pushed Iran to accelerate production of material for weapons, set the stage for Israel, our surrogate, to attack.

I'm looking forward to a return to real diplomacy!