RUSSIA/UKRAINE: Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, has warned that the world could be in the midst of a bigger war with Russia’s series of attacks on Ukraine, which would witness the first anniversary.
The experts who analysed the state of the world in 2023 had arranged the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight, pointing out that it has reached that point, causing “total global catastrophe.”
This statement was made keeping in mind the war-torn situation in Ukraine, climate change, nuclear threats, the economic gaps between the poor and the rich, geopolitical divisions, etc.
Guterres said that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be followed, which would create a foundation for the important rights of all people: freedom, justice, and peace.
The UN chief mentioned that these important alterations must begin by ensuring peace in Ukraine. “I fear the world is not sleepwalking into a wider war; it is doing so with its eyes wide open.”
Adding to that, he also said, “The chances of further escalation and bloodshed keep growing.”
According to the UN chief, it was time for all nations to cater to the UN Charter, which prioritises peaceful settlements of disputes and focuses on the prevention of conflict and reconciliation. He also adds that the countries should give up using “tactical” nuclear weapons.
“We are at the highest risk in decades of a nuclear war that could start by accident or design. We need to end the threat posed by 13,000 nuclear weapons held in arsenals around the world,” he said.
The chief reiterated that 2023 should be a year of making important changes, including cutting the use of greenhouse gases by half this decade and swiftly switching to renewable energy. reducing emissions from big industrial sectors like steel, cement, shipping, and aviation that he believes are “raking in monster profits.”
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