Tuesday, November 27, 2007

News You Might Have Missed

Sometimes I read something in the news that seems incredibly obvious. This headline caught me:
Bahamas to Ratify Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, says Acting PM
By Lindsay Thompson, BIS
Nov 26, 2007 - 4:46:30 PM


http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-newsupdates/NASSAU_Bahamas_The_Bahamas_is_set_to_ratify_its_position_as_a_signatory_to_the_Comprehensive_Nuclear_Tes-Ban_Treaty_designed_to_rid_the_world_of_nuclear_weapons_Acting_Prime_Minister_the_Hon_Brent_Symonette_announced_Monday_November_26_2007.shtml
I'm glad that the Bahamas oppose nuclear testing, but...uhm...I would have thought that they would have signed on years ago. It's not like they were going to enter a nuclear weapons race any time soon.

The Bahamas is set to ratify its position as a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban
Treaty, designed to rid the world of nuclear weapons, Acting Prime Minister the Hon Brent Symonette announced Monday, November 26, 2007.

He was addressing a regional workshop co-hosted by the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is being held November 26 – 28, at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino, Cable Beach.

...

The year 2006 marked the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty open for signature. Since then, the CTBT has been considered a cornerstone of the non-proliferation of the nuclear weapons regime.

The Treaty has 177 State Signatories, with 140 countries who have ratified. Thirty-four of the 44 States listed in Annex 2 of the Treaty, whose ratification is required for entry into force, have ratified the Treaty.

http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/NASSAU_Bahamas_The_Bahamas_is_set_to_ratify_its_position_as_a_signatory_to_the_Comprehensive_Nuclear_Test-Ban_Treaty_designed_to_rid_the_world_of_nuclear_weapons_Acting_Prime_Minister_the_Hon_Brent_Symonette_announced_Monday_November_26_2007.shtml



Last I looked (OK, I've never been there. But I would love to go) the Bahamas had beautiful beaches with lots of tourist resorts. The testing of nuclear weapons would not be a tourist draw, so opposing it should be a "no brainer", so I'm wondering why it's taken over 10 years to sign on.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I guess they figured they were correcting some sort of oversight?

Sometimes, I guess the stating of the obvious is about the symbolism of it?