[pjw] NEWS: UN Chief Calls for Global Ceasefire | Common Dreams 3/24

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hi folks

Here's a global leader speaking about how the pandemic shows that war is just...
stupid, and that there needs to be halt to fighting. Despite Secretary Guterres'
great words, the US has found time amidst the crisis to indict Venezuelan leader
Nicolas Maduro for "narcoterrorism"?? The last paragraph of this article says
this is more about appealing to Latinx voters than national security.

https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2020/03/us-indicts-venezuelas-maduro-on-narcoterror-charges.html

Anyway, here's some more upbeat news.

dan handelman
peace and justice works

  https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/24/fury-virus-illustrates-folly-war-un-chief-calls-global-ceasefire
    Published on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 by Common Dreams As 'Fury of Virus
Illustrates Folly of War,' UN Chief Calls for Global Ceasefire
    "End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our
    world." by Eoin Higgins, staff writer

    United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres on Monday called on
    the countries of Earth to declare an immediate ceasefire and join
    together to battle the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging people and
    communities across the planet.

    "The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war," said Guterres.
    "That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in
    all corners of the world.  It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown
    and focus together on the true fight of our lives."

      Today I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners
      of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus
      together on the true fight of our lives - the #COVID19
      pandemic.https://t.co/F6JRA6ekvZ pic.twitter.com/7WgtFMk5GC --
      Ant?nio Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 23, 2020

    "We welcome this call by Ant?nio Guterres," the global anti-poverty
    group Concern said on Twitter. "Coronavirus poses an enormous threat to
    the the 71 million people across the globe who have been displaced by
    violence and a ceasefire of all arms must take place to ensure that
    they can be reached with life-saving aid."

    Guterres said he hoped action taken to stop conflict could help
    refugees, women, children, and other marginalized communities in
    warzones get the help they need to survive--including better delivery
    of humanitarian and medical aid.

    "End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our
    world," said Guterres.  "It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere.
    Now. That is what our human family needs, now more than ever."

    Progressives welcomed the declaration.

    "U.N. Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres' call for a global ceasefire
    prioritizes people over profit, healthcare over warfare, and solidarity
    over global isolation," tweeted CodePink. "Divest from war."