UN chief announces progress on committee to shape Syria's political future
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-23
UN-led discussions to secure a peaceful future for the people of Syria have resulted in agreement by the country's Government and opposition representatives to the formation of a new Constitutional Committee in a bid to end the "tragedy" of more than eight years of fighting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Monday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1047092

Climate Week: Faith in Our Future: Interfaith Conversation on Climate Change (Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network | indybay.org | 2019-09-23
Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060…
indybay.org/newsitems/2019/09/21/18826538.php

Greenpeace targets Burger King over Amazon fires and deforestation
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-23
Environmental campaigners have unfurled giant banners at Burger King's Leicester Square restaurant in London in protest at the Amazon fires and deforestation.The meat industry and the rainforest: The green group claims Burger King…
thecanary.co/uk/2019/09/23/greenpeace-targets-burger-king-over-amazon-fires-and-deforestation/

Afghanistan's Taliban Meet Chinese Officials in Beijing
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-23
A Taliban delegation met Sunday with China's Special Representative for Afghanistan in Beijing to discuss the group's peace talks with the United States, a spokesman for the Islamist insurgency said. | RELATED: | US Drone Strike 'Accidentally' Kills 30 Afghan Farmers | The meeting comes after U.S. President Donald Trump's 11th-hour cancellation earlier this month…
telesurenglish.net/news/Afghanistan-Taliban-Meet-Chinese-Officials-in-Beijing-20190923-0012.html

Dialogue in Venezuela Another Missed Opportunity for Democrats
Leonardo Flores | commondreams.org | 2019-09-23
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza (2nd L) looks at opposition member Javier Bertucci during the signing of the dialogue agreement between the government and the opposition in Caracas on September 18, 2019. (Photo: Matias Delacroix/AFP/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/venezuela_sanders_democrats.png …
commondreams.org/views/2019/09/23/dialogue-venezuela-another-missed-opportunity-democrats?cd-origin=rss

Venezuela: Dueling Delegations Sent to New York as TIAR Treaty Invoked
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-23
Colombian President Ivan Duque raised tensions on the eve of the UN General Assembly when he compared Maduro to Slobodan Milosevic and Al Qaeda.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14664

Peace Versus Climate
Peter Koenig | globalresearch.ca | 2019-09-23
Climate Change number ONE? — How about PEACE? — Nobody thought about that? Have these western kids been brainwashed. Not even UN Secretary General Guterres, whose mandate it is to lead the UN towards conflict solutions that bring PEACE — this is the very mandate that the UN has been founded on. Not climate, but PEACE.
globalresearch.ca/peace-versus-climate/5689953

Why We March: Voices From the Front Lines of Friday's Climate Strike
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-09-23
| As many as a quarter-million people marched on the streets of New York City Friday for a youth-led climate strike inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Globally, as many as 4 million people took to the streets in hundreds of countries. Democracy Now! was in the streets of New York on Friday speaking with climate strikers from the United States and around the world. | TRANSCRIPT: | AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I'm Amy Goodman,…
truthout.org/video/millions-take-part-in-the-youth-led-global-climate-strike-friday/

UN's Guterres Announces Syria Constitutional Committee
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-23
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Monday the formation of a constitutional committee for Syria, a long-awaited step in a stalled peace process. | "It will be facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva," Guterres told reporters, adding that it would be convened in the coming weeks. The United Nations sees the committee as a next step in efforts to find a political solution to end the more than eight-year war in Syria. | "I strongly believe that the launch of the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led constitutional committee can and must be the beginning of the political path out of the trag…
telesurenglish.net/news/UNs-Guterres-Announces-Syria-Constitutional-Committee-20190923-0001.html

Uruguay to Leave TIAR If War Approved Against Venezuela
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-23
Uruguay will withdraw from the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) if its members approve military intervention against Venezuela, Foreign Affairs Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa told La Republica Monday. | RELATED: | China Rejects TIAR Activation Against Venezuela | The diplomat reiterated that the countries that are pushing for this option "ignore the intrinsic value" of the treaty, which is the "defense of the member countries against external aggression," adding his country w…
telesurenglish.net/news/Uruguay-to-Leave-TIAR-If-Military-Intervention-Approved-Against-Venezuela-20190923-0010.html

Venezuela's Maduro Attempts a Separate Peace with Part of Opposition
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-09-22
As tensions increase between the Maduro government and the US-supported opposition, Maduro signed an agreement with smaller opposition parties against sanctions and in favor of deescalation…
therealnews.com/stories/venezuelas-maduro-attempts-a-separate-peace-with-part-of-opposition

Former Mayor Who Helped Guaido, Accused of Graft in Colombia
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-22
Socialist leader and protector of the Venezuelan state of Tachira Freddy Bernal denounced Saturday that former Colombian mayor Henry Valero, who helped opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido cross the Venezuelan-Colombian border on Feb. 22, has been sentenced to five years in prison for corruption in Colombia. | RELATED: | Venezuela to Denounce US Blockade at 74th UN General Assembly | "The cynicism of national and international media has no limits, they try to minimize the evidence of ties between paramilitaries…
telesurenglish.net/news/Former-Colombian-Mayor-Who-Helped-Guaido-Accused-of-Graft-in-Colombia–20190922-0018.html

Venezuela to Denounce US Blockade at 74th UN General Assembly
telesurenglish.net | 2019-09-22
Venezuela confirmed Saturday that its delegation to the United Nations General Assembly will denounce the illegal blockade imposed by the United States government, as well as present the millions of signatures gathered from the international campaign 'No More Trump'. | RELATED | #NoMoreTrump Campaign Takes to Streets of Caracas | Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Ä&at…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Denounce-US-Blockade-UN-20190922-0007.html

Climate emergency 'a new danger' to peace, youth activists hear ahead of World Day
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-20
Among the efforts to build a sustainably peaceful world, "urgent climate action is needed" to curb environmental threats to all our well-being and security, the Secretary-General told the annual peace gathering in New York on Friday, addressing a largely youthful crowd.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1046862

SHOCKER! Area 51 raid FLOPS as bunch of YouTubers chat up guards instead of running to 'see them aliens' (PHOTOS)
rt.com | 2019-09-20
A viral prank that promised to see two million alien hunters breach the gates of Area 51 has ended with a whimper instead of a bang, drawing only a few dozen enthusiasts for the much-anticipated 'raid.' | Initially a mock Facebook event, "Storm Area 51" quickly became a phenomenon that garnered interest from hundreds of thousands of netizens, who signed up to blaze past police and military guards to "see them aliens" at the top-secret Nevada facility. Some celebrities who'd promised to join in heated up the memeful event even more, while the authorities tried to pour cold water on even the idea of a peaceful a…
rt.com/usa/469270-storm-area-51-raid-run/

Activists Face Felony Charges for Blocking Houston Oil Tanker Corridor
Staff | therealnews.com | 2019-09-20
Under a new law backed by Big Oil and passed in statehouses nationwide, Greenpeace USA activists face felony charges for the action. Texas is the second state to bring such charges under the "critical infrastructure" law…
therealnews.com/stories/activists-face-felony-charges-for-blocking-houston-oil-tanker-corridor

The Environmental Left Is Softening on Carbon-Capture Technology. Maybe That's OK
Rachel M. Cohen | theintercept.com | 2019-09-20
At the start of this year, more than 600 environmental groups — including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Sunrise Movement — sent a letter to Congress saying they will "vigorously oppose" federal climate legislation that promotes "corporate schemes" like carbon-capture and storage. | Congress was not chastened. This past July, tucked in the Senate's $287 billion highway reauthorization bill, was a bipartisan measure to support carbon-ca…
theintercept.com/2019/09/20/carbon-capture-technology-unions-labor/

'Collective' erosion of two-State solution, continues unabated: Mladenov
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-20
The "steady deterioration" of chances that a lasting peace can be negotiated between Israel and Palestine as two States live side by side, reflects a "collective failure" of leadership across the region and the world.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1046892

Friday's Daily Brief: World youth call for climate action and peace, record food needs met in Yemen, exclusive sit down with UN chief
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-20
A recap of Friday's top stories: Climate emergency threatening peace progress; Guterres urges States bring concrete answers to GA; Migrant shooting in Libya signals danger; Xenophobia attacks rise in South Africa; Record number get UN food aid in Libya.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1046932

The Struggle for Peace in Afghanistan: Is Community Engagement the Key?
Robert J. Burrowes | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-09-20
I have just read a superb book by Mark Isaacs, an Australian who has documented several years of effort by a group of incredibly committed young people in Afghanistan to build peace in that war-torn country the only way it can be built: by learning, living and sharing peace. The book, titled The Kabul Peace …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/09/the-struggle-for-peace-in-afghanistan-is-community-engagement-the-key/

Venezuela oil production continues decline as China cancels more shipments
Ricardo Vaz | mronline.org | 2019-09-19
Russian oil giant Rosneft blasted threats of U.S. sanctions as "unfair competition." | Source…
mronline.org/2019/09/19/venezuela-oil-production-continues-decline-as-china-cancels-more-shipments/

Amnesty Head: Climate Crisis Is a "Death Penalty" for Humanity. Leaders Need Political Will to Act
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-19
More than a million students are expected to walk out of class on Friday in a Global Climate Strike, with more than 800 climate strikes scheduled in the United States alone. Strikes are also being organized in another 150 countries around the world. In our New York studio, we speak to Amnesty International's Secretary General Kumi Naidoo, who has urged school districts across the globe to allow students to walk out of school on Friday without facing punishment. In a letter, Naidoo, who is also the former executive director of Greenpeace, writes, "Children should not be punished for speaking out about the great in…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/19/kumi_naidoo_climate_change_global_strikes

US imposes New Sanctions Targeting Venezuela's Food Program
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-18
The Treasury Department has targeted people and companies involved in imports for Venezuela's CLAP program.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14659

Venezuela: Gov't Releases Opposition Leader, Guaido Ratified as Parliament Head
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-18
Edgar Zambrano was a high-profile participant in the opposition's April 30 military putsch.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14660

Wednesday's Daily Brief: 'Ambition and action', key to UNGA, South Sudan, Cameroon peace process updates
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-18
A recap of Wednesday's top stories: Guterres previews next week's summit agenda; UN and Red Cross appeal to eliminate urban warfare; South Sudan's one-year peace progress report; Cameroon renews call for 'durable peace'; Cities both helping and hurting, when it comes to climate change action.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1046722

La hipocresía de Hausmann: Ganando dinero de dictaduras mientras promueve 'democracia' en Venezuela
Anya Parampil | thegrayzone.com | 2019-09-16
Ricardo Hausmann arremetió contra bancos por hacer negocios con el negocio electo de Venezuela. Pero sus declaraciones financieras a Harvard…
thegrayzone.com/2019/09/16/ricardo-hausmann-dinero-dictaduras-venezuela/

Government Signs Agreement with Opposition Factions as Guaido Declares Dialogue Over
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-16
Guaido called for a "new stage of struggle" including the recent activation of the TIAR mutual defence treaty.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14657

Venezuela Probes Guaido over Photos with Colombian Drug Traffickers
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-15
Los Rastrojos have been accused of drug smuggling, extortion, and targeted killings.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14656

Venezuela Oil Production Continues Decline as China Cancels More Shipments
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-12
Russian oil giant Rosneft blasted threats of US sanctions as "unfair competition."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14654

A Morning in Afghanistan
Kathy Kelly | progressive.org | 2019-09-11
Amidst political posturing, aerial terrorism, and street bombings, Afghan citizens pursue their daily work toward peace.
progressive.org/dispatches/a-morning-in-afghanistan-Kelly-190911/

Venezuela's Maduro Warns of Colombia 'Threat' as Trump Fires Bolton
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-11
Venezuelan military exercises along the border started on Tuesday.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14653

Venezuela: Guaido Under Investigation over Essequibo Bargaining Revelations
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-09
Guaido envoy Vanessa Neumann was caught on tape offering to relinquish Venezuela's historic claim in exchange for backing from London.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14651

New Season of Amazon's Jack Ryan Focused on Venezuela Denounced as 'Over-the-Top and Ridiculous' US Propaganda
Eoin Higgins, Common Dreams | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-08
The upcoming season of Amazon's Jack Ryan could have been scripted by John Bolton.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14650

Mastercard Blocks Two Venezuelan Banks as Inflation Rises
Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-06
A Chinese contractor has also suspended work on an oil expansion project.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14649

Venezuela: Gold Reserves Fall to 75-year Low as Guaido Seeks to Restructure Debt
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-04
Venezuelan gold reserves fell by $1 billion in the first semester of 2019.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14647

Former Colombian guerrillas rearm as government undermines Peace Accords
James Jordan | liberationnews.org | 2019-09-03
A new phase of armed conflict in Colombia has emerged with the declaration by some former leaders of the FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People's Army) that they are reorganizing and rearming as an insurgent force.
liberationnews.org/former-colombian-guerrillas-rearm-as-government-undermines-peace-accords/

Venezuela Points Finger at Duque for Breakdown of Colombian Peace Process
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-02
The Maduro government also refuted accusations that it offers "refuge" to FARC-EP rebels.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14646

Venezuela Exposes Failed Plan to Attack Justice Palace, Police Headquarters
TeleSur English | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-02
Vicepresident Jorge Rodriguez presented evidence of a failed attack on Venezuela's highest courts located in Caracas allegedly to be carried out by criminals trained in Colombia.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14644

Report: One Venezuelan Migrant Killed Every Day in Colombia
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-08-28
Criminal activity and xenophobic attacks have been cited among the main causes.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14641

US Opens Venezuela Interest Section in Colombia as Guaido Rebuffs Further Talks
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-08-28
It remains unclear whether the new Venezuela Affairs Unit will facilitate talks with Caracas.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14640

Venezuela: Major Gas Explosion Called Act of 'Sabotage'
TeleSur English | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-08-26
Government spokespersons have blamed opposition activists from First Justice Party.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14637

MLB Breaks Ties with Venezuelan Baseball over US Embargo
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-08-26
All US-based ball players, including Venezuelan nationals, are now barred from playing in Venezuela.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14639

Venezuela's Maduro Confirms Secret Trump Talks as US Navy 'Ready' For Action
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-08-23
US Southern Command chief said US Navy will "do what needs to be done."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14634