RIO DE JANEIRO, Jun 03 (IPS) - This article is part of special IPS coverage for World Environment Day, on June 5, whose theme this year is "Beat Plastic Pollution".Although Latin America produces just five percent of the world's plastic, it imports billions of tons annually for the use of all kinds of products, some of which end up in the sea as garbage.

GENEVA, Jun 01 (IPS) - Idriss Jazairy is Special Rapporteur on "the Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights to the Syrian Arab Republic"*I have been entrusted by the Human Rights Council with the task of monitoring, reporting and advising on the negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights of unilateral coercive measures. The United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern that the use of such measures may be contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States1.

ROME, Jun 01 (IPS) - During the past recent years, the city of Rome has experienced a rise in the presence of musicians in its streets and in particular those playing traditional sounds. It does not take a long time, while walking in the streets of Rome, to see a band playing joyful traditional sounds in Piazza Navona. The group renamed itself "Colosseo Band" but they are all from Eastern Europe. A double bass, violins, guitars and a xylophone: this unique assortment gives rise to an explosion of pleasant sounds that make people dancing in the same square.

WASHINGTON DC, Jun 01 (IPS) - Daryl G. Kimball is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association*The global nuclear nonproliferation system has always relied on responsible leadership from the United States and other global powers. The effort to create, extend, and strengthen the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which was opened for signature 50 years ago on July 1, 1968, has succeeded, albeit imperfectly, because most U.S. presidents have made good faith efforts to back up U.S. legal and political commitments on nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Jun 01 (IPS) - Silvia Alonso is a scientist-epidemiologist at the International Livestock Research InstituteAs the world becomes increasingly aware of the growing demands being made of our planet, more and more of us are making lifestyle choices to reduce our negative environmental impact and carbon footprint.

ROME, May 31 (IPS) - On June 5th, World Environment Day will be hosted in India under the banner of "Beat Plastic Pollution," aiming to raise awareness and civic engagement alongside creating a global movement to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.

BUENOS AIRES, May 31 (IPS) - With 80 percent of the population living in urban areas and a vehicle fleet that is growing at the fastest rate in the world, Latin America has the conditions to begin the transition to electric mobility - but public policies are not, at least for now, up to the task.

UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (IPS) - António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in an address to the UN General Assembly, on "Repositioning the UN Development System"I just arrived this morning from Mali – but I wanted to be here personally to thank you for your leadership, engagement and constructive spirit. Allow me to pay a special tribute to the co-facilitators Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representative of Algeria, and Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark.

UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (IPS) - The battle between two candidates for the presidency of the 193-member General Assembly next week harks back to the day when the president of the highest policy making body at the United Nations was elected on the luck of a draw --following a dead heat.

MEXICO CITY, May 30 (IPS) - Agronomist Irene Salvador decided to learn the process of making corn tortillas in order to preserve and promote this traditional staple food in the Mexican diet, which has lost its presence and nutritional quality.