Overview
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an international and multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, in all environments. The CTBT was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10th September 1996 in New York, and opened for signature on 24th September 1996. On the 19th November 1996, during the first meeting of the States Signatories to the CTBT, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was established. The objective of the CTBTO is to prepare for the entry into force (EIF) of the Treaty and its role is to achieve the object and purpose of the treaty, to ensure the implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultations and cooperation among States Parties.
The CTBTO stipulates the creation of a National Data Centre (NDC) within the member states. The sole responsibility of the NDC is to advise the government of any cases of Treaty violations, in addition to using the data for training, research, civil and scientific applications. The NDC is expected to have the capacity to receive, process, analyze and interpret data from any of the CTBTO’s 337-facility International Monitoring System (IMS), as well as receiving additional raw and processed data (i.e. IDC Products) from the CTBTO’s International Data Centre (IDC) in Vienna, Austria. The IMS comprises of four technologies; seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide monitoring each with its specific objective in the verification regime of the CTBT
Sponser
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
Principal Investigator
Abstract
With a population of about three million, Nairobi, Kenya, is one of Africa’s largest cities, but just over a century ago this teeming site was little more than uninhabited swampland. That changed with the coming of the railroad. In 1899, during the construction of the Uganda Railroad for the British East Africa Company, workers converged upon the area now known as Nairobi, setting up a supply depot and basic camp called “Mile 327”. As for the name “Nairobi”, it came from the local Masai, an indigenous African ethnic group found in Kenya and Tanzania, who called this place Ewaso Nyirobi, meaning “cool waters”.
By 1907, Nairobi had become the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate, attracting adventurers, hunters and travelers from the far corners of the world. Flourishing as the region’s administrative and tourist centre, Nairobi became the first port-of-call for many British colonialists. With grand hotels built to accommodate British big game hunters, Nairobi experienced an inflow of investment leading to an expansion of the city and its suburbs.
Nairobi National Park, located just outside the city, is home to large herds of buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra.
In 1963, Nairobi became the capital of newly independent Kenya. The following decades brought continued growth and expansion to the bustling city, which has become one of Africa’s most prominent political, social and economic cities.
Still, wildlife remains one of Nairobi’s most distinctive attributes. Nairobi National Park, located just outside the city on 113 km² of plains, cliffs and forests, is home to large herds of buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra. Nairobi also boasts more species of birds than any other capital city in the world. As for big game animals, cheetah, lions and rhino roam freely within 20 minutes of the city.