The recall is just for RHD MINIs, so North American MINIs are not affected by the recall at all.
Huh? Something must be wrong with your car - have a dealer check it out. Due to federal vehicle regulations in effect for at least the past 12 years, all manual shift cars sold in the US have a starter interlock on the clutch pedal. Unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed, the car's engine won't even turn over - whether the car is in gear or not. This dumb law prevents dumb drivers from starting cars in gear and having the car accidently jump forward (or backward if in reverse) as the starter motor turns the engine.
You've got to push down the clutch pedal before turning the key. It's safer to get in the habit of selecting neutral before turning the key, just in case you get into an older car not equipped with a clutch starter interlock (or the safeguard somehow fails on a newer car).