| U.S.
Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs In This Edition...
1) U.S. Sees No "Norm" against Clusters; Spain Starts to Destroy Stocks Earlier this month, the Pentagon released a new policy on cluster bombs: continue to use and (if permissible under U.S. law) export the weapons for the next 10 years! The policy is drastically out of touch with the global humanitarian norm established in Dublin, Ireland in May, when more than half the world agreed to a treaty banning production, use, export and stockpiling of these weapons. http://action.fcnl.org/r/17298/56075/ A U.S. State Department advisor has since told a UN negotiating forum in Geneva: "Nor do we view the text negotiated in Dublin as establishing a new, general legal norm concerning the use of cluster munitions; they remain, in our view, a legitimate weapon when used appropriately." Meanwhile, the new Spanish Defense Minister, Carme Chacon, announced in mid July that Spain will destroy its stockpile of cluster bombs within two years--well ahead of the Dublin treaty's requirements. Chacon predicts that the Spanish parliament will pass a law banning the production, use and stockpiling cluster bombs this summer. http://action.fcnl.org/r/17299/56075/ 2) Senate Moves to Extend Cluster Bomb Export Ban A key Senate subcommittee once again included language in the draft State Department funding bill that would effectively ban U.S. cluster bomb exports throughout 2009. This proposed language is expected to become law. Congress passed identical language last year, and President Bush signed it into law. Passage of the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S.594/H.R.1755) would make this export restriction permanent. Please urge your legislators to cosponsor this common-sense bill today. http://action.fcnl.org/r/17300/56075/ 3)Mother Nature Helps Demine Lebanon, Again Last November a hail storm set off unexploded cluster submunitions in southern Lebanon. This week a forest fire exploded mines and cluster submunitions east of Beirut. Firefighters reported that landmines and cluster bombs significantly impeded their efforts to put out the fire. http://action.fcnl.org/r/17301/56075/ As the second anniversary of Israel's most recent use of cluster bombs in Lebanon approaches (on August 14), only about half of the affected land has been cleared of unexploded submunitions. A recent report from the UN says that Israel's refusal to turn over information on its cluster bomb strikes continues to hinder the clearance efforts. http://action.fcnl.org/r/17302/56075/ According to the UN, since the end of the Israeli-Hezbollah war, 27 civilians have been killed in south Lebanon by cluster submunitions and 231 injured. In addition, 51 deminers have been killed or wounded trying to clear the land and return it to productive and safe use. 4)As Maine Goes, So Goes the Nation? Maine has just become the first state to get its entire congressional delegation on board legislation to curb U.S. cluster bomb export and use! Following months of vigorous campaigning by the Maine Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs, Senator Susan Collins became the fourth and final member of the Maine delegation to cosponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S.594/H.R.1755). Click here for a profile of the Cluster Bomb Campaigner of the Month and to find out how you can take the "Maine Challenge"! http://action.fcnl.org/r/17303/56075/ For more information on the US Campaign to Ban Landmines, go to www.banminesusa.org U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines To make a donation to the US Campaign to Ban Landmines go to: www.banminesusa.org/support/body.html and click on Donate. |
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Ban Treaty and countries that have ratified it, contact the International
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