110 Countries Gather in Oslo to Ban Cluster Bombs;
US Campaign to Ban Cluster Bombs Marks Treaty with Events in Washington
December 1, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Chirot (202) 903-2523 and Caroline Anderson (202) 903-2516
While more than half the countries of the world are gathering in Oslo, Norway to sign a treaty banning cluster bombs, back in the United States the US Campaign to ban landmines and Cluster bombs has worked with partner groups to organize five separate events to educate the public and inform the media about the importance of this treaty. The United States won't be there in Oslo to sign the treaty, but these events will celebrate the landmark ban of cluster bombs, and demonstrate that people in the United States support outlawing these weapons.
Cluster munitions are fired from aircraft or artillery, and spray smaller 'bomblets' over an expanse the size of two football fields. Many do not explode on impact, but remain in fields and parks as landmines, waiting to be found by unsuspecting civilians. Many of the unexploded munitions look like harmless objects, such as a toy or can of food. The vast majority of confirmed casualties from this type of weapon have been civilians. The December 3rd treaty aims to protect civilians from these weapons. Here's a list of the events:
Capitol Hill Screening of Film Bombies: On the day of the signing, December 3rd, congressional staff and the public will gather on Capitol Hill for a screening of Bombies, a critically acclaimed film about the history of cluster munitions and their victims in Laos. For more information about the film or the screening, contact .
Humanitarian Community Briefing on Cluster bomb Treaty: InterAction will host a briefing on the cluster bomb treaty for the humanitarian community in Washington DC on Tuesday morning from 11:00-12:30. Representatives from Handicap International, UNICEF, and Survivors Corps will be there to discuss "the most important treaty to advance international humanitarian law in a decade," and how the United States can be brought on board. For more information about the briefing, contact
.
Press Briefing: The Arms Control Association will host a telephone briefing for credentialed press about the signing in Oslo and what the Obama administration should do to review U.S. policy and support the ban on Tuesday morning from 9:30 - 10:30. To join the call, contact at 202-463-8270 x100
Sing Out Against Cluster Bombs: After work on Wednesday, people will assemble in Washington DC to mark the occasion of the treaty signing at local establishment Madam's Organ. There will be musical entertainment, information about cluster bombs and the Oslo treaty, as well as petitions to sign and postcards to send to members of Congress.
Busboys and Poets Marks Event: On December 3rd all customers will have their drinks placed on cluster bomb coasters and wait staff will brief them on the historic cluster bomb treaty signing.
Both Wednesday evening events promise to be entertaining as well as informative. For more information on the event at Madam's Organ contact , or for information about Busboys and Poets.
See a full listing of cluster bomb events.
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The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) is a coalition of thousands of organizations and people working to ban further US use, production, and export of anti-personnel landmines and cluster bombs. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) is the coordinator for the USCBL.
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